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| No Days : Email Interview with Stephen of No Days : May 13, 2006 |
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1. When did No Days form and who else is in the band? The exact origin of No Days is too complex to give a date. The idea of No Days has lingered around in my head for a while now, at least the last 4 years. I knew I wanted to make it in the industry and I wanted to make a kick ass rock album. Through during the following years I was a part of a few bands, nothing really solid nor true to my vision amounted. In early 2005 I was introduced to Haydain Neale (Jacksoul) who gave me confidence to seek out what it is that I want and start to create my monster. Shortly after the EP was created I enlisted the help of Krist Ladva (drums), Jonathan Lindsay (guiar), and Mike Ojala (bass). So to give you a time frame I would say the band was formed in dec 2005. 2. How did you all hook up? As soon as the EP was completed in Dec, I had posted audition ads all over the place. I held some pretty long and interesting auditions, in which I was really fortunate to meet a lot of talented musicians and people that shared the same passion and dream as me. I believe I first met Jonathan and he came in nailed his parts and just blew the “judges” away. After Jonathan left Krist walked in the door and it was just magic. It was one of those things that you can’t explain, you spend hours looking for your band and within the same 30 minutes the two go-to guys happen to walk in to my life. The audition process was a little more rough in terms of finding a bass player. So I decided to hold the first practice without one and in that rehearsal Krist had told me of his friend, Mike, who was looking to play. So again, its just fate I guess. 3. What is it about this line up that makes it work? The main reason why this line up works well is because we are all very similar in that we share a passion for music, an openness to learn and experiment and the love of performing. It’s a pretty powerful thing really. That coupled with the fact that I was able to handpick the members based on an intense audition process as well as that little touch of “fate” or whatever unseen power that exists. I found exactly what I wanted - No Days. 4. How did you go about songwriting for this EP? Songwriting for the EP began in may 2005. It was a really interesting time for me, where I was extremely lucky enough to work with one of Canada’s best singer/song writer/ producers Haydain Neale (jacksoul). We basically met a few times a week to go through ideas for riffs, lyrics and what not. It was a very fluid process as Haydain is really laid back and amazing to work with. I was fortunate to learn so much from him while the writing process took place. By the end of july we had the four songs fully written but due to studio booking we were not able to go into the studio until September. 5. Tell me about the recording process behind the new EP? The EP was recorded at Megawatt Studios in the Sony BMG building. It began in early September and again due to the busy nature of the studio it was not completed and ready for mastering until November. The recording process for me was a huge learning experience and actually the first time I stepped behind a mic as prepared as I was. I spent hours practicing and perfecting lines. Maybe two weeks before I had enlisted the help of a great vocal coach by the name of Elaine Overholt - whose resume is extensive and has worked with the likes of Richard Gere, Queen Latifa, Rene Zellwinger, Catherine Zeta Jones, Melissa Oneil, Kalen Porter, and of course Stephen Tauro. By the way I still go to Elaine and pretty much owe a lot to her. She has helped me grow considerably - Wait till you check out the show, you’ll see. 6. What were your experiences working with Haydain Neale? Well time and time again I will say this; Haydain Neale is a huge reason why I am confident in No Days and confident in the EP. He has inspired, coached, produced, and every other positive verb that you can think of that involves being a huge part of this project. He is the Man. Working with him is something that I will hold on to for the rest of my life and I really hope I will be able to work with him again, maybe on my full album. 7. What are your promo plans for the EP? The biggest thing for promotion would be my website. Just getting as many people out there to visit it, listen to the music and post up messages in the forum. Just trying to create a community of music lovers, specifically No Days lovers. That’s why I have included a forum on the website for people to get to know each other and when we have shows to meet up and talk. You see at a lot of shows people are huddled into their own little groups and it seems each one has this impermeable shield around them that destroys any type of outside interaction. It would be nice to get rid of that. Other than the website there is always the heavily used Myspace which has become the stamp in modern promotion. I also have a few things in the works with college radio stations and hope to get that going real soon, some frequent spins would help a lot in getting out the music and word of the band. And of course, how could I forget the wonderful world of Zines, especially Virus. They are an awesome way to promote the band and get people at least aware of the existence of the band. 8. What's up with the new site? Who designed it and do you have a launch date? There is a new site!! Why? Well I wasn’t too happy with the first site I had created, I did not have pictures up, it was really slow and not visually pleasing. I have been designing the new site over the past month or so and hope to have it finally up by May 1. The new site will be a lot simpler; I find beauty in the simplistic nature of things. I think a website should be that way; everything you are looking for should be easily found and obtained. I hope people like it, there will be music, videos, pictures, a forum (message board) lots of stuff to keep people coming back. So please do Come back. 9. How important is it to you to be hands on about the non musical aspects of the band? (cd artwork, promo stuff) I think that non musical aspects of the band are just as important as the music. For any serious musician who wants to make it in the business, it’s very important to realise that it is just that - a business. Those aspects help create what is the band, it completes the whole package. That’s the thing, you’ll find continuity with all aspects of No Days just because I have my hands in it all. I don’t see it happening any other way ,for now at least. Its not that I am a dictator or a megalomaniac it’s just that it’s a business, it involves paperwork, web sites, promotion, booking, and performing. I truly love what I do, I love music, I love the business, I love the promotion and I love the countless hours of work. That’s why I’m in it, and all of these aspects add up to make the total package of No Days. Its like the idea that the sum is only as good as its parts. 10. Are you looking for label support? What are you looking for in a label? I am currently sending out promo packs to the major record labels and for sure am looking for their support. With their support I will be able to document and polish one of my main goals - a full length album. I have songs, I have ideas, I just need some financial backing and that all powerful label support. That would also lead to a lot bigger tours and world wide exposure. Plus I will have time to really experiment with the music and try out things I have never before, just because the technology will be at my finger tips. Plus I really love business and am so fascinated with the whole engine so I would love to see it work first hand. * If there is anything you'd like included that I didn't ask about, please let me know here and I'll include it. What is the meaning of the name No Days? No Days is the end of something old and the start of something new. Now where that leads you is totally personal but it is that rebirth, that growth, that maturity. We like to ask everyone this one: List any 5 songs in your most current (last listened to) playlist. Audioslave - Show me how to live Godsmack - Speak Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become Incubus - 11 am Thornley - Come Again |