In 2009, After Midnight Project signed with major label Universal Motown and released their debut full-length album Let’s Build Something to Break. In conjunction with this singing, their single “Take Me Home” had received quite a bit of airplay and performed on the Vans Warped Tour. This year, the band once again championed the Warped Tour life, playing the entire tour. Before they left for tour, our very own Denis Simms spoke with vocalist Jason Evigan about Let’s Build Something to Break, new material and Warped life. This is what happened:
Denis@RRR: Your debut full-length album Let’s Build Something to Break came out last year. Could you guide us through the writing and recording process for that album?
Jason Evigan: The 11 songs that made the album were songs that had been written over a span of 5 years. The first single "Take Me Home" was written at least 3 years before it went to radio! There were three versions of it before the Let’s Build Something to Break album. The songwriting process for each song was very different. Sometimes I will be walking around the house or driving in my car when I start singing a melody (I must look like a crazy guy because I really get into it). From there I will go up into home studio and find the instrumentation that works to compliment the melodies and lyrics. I'll demo out the song and then bring it to the guys so we can bring it to life as a band. That’s one way. Another way and probably the most common way I write songs is just by picking up my acoustic guitar or sitting down in front of the piano. This is my favorite way, because the song just pours out and writes its self. Again after I write the entire song I will go up in my studio and demo it out. Now over 5 years a lot of songs were written including a few that other members had brought to the table like "Come on Come on" that Spencer and I wrote, So choosing the 11 tracks was really a challenge and took a lot of planning and strategic thinking. Once we chose the 11 we sat with Producer John Feldmann for two weeks in his living room with acoustic guitars and a lot of soy mocha lattes and did pre production. This is where we rewrote bridges and changed lyrics and wrote new choruses. Pre- production is the most important chapter to making a great album. After pre-production came tracking drums. I believe Danny knocked out his parts in two Days! And just to throw it out there, Feldmann always replaces band’s drummers with his "guy". So, we were super stoked Danny played on the album. After drums and a few days of guitars at Feldmann's studio, we decided to go to the Village in Santa Monica to record the rest of guitars and piano. We wanted to change up the vibe. The Village has a lot of history and is haunted so we thought it would be perfect. We came back to John’s studio (Foxy Studios) to finish vocals and the rest of the programming. One great thing about recording with John is he is spontaneous and loves to do crazy things. For example, he planned a surf trip up to San Simeon so we could record vocals on the beach for the song "Gone To Long". We recorded those vocals at midnight on the beach on a rock with waves crashing on both sides of me. It was a full moon and the vibe could not have been any more perfect.
Denis@RRR: How do you feel the album was received by fans and critics?
Jason Evigan: Well, I feel the reaction was exactly what we expected. Die hard fans missed the old versions of the songs and new fans liked the new versions better than the old [Laughs]. Change doesn't come easy. But luckily, there were only a few old songs on the album. The general consensus was that we made kick ass album and that we have evolved, which is always a good thing to hear. We will get the occasional "I like the E.P. better because it’s more raw" comment, but overall a success. Now critics... Here’s the problem someone at our label (he's not there anymore) dropped the ball and didn’t send out any material to press! So, we never got any real reviews in AP or Spin or Rolling Stone. But the reviews that we have gotten, I have been pleased with for the most part. We have had some really great online sites who have supported us since the album came out. I try not to read reviews, but I always do.
Denis@RRR: Would you say that you’re proud of the album; did it come out the way you wanted to or looking back now, would you make changes to it?
Jason Evigan: I am very proud of it. Are there things I would change? Of course. That’s how it always is though. I think we tried every idea possible at the time. We had fun making it and that’s what counts. I think we gave it our all.
Denis@RRR: Has the band been writing any new material? If so, what direction are these new songs taking?
Jason Evigan: Yes, we have been constantly writing on the road. Some of the stuff has been more aggressive and a little darker. It’s cool how the song writing changes when you are on the road away from the ones you love. The road can get dark and I think you will hear that in the new songs.. There is frustration in the lyrics and angst. I’m really happy with the direction.
Denis@RRR: How’s signing to Universal Motown come about?
Jason Evigan: We did it independently for along time. We showcased for every record label twice and kept getting the run around. We walked our single "Take Me Home" in to KROQ in LA and got them to start playing it. From there, different cities and states started playing the song. We had a few DJs and radio directors who really believed in us and helped push us on the air. Jay Hudson in Detroit, Capone in San Diego and Lisa at KROQ were a huge part to our success. An unsigned band on the radio…impossible. A couple weeks later, Motown approached us and offered the deal along with a few other record labels. All the A&Rs at the labels always said "you need a story" I guess that’s ours.
Denis@RRR: How’d you come up with your name?
Jason Evigan: The Goonies.
Denis@RRR: What are some things you learned from being on Warped Tour last year that you plan on implementing this year on the tour?
Jason Evigan: Bring some sort of transportation. Lots of walking! Make cool signs that won’t get ruined where you can display what time you are playing. More Sunscreen! More Water. Less Whisky. More sleep so those mornings when you have to sing at 11am you can.
Denis@RRR: Do you have any crazy tour stories you’d like to share?
Jason Evigan: Spencer threw up bird feed once. That’s all I know.
Denis@RRR: What are some of your upcoming plans?
Jason Evigan: Live album coming out soon, Writing for the new album that we hope to start recording in Dec. And until then, tour! Tour! Tour!
Denis@RRR: Thanks again for doing this interview. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Jason Evigan: Go to AMPARMY.COM and thank you for asking questions with substance.
After Midnight Project’s album Let’s Build Something to Break is now available courtesy of Universal Motown. Stay tuned for more news!
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