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HCJ: So how long were you kids on tour? How was the reception of the new album with the live audience? JF: We were on tour for close to six weeks. The reception was really good. All the shows were a lot of fun, and we were never disappointed for a moment. I was really impressed with how well the new album went over because it was a bit of a departure from the last album. I'm very pleased. How do you feel about the new album? I love the album. I can probably speak for the rest of the band by saying we are all very pleased and proud of the new album. And to date I believe it's the best thing any of us has been involved in. I just cant wait to get to the studio again to do our EP. What are the plans for the EP? Will it be on Tooth & Nail? The new record will be on Initial records. It's another big step away from any previous things we have done, but a lot of it is stuff that we had written that we didn't feel would fit in with the rest of the "Emotion Is Dead" album. So it's almost a b-sides sort of thing but not quite. And what lead it being released on Initial Records? We had started a friendship with them, and we always wanted to do some other little projects on some more labels. So here we are now. Not too much to it. Do you have a title? Release date? Well, so far the album is tentatively called "Music From Another Room". Initial wants the EP to be out in April or May, which is really quick. I'm a little surprised you've had so many releases on different labels. Onedaysaviour, Arise and now Initial... Is Tooth & Nail supportive of these recordings on other labels? So many labels want to keep tight reins on the bands they have so they don't lose money to other labels. I wouldn't say they are completely supportive, but they are really cool. We aren't getting ourselves into trouble or anything. At the very least, they are aren't preventing you from doing it, which many bands can't say about their own labels. This is quite true. You said the EP would be another step away from your previous work... "Emotion Is Dead" was a leap from the first record. What is different about the new EP? The new EP is very guitar heavy. It's more toward the rock sound we have been going towards for a while. A lot of it's heavier than anything but there are a few that are slower and lighter than anything we have done previously. With you being a guitarist, how do you like the progression? I'm very pleased with the progression. The guitar parts are more intricate these days. I think Josh Kosker and myself, and even Brett have matured a lot with our playing ability. I have to say, I'm still not pleased, but maybe by the time I'm 40 I'll be able to play whatever I want. Neil and Chad have also gotten much better on their instruments. The singing is one thing that I found vastly improved between the first and second records. "Emotion Is Dead" has a lot of interesting vocal arrangements and some great harmonies. How much singing do the rest of you boys do, versus what Brett himself lays down? Yeah, Brett's singing has gotten much better from our first CD. As far as harmonies go, Brett does a good bit, but so does Kosker and Chad. And I do every once in a while. But whatever we don't do, we do do live. Who sings "Something Isn't Right Here"? My guess is Josh K. Yep. Kosker sings in the verses, but Brett does the second part of it, whether its a chorus or a verse. How much of the songs does Brett have completed and how much can the rest of you guys change for the new EP? Most of the songs are completed, but Brett still has some lyrics and melody lines he is still working on. In practice we just get together and write the music, but it's Brett's job to do that by himself for the majority of things. I think we is going to be experimenting with some different singing on the EP as well. Have you had any radio play around the continent? Some of the songs are pure pop-rock radio tunes (e.g. Understand The Dream Is Over, This Is Your Life). We have had a little, but not much. It's hard to get major radio air play without a lot of money for someone to push it in radio. But soon we hope to get some. How has T&N been pushing the album? Or have they at all? They have been pushing well. Anything could be pushed more, but we are pleased. How many more albums will be released with T&N? At the moment I'm not quite sure how many more albums we will be doing for Tooth and Nail. Probably one more? Who decided upon the artwork for "Emotion Is Dead"? The music on that record draws me in like few others but the cover honestly repels me. It seems so bland and unthoughtful. Please explain it to me. Joel, trust me when I say this,
we all hate it with a passion. And hopefully someday in the future
we will redo the How did it get on there then? I was hesitant to say anything because I didn't want to offend you. I can honestly say that it is one of worst album covers I have ever seen. Haha, don't worry about offending me. That's funny. I wouldn't say it's one of the worst but I honestly do hate it. I think when it finally got done, we were going to be happy with anything, because we were all anxious to get it out. But now that it's out, we all hate it. I think if the girl wasn't there on the cover it would have been much better, but then it wouldn't have anything to do with the title of the album. The new EP will have some cool artwork. We don't have any ideas, but we'll be sure it's good. I really liked the artwork for the re-release of the split with Dawson High. Yeah, I think I agree, that girl on the cover just made what would have been bearable completely horrid. Don't you guys have to give approval to things like artwork? That's funny, because I absolutely despise the artwork on that split. I hate it so bad. Probably much more than "Emotion." But to each his own I guess. We do give approval, but like I said, we were so anxious to get the record out, we would have approved shit on paper. (Not that bad but you get my drift.) You know what may be even funnier? I'm friends with the guy who did the artwork for the split. Hahaha. He actually drove me to Buffalo to see you guys play. I think a giant turd for an album cover would be pretty good. Especially if it were for the new Limp Bizkit or Methods of Mayhem records -- they'll be telling you what you're actually getting by purchasing the disc. Haha, that's true. Also, no hard feelings toward him either. It's a good layout, I just hate it. But I believe most of the other guys are pleased with that one. Good cover... Hahaha. Since the first record, Jeremiah left the group. And from interviews I've read with Brett, it didn't seem to be an amicable parting. What's the deal? The parting was very rough and a lot went into it. I'd rather not talk about it because I have very strong feelings toward him that I would rather not have printed. Where things tough during the time of the first record or did it sour after that? They went sour after that, but we had our little fights before that. As everyone does. Another shit-disturber question... In the liner notes, Brett has two lines of every possible thing he played on the record. The rest of you have two items - an instrument and backing vocals. Some people thought this was egotistical. Your take? I wouldn't necessarily say its egotistical. He really only played a few more things than we did, mostly because of the keyboards and sampling. But I could see why some people would think that. The thing is everything is very equal with the songwriting and everything. And a lot of people think that Brett writes the songs, mostly because he's the singer, and people tend to think that way. He does write all of the lyrics, but musically we are very equal. That's the only thing I want people to know about us. What is the worst record you bought recently? The worst record I bought would have to be Palo Alto. I absolutely despise that album. They are talented musicians, but there's just something about it that gets under my skin. Best record(s)? Best records of 2000... aimee mann - bachelor #2, smashing pumpkins - machina, the cure - bloodflowers, neil young - silver and gold, radiohead - kid a, sunnydayrealestate - rising tide, kent - hagnesta hill... those are the ones off by hand. I'm sure there are many more but I just can't think of them right now. Who was the last band that blew you away, live and/or recorded? I honestly can't answer that question very well, I haven't seen any really awesome bands in a while. All the bands we tour and play with are always very good, but often they just aren't my thing. Kent's "Hagnesta Hill" was probably the last recorded band I loved. I just love the tones and production on that album. Who would you like to tour with, if it could be arranged? I would love to tour with the Foo Fighters or Third Eye Blind. I love both of those bands and I think most of those guys seem like they would be really cool. I'm somewhat surprised... I mean, those are mainstream bands. I expected you to come out of left field with some unknown bands. It is still trendy to diss bands who have had success and name-drop indie bands. I honestly can say I don't like very many indie bands. As far as indie is concerned, the only indie bands I like are Pavement, Guided By Voices, Sunny Day and, of course, Cave-in. They shouldn't be a indie band though. I think those guys should be huge. But I'm a big fan of the big bands. My favorite bands are the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Cure, Black Crowes and Sonic Youth. Those people who have managed to mature and rise above the 'indier-than-thou' mentality recognize that good music is good music if it's released by a major label or an independent. Exactly. I couldn't agree with you more. People need to realize that, whether it's Destiny's Child, River City High, Green Day, or Onelinedrawing, music is music. You don't necessarily have to like the music, but you should have some respect for what those artists are doing. Whether they are on Capitol records or Initial. Did you read the review of the record on the Buddyhead website (www.buddyhead.com)? Haha, I loved it. It was quite amusing. 'Amusing' was one term. Another was 'asinine', so was 'moronic'. How do you feel about reviews that are not concerned with the music but have some other motive for criticizing the band? The first thought I had after reading that review was they had not listened to the album. If they had, the third track, "To The Tune Of 5,000 Screaming Children," would have stopped them before they started writing. It totally mocks those 'critics' who think they've got it all figured out. I agree with you. I honestly like reading bad reviews IF the reviewer had listened to the album and criticized from a musical standpoint. But, unfortunately, a lot of the "scenester" types like to review albums based on only what they know of the band, what they look like, what label they are on, and the rumours they hear. I can say, I hate people like that. If you're going to review an album, listen to it. Don't judge a book by its cover. It's like with us, people give us horrible reviews because we "dress like the Backstreet Boys", we are on Tooth and Nail, and my personal favorite, that we are a Christian band. Just to clear the record, we aren't a Christian band, we have no spiritual agenda whatsoever, and we aren't even all Christians. But again, if they are saying these guys don't play they're instruments well enough, or the songs just aren't up to par, whatever, or the album is too polished for the style of music, anything like that, I can respect that.
Well, the choreography was an old thing. I think we have pretty much gone away from that, but we were just trying to have fun. When I was growing up, I dreamed to be in Poison or Motley Crue. All those hair metal bands, I guess it was more of a tribute to them than anyone else. Same with the clothes, for a long time we all liked to match. Now we don't ever do that. It's another thing in the past. I know someday we'll look back on that and think, "What in the hell were we doing?" you know? But we did catch a lot of flack for that stuff, but those people took it the wrong way. They were always saying, "They are so stuck up, full of themselves, blablabla." Just because we were trying to have fun on stage. But alot of kids also loved it. So I guess we are kind of a love/hate band. I was one of the ones who thought the dancing was awesome. I guess too many people take music too seriously and it ceases to be fun for them. Thanks very much. Do you think being on T&N has hurt you at all? I've always supported the label since the beginning, they have some great people there, but I wonder if some top-notch music is squashed because of pre-conceptions people have of the label. I think, in particular, your band, Fold Zandura, Plankeye - you've all created some brilliant work but it seems to stay within a very small group of listeners. No, I don't think Tooth and Nail has hurt us at all. They've been behind us since day one. The only thing I could live without are the preconceived notions that we are a Christian band. but other than that they are a great label. And they have some other really awesome bands including the ones you mentioned. Like Starflyer, Puller and Zao. T&N has in the past kept certain albums from the Christian marketplace, which I wish they would do more frequently. Not only because those "Christian" bookstores are rip-offs (they jack up the prices) but they reduce the integrity of the art. Music is not just music, it's "Christian" or "secular", at least in the minds of many Christians. It becomes perceived as sanitized or, in this case, "sanctified." They can't listen to music which may challenge their beliefs or present an opposing view which degrades every facet of art. I couldn't agree with you more. Some Christians are very stuck up in their musical taste. But then again, so is every other type of person. Where do you see The Juliana Theory in 5 years? I would like to think of us being
some huge rock band that puts out records that everyone loves.
Being able to live well off of our music. But I guess time will
tell. we could all be doing different things in five years. That's
a long time. And I guess for the time being, we are focusing
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artwork. Hopefully.
I was wondering how much
flack you get for your posturing. I imagine that people who don't
know you or the band well would think your choreography is lame,
your clothes are boy band material and such.