::Interviews::
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     interviewed by robby sumner  
Band Website
Label - Hopeless Records
Listen - "Tension"
       Interview with Ryan
        June 21st, 2004

Kyle Castellani - Vocals
Ryan Davis - Guitar
Charley Hoy - Guitar
Kyle Black - Bass
Aaron Breding - Drums
E: Ryan, your band Nural started out its career with a few EPs. How much material does the band usually have prepared when it goes into the studio to record?
Ryan: It really depends. I wasn't there for the first EP, so I really couldn't tell you. But our latest one, The Struggle Continues... we knew what songs we were going to put on it, so we went in with five and came out with five. Setting up for our full-length that will hopefully be coming out soon... we've already written about twenty-two songs or so for it. When it comes time to record, we want to have about thirty to choose from.
E: What generally happens to the songs not chosen to be recorded?
Ryan: At this point, they'll most likely become B-sides or songs that we'll release at a later time on their own. They might sneak their way onto the next record, or maybe just be songs we play live. It's going to be really hard because we all love every song and put so much time into them... I doubt any of them will just be discarded or forgotten.
E: Do you try to keep up a consistent sound for each album?
Ryan: That's actually a problem, per se, that we've been trying to address on this next coming record. We tend to be more of a cleptic band with a ranging sound... in other words,  "Forgive Me" as to "Tension." But we really want to focus on one for this next album so that the flow of the record feels natural. Not to say you won't be hearing songs like "Spotlight" or harder songs together, but we want to have some level of consistency on or next recording. We'll just have to wait and see what comes out.
E: What do you think is the most important thing you try to keep in mind when it comes to writing a successful album?
Ryan: Wow, I really don't know. I guess I'll let you know when we write a really successful album. *Laughs* But I think, speaking for all of us, what will make something successful--whether it sells one million or one hundred--is that we are proud of our music and there is integrity to it. I think as long as we keep it pure, try to write the best songs in the world, and give back to everyone for what they give us, we'll be successful and people will catch that in the music.
E: Do you think that your band has a better chance of being successful because of the age it lives in? Or would it have been better off forming a few decades ago?
Ryan: That's a hard one. I would have loved to form a few decades ago because so much more music was accepted. Things weren't written to be played on radio, and being played on the radio didn't dictate the level of success on achieved. So that said... forming years ago would have been great, but I'm really glad we're in the time we are because I think we're writing some of the best music out there, and while our sound is somewhat current and even a bit poppy, I think we hold a uniqueness and don't sound like anything out there. I think we're putting a lot more time and effort into our music now as well, and that is what's making the difference between us and what else is out there. I think in either time we have a shot at being successful, but we'll never know until we get out there. A lot of amazing bands never go anywhere due to bad promotion or just coming out at the wrong time. I really hope that doesn't happen to us. I hope we become the biggest rock act in the world, but I guess time will tell that story.
E: What kind of live show does the band strive to put on?
Ryan: Well, if you paid four bucks or one hundred bucks to see us, we're going to play like you paid five hundred dollars and give every cent of that back.
E: Would you rather play shows as unknowns on an extensive tour, or stay in proximity with a hometown location where your name is well known?
Ryan: We all want to tour more than anything. As much as we love our home town, we want to get out of it as well. We would rather play every city out there as unknowns than just stick where we're comfortable, because we know that next time we hit those places, they'll be like a hometown and we'll be well known.
E: How much of an impact do the bands you tour with have on the characteristics of the shows you play?
Ryan: It really depends... if you're saying how we perform and we put out, the bands have no impact, really; we don't have any real intentions of fitting in or being of a genre. I think we are strong as a whole and really try to present that in a positive way. We are Nural, no one else, and we don't have to look, or sound, like anyone else. We're okay with that; I think people are okay with that too. That's to say, if we're playing a small show and a lot of the other bands are bummed out and not really giving much out, we're still going to play the same and put 100% regardless. I think where the bands have an impact on us is more on a personal level. We've had the privilege to play with a lot of bands, and moreso had the honor to beome friends with many of the members. That being said, whenever we play shows and happen to be with one or more of those bands, it's more like playing with familiy, ans we enjoy the shows that much more. I guess it's like being in a mosh pit at Ozzfest and going crazy, or being in a mosh pit at Ozzfest with all of your best friends and going crazy together. That can have a lot of impact on a show, but only for the better.
E: How many stories would you say the band had accumulated by this point?
Ryan: *Laughs* More than we could ever tell.
E: The lifestyle of a band is commonly divided by its two major components: touring and recording. Would you say that this is a fair division, or are there other apsects that are being left out in the cold?
Ryan: No, that pretty much sums it up, but the lifestyle of a band is pretty much dependent on the individuals. In Nural, there's such a wide range of lifestyles and views and personalities, I don't really thing the band has a lifestyle. Yes, we tour together and record together, but we're able to keep our individual lives very well. A lot of that is practicing, writing, and whenever there's off-time from the band and whether or not we're together during those times.
E: What would you say are the parts of being in a band that you enjoy the most?
Ryan: Definitely the feeling of family, with the band and with the other bands you play with. That and having the opportunity to talk to so many people you would never have met otherwise and getting to know them. Aside from that, making music with friends can never be a bad thing.
E: What would you say you're most looking forward to with the band in upcoming months?
Ryan: Um, getting signed would be great. *Laughs* But more, taking some time off an writing more music so that we can start on our full-length.
E: Do you expect the material on the full length to follow a similar structure to that on the EPs?
Ryan: I expect that the music on our full length to accurately reflect where the band is at that moment. I think the music will be better than the EP's because with each recording we put out, we learn that much more about playing, recording, writing, and have the chance to implement those learnings into the new material. I really can't say what kind of structure the songs will hold other than they will be the best we can put out, and never expect a repeat from the past.
E: Well, that should just about do it.  Is there anyting else you want to say, or anyone you want to thank?
Ryan: Well, I want to thank you for your support and time doing this. Thanks to everyone who reads this and comes out for the band, we love you guys more than you'll ever know. And thanks to everyone who's ever made fun of us and said we can't do it because we are, and it's the greatest thing in the world. We wouldn't have the determination without you. Thanks man, it's been great talking with you.