Bands Go Big Interview FAIRVIEW

It was an incredible experience to interview the band Fairview. They are some of the nicest guys you could ever meet, and they treated us really kindly. Be sure to add the guys on facebook (Brendan Kennedy, Jordan Smith and Steven Kiefer) and check out their website! http://www.ThisIsFAIRVIEW.com

Where did the band name come from?
Jordan (guitar and singer)- It's a town on Desperate Housewives.

How did the band come to be?
Brendan(drummer): Jordan and I have been playing music together since grade 8 and Steve (bass player) joined up with us last February - I guess a year ago. And we started the band. And that's how it went down.

How did you know being in the music industry, was something you wanted to do?
Jordan- Everyone of us has their own personal story.
Brendan- My dad, he plays guitar and stuff , so when I was younger and my brother. I used to play guitar, and just a bunch of bands I listened to, Simple Plan, like I saw them live when I was in grade 7 and I thought that would be so awesome to do. That's basically me
Steven- I didn't have a lot of experience, my family didn't listen to a lot of music. Back in public school, that's when I started listening to a lot of music and I started getting into rap and other stuff like metal, then got down to like the funk and soul stuff, then to pop-rock, and I don't know. Just being able to show your, like how you feel and incorporate that into your music it just feels so great, I guess. That's what I have to say.
Jordan- Alright, so I had this friend who actually used to sing in our old band, and we used to hang out a lot. He lived on the river and we used to hang out at his house, and he had an older brother who listened to a lot of late 90's, early 2000's, pop-rock music like Saves The Day, The Get-Up Kids, Brand New, and The Starting Line - all that stuff. And I think when I started listening to all that music and hanging out with him that I decided I was going to start playing music. I played the guitar you know off and on for a little while and then I started singing. I guess since then, it's always been what I wanted to do.
Brendan- Why did he start singing in the band?
Jordan- Yeah, that's a funny story. Like I said, the singer, the guy who I hung out with who lived on the river, which has nothing to do with this story but anyways, he was our first singer and it was our first show ever, our first full band show. We had played one acoustic show. So we showed up at the venue and we were all stoked but, one person decided not to show up, and that was our singer. So we were like, you know were screwed, what are we going to do? I knew all the lyrics, so I got up and sang and I guess that's how it happened.

How would you describe your style of music?
Brendan- I never know how.
Steven- Sexual. That's one word.
Jordan- Big time sexuality. It's pop-rock with a little bit of liquid velvet

What is your writing style?
Jordan- As in the process? Oh ok.
Brendan- We kind of jam it out I guess.
Jordan- Typically I'll write a song on my own or some parts of the song. I'll have and idea of my own and I'll write it on an acoustic or the piano, etc. Come up with the lyrics and usually we'll get together and figure out parts for everyone else.
Brendan- Or I come up with a simple guitar idea and he makes it a thousand times better.
Jordan- And that's how it happens

Who did you guys grow up listening to?
Brendan- I listened to whatever my brother was listening to. I listened to a lot of, mostly what the kids at school were listening to. My favorite band was like Simple Plan. Growing up that was my all time favorite band, and then I hit high school and started listening to Alexisonfire and a bunch of bands like that. Now I listen to everything. We listened to like rap, pop-rock, heavy ass hardcore on the way here, so really we listen to whatever.
Steven- Ok, so when I was very little, I didn't really get into any types of bands but, there was one soundtrack that I loved to death. A movie soundtrack, it was the Space Jam soundtrack. I loved that, I would jump up and down on the couch for hours on end. Favorite thing ever.
Jordan- I think it was my 12th birthday when I went to my first concert ever, and I went to see Blink 182 and Greenday. That was in their prime and I think that was pretty awesome. I listened to a lot of Blink growing up, that kind of stuff. All of that good stuff, and everything else. I like rap.

What was your favorite show to play and why?
Brendan- I personally think tonight!
Jordan- I think tonight will be pretty good.
Brendan- Well right now I would have to say with our old band and we played quite a bit with Ten Second Epic. And they are some pretty good friends of ours.
Steven- I had sex with them.
Brendan- He wasn't even in the band. One night they played a show in Ottawa and Andrew was sick so we made it like a Ten Second Epic karaoke night, we were up singing and stuff. We went back to their hotel and went swimming, like jumping over chairs.
Steven- There's a video on youtube I believe. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tBaeCAcyMk&feature=channel_video_title)
Brendan- But in the band, I'd have to say our Cornwall show.
Jordan- Really this band has only been a band in it's current form (and name) since October.
Brendan- Believe it or not. But as far and Fairview goes, I think it'll have to be tonight.
Jordan- I think it could be tonight.

Can You Describe yourselves in one word?
Jordan- Each of us of the whole band?
Bekah- It doesn't matter.
Jordan- Oh okay. I'm Rod and I like to party.
Brendan- I'd say he's party. Me is sleep.
Steven- I'd say a fizzling cup of Mountain Dew.
Brendan- That's like 6 words Steven. Wait, can we change it to one sentence?
Lyssa- Alright!
Brendan- I'm going to stick with one word, sleep, that's all.
Jordan- I'm Rod and I like to party.
Steven- I'm a fizzling cup of Mountain Dew.

Any pre-show rituals?
Brendan- Do we ever!
Jordan- I'm naked a lot if that counts. But that's just a general thing.
Brendan- We do different things all the time.
Steven- In our old band we used to go Oh-Lay-Oh-Lay.
Brendan- But we all thought it was f***ing stupid.
Jordan- Language.
Brendan- Sorry.
Bekah & Lyssa- We don't mind.
Jordan- Ok, so I'll do the rest of the interview in Japanese then.
Lyssa- We'll find a way to translate it!
Steven- What's the quesion again?
Bekah- Pre-show rituals.
Steven- I don't think so. We should start one.
(we then went on to talk about the rituals that These Kids Wear Crowns and The Maine do)

What is it about the fans that you like?
Jordan- I like making friends! Making friends is awesome! Having people come out; it feels good to have people actually appreciate your music or when someone tells you that this song helped them get through a hard time. It makes me feel really good.

What are the difficulties of being in a band?
Steven- Peanut butter.
Jordan- Being away from home and making sacrifices

What is your favorite thing about being in a band?
Brendan- Deffinately not Brodie.
Jordan- No, like I said, I love meeting friends. Travelling is almost number one, and getting to make music with my friends.
Steven- As like a family, we didn't travel much. I think the furthest we went was Chicago, and that was just once, but in a band you get to travel to different cities across the province and meet new friends and stuff. That's pretty exciting.

How would you describe the chemistry amongst yourselves? Is it good or bad?
Brendan- Well we've (Jordan and Brendan) been best friends for 6 years, I mean you know.
Jordan- We pick on Brodie a lot.
Brendan and Steven- Yeah.
Steven- He's (Brodie) the human stressball.
Brendan- But I'd say it's pretty good!
Jordan- Everything's good, we're all good friends. I mean things mesh well.
Brendan- If you live with a band for a week and don't want to kill them, I think it's pretty good.
Jordan- A big part of that, is that everyone in the band has seen me naked.
Lyssa- That comment can only remind me of All Time Low.
Jordan- Most the guys in the band are intimidated by me so they kind of know their place.
Brendan- I like wear double underwear.
Jordan- Everyone else in the band just stuffs.
Steven- He said it.

Who is the messiest?
Jordan- Steven. Steven Kiefer, look at the back of the van.
Brendan- He's getting better though. If we're on the road, he's the worse. Steve has gone through like 800 cell phones in the last month.
Steven- I don't even have it on me right now. I think it's back at the venue somewhere.
Brendan- Yeah, I'd say Steve for sure is the messiest. I actually touched that topic in a video. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggqel1NBBkQ&feature=channel_video_title)

Who takes the longest to get ready?
Steven- This guy! -points at Jordan-
Jordan- Jordan Smith.
Brendan- I actually tell him when I go to pick him up at his house, if we're going somewhere, I tell him that I'm going to be there at least half an hour before or 15 minutes. We deffinately give him extra time to get ready. I'll leave my house, it's like a two minute drive 15 minutes late and tell him I'm on my way and even when I get there he still isn't ready.
Steven- He'll open the door and be, oh hey I'm just going to take a shower and be back in like ...
Brendan- No he doesn't do that! He's ready and then he starts talking to his mom on the phone about something.
Jordan- Yeah, I'm absent minded. I get easily-distracted.

Who is the most athletic?
Brendan- I'd say me probably. I've had my fair share of sports.
Steven- I play a lot of video games.
Brendan- I played like hockey and baseball until last year so yeah.

Who is the most creative?
Brendan- I think him.
Jordan- Who's him?
Bekah- Yeah, who's him?
Brendan- Jordan. I dunno, it depends, as far as music and stuff goes it's deffinately Jordan. I am okay creative with coming up with new ideas on merch and such.

Who is the laziest?
Jordan- Brendan. This guy sleeps all day!
Brendan- All day everyday. I sleep a lot. Well here's a good example, they came here earlier and I just sat in the van because I didn't want to walk. I used to be really skinney, I still am. I'm deffinately the biggest. look at those two! Their twigs!

Who is the quietest?
Steven- I'm pretty quiet.
Brendan- No not anymore.
Jordan- Steven used to be quiet, but he has sort of come out of his shell.
Brendan- It depends.
Steven- It does depend.
Brendan- Depending on the situation.
Jordan- Actually, I'd say I'm the quitest.
Brendan- I would say Cam if he was still in the band.
-awkward silence-
Jordan- REAL QUIET!
Brendan- I dunno.
Steven- None of us are really quiet.We're all pretty loud.
Lyssa- So it basically it varies?
Bekah- Depends on the time of day?
Brendan- Yeah.
Jordan- Let's just say Steve.
Brendan- In the morning it's me because I'm sleeping and they are still up from the night before.
Jordan- And I'm always loud.
Brendan- But I can sleep through anything.

Who's the most self-conscious?
Brendan- I don't know.
Jordan- In what way?
Lyssa- Like in general.
Jordan- *sarcastically* Well I'm kind of self-conscious about my body.
Brendan- So Jordan your the most self-conscious? I guess.

You kind of already answered this, but who's the loudest?
Brendan- Jordan.
Jordan- I'm the loudest.
Steven- He will rap, freestyle for at least half an hour.
Brendan- Unless there's alcohol involved, in which case it's probably me.
(we then got into a birthday conversation where we talked and mentioned one of our friends having a birthday on Valentine's day and her parents forgetting and Jordan said to that, they were probably too busy having sex.)

Who is the most polite?
Jordan- Well it really depends on the situation.
Steven- I think we all like to say thank you, please and stuff like that.
Brendan- I'm not polite to my friends, but I'm polite to everyone else.
Lyssa- That's a given though, you have to be rude to your friends!
Brendan- I'm not polite to him at all! (referring to Brodie)

Who is the most childish?
Brendan- Well it depends....
Jordan- Steve!
Steven- Awe shucks.
Brendan- Steve unless there is alcohol involved again. Then it goes back to me! Yeah, sorry Steve! It's not that you act more childish, it's because you look more childish.
Jordan- Boyish good looks - he giggles.

Where do you hope your music career takes you?
Brendan- I would like to be the next Justin Bieber. Somewhere where we could take our music everywhere.
Jordan- Just touring and playing music all over.
Brendan- Yeah, I could be touring 11 months a year and live in my parents basement the other. Really, I just want to go as far as I can across the world and play music.

Favourite past-time?
Jordan- I was going to say masturbating but.
Brendan- Honestly, it's not even a past-time but doing stuff for the band, it's my job and my passtime.
Steven- I like playing Smash Bros.
Jordan- That's an inside joke! When duty calls, got to play Smash Bros.
Brendan- I dunoo, I spend a lot of time on my computer so I'd say talking to my friends on there.
Jordan- Favourite past-time? I like writing.
Brendan- I like playing indoor hockey.
Jordan- Writing and eating.
Steven- Tic tac toe is fun.

Favourite colour?
Brendan- It used to be blue, but now it's red because I just ordered my new drums in red, so I'm going to say red.
Jordan- I'm colour blind.
Brendan- Steven's favourite colour is black like his heart.
Bekah- Aweh, that's mean.
Brendan- I'm just kiding, his heart is more red than anyone one I've ever known.
(we then started talking about science!)

Favourite artical of clothing?
Brendan- American Apparel sweaters.
Jordan- That I own?
Bekah- Just in general.
Brendan- The Borat bathing suit
Steven- What about my native t-shirt?
Jordan- Yeah, he has a t-shirt with a geronimo on it. I don't know if you guys know the story of geronimo? Look it up!
Brendan- Or my Maine shirt with the giant M on it.
Jordan- Favorite artical of clothing, I wear a lot of cardigans, or collared shirts.

Favorite school subject?
Brendan- I hate school, no my parents are english teachers, obvisouly I like drama and music because they were such awesome classes. Actually I don't really like music, drama is deffinately a favorite, but if I had to pick a real class I'd say english. Steven, go!
Steven- Mine, my favorite subject would have to be philosophy course. Mainly because of my teacher. Funniest man on earth and he was actually heartbroken when, I handed in my textbook and told him I was leaving. It was upsetting.
Jordan- I'd say anything that involves......psycology or philosophy, around that.

Favourite musician?
Brendan- I like guitarists.
Steven- Probably The Village People.
Brendan- Oh bands!
Jordan- I'm going to have to say Saves The Day or Brand New. I'm a huge Neil Young fan!
Brendan- Justin Bieber! I'm a bigger fan of Bieber's movie than his music. I don't listen to his music, but his movie is sick.
(we then talked about Martin Broda)
Brendan- So yeah, I'd say the Maine is my favorite band right now. I mean it changes all the time, but for the past year it's been the Maine.
Steven- Every week it switches up.

Any final things we should know about any of you?
Brendan- There's not really that much about us.
Jordan- Steve can dance a little bit. He's got like 3 good moves.
Steven- I can do the keys! Where are my keys? -starts doing the keys-
Brendan- I'm the worst dancer ever!
Jordan- I can cook.
Steven- He makes a mean fish taco.
Jordan- Fish tacos, pasta.
Brendan- It's not really like a talent but when I say it people are always what, because I play drums, but I play guitar a lot. That's like my past-time, I play a lot of guitar, and I'm still not any good.
Bekah- I told Joe from These Kids Wear Crowns that I've been playing guitar for 11 years and he thought I was 23.
Jordan- Joe Porter wants me.
Brendan- Our old band played with These Kids a long time ago right before their DisBAND episode aired at Mavericks and no one was there.
Bekah- I was going to go, but I got sick

Alex Lacasse Interview!

1) How grateful are you for all that has happened with your music?
2) If you could perform with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be?
3) How long have you been signing for?
4) where was your favourite show that you played?
5) When you look at the crowd and she fans singing your lyrics back at you, how do you feel?
6) How would you describe your style of music?
7)While you were 10 years old, who were you listening to?
8) What is your favourite song you have written yourself?
9) What has this journey through music taught you so far?
10) If you could say anything to all your fans, what you say?

Alex's Responses
1) I am extremely grateful! This has really been a dream come true for me to be able to make music my career. I'm very thankful for all the support I've been getting so early on in my career and I can't wait for my supporters to hear what I have coming next!
2) Justin Timberlake. He is my biggest musical inspiration and would love to meet him let alone perform with him!
3)I've been singing since I was 8
4) I performed at the TEEN READ AWARDS a couple months ago in Toronto and I had an amazing time. I got to meet some amazing people and some new artists.
5) It's really a dream come true. It's feels amazing and is a big accomplishment as a songwriter. It finally feels like all the hard work is starting to pay off! :D
6) I think it's pretty unique. It's a mix of a lot of different styles. I use a lot of throw-back boy band harmonies and melodies but use current trendy dance club tracks!
7) I was listening to NSYNC and a lot of POP music
8) SO INTO YOU. It is the first song I've ever written and is the song that caught the record companies' attention. It really means a lot to me. I wrote it with my good buddy Keegan Dillabaugh.
9) It's really teaching me how as people, we're all the same. It's amazing to see how music affects people from all across the world. Music doesn't discriminate and I think that's great.
10) Thank you so much for your support and I can't for you to hear what's coming out next. I've been working with an incredible team on the upcoming CD and it's going to be something you've never heard before! The next single will be release early 2011.

If you are woundering, here is our Forever Is Over interview!

1)what was the inspiration for the band name?

Well we had loads of ideas and Jake popped up with "Forever Is Over", later on he confessed that this was becuase of The Saturdays. We try to keep that quiet though!

2)how did all of you guys meet?

Me and Jake are brothers. and Harry is a school friend who we used to play in a band with a while ago. So like old times really!

3)do any of you have a musical background?

We all did music GCSEs, I (Joe) did music A-level and Harry did a music technology btec. I wouldn't say any of these really helped us with the band though!

4)what is it about the fans, you like?

How supportive they are! We get a lot of feedback and praise - it's amazing to know so many people like our music!

5)what one word can you describe each of you?

Sexy Sexy and Sexy
haha


Who Is?
1)the most passionate about music?
We're all the same for this!
2)the most active?
Harry plays football sometimes I think?
3)the most creative?
I wirte the songs, so i'm having this one aha
4)the messiest?
Jakes room is bad, but I suppose most of you girls already know that
5)the laziest?
Harry (He goes to bed at like 9)
6)who takes the longest to get ready?
Probably me haha
7)the most impatient?
Depends who/what it's with. Anything to do with the band we all get pretty impatient.
8)the quietest?
Jake, as he has social difficulties
9)the smartest?
Jake for sure!
10)who eats the most junk food?
Jake proabbly aha, although I eat a lot of dominoes

Decods interview!

HEY! We have been working so hard on interviews lately, so we're sorry if we ever dissapoint you guys! <3

1)how did all of you guys meet?
Through the local scene really!


2)what is the greatest expirence you guys have had as a band?
Playing sold out shows, having people sing words back to you, all the standard stuff really! I suppose touring is pretty fun also! We recently played a sold out Camden Barfly which was awesome!



3)what are the difficulties of being in a band?

Money mainly!

4)where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully headlining and selling out some pretty massive venues every night!

5)how would you describe your style of music?
Difficult question. Some contrast between Alternative Rock, Metal, Ambient, Screamo, Punk, Hardcore haha. I find it really difficult to be precise with that question haha!

Who Is?
)the most destructive?

Monty, as he is so huge!

2)the quietest?

Steve

3)the noisest?

Jake

4)the most hyper?

Jake

5)always on facebook?

Meyrick

6)who drinks the most?

Meyrick or Jake

7)the most self-cautious?

Jake

8)the most honest?

Hmm... Jake or Meyrick

9)the most creative?

Meyrick

10)the most polite?

Jake

http://www.myspace.com/decodesuk
http://www.facebook.com/decodes

Downhill Interview!

Hey, Here is our Downhill interview!

1) How did all of you guys meet? Me(Conor), Cian,Al and Dan all live in the same area,so we have being mates for a good while. and we found Kristain a few months back from his hearing his old band Mr.Lightweight spilt up...so we just called him up and got him in the band.
2) Where did the band name come from? The band name comes from a song by our fav band New found glory called ''All downhill from here''
3) What inspires your music? em....thats a hard one ha,em... im gonna be cheesy and say the fans hehe
4) What has been the greatest challenge as a band been for you guys? I would have to say getting our name out there,just playing shows in shitty venues/bars,touring around in a tiny car and sleeping in it. There have being times when we felt like giving up,but we stuck threw it and now here we are today,happy to be playing our music.
5) Do you guys have any rituals before shows? not really,but now that you bring that up...i kinda want to start one ha

Who Is
1) the most athletic?em....im going to say me ha,i go to the gym the odd time so i guess that counts ha
2) the person who takes the longest to get ready?Kristain...he is always straighen his hair haha,but he is gorgeous haha
3) the messiest? em...im going to say Cian ha
4) the most childish? Kristain...but if you put me Dan and Cian together in a room...we are just babys haha
5) the quietest? none of our quiet,we are all little brats haha
6) the loudest? Cian...when he is drunk ha
7) the laziest? Im going to say Dan for the laugh ha,just to give him a mention ha
8) who eats the most junk food? Me...thats all i eat on tour and at home
9) the person to screw up ontage more often? Al...sorry al,but its true haha
10) the most talented musician? Krisitain,because he can sing in key and play guitar pretty well

www.myspace.com/downhillirish
www.facebook.com/downhillirish
Twitter: @downhillmusic

Updates?

Hey Everyone! I have some surprises for you! Well only one, it has to do with the lack of updates. So here is goes, lately I've been thinking that it will be a while before the vast majority of bands come to Canada, so why don't we interview them through email?

So stick around for upcoming interviews from 14 Car Pile Up, Alex Lacasse, A Day Overdue, Downhill, Decodes and Forever is Over! We will also be interviewing the bands, The Latency and These Kids Wear Crowns when they are in the area next!

I'd love to thank all of you guys for so much support on our facebook, it means a lot to us! Even if Lyssa and Yasmin don't update, doesn't mean the don't appreciate what you guys are helping us with, they are just extremly busy. I am as well actually, but i still make time for BandsGoBig!

Love Bekah <3