Interview with: Bryce Avary - THE Rocket Summer
When & Where: 03.07.05 - E-mail
By: Kristie Taft
Obviously, you're Bryce Avary.. from The Rocket Summer. I've always wondered, why did you choose to go by The Rocket Summer? Do you feel that having a name rather than your own would be more appealing?
I love the "band" name, I was 15 or 16 years old when I made that decision (I'm 22 now). At the time I was in high school and about to come out with my first?cd.?I remember wishing the project could have a band name rather than just my name and a friend came up with this name. At that time the only bands that I'd heard of that did that were Centro-Matic and the first foo fighters record. A couple of years down the road I heard about Dashboard, and bright eyes and now apparently I'm "doing this because they did this"... :) I love both of those guys it's just funny I guess. Maybe if I knew there would be a massive explosion of singer songwriters with band names I might have done it differently, but I actually love the name and am super happy about it. I love it.
Your new record, 'Hello, Good Friend' hits in mid May. Now, I've had the pleasure of hearing the new material and it's absolutely amazing. --For those who are less fortunate, can you give them a little heads up on what to expect?
Thanks! I really appreciate that. I really feel that "Hello" is kinda the result of a couple years of growth musically and spiritually. I'm really proud of it, without coming off to self confident, I think it's a quite good 2nd full length and hopefully people will get something good from it.
What was the biggest obsticle (if any) you experienced while recording?
I'll just say It was a really intense time full of obsticles. The next time I do a record, If i do all the instruments again, I'm not going to move away and cut myself from everyone that I love. Part of me wants to own my own studio and make records over time, that would be a dream and I know I would make such better records, so hopefully people will buy this record so maybe I can do that!
Do you have a favorite song off the new album yet? If so, why is that track your favorite? Which tracks would you consider the stand out tracks
I don't really have a favorite really. It's kind of a rollercoaster when it comes to emotion on this record. I think the label thinks that Brat Pack, Never Knew, and Around the clock are in competion for the first "single", but I dont know. It's like having kids or something, I can't have a favorite, you know?
Every band/artist has their own way of writing when it comes to writing songs/lyrics. What's the process like for you? Are you the type of person who has to be mind set to write a song or do you just go with the flow of things?
It's a very spiritual thing for me honestly. I definitely have to be in a mind set. It's hard for me to write music when I'm not feeling it. And then every now and then something just happens and it's really wierd. Making music is truly a mysterious thing to me.
Do you prefer people to have their own interpretation to your lyrics or the exact reasoning that you wrote them about?
I'd like for people to know what I'm singing about and hopefully what I'm singing about will relate to something in their lives. I'm not really into the super vague self driven type of writing. I definitely want people to feel something special and hopefully feel better when hearing what I'm singing about, that's the goal.
If you were to create an infomercial about buying your record, what would you tell your listeners?
If you buy this record all of your wildest dreams will come true.
You're basically a music extrodinaire, considering that you play all the instruments. Do you plan on getting a full band so it'll be easier on you when playing shows or do you like the challenge?
Aww, shucks, I dont know about that.? But thank you.? I'm putting together a touring band right now, we'll see what happens. If I find myself in a situation where everyone I'm playing with is the right fit then this could very well become a band. That's kinda been the ongoing question in my mind for 8 years now, haha.
Have you had any sort of musical/vocal training or are you completely self taught?
In highschool I was on the drumline. So the only thing I know how to play properly and "read" are percussion instruments.
As you've traveled, what has been the biggest surprise that you've found about the city or country and the kids who come to your shows?
Every now and then we'll play certain cities where the record isnt even in stores and some people will show up singing everyword. It's just been such a blessing? going all over the place and seeing that something is happening through your music. I love meeting people and connecting every day. I'm so blessed to get to do this. The UK was like that.
What do you hope yourself and The Rocket Summer's legacy to the music world will be?
This will sound extremely cheesy, but I want people to feel like we are close friends. I want the music I've been blessed with to heal broken hearts. I want the legacy of TRS to be known as great music/songs/shows but I want it to touch souls far more.
Thanks for taking the time to answer all of our questions! -- We appreciate it!
Thank you!