Featured: Emarosa

Interview

Emarosa Interview w/Jonny Craig by Jimphoto

(Apologies for sound quality, mic recorded the paper crumpling in my other hand. Goes after a minute or two.)

Here is the written version, you ready?

Beginnings…How did you get started, the back story if you will

I kinda just fell into it, I was going to school taking some college courses and I mean I’ve always been singing you know but I met a dude in my class who was in a band. He was looking for a singer so I tried out and they took me on. Which was Ghost Runner On Third. I pretty much everything started from there.

So lets start with saying, since the last time we spoke, you were voicing concerns on how well album number 2 will go down. Now that you’ve had a solid time putting it out in the shows and stores, what’s the response been?

The response is really good. We didn’t know how the kids were gonna deal with the changes we made, I really can’t explain it all that we need to know is the kids want to stick with it which is great. That’s all we care about, the fact they want to stand behind us still that’s what’s important.

Is it safe to say 2010 has been a big year? and everything happened you wanted?

Yeah pretty much, we’ve done some pretty good tours, got pretty fucked up. Definitely done everything I wanted to do this year.

Whats the game plan for Emarosa for 2011?

Taking January off, we’re probably going to do a headliner in February. Then the guys will take time off meaning I’ll be touring with Dance Gavin Dance for a little bit and I think they are going to write a CD while I’m away doing that. Just to clarify he is talking about a US tour, I ask about plans for UK and he responds: I’m not sure, I hope we come over here again really soon. I’m planning on it but I’m definitely coming here with DGD roughly around April/May.

How about doing any of the big festivals we have here in the UK? Download, Sonisphere etc.

I really hope so, I hope that we have time off during that time if we get an offer because I’d personally love to be able to play a festival here. I hear they are pretty fun for the season.

With the acoustic covers that float around on Youtube do you reckon you may do an acoustic EP to bridge the gap between this album and the potential 3rd?

I’m sure we could if enough people wanted it. I mention the good reception that this acoustic version of A Toast To The Future got and he goes on how it came about We were on Warped Tour and as you deal with press all the time these guys asked if we’d be cool doing an acoustic version of song. So me Jonas and ER were like lets do it, had a couple drinks and just rocked it out. It turned out actually pretty well, so I would love to do an acoustic EP but we’ll see what happens.

Regarding Dance Gavin Dance and this is going well back in time but you left on bad terms, what’s changed and how has this new plan come about?

We toured with them that was called Squash The Beef and we were trying to clear things up and then they just approached me and was like “Hey we wanna do Downtown Battle Mountain II, are you interested?” I didn’t think they were gonna get rid of Kurt former vocalist of DGD so I said yeah I’ll do it and they decided to just get rid of Kurt. Then asked if I would like to rejoin the band officially. I don’t mind though doing two bands, I like to be on the move all the time.

What did Kurt have to say, was he happy to leave?

I don’t think he was too hurt about it, he didn’t seem to be too distraught. I actually took him out on a solo tour right after they asked him to leave and I mean we didn’t really talk about it so it seemed he didn’t really have a problem.

How excited should be for Part II?

Hmm, I think it’s going to be pretty good, I’ve got some demo’s which I’ve been working on over here every night because I got jet lag and so my body is still adjusted to the American time so its giving me a lot of insomnia, in turn giving me time to work on the songs. I think it’s going to be personally some of my best work to date.

Solo plans for 2011, any chance of your first UK appearence?

I would love to come here for a solo stint, I think though I’m going to put out another CD before I do. It’ll be best for me to try a round two before I try take any offers for a UK tour.

How do you keep all your projects balanced?

Mainly my manager he laughs he just makes sure everything doesn’t overlap you know keeping it spaced out. I’ve got all next year completely booked so with Emarosa, Dance Gavin Dance and solo stuff everything is going to be mapped out. Like this month I’ll be doing this, this month this etc. Everything’s already planned ahead for.

The Isles and Glaciers EP, do you think that now its just going to end up a one off or is there chance for a full blown album? Obviously down to how many different bands are involved with it, I guess time is pretty rare to do anything with it.

Sure, I would love to do an album with them it’s just really hard with everyone being extremely busy, everyone’s non-stop touring, Craig Owen’s got his new band Drugs that he’s gotta get going. Pierce The Veil we’re trying to do something for the end of the year but everyone is just really busy.

With the amount of things you have going on what do you do to wind down?

Drugs? to which he is joking nah, I like to play video games sit at home watch TV, drink really. I don’t really want to be at home, I just like to tour all the time, just be on the road keep singing you know. It’s the only thing I really enjoy doing. I want to do it all the time so I try not to wind down so much.

If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?

I’d probably buy a house and just party in it all the time, maybe buy a boat a boathouse, party on the boat I laugh an actual house on the boat? haha yeah, for sure I’d get a yacht. I’ll just party on my yacht all the time it would be sick.

What’s your most extravagant purchase?

I buy really expensive jeans which kinda sounds stupid but all the jeans I buy are like $300 and above. People think I’m retarded for it, but I don’t know man I like to wear nice jeans that last a long time. You buy a cheap pair then wash them and they just fade, but buy Diesel Jeans or Nudie Jeans you can just wear them all the time and they don’t fade and just stay strong.

What is your most played song on your iPod, band or artist?

Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Wiz Khalifa he has a new CD released, he’s a rapper and I really like his CD so I’ll probably say that, best CD bumped up a lot on my iPod. Also Drake too.

Finally do you do any Vocal Practises before shows?

Well I’ve never taken any singing lessons ever, a lot of people ask me that. I was in choir in high school but I got kicked out for always goofing around. So that didn’t last long but I’ve never taken any lessons, no training. I did whatever I felt was right and here I am.

I’d like to personally thank the always pleasant Jonny Craig once again for talking to me, I respect him a lot. Thanks also to Lucy for getting me on it. You can read the previous interview that was done in May here -JC.

Review

The second headlining tour within 6 months of the same year is a damn good thing, especially with the band being as loved as they are. High hopes were reached by the shows beginning, mostly in part from me since the band had to deal with poor sound from the previous show in the Roadhouse, on the last tour in May.

Thankfully everything is in ship shape here an all that is left for the hardworking band, is to show the love to us once again for the last time this year.

Jonny on vocals is the best thing about this band, and most probably the biggest draw. No matter what this guy does, the energy, performance and delivery purely can’t be beaten. There is a charming gruff-ness to his voice that seamlessly leads into the smooth gospel-esque notes that define him. He’s definitely in control of his audience too, with every summon being executed without fault.

Let’s not forget about the others though, one member is only as good as his peers.

The guitar team of ER White and Jonas Ladekjaer is a unique one, their different styles synchronizing into one great matchup. Intricate and at the same time providing a simple counterpart to go with the rest of the band they don’t need to stop everything and show off in an exaggerated solo, the outfit is a whole and thats the way it should be.

Out of all the drummers I’ve seen I’ve basically compiled a top three, in that is Lukas Koszewski. I really enjoy his display, working the skins in a stylistic manner that you can often find yourself lost and entranced, forgetting there are others your attention needs to focus on as well.

Finishing up with the necessary bass lines is Will Sowers and intermingling with them are Jordan Stewarts top production skills and keys – completing Emarosa.

Now that the self-titled followup album to Relativity is released here, this tour is all about it. It also marks a relative pun? point that the band are not afraid to change it up. The album is as a whole Emarosa, but it’s not drastically different so current fans have something to complain about, not like any true fan would.

Basically all the fat that didn’t really do a lot the first time around has been toned down, delivering a more raw approach which in my opinon is key as the songs revel in a live setting, but keeping plenty of depth to satisfy all. Hopefully in that process they have accumulated new fans, safe bet.

Standout songs from there are Toast To The Future Kids, We Are Life and from the debut that HAVE to played are done so. The Past Should Stay Dead is a super strong song that seems to evolve upon itself by the ending and Set If Off Like Napalm being the encore.

Setlist:

The Past Should Stay Dead
The Game Played Right
Heads or Tails, Real Or Not
Pretend. Relive. Regret.
Pretend. Release. The Close.
What’s A Clock Without Batteries
A Toast To The Future Kids!
We Are Life
Set It Off Like Napalm.

Emarosa performing We Are Life

Emarosa – Set It Off Like Napalm

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