Interview with Ashes Ashes

B-Sides :First off, one thing that I think a lot of people are curious about, is the recent update about working on a new EP. What were your guys reasons to going back to working on another record?

Ashes Ashes: Aries is a collaboration of songs we wrote over the last year and a half and our music has changed a lot since we wrote some of the songs. We have been playing these songs for a really long time now and its time for us to put out something fresh.

B:Can you guys give any info on the EP? Working title? Musical Focus?

AA:No real info on the EP yet, just that it is currently being written. It sounds similar to some of the stuff on our first EP like "Travelers" or "Step Left" as well as a couple of songs on the new album like "Airplane"

B:A lot of bands do what they do, and that might be a political message, a message or social justice, a message of hope etc. Do you guys feel like you have a message of sorts?

AA:When the band started out we all had a common goal of just having fun and writing music. As we wrote more and more we began to develop a message to kids to be above the influence, as cheesy as it sounds. Thats where we still stand.

B:While Writing new material, is there a usual strategy that you guys approach writing with, or does it come from left field? a little of both?

AA:One of us will come up with an idea and we just bring it to practice and jam on it. We all play guitar so we always have something to work on. Sometimes Eric or John will bring in a fully written song and teach the rest of us.

B:I understand that you guys took up a rather lengthy tour a month ago. Tell me a bit about the tour, and how that went for you guys.

AA:I don't know about lengthy, but you could say we went on tour. It was ten days long and we had a blast. It was nice playing for a bunch of people we have never seen before and playing in some new venues.

B:What are some bands, new and old, that you guys are listening to at the moment?

AA:Lately it has been a lot of Dallas Green, As Cities Burn, Annuals, and Josh Rouse. As for oldies we are constantly listening to Mr. Big.

B:Explain a bit about how Ashes Ashes formed.

AA:I was in a band called Aim for the Eyes with John and my brother Corey was in a band called Sevenson. Corey and I wanted to be in a band together so we started this. Before we asked John to join the band we found Nic our singer. We were sorta friends with him but to cut the story short we saw him at a local show and he was singing along to whatever was playing and we thought to ourselves "this is our guy" We then asked John who said yes and then about a year later we asked Alanna to join. We knew her because she played in a jazz band at my old high school.

AA:This is something I've been asking a lot of the bands lately, but we hear that phrase "The Scene is Dead". What does that mean to you, and do you believe that this is just a cry baby defense on the part of fans or local music listeners, or do you think there is credibility to that phrase?

AA:I don't think the scene is dead, it just seems the bands aren't working as hard. Kids aren't coming to the shows as much as they used to and I think its partially because the bands aren't promoting as hard. It also might be tough because there are at least 3 shows every night of the weekend that the kids can choose from.

B:How do you, personally, see the scene changing our growing?

AA:I think that bands and artists are starting to write music for themselves rather than the listeners. For a while there it seemed that all bands wanted to sound like the band that was popular and I have seen less and less of that recently. More people are taking risks.

B:Read any good books lately? Seen any good movies?

AA:I just finished The Beautiful Boy and I have about 20 pages left of Tweak. The Beautiful Boy is about a fathers journey through his sons drug addictions and it was written by the actual man. Tweak is the journey through the sons life throughout his drug addictions and its written by him. And its all a true story.

B:What is the bands main focus right now, besides just an EP?

AA:Getting back on track.


Alright, that wraps up our first post for B-Sides. A big thank you to Ashes Ashes as well! If you're interested in checking out Ashes Ashes, please head to myspace.com/ashesashesmusic.

Let your summers run free!

-B-Sides