Amber Pacific

We recently got the chance to speak with Victory's new signees Amber Pacific, discussing a range of topics, including their new album Virtues, the changes the band has endured over the past few years, and Megan Fox. Huh?

Maria@RRR: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Could you please tell us your name and role in the band?

Will Nutter, I play guitar, piano, and write the tunes for Amber Pacific.

Maria@RRR: 2010 is a new beginning for Amber Pacific, with the release of your third studio album Virtues. Guide us through the writing process for the record....

It’s been a long time since our last release, in that time span we’ve been through the ins and outs of the music industry and have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When we signed with Victory and I knew we were going to get another opportunity to release a record, I began sorting through 2 years worth of material to find the best ideas and songs to put on this record. I normally will write a record’s worth of material a month or two prior to going into the studio but this time was different, I had material to pick from which was new and exciting for me.

Maria@RRR: And recording process?

We recorded the record with the same producer we’ve used for the past 2 full lengths as well as our first ep, Martin Feveyear. His studio (Jupiter Studios) is located just north of Seattle and we LOVE it there. It’s important to feel comfortable in your surroundings when you’re recording a record and that place feels like home, as for working with Martin it just gets better every time. As far as recording is concerned it was by far the smoothest session we’ve done.

Maria@RRR: How would you say that, musically, the songs on Virtues compare to your older material?

I think bands are always looking to “mature” or progress as musicians with each record they put out, for me, I try not to get wrapped up in that. I keep things simple, I have always done so from the start and that’s by following the formula of just trying to put out the 12 best songs we can as a band. Where the music goes with those songs isn’t something I worry about, on this record, I had a great opportunity to explore some new tones and effects which is something we haven’t done much in the past. As a whole though, we try to keep the fans happy by giving them music that they would expect from the band but also putting a song or two on there that might catch a new audience.

Maria@RRR: What is the significance of the album title Virtues?

As I mentioned earlier, the band has been through so much over the past few years, when it came time to give the record a title, I compiled a list of 175 different names that could work, had the band come over to choose one and Virtues was something that everyone liked, it was the ONLY title that everyone could agree on so we went with it. We feel that it best describes what Amber Pacific is about.

Maria@RRR: What are you hoping to achieve with the record?

I hope we can rebuild our old fanbase and hopefully establish a foundation of new fans that will carry us through to our next record, for us it’s about the music, not about getting huge so we will hold our heads high no matter the outcome in knowing we put out the best record we could.

Maria@RRR: The record is your first with new vocalist Jesse Cottam. How was Jesse chosen, and what does he bring to the band? How has he affected the band’s sound?

To make a long story short, I had spent several months in search of a new singer, I came across a cover of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed A Girl” the catch being that it was a guy doing the cover. I initially thought it’d just be entertaining to watch but the guy had a unique voice so I looked into him a little more and asked him to come down for an audition. It came down to 3 finalists and we chose Jesse. Jesse is a student of music, he understands harmonies, hooks, and is a songwriter himself having written “Three Words” on Virtues. That’s something Matt, our former singer, never had. So having someone who can take a melody I sing to him and turn it into his own is really special, as far as sound it’s night and day difference between former singer and current but this is what we wanted. We didn’t want to find someone to just replace Matt, we wanted someone who would give us a chance to grow as a band and branch out a little.

Maria@RRR: After the release of your previous studio album, you seemed to disappear for a while. What were Amber Pacific doing in that time?

We had supported Truth In Sincerity the summer following the release on Warped Tour. Shortly after Warped we hit a run of several mishaps, the first being a supporting slot for Sum 41 on a tour that didn’t draw what was expected followed by a tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus where the last 10 days of the tour were cancelled on a tour that only had 20 shows. The last thing we did was another supporting slot for Hawthorne Heights where two days into the tour their guitarist passed away which understandably put a halt on everything. In a sense that was the end for that record and the band was unsure about our future as Amber Pacific and slipped into an “ice age” of sorts for a little while.

Maria@RRR: Finally though, you signed with Victory Records. How have Victory helped with the new record? Was it a case of needing funding to make the album, or just a well-known label to promote and distribute it?

Victory has helped a tremendous amount by bringing the band back to life. It has been a huge mountain to climb to get us back in the spotlight but they’ve managed to do so and it’s been so amazing to be a part of. As far as helping with the release of “Virtues”, it was a little bit of both, times are tough right now so to put a record out on our own would have been nearly impossible, Victory funded it and has done an extraordinary job getting it out there!

Maria@RRR: Was there any weariness about signing with Victory, due to the negative reputation some people associate with the label?

A band should always be cautious when signing any deal, but though Victory may have a certain stigma about them, they also have a phenomenal track record as being one of the best labels when it comes to exposure and that was exactly what we needed.

Maria@RRR: How do you guys deal with the changes that have taken place for your band? Was there ever a point where you thought the band was going to break-up?

It’s always hard to adjust to change, we knew we wouldn’t be able to please every fan but we also knew we wanted to continue on as a band. The thought of breaking up never crossed our minds, we kept a focus on finding someone new and getting back on our feet and to this point have done just that. There isn’t a single person in this band who doesn’t love what we do, we are all extremely passionate about making music and creating a positive message for listeners to hold on to, as long as there are people out there willing to listen we will continue making music.

Maria@RRR: Do you worry that too much time has passed, and your fanbase has changed too much, for you to really be successful in the modern scene?

There are certain things you can’t control in life, I’ll never be able to make someone like an Amber Pacific song, it’s a choice and everyone’s right to decide for themselves whether they like what they hear or they don’t. I don’t judge our success off of the number of records we’ve sold or the size of venues we’ve played, it’s about making a connection with your fans and that’s something I think we’ll always be able to do. Yes, our fanbase has grown up but the amazing thing about it is that there’s always new kids who don’t know about you who are willing to give it a chance, we simply haven’t reached them yet but that’s what it’s all about, devoting the time to doing so!

Maria@RRR: What can we expect from Amber Pacific in the next 6 months? Surely, a lot of touring in support of the new record?

Absolutely, 100% of our focus is now on touring and getting this record out there. It’s been awhile since we’ve been able to do so and the band couldn’t be more excited to share the new tunes with old fans and hopefully make some new ones while we’re at it!

Maria@RRR: Tell us a crazy tour story. As inappropriate as possible please!

It was a night after the show, the band wanted to do something fun so we went to an after party in Hollywood, Dango held the vehicle on lock down talking to his wife all night, I ended up with Megan Fox, Greg ended up with the girl who holds case number 4 on Deal or No Deal, Davy ended up with a girl who turned out to be not so much a girl and Jesse flew home on AP’s private jet to be with his girlfriend. We get crazy.

Maria@RRR: Thanks again for answering our questions. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thank you so much, great interview questions! Please go out to your local stores and pick up our new record, “Virtues” currently on sale at Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, FYE, on iTunes as well as Amazon. Thank you all for the support and we look forward to seeing you out on the road!