This is the interview i did for A.P GL
Also, dont forget to add in spades to your facebook here!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/In-Spade s/135023486516723
Interview for "A.P - Jr. League"
Interview by Valerie Simmons
Q. It's been a long time since we've heard anything new from your voice, do you think that your new project "In Spades" will allow you to broaden your horizons and appeal to a wider range of audience?
A. Well, thing is, that with Young and Complicated all of the songs only really reached out to one group, we tried to do something similar to a day to remember, so I guess that makes it metalcore. Which never really hit home with me, I mean, hell I love it, some of my friends will probably laugh at me for this, but bands like Escape the Fate make my day. But I really wanted the chance to achieve what I originally set out to do. In Spades is really the first project I'll be able to just SING full time in without any screams or growls... as for the sound, it's gone from heavy to pop-punk, very reminiscent of All Time Low, or so one of my friends keeps telling me haha. So no, i don't think that many of the die-hard metalcore fans will like the new sound. But it'll be exciting to explore the new territory
Q. It's no secret that your lyrical content has taken a drastic turn from your original content, your early work consisted of songs about girls and love and so forth, which you said had been the case in even a metal band, and had caused problems with the other members. Then your work around a year ago was filled with metaphors relating to heartbreak and letdowns, is there any reason other than preference for the change in style? and what should your fans expect for your debut release with "In Spades" lyrically?
A. That's a very loaded question haha... we'll I'll just come clean then, It's no secret that a few years ago I was quite the bleeding-heart. A phase that lasted probably a good two years of my life. It's embarrassing when I look back at it now, but most of the songs had been about my current girlfriend, which I'm sure drove my band up the fall, then of course being the bleeding-heart I was, after the break-up, my songs we're all about how I felt after- as if anybody gives a shit right? haha. I'm looking forward to the opinions fans have on my new poetry, I took a turn from the pathetically emotional to the normal here. I stopped trying to be mature and artsy and I just wrote what I felt to be meaningful to me, and this time it didn't include an 11 song album about a girl. The lyrical content of this record is about EVERYTHING important to me, not just one chick, the album is about the trust I have in my friends, not just my band mates, I mean every last friend that didn't trash me, they took crap from me, the ones that would have me give them no reason to stand by me, but still show up ready to go if I need them. Another big theme in this album is partying, I'm 17. it's a big part of my fun, and it mixes well with the friendship theme. Family is another big theme, there is just so much content and i'm proud of the album we're gonna put out.
Q. How do you feel about your recent magazine appearance?
A. Somehow I knew that would come up, I don't really know how to answer that, I mean obviously at first I was pissed, but if I freak out it just gives them something more to write about. So I'll just say I'm going to ignore it for the time being...
Q. I realize that this question is overdone, and you must answer it every time you do an interview, but, who is your biggest musical influence?
A. Oh god... I really don't know what to say here... I mean, I like so many different bands, I don't even know where to start listing off my biggest influence. I can narrow it down, my all time favourite band is All Time Low... we watched their live dvd more times than I can count, including during the writing of this record. But then on the flipside, I listen to Killswitch Engage around an equal amount. So I guess I just listen to a lot of my favourite artists, listen to what they do, how they perform, their different techniques, and i try to use those to help me grow. Which is why I can't bring it down to one big influence.
Q. What was the first song you've ever learned to play on guitar?
A. First song I ever learned was "The Truth About Heaven" by Armor for Sleep, and to this day I play it almost every day, so much fun, it was a huge downer when they broke up...
Q. You're noticeably younger than most people we interview, do you think that your age might cause older artists to think less of you in terms of experience? And do you think being under the age of 18 may affect the age of your audience?
A. We'll I've never really thought about it, I mean, shit, I'm 17, I'm at the point in my life where I don't really care if older artists at the same level of fame as me don't respect me. If the geezers don't like me, they don't like me. And I certainly hope that my age affects the audience I attract. this way if there is anyone over the age of 30 that isn't a cougar or a parent at one of my shows I know that I need to re-think my sound haha.
Q. Now, we know that you haven't even begun to start recording the final versions of any of your songs, but once your done recording the album, which song would you recommend to listeners?
A. We'll actually I'd like to point out that bass and drums have already been recorded... for the finals, and I dunno, all of the songs are my best work I think, excluding the cover song I obviously didn't write. But I guess I'd say the song I would tell listeners to look out for is a song called "Homebound" It's about petty rivalry, betrayal, and rising above it, being "the bigger man". Another song I'd recommend is Party Girl, it's a great little song for everyone being played and screwed over by their girlfriend or boyfriend, It's upbeat and it's meant to give listeners something to relate too.
Q. So, last question. Why the name "In Spades"
A. Well, sadly I have an answer, haha. The name comes from life, not mine, just in general, everything in life is a gamble, the world deals us our cards and we have to make the best of whatever hand fate deals us. The only reason we chose spades as the name is because I think it's the coolest looking suit cards.
Q. Any closing statements?
A. I'd just like to thank everybody, my old fans, the new fans, but most of all, I want to give a huge thank you to all of those friends I mentioned earlier, for supporting me, putting up with me, lying to me and saying "it's good" when it sucked. You guy's all kick ass. I just want to thank everyone who makes my music possible, and allow me to keep doing what I love, and I'd like to thank AP. Jr. League, for this interview.