Alesana – The Lost Chapters

By starrymag | April 19, 2018

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Like the cast of “Friends” suddenly thought it would be cool to start a band, but then realized none of them knew how to play any instruments or write songs at all.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) The Beatles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Mae, Mew, Between The Buried and Me, Spitalfield.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “The Coward.”

 

A) It is a missing chapter from our album The Emptiness.  This song takes place just after the massacre in the tavern.  One man is left alive and alone to find the carnage and faces tough choices of what to do about his discovery.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) Any of our fans who are into The Emptiness and The Annabel Trilogy are going to love this missing piece.  It adds some deeper elements and dynamics to our story.  Musically, it really feels like the era in which The Emptiness was made.

 

Q) Where did the name for the EP The Lost Chapters arise?

 

A) It is a collection of B-sides to the stories we have told over the years.  The idea was that someone unearths a time capsule and stumbles upon the lost chapters of these stories.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) It really varies from song to song, album to album. I try not to put any expectations or strict structure to my writing process. I like for things to just come together naturally at first and then begin the fine-tuning process as the songs begin to take shape.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) A very great deal of involvement.  Our art means very much to me, to Alesana, and I always make sure to keep a very close on the material throughout the entire process.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Alesana performance?

 

A) A ton of energy, terrible jokes and bad dancing.

 

Q) What songs off your The Lost Chapters EP are you looking forward to performing live?

 

A) “Madeline,” most definitely.  That is from The Confessions era and those songs all have such a cool, weird energy that is a lot of fun to perform.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

 

A) I want them to feel transported to each era that is represented on The Lost Chapters.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) Mexico is number one in our hearts. The entire world has treated us so kindly and there is no greater feeling than performing for our fans. But Mexico invited us when nobody else had and, for that, I will love them forever.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) Tommy Rogers from Between The Buried and Me or Dave Elkins from Mae.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

 

A) A couple new records I’ve been really digging recently are Swell by Tiny Moving Parts and 41 by Reggie and The Full Effect.  I’ve also gone back in time to Swoon by Silversun Pickups and The Ugly Organ by Cursive.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I think it is important to stay in touch with fans any way that you can.  I certainly much prefer face-to-face and in person communication. There is no greater and more powerful way to experience people than through face to face conversation. It is a dying art and we need to preserve it.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) As always, we have the greatest fans in the world.  You have allowed us to grow and mature our art without fear of judgement and for that I am very grateful.