Say Anything
We caught up with Say Anything to talk about touring, and how their new album looks set to be the first that really defines emo as a genre.
Things are on the up for Say Anything, they've just finished supporting Hellogoodbye across the UK, they're (rumoured to be...) basically headlining Give It A Name next year and their new album looks set to be the first that really defines emo as a genre. Plenty to talk about then.
We caught up with them backstage at Brixton Academy on the Hellogoodbye tour...
How's the tour going?
Jake: Yeah, we're a little more than half way, it's good and the shows have been really, really awesome. We just finished a tour in the states with Hellogoodbye so it was an easy transition coming over here.
England is pretty miserable this time of year, how do you cheer yourself up on tour?
Jake: You mean with the cold weather we're having? Well I've been sick the whole tour, like most of us have, which is pretty crazy. We've just been going out anyway, like we went to a few museums yesterday and stuff like that.
Rumours are that you have been playing headliners Hellogoodbye off the stage so far this tour, are there any tensions backstage or do you all get on?
Jake: Oh really! We get along really well. It's funny that people are saying that though. We just go out each night and have fun playing, because that's what music's about, having fun when you're playing and you get to love it. We all love music and we all love having a good time, so we go out there and have a good time. That's what it's about. No matter what the stage is or how many amps we have or whatever.
You've reached mainstream success in the US, how popular do you think you are over here in England?
Jake: I think were gradually getting bigger over here and doing pretty well. Every time we come over here, it's like a really awkward state where our music is. I mean our record has been out or our record is about to come out. It seems we are never over here when we should be over here. Money's always a big issue when we come over here because it's hard to make a lot of money if your over here unless your single is doing really well on the radio. Our next single that's coming out on the new record sounds like a very English single to us, so I feel it will do very well on the radio out here.
Which do you prefer, the mainstream success in America or the underground popularity you have in the UK?
Jake: I don't know. It feels like we've got a pretty underground fan base in the US, even if it is a little mainstream. I feel overall we have a hardcore fan base, and I would much rather have a hardcore fan base. We have a pretty underground following over here which is cool but it's the same wherever we go, which is also cool. I would much rather play to everyone, who knew everyone of our songs than knowing just one song in the whole set. We as a whole band prefer to play in that atmosphere.
The album is not yet released this side of the pond, what can your fans over here expect from the knew LP?
Jake: They can expect a lot of music, there's a lot of songs on there. Personally, the best way to describe the new record is take 'Is A Real Boy' and take it to every extreme. Take the slower parts and make them slower, take the heavier parts and take them heavier and even the dancey parts are dancier. It's not changed to an extreme though but I would say the band have matured and made a record that is another step in the making of the band. Nothing too far out there.
On the surface, a two disc LP called 'In Defense Of The Genre' looks pretty ambitious. What was the band looking to get out of this album?
Jake: Yeah it's pretty ambitious. We weren't trying to say 'hey we're gona do something other bands haven't done in a while.' It all came together really well and everyone liked everything we were writing. So in the end to take one of the tracks out would have ruined the story or if you had cut one of the songs a part of the story would have been missing. Other bands have said if you cut down on the songs and made a 12 track record it would be amazing or perfect. But if you take the time to listen to the new record in its entirety it is an awesome straight through record, and all you have to do is listen to it. Of course there will be tracks that stand out but every track will get your attention at some stage.
Some of the subject matters on the album are deeper than many emo albums put together. Where do you think the album will rank within the genre?
Jake: Its weird because we've got all the guest vocals on it and all those people that sang on it wanted to sing on it. A couple people had to be persuaded but we were fans of their bands. Once they knew what we were making they wanted to be a part of it more and were phoning us all the time asking when to come in as sing their part. In a sense I feel, and I'm not being arrogant, but the record is somewhat of a landmark. We're pretty much down with saying, get involved with all the other music out there and do whatever the fuck you want to do, don't say 'hey I'm gonna sound like Thursday or sound like Thrice.' You've got to sound like yourself and be original.
Some lyrics can be seen to criticise certain aspects of the genre that harbours your band, is the album criticising or defending emo?
Jake: It's defending it for sure. It's criticising it in a way that originality is being pushed out. You know that there are so many bands that want to sound like other bands and in that sense we are criticising emo, but overall it's a defence. We're saying the genre of emo is not just some stupid bullshit genre but it's a whole genre that celebrates music. It combines rock and dance and metal all in one genre. We're just splitting it up and making everyone aware of what it's about.
What is meant by the albums title then, is it as obvious as it seems?
Jake: Yeah definitely, there's no hidden meaning, we're just straight out there with what we feel. Its actually really funny. I think Max came up with it when we were touring one time and he just said the next album is gona be called 'In Defense Of The Genre' and he had actually written some songs for it. He just knew what he wanted and he had this whole concept already and from there it just kicked in and he knew exactly everything he was gonna write. He was passionate about it from the start so the title definitely means what it says.
Are you proud of the album, or is there anything you would have changed?
Jake: I'm very proud of the record, like the first time I heard the final mixes and masters I was completely blown away, I was just like wow, this record turned out so much better than I thought. I was kind of scared for a while with all the songs but it came together and blew me away for sure. I'm totally proud and would back it any day.
There are many special guests on the new album, who was the best to work with?
Jake: You know, I actually didn't see anyone do their part, apart from Andy Jackson the singer from Hot Rod Circuit, and I actually recorded him do his part along with my brother. But my favourite that came out was actually Matt Skiba's part on 'About Falling', I love that part, it's so good. Its so Alkaline Trio/Matt Skiba. There are so many good parts on the album but that's probably my favourite. Also Hayley Williams from Paramore's part is really, really good. She's got an amazing voice, it's killer.
Who would you like to work with in the future?
Jake: You mean like as a musician? Well we really wanted to something with Jim Atkins from Jimmy Eat World, we really wanted him to come sing on the album and Dave Grohl is also one the big people we would want to work with. I think either one of those dudes would be great, the band would back me up on that. We worked with Chris Conley whose one of our big idols from Saves The Day, so those two are the only ones that stick out in my mind.
What can we expect from your live show?
Jake: It seems now we've started playing the new songs our live show has got more intense then its ever been, just feeling the music and becoming whole as a band. For a while towards the end of the cycle for 'Is A Real Boy' in the States we were kind of like, getting burned out with all the songs, so when you throw in a couple of new songs it's like the old songs become new again. To describe our live show since the newer songs have come into play and stuff, its more intense compared to the last tour. We're just having fun but at the same time, like, I know that after the show my head fucking pounds for hours, because I head bang so hard and I don't realise it. People think head banging is one of those things that just kind of happens, but it's definitely a feeling you get into when you get into the songs and you get to the moves and stuff. It's kind of funny to say but when you push your body on stage and you hit that first chord it just goes crazy.
Can we expect to see Say Anything back in the UK on their own headline tour soon?
Jake: I'm sure sometime next year for sure. I mean we have a bunch of stuff getting planned already like we have a bunch of tours already that's coming up in the States and Canada. I'm positively sure we'll be over here some time towards the end of the year like September or so...
And Finally, what would you like for Christmas?
Jake: Erm, wow... my girlfriend asked me that the other day and I didn't have a clue. I don't know. Christmas to me is more like, I don't really need anything so... if anything at all it would be to spend time with my family and the people I love.
Parker (from outside): World peace!
Jake: (laughs) Yeah and that. Actually I wouldn't mind a new computer but I have a perfectly fine computer so I don't absolutely need one. So, yeah, time with family will be nice.
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