Please introduce yourself and say your position in the band.
Hey everyone, my name is Shawn and I sing and play guitar and piano in Alesana.
Can you please give a little background of the band for people who might not know who you are?
Our guitarist Patrick and I started the band in Baltimore, Maryland. He and I had been playing in a local band there together called The Legitimate Excuse when we decided to move on and start a new project. We decided to move to North Carolina where there was a much more welcoming and flourishing local scene. I actually met Dennis while I was waiting tables at a restaurant called Bogart's. On Halloween of 2004 we officially became Alesana. Patrick and I chose the name because in Baltimore we lived on Alice Anna Street. We just merged the words together and changed the spelling as our own cheesy way of always remembering where we began.
So, your new album "Where Myth Fades to Legend" just came out this past June. How was the process of writing and recording it?
Where Myth Fades To Legend is and will always be very special to us. We wrote it with certain intentions both musically and lyrically, and could not be happier with the outcome. The stories are all based on our own interpretations of the fables and legends of The Brothers Grimm. On our first record, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, we based our stories on Greek mythology. Dennis and I write the lyrics cooperatively and we absolutely love finding themes for our records. If you pay close attention to the whole record, it is very cohesive lyrically. The music is very much a reflection of the lyrics. This is definitely a record, not just a collection of songs.
How do you think your fans enjoyed it and were you proud of the outcome?
Fan reaction to the new record has been outstanding, so much better than we could have ever hoped for. We are very proud to share our music with as many people as we can, and will continue to do so for as long as we can.
How do you think it's different from your previous album, "On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax"?
There are definitely differences and similarities between this record and our last. It is definitely an Alesana record, for sure. I'd say the biggest difference is that we really pushed the dynamics hard on the new record. The heavy parts are even more brutal, the poppy stuff even more dancy and catchy. We definitely don't write our music while trying to fit a mold. I think our style just has a natural sound to it based on the way Patrick and I write, and the vibe of the lyrics that Dennis and I write.
As a band, you probably deal with a lot of stress and pressure especially when it comes to releasing a new record. How do you put up with the critics and the fans that aren't too fond of the music you choose to put out?
Critics exist merely to amuse themselves. We don't write our music for the critics, we write it for ourselves and our fans. The only time a published critique becomes frustrating is when no research is done, no attention to detail. For example, would you critique an entire movie if you had only watched the first scene? No, absolutely not. A record should not be critiqued until the entire thing has been heard, and all of the lyrics have been read and understood. We do understand that not everybody will like everything that we put out. That's part of playing the game...the challenge.
You recently played all summer long on the Vans Warped Tour. How was that?
The Warped Tour is amazing. It is such a fantastic way to play for tons of kids everyday. We got to see so many of the bands that we have become friends with over the past couple of years. The fans were simply amazing. They really helped to prove to us that what we are doing is special. We are very grateful to Kevin Lyman for giving us the opportunity to play the tour two years in a row.
I see you guys are touring in Japan, Brazil, and Argentina soon. How does it feel to travel to those kinds of places?
International touring is still the most surreal part of the whole Alesana experience for me. We just returned from Japan where we headlined and played three sold out shows in Tokyo and Osaka. I never thought I would even leave the east coast let alone the country. To be able to see these majestic places as both a tourist and a performer is truly something special.
Also in the fall you'll be going on tour with Chiodos, Silverstein, and Escape the Fate. Are you guys excited for that?
This tour in the fall will be the biggest club tour of our career. We couldn't possibly be more excited. We have done some touring with Chiodos, Silverstein, and Escape The Fate before so it will definitely be exciting to be on the road with them again. Its going to be a blast.
What's it like being signed to Fearless records?
Fearless is like a family to us. They had faith in us from day one and have always given us the reigns creatively. We couldn't ask for a better place to be.
What are your best influences in the music you choose to write and play, including other bands.
My biggest influence is Patrick. He is my musical soul mate and I could not picture writing music without him. The Beatles are the reason I play music and if I'm ever stuck I always ask myself, "What would The Beatles do in this spot of the song?" and it always gets me out of my funk. I'm also a huge fan of Mae, Spitalfield, Thrice, and BTBAM.
Well I think that's pretty much it. Is there anything else you'd like to say?
Thank you to all of our fans for their steadfast and undying support. You are the reason we exist at all! [AD]