the original URL of this interview was: http://www.takingrefuge.com/interviews/therocketsummer.htm

Taking Refuge
October 5, 2005

On October 5th at The Masquerade, we had the opportunity to talk to Bryce Avary, the musician behind The Rocket Summer and ask him some questions. Check out what he has to say about the next record, his faith, and his future.

TR: Basically, the first thing... can you just tell us a little bit about the beginning, like where you got started.

Bryce: I got started in my bedroom, I think. When I was 14. And I started writing songs, actually, when I was 13. Then I started playing some shows and stuff. And yeah...

TR: Awesome. So when did you first realize that music was basically your passion?

Bryce: The second I literally touched a guitar, as soooo cheesy as that sounds. The second I touched a guitar I knew it was destiny!

TR: That’s awesome. Well, normally I would go through asking you what you play in the band, but Bryce Avary is the Rocket Summer, so, what’s the recording process like having to go through recording everything individually?

Bryce: It’s pretty intense. I don’t know, I’ll probably do that again on the next record but we’ll see. Every time I make a record, I’m always like ‘I don’t know why I keep doing that.’

TR: Oh no, do it! It’s your trademark.

Bryce: Yeah, see that's what... I just wonder if I’d make a better record if I was more listening and focusing on somebody else playing the drums rather than me, and just trying to play it right. I don’t know, but, I’ll probably do all the instruments. But I usually start with the guitar. I play the songs through on guitar, and then I play drums, or I play piano first. And then I re-cut the guitar, drum and piano parts.

TR: Cool. Well, you recently put out the album, Hello, Good Friend, which is pretty new.

Bryce: Yeah!

TR: What was the message that you wanted to portray to people through the new record? What was the biggest thing that stuck out to you?

Bryce: Honestly, I wrote that record just ...being very, like... wanting to be honest about everything that’s going on in my life - there's kinda this theme throughout this whole thing. It's just kinda all over the place, but it was sort of my life at the point. It’s just like about victory and struggling with faith. Well, not struggling with faith, but [struggling] as a Christian, and with God, and with my pride, and just realizing that, and asking God to basically help me get through that. That’s kind of what I was going through when I wrote that record. But then a lot of it’s just kinda like - well, not a lot of it- but there’s some songs about... I was getting engaged at the time, and so that was really hard. Cause it was hard work to convince her parents of my rock and roll lifestyle. But yeah, I don’t know, it’s kinda all over the place.

TR: That’s awesome. Yeah, well, you said you were a Christian, so do you want to use your music as any kind of ministry? Or is it basically just kind of showing love to people... How do you use your music?

Bryce: I just feel like the whole thing is like a ministry, ya know what I’m saying? It’s kind of hard to explain. I definitely feel like it’s like why I’m getting to do this. And I’m really blessed. I better be doing my best since I have this opportunity. (laughs)

TR: Yeah. Alright, last question. Where do you see yourself going in the future? Where would you wanna see your music go? What’s the next step?

Bryce: Ya know, I just want it to be - I just want to make better records and hopefully be - I want God to use me to do good things for him, and I want it to become the biggest band in the world, to be honest. So, yeah. I would love for it to be freakin’ huge. (laughing)

TR: Definitely! Alright, well, thanks so much. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule.

Bryce: No, thank you.

Thanks Bryce and The Rocket Summer management for talking with us and thanks to all who supported us by reading this. You can check out Bryce's music at www.myspace.com/therocketsummer