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goDIY Presents: BAND vs. BAND Series
TRENCHTOWN VS. ANDREW WK
TRENCHTOWN VS. ANDREW WK
"Lifestyles of Andrew W.K"
October 08, 2010
Andrew W.K. has been teaching the party life for over a decade and has no plans of stopping. For those that missed Warped Tour this summer, fear not, AWK is headlining October's nation-wide "Most Interesting Show" tour and will be landing in the City of Angels on Friday, October 8th.
At a recent Warped Tour, Ryan Wagler, lead singer from the up and coming LA band Trenchtown had a chance to talk one-on-one with the seasoned Party Professor to gain valuable insight around topics such as: the origin of the AWK sound, dating, and when shampoo should be used. And of course, when not to go to bed!
Ryan - Your life, job, and music seem to be quite a party. What do you do on days off when you're "not partying"? Are there even times when you're "not partying".
AWK - Well, that's a very interesting idea in general because it has to do with the idea of work vs. play. I've been doing this now for almost 12 years and used to feel like maybe someday my life would go back to how it was before when I lived at my parents' house. That maybe if I kept working in entertainment and doing Andrew W.K. that it wouldn't necessarily always be so crazy but, in fact, it's just gotten crazier and I've noticed that life might not ever go back to being normal. When I think of normal life I used to think of it as work and then free time. But the way I used to spend my free time was doing the stuff that I do all the time now. That was what I did in any waking moment that I didn't have to be at my job. I basically just try to have fun every day and most of all, really be grateful for the fact that I get to do what I enjoy.
What's planned for the next year? Do we have a new album to expect? Is there another full U.S. tour coming up?
All of those things and more. My new season of Destroy Build Destroy debuts on Cartoon Network in October. Also, I have a very special full U.S. tour coming up in October. One very different than I've ever done before (www.mostinterestingshow.com). Other than that, the recording of a new album, the release of a new album, a book I've been working on, and more touring around the whole world once the new album is out. Really push this as far as we can over 2010, 2011, and 2012.
As far as the new album goes, can you give us any inside info on this new album?
It's going to be a real straight forward rock and roll album with the rock and roll instrumentation. Really the only album that I haven't done in my traditional style was the solo piano album, 55 Cadillac. However, this one will be non improvised songs and the most exciting songs I can make which is always my goal in one way or another. Certainly with rock and roll music I really want to make it as exciting as I possibly can and create that energy and use whatever music and instruments I can to pump up that excitement to the highest level. I'm just very excited to do the next rock album and someday another instrumental piano album. It would be really fun to do an instrumental rock album too.
Let's talk about the songs "Party Hard" and "Let's Go On A Date". Where were you when the song ideas came to your mind and what was inspiring you?
"Party Hard": I had just moved to New York City and was living in Brooklyn by myself. I had been working on this idea of using the piano with rock music in a real banging way to create the feeling of "AHHHH". I wanted to create some kind of song to make people, including me, stick their hands in the air and just have your whole body surge with this joyous energy like the feeling of winning the lottery or going down a roller coaster hill or the last day of school. The feeling that things could not be better in the world. This real driving beat with banging piano and keyboards shining above all of it with the most chanting passionate vocal delivery about having fun. I wanted the song to be about the song and it all came together as a general mindset. "Party Hard" was one song that came out of that but was written a little bit later than some of the others. I think I did "Its Time To Party" first.
The first thing I came up with was that " dah nah nah nah..." (sings the "Party Hard" melody). Then I needed a guitar chord underneath "teh deeh deeh deeh" (sings crunching first chords to "Party Hard"). So it was a real statement with the style I wanted to establish for myself and maybe someday people could become familiar with. It was very driving and very joyous
And another song that people might not be as familiar with, "Lets Go On a Date". What was it like creating that one?
I had just moved to Manhattan and was going on a lot of dates at that time. I ended up meeting the woman that I married, Cherie Lily and she joined my band around that time. The whole idea of going out on dates was very exciting to me. I actually I hadn't gone on a lot of dates in my life up until that point but meeting different people, different girls, different nights, different places and really trying that idea of dating where you don't commit to a relationship and meet a bunch of different folks was fun. That song came out of that. I didn't really think about it until now but that idea that you could 'ask' someone out, I thought was so exciting. Even if you didn't know them or you just met a stranger, if you approached it in that very polite way then you could have this amazing experience. It's a strange weird experience. Your perception of them changes so much as you become more familiar with them and its always interesting and weird. Very inspiring time.
And I don't miss dating at all because it's also a pretty crazy, potentially depressing and humiliating thing too. But so amazing and the song is all about that.
What can you tell us about keeping the party high? When do you sleep? What kind of shampoo do you use? How do you keep this energy going? Is there any sort of advice you can give us?
Well when it comes to sleeping, I have been fortunate enough in this business to be able to maintain a pretty crazy sleep schedule. Sometimes I stay up 2 days in a row. In show business and especially rock music the expectations of a performance are very different. You can show up having had no sleep and maybe acting a little strange to people. I think you should sleep when you are tired and not sleep otherwise. I don't go to bed at midnight because I have a meeting at 7am. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways. I recommend sleeping when you're tired and don't sleep otherwise.
To hold yourself to some kind of pattern or order or balance just for the sake of it is unnecessary and a waste of energy that could be put into things when you feel motivated to do them. Those flashes of inspiration that you feel inside that tell you to go and do something, that inspire action and that take ideas from just being a dream and make it start happening in the world around you. That is a very powerful and elusive piece of energy and you want to pay attention and respond to it. So even if it is 1am and you want to go to sleep, if you feel excited and want to do something then I would think DO IT! That is your destiny calling to you, telling you what to do when you are supposed to do it. It can be very intense and stressful because you end up taking a lot of risks. Like walking out on a job because you understand that you're not meant to work there anymore.
When it comes to hair washing, I haven't used shampoo in many, many years accept occasionally, maybe once a year. Other than that, I don't really even rinse my hair with water. But again, I'm allowed to have greasy, dirty hair. It's part of what I set out to do. I also think it's great that my wife washes her hair a lot and I'm grateful for it because it's always very soft, very clean, and smells so good. My hair is kind of gross and disgusting. So take this advice with a grain of salt and only apply it if it works for you.
Do you have any advice to up and coming bands working DIY?
Just to be very clear what you want to do. Set clear goals and guidelines and realize that no one is ever going to care about what you're doing as much as you will and it's your duty, even if you are working with a huge team of people. I think DIY is fantastic but I think anybody who's successful is ultimately working DIY even if you're working with very large corporations and taking advantage of all they have to offer. It's still up to you to get the most out of those relationships. It's still up to you to push your vision and maximize what anybody has to offer as part of the team. I used to be much more extreme and do everything without listening to other people's advice because I didn't trust anyone else to do it, even the art work and website. Once I realized I could let other people do it, not only could they do whatever I asked them to, but they could also come up with things that I wouldn't have thought of.
ANDREW W.K.
www.andrewwk.com
Twitter: @AndrewWK
TRENCHTOWN
www.trenchtownmusic.com
Twitter: @trenchtownUSA
October 08, 2010
Andrew W.K. has been teaching the party life for over a decade and has no plans of stopping. For those that missed Warped Tour this summer, fear not, AWK is headlining October's nation-wide "Most Interesting Show" tour and will be landing in the City of Angels on Friday, October 8th.
At a recent Warped Tour, Ryan Wagler, lead singer from the up and coming LA band Trenchtown had a chance to talk one-on-one with the seasoned Party Professor to gain valuable insight around topics such as: the origin of the AWK sound, dating, and when shampoo should be used. And of course, when not to go to bed!
Ryan - Your life, job, and music seem to be quite a party. What do you do on days off when you're "not partying"? Are there even times when you're "not partying".
AWK - Well, that's a very interesting idea in general because it has to do with the idea of work vs. play. I've been doing this now for almost 12 years and used to feel like maybe someday my life would go back to how it was before when I lived at my parents' house. That maybe if I kept working in entertainment and doing Andrew W.K. that it wouldn't necessarily always be so crazy but, in fact, it's just gotten crazier and I've noticed that life might not ever go back to being normal. When I think of normal life I used to think of it as work and then free time. But the way I used to spend my free time was doing the stuff that I do all the time now. That was what I did in any waking moment that I didn't have to be at my job. I basically just try to have fun every day and most of all, really be grateful for the fact that I get to do what I enjoy.
What's planned for the next year? Do we have a new album to expect? Is there another full U.S. tour coming up?
All of those things and more. My new season of Destroy Build Destroy debuts on Cartoon Network in October. Also, I have a very special full U.S. tour coming up in October. One very different than I've ever done before (www.mostinterestingshow.com). Other than that, the recording of a new album, the release of a new album, a book I've been working on, and more touring around the whole world once the new album is out. Really push this as far as we can over 2010, 2011, and 2012.
As far as the new album goes, can you give us any inside info on this new album?
It's going to be a real straight forward rock and roll album with the rock and roll instrumentation. Really the only album that I haven't done in my traditional style was the solo piano album, 55 Cadillac. However, this one will be non improvised songs and the most exciting songs I can make which is always my goal in one way or another. Certainly with rock and roll music I really want to make it as exciting as I possibly can and create that energy and use whatever music and instruments I can to pump up that excitement to the highest level. I'm just very excited to do the next rock album and someday another instrumental piano album. It would be really fun to do an instrumental rock album too.
Let's talk about the songs "Party Hard" and "Let's Go On A Date". Where were you when the song ideas came to your mind and what was inspiring you?
"Party Hard": I had just moved to New York City and was living in Brooklyn by myself. I had been working on this idea of using the piano with rock music in a real banging way to create the feeling of "AHHHH". I wanted to create some kind of song to make people, including me, stick their hands in the air and just have your whole body surge with this joyous energy like the feeling of winning the lottery or going down a roller coaster hill or the last day of school. The feeling that things could not be better in the world. This real driving beat with banging piano and keyboards shining above all of it with the most chanting passionate vocal delivery about having fun. I wanted the song to be about the song and it all came together as a general mindset. "Party Hard" was one song that came out of that but was written a little bit later than some of the others. I think I did "Its Time To Party" first.
The first thing I came up with was that " dah nah nah nah..." (sings the "Party Hard" melody). Then I needed a guitar chord underneath "teh deeh deeh deeh" (sings crunching first chords to "Party Hard"). So it was a real statement with the style I wanted to establish for myself and maybe someday people could become familiar with. It was very driving and very joyous
And another song that people might not be as familiar with, "Lets Go On a Date". What was it like creating that one?
I had just moved to Manhattan and was going on a lot of dates at that time. I ended up meeting the woman that I married, Cherie Lily and she joined my band around that time. The whole idea of going out on dates was very exciting to me. I actually I hadn't gone on a lot of dates in my life up until that point but meeting different people, different girls, different nights, different places and really trying that idea of dating where you don't commit to a relationship and meet a bunch of different folks was fun. That song came out of that. I didn't really think about it until now but that idea that you could 'ask' someone out, I thought was so exciting. Even if you didn't know them or you just met a stranger, if you approached it in that very polite way then you could have this amazing experience. It's a strange weird experience. Your perception of them changes so much as you become more familiar with them and its always interesting and weird. Very inspiring time.
And I don't miss dating at all because it's also a pretty crazy, potentially depressing and humiliating thing too. But so amazing and the song is all about that.
What can you tell us about keeping the party high? When do you sleep? What kind of shampoo do you use? How do you keep this energy going? Is there any sort of advice you can give us?
Well when it comes to sleeping, I have been fortunate enough in this business to be able to maintain a pretty crazy sleep schedule. Sometimes I stay up 2 days in a row. In show business and especially rock music the expectations of a performance are very different. You can show up having had no sleep and maybe acting a little strange to people. I think you should sleep when you are tired and not sleep otherwise. I don't go to bed at midnight because I have a meeting at 7am. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyways. I recommend sleeping when you're tired and don't sleep otherwise.
To hold yourself to some kind of pattern or order or balance just for the sake of it is unnecessary and a waste of energy that could be put into things when you feel motivated to do them. Those flashes of inspiration that you feel inside that tell you to go and do something, that inspire action and that take ideas from just being a dream and make it start happening in the world around you. That is a very powerful and elusive piece of energy and you want to pay attention and respond to it. So even if it is 1am and you want to go to sleep, if you feel excited and want to do something then I would think DO IT! That is your destiny calling to you, telling you what to do when you are supposed to do it. It can be very intense and stressful because you end up taking a lot of risks. Like walking out on a job because you understand that you're not meant to work there anymore.
When it comes to hair washing, I haven't used shampoo in many, many years accept occasionally, maybe once a year. Other than that, I don't really even rinse my hair with water. But again, I'm allowed to have greasy, dirty hair. It's part of what I set out to do. I also think it's great that my wife washes her hair a lot and I'm grateful for it because it's always very soft, very clean, and smells so good. My hair is kind of gross and disgusting. So take this advice with a grain of salt and only apply it if it works for you.
Do you have any advice to up and coming bands working DIY?
Just to be very clear what you want to do. Set clear goals and guidelines and realize that no one is ever going to care about what you're doing as much as you will and it's your duty, even if you are working with a huge team of people. I think DIY is fantastic but I think anybody who's successful is ultimately working DIY even if you're working with very large corporations and taking advantage of all they have to offer. It's still up to you to get the most out of those relationships. It's still up to you to push your vision and maximize what anybody has to offer as part of the team. I used to be much more extreme and do everything without listening to other people's advice because I didn't trust anyone else to do it, even the art work and website. Once I realized I could let other people do it, not only could they do whatever I asked them to, but they could also come up with things that I wouldn't have thought of.
ANDREW W.K.
www.andrewwk.com
Twitter: @AndrewWK
TRENCHTOWN
www.trenchtownmusic.com
Twitter: @trenchtownUSA
Interviews
Mer Made in Chicago
http://www.examiner.com/music-in-chicago/mer-made-chicago
May 9th, 2011
Chicago indie rocker MER (official site) has been busy and shows no signs of slowing down. Last December he recorded a live ten track cd at the Cubby Bear in Chicago. The cd titled, "Made in Chicago" has been very well received. In fact, the Cubby Bear people liked him so much he is now the artist in residence at the Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire, IL. You can catch him there every Thursday all summer long.
The talented MER has quite an impressive industry resume. The budding star has played with the Violent Femmes, Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, The Verve Pipe, Fastball and Kill Hannah to name a few. Yet, despite playing with those heavyweights, MER does not and will not rest on his laurels. He continues to seek growth while expanding his network. A true artist is never done reaching out to others.
MER tours West Coast
MER's career is blossoming because he is not one to sit still. He started off 2011 with a solo West Coast tour that took him to the great music hubs of Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles. Like any aspiring indie act that is serious minded, MER knows that you have to leave your comfort zone, reach out to others and network, network, network. That, my friends, is an industry must in this age of new media and do it yourself artists.
A little over three years ago MER was contacted by Los Angeles based indie record label GODIY Records via MySpace, (The formally relevant social site that is currently on life support). Co-founder Eric Wagler pitched MER a compilation cd. Comp cd's can be tricky business for independent musicians as there are many sharks within the music business. However, GODIY backed up the compilation offer with strong Midwest distribution and the sharing of their lengthy industry network. MER was very happy with the results. "Within a year, the compilation was out and my music was being spread through their contacts."
Networking is the key
Together, the artist and the label put together a Chicago House of Blues showcase with MER as the headliner along with other Midwest bands. The show was a huge success and preceeded a solo tour out West with venue contacts provided by GoDIY Records. The new music business absolutely requires that a label and their artists work together as a team. Again, networking is the key. MER stated: " I reached out directly to Eric Wagler for venue contacts. He helped out in a big way by connecting me with a promoter at The Mint. Since then, I have performed at The Mint four times in the past two years. It is an amazing venue and I have been able to network extensively and impress the L.A. music biz folk."
The Southern California firm also was helpful in providing MER with leads and contacts for his 2011 West Coast tour. "My three week, 17 shows, west coast tour was highlighted by the live performances and networking in the Los Angeles area. I could not have done it without GoDIY!"
The growing relationship between the Chicago artist and the L.A. label is a perfect example of independents helping each other. Aspiring indie artists and industry professionals should take note of this well planned practice. The two seperate entities have developed a mutually beneficial partnership. The record label is now helping MER secure licensing and placement opportunities.Luckily for us Chicagoans, we do not have to wait long to see a very talented hard working professional brought to our attention by a big corporation; some people know how to do it on their own (with a little help from their friends). MER is well on his way.
Continue reading on Examiner.com MER made in Chicago - Chicago Music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/music-in-chicago/mer-made-chicago#ixzz1NxIYOdbH
May 9th, 2011
Chicago indie rocker MER (official site) has been busy and shows no signs of slowing down. Last December he recorded a live ten track cd at the Cubby Bear in Chicago. The cd titled, "Made in Chicago" has been very well received. In fact, the Cubby Bear people liked him so much he is now the artist in residence at the Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire, IL. You can catch him there every Thursday all summer long.
The talented MER has quite an impressive industry resume. The budding star has played with the Violent Femmes, Gin Blossoms, Better Than Ezra, The Verve Pipe, Fastball and Kill Hannah to name a few. Yet, despite playing with those heavyweights, MER does not and will not rest on his laurels. He continues to seek growth while expanding his network. A true artist is never done reaching out to others.
MER tours West Coast
MER's career is blossoming because he is not one to sit still. He started off 2011 with a solo West Coast tour that took him to the great music hubs of Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles. Like any aspiring indie act that is serious minded, MER knows that you have to leave your comfort zone, reach out to others and network, network, network. That, my friends, is an industry must in this age of new media and do it yourself artists.
A little over three years ago MER was contacted by Los Angeles based indie record label GODIY Records via MySpace, (The formally relevant social site that is currently on life support). Co-founder Eric Wagler pitched MER a compilation cd. Comp cd's can be tricky business for independent musicians as there are many sharks within the music business. However, GODIY backed up the compilation offer with strong Midwest distribution and the sharing of their lengthy industry network. MER was very happy with the results. "Within a year, the compilation was out and my music was being spread through their contacts."
Networking is the key
Together, the artist and the label put together a Chicago House of Blues showcase with MER as the headliner along with other Midwest bands. The show was a huge success and preceeded a solo tour out West with venue contacts provided by GoDIY Records. The new music business absolutely requires that a label and their artists work together as a team. Again, networking is the key. MER stated: " I reached out directly to Eric Wagler for venue contacts. He helped out in a big way by connecting me with a promoter at The Mint. Since then, I have performed at The Mint four times in the past two years. It is an amazing venue and I have been able to network extensively and impress the L.A. music biz folk."
The Southern California firm also was helpful in providing MER with leads and contacts for his 2011 West Coast tour. "My three week, 17 shows, west coast tour was highlighted by the live performances and networking in the Los Angeles area. I could not have done it without GoDIY!"
The growing relationship between the Chicago artist and the L.A. label is a perfect example of independents helping each other. Aspiring indie artists and industry professionals should take note of this well planned practice. The two seperate entities have developed a mutually beneficial partnership. The record label is now helping MER secure licensing and placement opportunities.Luckily for us Chicagoans, we do not have to wait long to see a very talented hard working professional brought to our attention by a big corporation; some people know how to do it on their own (with a little help from their friends). MER is well on his way.
Continue reading on Examiner.com MER made in Chicago - Chicago Music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/music-in-chicago/mer-made-chicago#ixzz1NxIYOdbH
Interviews
THE ROOT CAUSE JOINS GODIY RECORDS
http://www.motumanagement.com/?p=83
With their distinctly American Acoustic Rock sound, The Root Cause has made a move to widen their audience and grab some more ears for the melodies made by the award winning players and songwriters that makeup this Chicago-based crew.
Partnering with long-time indie music advocate, L.A.-based Go DIY Records, and being featured on a recent “New Artist” compilation should prove to move the band into new territory. Go DIY has long been known for their scrappy, no frills style of music promotion, which fits perfectly with The Root Cause’s roll up your sleeve work ethic. Bands from coast to coast have long praised Go DIY for their continual support and innovative solutions in what’s proving to be an industry that’s getting trickier to navigate as each day passes. The new partnership will introduce the Acoustic Rockers to traditional and college radio stations nation-wide and provide new venue opportunities for future tour dates.
The Root Cause has a new album slated to drop in August, just in time for back to school parties and the last of your Summer celebrations. In celebration of their newest partnership, The Root Cause has decided to give the public a preview of three new songs for a limited time. You can listen and download them at http://therootcause.bandcamp.com
With their distinctly American Acoustic Rock sound, The Root Cause has made a move to widen their audience and grab some more ears for the melodies made by the award winning players and songwriters that makeup this Chicago-based crew.
Partnering with long-time indie music advocate, L.A.-based Go DIY Records, and being featured on a recent “New Artist” compilation should prove to move the band into new territory. Go DIY has long been known for their scrappy, no frills style of music promotion, which fits perfectly with The Root Cause’s roll up your sleeve work ethic. Bands from coast to coast have long praised Go DIY for their continual support and innovative solutions in what’s proving to be an industry that’s getting trickier to navigate as each day passes. The new partnership will introduce the Acoustic Rockers to traditional and college radio stations nation-wide and provide new venue opportunities for future tour dates.
The Root Cause has a new album slated to drop in August, just in time for back to school parties and the last of your Summer celebrations. In celebration of their newest partnership, The Root Cause has decided to give the public a preview of three new songs for a limited time. You can listen and download them at http://therootcause.bandcamp.com