The MODERN DAY ESCAPE Interview

Modern Day Escape is getting ready to release their sophomore record, Under The Gun, on March 27th via Standby Records. The band has already hit the road in anticipation of the impending release as part of the “Something Wicked This Way Comes Tour” with Wednesday 13 and Aiden. They also have a new drummer, Sandra Alva, who they met while touring with Black Veil Brides. Starting March 13th, the band will be headlining a tour that will be followed by more touring throughout the year. Personally, I think it would be fun to follow them down to Mexico and provide coverage of the release celebration.

Shauna: You are releasing your sophomore record titled Under the Gun on March 27, 2012. How will you guys celebrate its release?
James/MDE: We will get some pistols and head down to Mexico for a saucy puppet show, lots of tequila and perhaps a bearded lady or two.

Shauna: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?
James/MDE: Kick ass sexy rock and roll music.

Shauna: What did you guys do differently on this record that you did not do on the first? Did you try different techniques and sounds this time?
Personally I didn’t write lyrics or melodies to all but three out of I think seventeen songs. James/MDE: We wrote for the record until they pushed record, when I was tracking vocals for the album. I know we wrote live with our producer when we were in the studio on some of the tracks and used a different guitar amp combo then the last record. The post production we did was very different than anything we did before.

Shauna: Who did you work with production wise on the record? What was the experience like?
James/MDE: We worked with Don Dibiase at Studio D in Cleveland, Ohio. It was an insane grueling process to write this record to say the least; we had all odds against us in writing and recording this record. We lost our lead guitarist during the writing process, there was a dispute on musical direction between our previous management company and ourselves, power outages, snowstorms, equipment failure and time crunches. Overall there was a lot of pressure with making sure we had a record that was larger in every way than our last.

Shauna: What do you enjoy most when it comes to the writing/recording process?
James/MDE: My personal favorite is hearing the play back of the finished song when it's mixed or writing the lyrics and tracking the vocals on the spot. The exhilaration and high I get off being in the moment and capturing my raw emotion is insane.

Shauna: Did you collaborate with anyone outside the band when writing the record? Any guest spots?
James/MDE: We had Rus Martin, vocalist for Fake Figures, come out and feature on our track "Feeds on the Darkside". We had the vocalist Franki Doll from Franki Doll and the Broken Toys feature on our track "Demons Down Below" and our buddy Travis Miguel from the band Atreyu help out on some gang vocals in our track “The Syndicate”.

Shauna: The album cover looks amazing. Who designed it? Did you have any input on what it was going to look like?
James/MDE: Actually, yes, we had the amazing Carin Croanacher from Hazmat Design Company and myself working on it. We spent weeks going back and forth and hours on the phone together fine tuning it and tweaking it to bring it to life. We couldn’t have asked for a better cover or a better design artist to work with us on it.

Shauna: Sandra Alva formerly of Black Veil Brides has now joined the band. How did that come about? What has she been able to bring to the table that wasn’t already there?
James/MDE: We did the ‘Sacred Ceremony Tour’ with Sandra and her former band in 2010, shortly after that tour she parted ways and we were having drummer try outs and our record label owner called me and said she was available, so I drove up to Hollywood to watch her play to our songs and she nailed it. She brings the more solidified rock and roll sound in the percussion form we were looking for. Sandra Alveranga is the rockstar Modern Day Escape always needed.

Shauna: What are you doing in the way of a music video for the title track “Under the Gun”? Who comes up with the concepts for your videos?
James/MDE: It was our producer Scott Hanson who conceptually designed the treatment for this video. Marti and myself oversee everything and come up with the final tweaks on everything. We’re kinda like the salt and pepper, he is the main course on this concept.

Shauna: How did things go on the Something Wicked this Way Comes Tour?
James/MDE: This tour was super awesome. We had a great time. We’re glad we got to hit the road with awesome bands like Wednesday 13 and Aiden.

Shauna: What is your favorite thing about being on the road?
James/MDE: Not being homeless. I get to stay in hotels and at friend’s houses instead of sleeping in the van all the time. Seeing and meeting all the fans is really awesome and seeing all my friends is cool as well.

Shauna: What is the one thing you must have with you when you go on tour?
James/MDE: My Iphone or beef jerky or Gatorade…I’d probably die with out them.

Shauna: What are the plans as far as touring for the rest of the year?
James/MDE: We have a headlining tour we’re doing starting March 13th to support the release of our new album "Under the Gun" and a few tours after that to which I don’t remember who they’re with or when but I know there gonna be badass and I want to see everyone's face staring back at me in the front row.

Shauna: Any summer festivals planned?
James/MDE: We want to play all of them but will we, who knows?

Shauna: Do you go to a lot of shows in Los Angeles and see other bands play? Do you think that is a good way to network?
James/MDE: I personally go out and see my friend’s bands who come through on tour or pop in to a random show here or there when I’m not on the road. As for networking I found that the only person who is gonna get your band noticed is you and your own band, no bands helped us. But what I will say is people need to support local bands, because we were all local once.

Shauna: What has been the biggest help in getting your name out there?
James/MDE: Honestly Myspace started the ball rolling when the band and myself would sit for hours hand adding people, commenting and messaging them. Other than that touring a lot and having a music video has done well for us.

Shauna: Any words of wisdom for those kids out there who aspire to be like you and start a band?
James/MDE: Don't let them take you down, don't let them take you alive.

Shauna: Thanks so much for the interview. Was there anything you’d like to add or say?
James/MDE: Thank you for the awesome interview. Thank you to our badass fans and make sure all of you go out and pre order the new record "UNDER THE GUN" coming out March 27th.

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Tags:  Modern Day Escape, Standby Records, interviews  

Shauna O'Donnell    March 16, 2012