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ON THE COUCH WITH: Anberlin

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ARTIST INTERVIEW

Access All Areas.net.au: Hi stephen, How's it going?
Stephen - Anberlin: Great, I am really good thank you.

Access All Areas.net.au: Your album 'New Surrender' is your fourth studio album and your latest. You have done a heap of touring. How are you and the band going?
Stephen - Anberlin: We are currently in Canada. Things have been really good. I think we are all feeling pretty good.

Access All Areas.net.au: How hard was it to find the time to write the album with being on tour and other things with the previous album "Cities"?
Stephen - Anberlin: We had January and February off to write the album, which is more then what we had for previous albums.

Access All Areas.net.au: What is your inspiration when it comes to writing?
Stephen - Anberlin: I think everyone take's life in general and the world around them into the writing process.

Access All Areas.net.au: You did the 2008 Van's Warped Tour. How did it feel to tour with a album?
Stephen - Anberlin: It felt good. We where happy to get out there. It's one of those things that either make you or break you but, overall I think it was amazing. We had a lot of fun and just rocked it.

Access All Areas.net.au: How did the crowds react to the new music?
Stephen - Anberlin: I think they where a little hesitant at first. They didn't really know what to expect. But, we feel like this album captures us. And one day hopefully in the future kids will be handing the album down to there grandkids saying "This is Anberlin, I used to listen to these guys when I was your age."

Access All Areas.net.au: What were your highlights and lowlights of Warped Tour?
Stephen - Anberlin: Oh man, there where so many. The crowds where amazing. I mean just the whole vibe of everything from playing the myspace acoustic tent. Though, one of my highlights which is also a lowlight, is in Chicago the lead singer of Say Anything got sick and I got to fill in and do something's with those guys and it was great.

Access All Areas.net.au: Your coming to Australia in February for the 2009 Soundwave tour, are you excited about playing?
Stephen - Anberlin: I am so excited you have no idea. I mean the Australian crowds really know how to bring it and they do it so well.

Access All Areas.net.au: How do you think you will handle the hot Australian Summer?
Stephen - Anberlin: I am going to try and do what I do with every other summer festival. Just try and stay in the shade, drink plenty of water. Just keep cool and then get on that stage and bring the best show we possibly can for everyone.

Access All Areas.net.au: What bands are you interested to see play at Soundwave?
Stephen - Anberlin: Nine Inch Nails - They are just one of those bands that always seem to bring it every time. I got to see them in Denver, at Red Rock. There light show is spectacular. They do a really good show. I haven't seen the complete line-up. But, Say Anything, Forever The Sickest Kids. Jonathan, yeah. Both of those where bands we were on Warped with.
Your also playing along side Australian artist's where Warped is dominantly American artist's.
Yeah, yeah and that is going to be great. It will be good to check out some bands, but it was surprising how many American acts where on the bill for Warped.

Access All Areas.net.au: What can fans expect from your set?
Stephen - Anberlin: A lot of energy. We always try and bring a good show and get everyone rocking out.

Access All Areas.net.au: Any tips to the kids showing up to Soundwave for the day?
Stephen - Anberlin: A lot of people show up thinking they are going to be tough and that they can deal with the heat. They don't realize is it is all day and how important it is to keep hydrated. I would have to wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, bring some friends and have a great time.

Access All Areas.net.au: What is one thing you would like to do with your time while in Australia?
Stephen - Anberlin: You know I have been to some amazing places in Australia, I've been to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne. All around the edge's but, I would love to go to central Australia. I just feel like I have seen the edge now I want to get in the middle of it. Take in the beauty of the big wide baron land.

Access All Areas.net.au: Today is a big day for everyone in the United States, You now have President Obama.
Stephen - Anberlin: Yeah, you know I am happy. I really am. I think people have a lot of expectations on him as a president. Everyone wants' him to fix things the economic situation, the war in iraq. Right now he hasn't done anything yet, and you just hope that when he does you will see a change.

Access All Areas.net.au: Finally, What are the plans for Anberlin in the near future?
Stephen - Anberlin: We are in Canada right now, then we go to Japan and Australia. Then we come back to the states. We are doing some stuff in South America and eventually Europe. We are going to take the summer off.

Access All Areas.net.au: Thank you for taking the time to talk to me Stephan. I am excited to see you guys at Soundwave. Best of Luck.
Stephen - Anberlin: Thank you, hope to see you there. Have a good night.

Interview by Kira Newlands

Interview - December 11 2008

Access All Areas.net.au: Hey Nathan, hows it going
Anberlin: Hey man, I’m just hanging out in the UK, we’re on tour here & things are good.

Access All Areas.net.au: With 3 releases in the last 18 months & heaps of touring, how are you & the band going
Anberlin: Yeah, we’re doing great, we put a new record out a couple months back & have done some great touring. We have changed record labels in the last year, which was a change but we’ve gone well through this change. Everythings good & we’re looking forward to the times ahead.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now with the release of the new record “new surrender” it came relatively quicker than previous releases, was this just the time to release new material
Anberlin: Yeah well the main thing for us, was the change of labels. We wanted to do something to put ourselves out there with the label, and we figured a new record would be the best thing. It’s true it’s a lot quicker than previous releases, we usually don’t put another record out for 2 years, but this time we felt we had a good amount of material & we felt the record would be worthwhile, so we recorded one.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the writing of the record, being on tour & other things with the previous record “Cities”, was it difficult to find time to write things for the new record “new surrender”
Anberlin: Well not really, the songs were pretty easy to write. We took some time off & sat down & wrote the new material. The difficult things with this record, were factors such as a new guitarist joining the band, change of labels, recording out of Seattle for the first time, using a new producer etc so those things were challenging, but overall we were able to come together & get a really solid record done, which we’re all happy with.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now with touring for the new album, it was mainly done on the Van’s Warped Festival, how was it to tour an album on a festival tour
Anberlin: Yeah well it was interesting, but really fun. We did a couple acoustic shows before warped to rehearse & then we went on warped. We did all dates & were mainstage for the whole tour, the sets were great & the kids made our tour heaps of fun.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the crowds, how did they react to any new material played
Yeah, well with those acoustic shows, we did a couple new songs on them & they got onto YouTube so the kids knew the songs when we played them. The responses we got were amazing & we had some of the best crowds we’ve seen, it was really fun.

Access All Areas.net.au: With the warped tour, any good memories
Anberlin: Yeah, well it was pretty much the whole tour, playing with bands we know & stuff, so we’d play our shows, then get together at night for bbq’s & drinks, so it was just a real party & a great time for me.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now in the coming months you are coming back to Australia for your next tour on the 2009 Soundwave tour, are you excited to be playing
Anberlin: Oh yeah, definitely, we’re just amazed we could be on the tour as its just so amazing, the lineup is awesome. I’m looking forward to it, its our first festival run in Australia, so hopefully we get some good crowds at the shows on the tour.

Access All Areas.net.au: You mentioned the lineup, any bands you are looking forward to see or play with
Anberlin: Yeah, well with seeing its definitely Nine Inch Nails & playing with we’ve got friends like Underoath & others, so it’s a good lineup.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now with the set on the tour, what can the fans expect
Anberlin: Well at the moment we’re unsure of how long we have on stage, but we’ll do our best to play a mix. We’re touring on the new record, so we’ll be playing some songs from that & of course songs from the other records, so everyones happy.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now Nathan, just curious as to any memorable festival moments for you
Anberlin: Umm… let me think, the one that stands out for me is a festival we did in New Zealand a couple years back, I think it was the Parachute festival, but it was really cool to be able to play over there & to a heap of people. Other standout moments would probably be hometown shows on things like Warped & others.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now Nathan, any tips to the kids turning up to Soundwave for the day
Anberlin: Yeah, there’s only one tip from me, make a timetable & stick to it. With so many good bands playing, make sure to organise the day so you catch everyone you want to.

Access All Areas.net.au: Now are there any personal favourite festivals for you Nathan
Anberlin: Well for me, I suppose warped tour this year was an amazing festival experience & yeah I mean it was just something special, so I’d say that one.

Access All Areas.net.au: Are there any personal favourite artists you’ve seen at festivals
Anberlin: I’d probably say Rise Against, they were amazing when I saw them & another band I loved was Gym Class Heroes I caught them at warped & yeah bands like that I’ve love seeing.

Access All Areas.net.au: Well just finally, anything else planned for the near future
Anberlin: Well at the moment, we’re touring in europe, in january we do a canadian tour, following that we hit japan & then onto Australia for Soundwave. Once this is all done, we’re gonna try & have a break & then probably get back on tour.

Access All Areas.net.au: Well Nathan, thankyou for your time & hope things go well for you at Soundwave
Anberlin: Yeah thanks, thanks for your time for the interview, bye.

Interview By: Ben Coby.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

When Anberlin signed to Tooth & Nail Records in the summer of 2002, you could almost see the stars in their eyes. Though wide-eyed awe generally accompanies a brand new, blooming band upon being given a major green light to their prospective career, there was something so instantly captivating about these Florida boys that immediately made believers of their biggest skeptics.

And with one of the most electrifying line-ups in tact, singer Stephen Christian, guitarist Joseph Milligan, bassist Deon Rexroat and protege drummer Nate Young were ready to take the world by storm; Furthermore their 2003 debut release, Blueprints for the Black Market, was a perfect launch to do so. Instantly charming audiences with their incessant choruses, shredding guitar lines and sheer pop-perfection, the album immediately received critical acclaim, something Anberlin had no problem backing up on stage as they joined tours with bands like Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, and Story of the Year.

With two years, hundreds of tour dates and tens of thousands of copies of Blueprints sold since then, Anberlin are eagerly poised for what's next. With time comes obvious maturity, something vocalist Stephen Christian doesn't shy away from. I don't feel that we as Anberlin have evolved into something our fans won't recognize, Christian explains, but I definitely think we have matured musically and broadened our listening tastes, coming into our own as a band.

This evolution can be witnessed in full on their February 2005 full-length sophomore release, Never Take Friendship Personal. Created with Blueprints producer Aaron Sprinkle, who recorded their debut without ever seeing the band live, the obvious change of NTFP from its predecessor is that magic word: maturity. But after Sprinkle witnessed the band's live set for himself, something else was quick to change as well. Never seeing us live, he never knew how intense we were, says Christian. He realized that the second album had to reflect what he saw live energy.

The energy nearly leaps off the disc mere seconds into the first track as Milligan's guitar explodes through the opening riff, captivating the listener with bated breath. Each instrument and vocal delivery are not only dynamic, but filled with a real sense of confidence only experience could bring them. Even in diverse tracks like the ballad Symphony of Blas, Anberlin shine both individually and as a collective force.

For a band that seems to have no problem creating hit songs, and joining some of the biggest tours in the country, success is almost expected. Still, it's one of the facets Anberlin have yet to fully come to terms with. We are amazed at the reaction from the last album, Christian elaborates. It's crazy how many bigger bands in our genre know our music and love Blueprints Just tonight we were here in North Carolina and an older gentleman came up to me and we talked for a couple of minutes about bands and music. He went on to tell me that his son Adam had gotten him hooked on Anberlin and he had been a fan ever since. I learned after leaving the show that the man that I had met was Adam from Taking Back Sunday's dad!! I couldn't believe it! Adam got his dad hooked on our music!

And just as it had that first summer, the sparkle returns to Christian's eye, even brighter than before, but this time showing so much more than mere potential of a young band, more than the excitement of what could be. This time there is a new confidence brewing, an excitement that is not only explosive but silently assuring their rise to the top.

www.anberlin.com

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MY FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE

Cut Copy
We played an amazing festival called T in the Park in Scotland, which was a year and a half ago now, but that was really amazing in terms of being, by far, the biggest crowd we've played infront of, I think it was- we played in the dance tent, and it was the middle of the day, so it wasn't night time craziness, but they packed like 20,000 people into this tent, and it was totally round, it was just the best kind of crowd to be playing infront of, we were really suprised and weren't expecting to get such a big reception, particually in Scotland. We only really had played a handful of shows in Glasgow and hadn't really played anywhere else, so yeah, that's definitely up there.

Ideal Lineup?
We kind of actually had this discussion when we first started playing together, before we even did any shows as Cut Copy, we made up these phoney band names and played a few shows at this pub, sort of on the wrong side of the tracks and a bit run down, you could ring up like the night before and get a gig the next day, so it wasn't really like, you know.. anything amazing. But we booked in, I think a couple of times under false names, just to make sure we could actually play our instruments and do everything before we actually put Cut Copy up on the stage, and I think in that year we sort of had this imaginary- it wasn't like a festival it was kind of the idea of billing this gig where it was us headlining with Sonic Youth, and then Daft Punk would be like the warm up DJs, and that was like our ultimate show, ever! And then we've actually played with Daft Punk at the end of last year so we just feel like we've maybe partly lived that dream a little bit, even though they obviously weren't the warm up DJs for us, but yeah, we've ticked off one of those things at least. All we've got to do now is play with Sonic Youth!