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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 Matt and Justin May 1st, 2005 |
Matt Boljesic - Vocals, Guitar Rob Odonovan - Guitar, Vocals Justin Degraaf - Bass, Vocals Simon Vanderzand - Drum, Vocals |
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E: The Goodbye Celebration has been storming its way into the limelight kicking and screaming from Ontario, Canada... in spite of being just North of the more band-infested U.S., do you think your nationality does anything to create differentiations within your style?
Justin: Well, it definitely gets people's attention... in a good and bad way... but lately, Canada is becoming a lot more recognized for their music. Matt: I grew up in Michigan and recently moved to Canada. Viewing both sides, I notice Canada is super-underrated. They have so many talented young local bands. It's awesome. On tour, telling kids we're from Canada totally helps... it's interesting to kids that we traveled so far in a local band. E: Do you think your music is the type of situation where you're more likely to flourish with the notoriety and resources of a label? Justin: Our "pop punk" style is hated... and loved... at the same time... damn, tough question. *Laughs* Matt: Bamboozle was a tiring time. *Laughs* We're still thinking slow. We just got home from Jersey like an hour ago. Justin: *Laughs* Sorry. E: No problem... since you already brought it up, tell me--how did participating in something like the Bamboozle Festival affect where you currently see yourselves as being as a band? Justin: To me, it was a huge step up... we got the call two days before, and they asked to play! So we were so stoked... playing with every band you look up to is always a pleasant feeling. Matt: It was our first festival with alot of kids, and a huge chance to promote all day... we met a ton of awesome kids! E: Have you seen it become steadily harder to keep in contact with fans as you accumulate more and more? Justin: Well, we talk to every kid... if anybody messages or comments on either our website, Myspace, e-mail, at shows--anything... we always talk with them. Or message and comment them back! We cherish anybody who credits our music and is willing to take time out of their lives to come talk and hang out with us! Matt: We all work day jobs, so we're busy from 9-5, but when we're free, we love checking out sites... and we even do it at work. *Laughs* We love talking to every fan. Justin: Even if they hate us... we still talk to them. *Smiles* E: Is it difficult to handle constant touring, or do you prefer being on the road to staying at home? Justin: I personally absolutely hate being home... it seems as if there's nothing to do. You don't even know what to do with yourself at times... I love being gone and on tour all the time. I want to do it full-time... hopefully we'll be lucky enough to have that. Meeting kids in different places is always fun! Matt: No waking up to alarm clocks... very long vacation... meeting new people every day... seeing many sights and places... doing what you love to do every day... enough said. There are times that you miss friends and family a lot, but you always keep in close contact with them. E: What keeps the music you make from becoming formulaic and redundant on each release? Matt: Luckily we've only been a band a very short time, so we've released everything at the same time; so it was all fresh. Now we're recording our full-length, and it's a whole new world. We're trying very weird, different things. It's said a lot, but we matured a lot since our first release. We learned how to explore different styles a little, and we're creating our own sound in a way. E: Do you expect a lot of innovation over the next few years of your progression? Justin: Of course. Bands always grow and mature in their own ways... every band's music changes over time. Bands just mature and grow as musicians, and friends, even. Matt: We like adding weird things to our music... it just happened one day. So I'm sure it will get much more creative over the years. I'm excited to hear it. E: Well thanks a whole lot--any last comments or shouts to make? Justin: We just want to thank for you for taking the time to talk to to us and for interviewing us. We appreciate this and hopefully we'll get some publicity. And to anybody who reads this, and listens to our music and supports us! We just appreciate kids dedicating a couple minutes of their days to listen or talk to TGC! Matty? Matt: We're four nerdy guys, so come talk to us at shows. We appreciate everyone listening to us and sending us nice e-mails. It makes being broke and smelly in a van a blast! Note: TGC manages to stay squeaky clean on tour. |
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