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| ::Interviews:: |
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| review & interview content, as well as web site graphics & design, copywrite 2003-2004 Euphonia Online. use of materials granted only with reasonable purposes. |
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| interviewed by robby sumner |
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| Interview with Mike July 1st, 2004 |
Mike Hunau - Vocals Chris Brandt - Guitar, Vocals Adam Trabish - Guitar Kevin Donlon - Bass Tommy Guindon - Drums |
| E: Mike, your band Halifax has been becoming more well known, having recently played on a series of noteworthy tours. When you're initially composing a song, do you ever keep in mind just how certain elements would work when performing it live? Mike: Of course--whenever I write a song, the first thing I think about is how it would be portrayed live. It seems this genre of music is almost entirely dependant on the live show, so in my eyes, it's most important to have this element mixed in during the writing process. I love high-energy songs live. E: Do different show locations usually come with distinct variations of how the night of performing will go? Mike: Yes and no. New Jersey and New York seem to have the most energy for our live show, which rules... but the rest of the country is pretty much equal. It also depends on the other bands we play with. E: How do they affect the show? Mike: Well, if we got on a show with a kid's favorite band, the kid may be into us and at the same time so stoked that his favorite band is playing--that increases his "getting into it" factor. E: What do you think has been your favorite tour that you've done with the band? Mike: I'd have to say when we toured with Armor For Sleep and Silverstein for a week. It was a lot of fun, and it was topped off with a performance at Skate and Surf. So many good bands and so many good times. E: The band has gone through a major change in its line-up... do you think that the band has retained the same sound and style since before these alterations? Mike: Nope. Not at all. In fact, we don't consider the band to be the same band. In our eyes, Halifax's A Writer's Reference is our first release and our debut. E: The EP is on No Milk Records--how did you come about choosing this label to sign to? Mike: When we originally recorded three tracks off the record, we didn't know exactly what we were doing. We talked to some labels and had some interest, but No Milk was extremely interested and offered to release a six-song EP with us, and I had known Kyle for a while, so we went ahead with it. One of the best decisions we've made, seeing that No Milk is an amazing label. E: Your labelmates Socratic recently signed to another label, Drive-Thru Records... do you have any aspirations for new record company locations? Mike: Actually, we're pretty close to moving on to a new label ourselves. Everyone is going to have to wait and see who, though. Surprise surprise. [Note: A few weeks after this interview, Halifax themselves signed to Drive-Thru Records!] E: How much of a liveable income has the band been providing? Mike: Nothing really at all, yet... we haven't toured enough to make money, and our release isn't big enough. E: Have any songs already been written for your next release? Mike: Eh, kind of... it's more like ideas. We have one song we've been playing on tour that will be on our next release. But the rest, we want to write when we have a lot of time. E: If fans at a show were reacting poorly to a new song you debut live, would you still be adament about recording it for an album? Mike: It depends. If it was our fault they reacted poorly--like we had some problems--no. But if no one cared at all about it, and we got no response... probably not. E: What sort of reaction do you usually get when you play a show? What do you go in hoping for? Mike: Usually we have some high-energy kids singing along, which rules. But we go into shows hoping kids will just like us and enjoy the music. We try to expect nothing, and when we get reactions, it rules. E: What parts of life does the band try to capture lyrically? Mike: As much as I'm not a mean guy... it's mostly songs about anger and how I've been treated poorly by loved ones and people surrounding me. You know when you are in your car listening to a CD and you want to sing as loud as you can, it feels good... well, how much better does it feel when you are singing frustration lyrics that help get out your frustration? That's my idea, basically... there are also some slower aspects, and we actually have some slower songs on the record with different themes. E: When you're singing a song that is packed with a certain emotion, do you usually feel that emotion as you perform it? Mike: It all depends on the night and how I'm feeling. Usually, live, I'm in a good mood, so no... but sometimes I get in a sad mood and the songs make me more emotional. E: What has been the greatest reward that you've received for your time with the band? Mike: It's coming up--you'll see. E: Well, thanks for the interview, and keep on doing what you do. Mike: Thanks so much. |