Cute Is What We Aim For
July 30th, 2008 - Written by gemma
CONFRONT: Last year we interviewed you guys at Warped Tour and it’s been almost a year since then so can you give me a quick recap of what’s happened since then?
SHAANT: Absolutely. After Warped Tour we took some time off and then did a Fall Out Boy tour with Gym Class Heroes and The Plain White T’s. Then we recorded a record in the middle of winter, then in Spring we started rehearsing. We went to the UK in May and shot our music video and now we’re back doing our North American headling tour.
CONFRONT: Your second studio album just came out yesterday so how does it feel to finally have it done and out and have people finally buy it?
SHAANT: It’s incredibly exciting to hear what people think. We have been listening to it non-stop since we got it in March and our friends told us it was good so now it’s really good to hear a public opinion.
CONFRONT: And what would you tell the fans to expect from it?
SHAANT: I would say it’s another Cute record with progression… it’s dope!
CONFRONT: I’m actually a fan of your music and I was just listening to your new songs today.
SHAANT: Were they ok?
CONFRONT: Yeah they’re good!
SHAANT: Nice!
CONFRONT: So you guys decided to stream the full album on MySpace first. Why did you decide to do that?
SHAANT: We wanted people to hear it, we didn’t care. And we knew when you ship records, you ship them the Thursday’s before so stores, retail stores were getting them, right?
CONFRONT: Mhm.
SHAANT: So you have the record being shipped out to stores so that means stock boys could take it, rip it and put it online so we thought why don’t we benefit from it, allow our fans to hear it and maybe generate the word of mouth.
CONFRONT: Yeah. That’s true people will listen and if they hear what they like they’ll go buy it.
SHAANT: Yeah, it gives them a preview.
CONFRONT: Speaking of buying it, do you think putting it on your myspace is going to affect the sales?
SHAANT: Um not just putting it on our MySpace… sales have declined so hard in the past few years that you can’t really worry about the small stuff like that.
CONFRONT: So do you concentrate more on making money from touring and selling merch and stuff?
SHAANT: Yeah, I would certainly say that and that’s more important anyway.
CONFRONT: How does the writing process go for you guys? Do you write the music first or the lyrics, or just whatever comes first?
SHAANT: It’s different across the board. Every song is different. Sometimes it’ll be Dave and I who’ll have a riff and I’ll have a melody, sometimes it’ll be Jeff and Dave or all of us together.
CONFRONT: That’s pretty cool.
SHAANT: Indeed!
CONFRONT: That word reminds me of my brother, he always says it.
SHAANT: That can’t be a bad thing.
CONFRONT: It’s not. So have you guys achieved the sound you’ve always wanted for your band?
SHAANT: I would certainly say so. The second (album) way more so than the first one.
CONFRONT: What do you mean?
SHAANT: Well we didn’t know what we wanted to be and how we wanted to sound.
CONFRONT: So the first album was just trying it out and stuff?
SHAANT: Yeah and then it just kind of naturally happened.
CONFRONT: So you must be happy about the great response you got.
SHAANT: Yeah! It’s going great thus far.
CONFRONT: You’ve been a band for a few years now, since 2005 I believe so can you tell me how your life has changed since you first started the band?
SHAANT: It’s changed exponentially. We’re never home to being with… you really learn…geez so much has changed I can’t even begin…uh, yeah I really can’t, jus teverything has been a 180 in our life.
CONFRONT: How does your family react to not having you home with them?
SHAANT: They all understand. I think they’re just more proud then they are concerned about me being gone. Think about it like it’s as if I was in college…
CONFRONT: Yeah. Um if you could of done things different, would you have started the band?
SHAANT: Hmm… I don’t know. I spend so much time thinking about the future and as long as you learn from your mistakes so no, I wouldn’t change anything because if I did I would be where I am now.
CONFRONT: How would you describe your relationship with your fans?
SHAANT: I give as much as they give, or at least I try to. I think that’s the way you should treat someone who is supporting you in anything you do. I’d like to think our relationship is a good one, I appreciate it a lot, it means a lot to me.
CONFRONT: And how do you feel when people tell you that you’ve changed their lives, helped them through hard times?
SHAANT: It’s surreal but as long as you appreciate it and understand that you are in a position to influence and you choose so responsibly then I think you’re alright.
CONFRONT: And how do they treat you when they meet you?
SHAANT: Some are really rude..
CONFRONT: Rude?
SHAANT: Yeah!
CONFRONT: How are they rude?
SHAANT: *sigh* I don’t think they even know it… Um I think common courtesy is a big deal and so when I’m out talking to fans and I’m in the middle of a conversation and others run up and get in front of that person and push a girl out of the way, it just bugs me… but besides that they’re really good to me and as I said, I try to do my best for them.
CONFRONT: Well, I’m sure their intentions are not bad, but they just have to be careful and be more aware of what they’re doing…
SHAANT: Yeah imagine an adrenaline kind of thing. You know what I mean, it’s just spur of the moment.
CONFRONT: Yeah. How do you keep in touch with your friends and family?
SHAANT: I don’t really keep in touch with many people…
CONFRONT: Really? Well does it bother you that you don’t?
SHAANT: Sometimes, but it’s all me, I blame myself ’cause I’m just off in my own little world and I don’t really respond on my phone or emails so yeah, it’s my fault. But with family, I mean, it’s just a phone call away or a little text message here and there.
CONFRONT: Speaking of responding back stuff…. Do you respond to fans on myspace and stuff?
SHAANT: Yeah I do.
CONFRONT: That’s good. At least you try to keep that bond.
SHAANT: Oh it’s a crucial bond. Yeah and I think a lot of people fail to see that and they pay the consequences.
CONFRONT: You plays show pretty much every night so how do you pump yourself up for a show every single day?
SHAANT: The adrenaline! Are you kidding me? We have to remember that we get to play a whole new crowd every night!
CONFRONT: I know, I know but don’t you ever get those days where it just like “ugh…i’m not in the mood!”
SHAANT: No! No, wait till you have like 1000 people waiting for something to happen and it’s on your shoulders to create it. It’s so exciting!
*Shaant stretches his arms and knocks over a painting on the wall*
CONFRONT: What is your favorite quote?
SHAANT: “Fighting a war on terrorism is like fighting a war on jealousy” by David Cross.
CONFRONT: Ok well here’s my last question. What was your first and last album purchased?
SHAANT: Um the first was Dookie by Green Day and the last was from Mayday Parade, maybe…I think. But I wanna buy Coldplay, does that count? Ok let’s pretend it’s Coldplay! (laughter)
CONFRONT: Well that’s all, thanks for doing this with me.
SHAANT: No problem! Hey, I wanna turn [the recorder] off!
*Turns off the recorder*
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