Interview with Alternative Rock World Online
Matt Levine from Alternative Rock World:
Eve 6's self-titled debut album is now out in stores on RCA Records. This L.A. based band's debut single, "Inside Out," is scorching up the charts and receiving airplay nationwide. I interviewed Eve 6's lead vocalist and primary songwriter, Max Collins, via the telephone as the band was being whisked out of their hotel room in Seattle.
So, how did you three meet?
Max Collins:
Jon (Siebels), Eve 6's guitarist, and I met four years ago in our freshman year of high school in P.E. class and we decided to jam together. We met Tony, our drummer, through our manager.
ARW:
Where exactly are you from and what high school did you go to?
Max:
La Crescenta Valley High school. Jon and I graduated last year. I'm originally from New York, then moved to Miami, and I moved here when I was eleven.
ARW:
Were the kids at your school accepting of your music?
Max:
Yes, after we became more well known and we started playing shows.
ARW:
Did you start out as more of a punk band?
Max:
Yes, our earlier music contained faster tempos. We still have that energy, but the music is slower.
ARW:
Do you believe that you "sold out" with your move to a major label?
Max:
Not in the least. You're not selling out unless you're compromising with somebody else and appeasing somebody It's ridiculous that people think that moving to a major label is selling out. It's only selling out if you have somebody change your music and your vision.
ARW:
What would be your reaction if you heard "Inside Out" on KROQ?
Max:
I'd flip out because it would be extremely exciting and fucking cool. I just hope that I'm not behind the wheel at that time.
ARW:
Do you believe that there is "ageism" in the music industry and do you believed that you experienced something like that while getting signed?
Max:
Yes, I believe that there's ageism because people tend to criticize younger people and the industry people are jealous.
ARW:
Did the A&R guys try to screw with you because of your status as high schoolers?
Max:
We got an advance and enough for us to not have to work. We basically had an allowance from the label. It was a decent advance and RCA has been pretty good with us.
ARW:
How did you guys perform well enough and frequently in order to garner major label support?
Max:
When we were still in high school, we recorded a couple of singles. We were just playing every other weekend and rehearsing. It wasn't high pressure. It wasn't until after graduation until things started heating up.
ARW:
Are you planning on going to college and doing the Rivers Cuomo thing?
Max:
No, I don't think that's in the agenda. I just can't even think about that right now. I don't have a school brain.
ARW:
Who are your musical influences?
Max:
Jawbreaker, The Meices, Elvis Costello, Built To Spill, The Muffs, Elliot Smith...
ARW:
Who are your songwriting influences?
Max:
Blake Schwarzenbach (formerly of Jawbreaker) is my favorite lyricist. I love "Dear You" even though people gave it shit because it was a major label album. I think that it was and still is a genius record.
ARW:
Do you see yourself becoming a rock star and could you handle celebrity status?
Max:
Um, I think I could. I don't know. Honestly I don't know how I'd handle it because it's such a head trip. We'll see. Sometimes I think I could handle it, but sometimes I don't.
ARW:
What your songwriting process? I love how the lyrics of "Inside Out" perfectly contour into the music.
Max:
I write the melody first and then I write the lyrics. I'm really into rhythmic choruses. I love "Inside Out" and how the lyric and the melody hook together.
ARW:
I've noticed that the hell that we call school shows up as a theme woven throughout your lyrics. Describe just how much you hate school... Also, are these schooling experiences autobiographical?
Max:
(School) was really bad for me. I didn't even go to school in my senior year. I graduated with a 0.7 GPA and I just couldn't handle the bullshit work. Yes, these experiences are autobiographical. A friend of mine is also an inspiration for some of the songs.
ARW:
Describe your live show.
Max:
Energetic. We perform with short lapses of time between songs and I think that we're getting better at making the live show better.
ARW:
What are your favorite venues in the Los Angeles area?
Max:
I like the dragonfly. It's hard to find places to play in L.A. because there aren't many all ages places. I like this one place in Santa Ana because it's run by volunteers.
ARW:
Are you planning on playing any festivals this summer or opening up for any major touring acts?
Max:
We're doing a lot of that actually. We're playing with the Foo Fighters, Green Day, Semisonic, God Lives Underwater, Rocket From the Crypt and others. These are just radio shows; we're not touring with these bands.
ARW:
Of just about any current musical act, who would you like to open for the most?
Max:
I'd like to play with the Dandy Warhols. There isn't much current stuff out that I like that much. I think that Everclear would be cool too because I think that we're similar enough and people who like them would understand us
ARW:
Cool, I love the Dandy Warhols. Do you believe that you are ready to conquer the music world?
Max:
Yes. I'd like to be able to talk shit about everything that sucks about school and other things.
ARW:
Do you have anything else that you'd like to say in order to promote Eve 6?
Max:
If you hear Eve 6 in your city on a specialty show or something, call up your radio station and request "Inside Out." Also, buy the record.