the original URL of this interview was: http://www.somephotography.com/rs-interview.html

SOME PHOTOGRAPHY INTERVIEW with Bryce
December 13, 2005

 

You started playing music when you were really young. Was there anything or anyone who influenced you, or was it just something that struck your fancy?

I just think I've always sorta been obsessed with the idea of music pretty much ever since I was a little kid. It's what I always wanted to do. So Pretty much anything musically, when I was a kid especially, influenced me from anything I saw on TV to whatever.

Was there any particular instrument you wanted to play when you started out, or was it always your goal to become a master of all of them?

No, it definitely wasn't really ever my goal to play a lot of instruments. I just wanted to play guitar really bad. And right when I started playing guitar my friend had a drum set and I got on it and I realized that I could maybe do that. And that's when I got obsessed with trying to learn a bunch of instruments.

The Dallas/Ft. Worth area has a pretty good music scene. How did growing up in such an environment help to shape you into the musician you are now?

It was pretty good. It was actually really good. The music scene that it was when I was growing up was a lot of bands like, I don't know, like this band called Bob Goblin, and Radish, and Tripping Daisy and Hackfish. All these bands at that time really really influenced me a lot. So it was really cool going to shows and seeing them. And we got to play with a lot of those bands later on, so it was cool.

Were there any musicians who were particularly influential or helped you out as you were starting out in the industry?

Not really. Nothing super significant. But there's definitely people who've given me advice that I really look up to. But nobody has really taken me under their wing or anything.

Have you always been performing as the Rocket Summer, or were there other projects you were involved in before starting this?

When I was 13 or 14 I was in a band called Charlie 27. That lasted less than a year. And then I was playing shows just as my name, Bryce Avary, and then after I recorded my first CD, which was an EP, I named it "The Rocket Summer" and started playing under that name.

How does it feel to be actually living out the dream you had when you were really young.

It's a true blessing. It really is. I mean, it's not the most glamourous lifestyle or anything, touring in a band. Especially when I'm married and stuff. But it really is... I can't think of doing anything else. "Calendar Days" was recorded before you were signed to the Militia Group.

Did you make any changes after being signed, or is it basically the same album you had originally written?

It was exactly the same. Yeah, I just gave it to them, they put it out.

Did the writing process change any for "Hello, Good Friend", and did you feel like you still had the creative control you had when you were still an unsigned artist?

Yeah, I did. I really did. I had the same control and the process was pretty much exactly the same. So we'll see about the next one.

Many bands write songs collaboratively, usually by starting out with their own part and adding the other instruments. Since you write and record all of your own music, do you still write in that way, or do you have the entire vision for the song from the beginning?

I just build it. I usually record it and then mess with it on all the parts pretty much. A lot of the stuff, the basic gist of it is always there in my head, but all the little things come with just listening to it and trying to add stuff to it.

You've said before that you sometimes have the tendency to be a perfectionist when it comes to your music. Which do you find more difficult: getting things right in the studio, or handing over your songs to the musicians who tour with you?

Definitely the studio. I don't really have a problem with playing with my friends live. I think it's awesome.

What are your favourite and least favourite things about being on the road?

My only, literally, my least favourite thing about it is only... we have a lot of overnight drives and stuff where I'll go two days without sleeping and I get sick. And I'm in a van. Or if it breaks down. That kind of crap. That's the only thing. There's nothing about touring I don't like. Other than that. So if we're ever to the point where we get a bus or something, I'm pretty sure life will be freaking great.

One of my favourite things about traveling is going to places and finding new restaurants and stuff. Have there been any places that you've found that you think are really really cool?

Yeah, definitely. I guess the first one that comes to mind is this thai food place in Brooklyn, like Williamsburg, called Sea. It's really sweet. It's funny, it's actually the beginning scene of "Garden State" where he's the waiter. They're making that to look like it's in L.A. but it's actually in Sea in Brooklyn.

Someone on your myspace page said that you remind him of Meatloaf. How do you feel about that?

Was it a joke?

I couldn't really tell.

Well I know we look a lot alike, so I get it.

Are there any particular bands you get compared to a lot, or any comparison people may have made that you found interesting?

Not really. It's like right when I came out I heard a lot of Ben Kweller comparisons. And I heard Something Corporate. But I don't really see any of those. I think people wanna be like "What does that taste like?" "It tastes like chicken." You know? People wanna... "Oh, he plays piano in a rock band and it's scene. I guess it's Something Corporate." I don't know.

Speaking of myspace, how do you feel the website has affected the music industry?

I think it's great. It's definitely helped me gain a lot of fans. So that's awesome.

It's been a really busy couple of years for you. Your band is gaining worldwide popularity, you got married, you've gained recognition and respect from people in all parts of the industry. How does this compare to the vision you had when you were starting out?

I don't know. I just want to go as far as this can go, you know, and, without trying to sound really cheesy, just touch as many people as I can by getting up and playing music and stuff. I don't know. I don't think I ever really had an exact idea of what was going to happen, I just hoped that I could keep climbing the ladder and stuff. So... It's pretty cool.

Do you have any big goals for your immediate future, or do you just plan on taking things as they come?

I guess I can only take things as they come, but I definitely think the next record is pretty important. I hope that the next one will be kind of an epic Rocket Summer album. I hope it's the one. So we'll see.

Do you have any plans for it yet?

I know I'll probably start recording next year. I don't know when that'll be, because I know we'll be touring a lot. So, I would say middle of the year maybe.

You are very open about your faith, both in your music and in interviews and such. Do you think that has affected your career in the mainstream at all?

Yeah. I think that, as far as looking at it that way, with it affecting my career and stuff, I think a lot of people who share the same belief respect it. And I think a lot of people who don't, don't. I definitely have seen both sides of it. But it's all good.

There are a lot of people that seem to have problems with Christians in the music industry, whether it's people, I guess capitalizing off of their faith, as they seem to think, or people like you who are Christians who are in the mainstream. Do you have any thoughts on either of those positions?

Yeah, definitely. I definitely don't appreciate people who try to make it by using their faith. I think it's a little easier to do that because there's a sea of Christian people, or whatever kind of religion... people want to grab on and embrace people that share the same belief. So I definitely think people who do that for that reason are kind of lame. Which is actually a big reason why I didn't want to do that. I felt that as a Christian I shouldn't be, for myself, I shouldn't be going and playing at churches and stuff and playing to people who feel the same because I want to affect people who don't, and just to see that what I believe is love, and awesome. But I don't diss people who are completely in the Christian scene because a lot of those people are very legit.

What do you hope your fans get out of the songs you write?

I just want people to... I mean, everybody says this kind of stuff, but I truly just want people to have hope, and just think and love life. And love the good things about it, and the experiences, and getting out of crappy experiences and just living life.

You recently signed to Island Records, correct? Do you have any hopes and fears about that relationship that you care to share?

I hope that it's amazing. I mean so far it's great, I love everybody there. Hopefully I can make a really amazing record and hopefully it'll be received well by the masses. That's obviously the goal. And hopefully it won't be a bad record and hopefully it'll be a long relationship we have with each other. I don't really have a big fear about it yet. I'm pretty confident that whatever happens, everything happens for a reason. I just feel very fortunate to at least be at this point. I feel very fortunate to be on Island/Def Jam. It's exciting.

Have you had a chance to hear any of your fans reaction to the news? How do they seem to be taking it?

I haven't even really announced it yet. A lot of people know about it, but I haven't announced it. So, I haven't really heard... I don't think a lot of Rocket Summer fans even know yet. A lot of like, people like you obviously know and stuff. But people seem to be really excited about it, I think. I definitely haven't received any "You sold out!" or anything. I think a lot of our fans are very supportive of and want it to be something that becomes a bigger thing so hopefully this can be going on for a longer time. Because the bigger it gets then the longer it can be that way and obviously the longer I can do this and not have to quit.

If you had to pick your top 5 all-time favourite albums, what would they be?

Woah! That's really difficult.

I know. It's the toughest question of the day.

It's definitely something that I, in reality, would have to think about for a month straight. But right this second, um...

Or even if you just have to settle on top 5 bands, if you think that would be easier for you.

Top 5 bands? I would definitely say records over bands, actually, because there's plenty of records that I love. (sighs) I'm just going to start naming some that have really affected me. I'd say the Blue album, by Weezer, maybe "Siamese Dream" by Smashing Pumpkins, Built to Spill and "There's Nothing Wrong With Love" [starts counting on his hand], Counting Crows "This Desert Life", and for the fifth - and that is not in any order by any means - and the fifth, gosh, I've actually never said this every time I've been asked, but right now I think I'd have to say "Something to Write Home About" by the Get Up Kids. I think that for some reason that record, I wouldn't say it's the most amazing record or anything, but I love all the songs so much and it came out at a time in my life that was so good that every time I listen to it I'm just brought... I'm a 16 year old kid again and loving life. So right now that's it I guess.

Is there any question you've ever wanted to be asked in an interview but haven't?

Not really. That's a good question. I usually find someway to segue into saying what I want, I guess, if I want. But thank you. That's a good question.

Well, that's about all I have then, if you want to add any comments...

Just thank you so much. It means a lot to me that you did this. I very much appreciate it. Let's do it again sometime, if you'd like.

Sure.

Cool. Thank you!