EastScene

EastScene’s Shannah Lauren caught up with Nashville’s up-and-coming alt-rock outfit SafetySuit, covering all the past and current bases of the Universal Records quartet.
When and how did SafetySuit get together?

We actually got the band together in 2002 and were all close friends. I think the best part was we got together as more of a joke, not really taking it seriously but just for fun [laughs]. Then we actually decided to play Battle of the Bands, and we ended up winning. Then that turned into us being asked to play at the Homecoming dance, and Valentines day. Then we were just like, “maybe we should take this seriously?” [laughs], and then we moved to Nashville.

What’s it like being an Alternative band in Nashville, also known as “The Home of Music”?

Nashville is amazing especially in the music industry because there is just so many bands, and everyone supports each other with being noticed. When we had moved there, we had started out playing shows with honestly probably 10 people at the max [laughs], and then the shows starting building up until the point of being sold out. That’s when Bruce Carbone from Universal records had been in touch with us thanks to our incredible publicist Rich Isaacson, and actually was going to stop at our show at the venue “12th in Porter” (which is like our hometown venue) on the way to the Grammy’s [laughs]. So we pretty much just posted on MySpace that a record label would be watching us that night, and we needed our fans to come support us and just get wild! [laughs] So, that was how we got on Universal Records.

How do you feel being apart of Universal Records?

Honestly, since the beginning we all had connected so much about music and what we wanted to do. Universal Records has treated us so good, and we are all really just a big family.

You had built up publicity fairly quick after completing your first studio album, were you intimidated or nervous at all at first?

I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I was just really hoping that we would get good feedback from the fans and everything.

The music video “Stay” had achieved getting #1 on VH1’s Top 20 Countdown, how did you feel when you achieved that opportunity?

Incredible! That year in general was the most intense, amazing year. VH1 and our fans had really supported and helped us so much along the way. We had posted on MySpace and such about voting for us on the Top 20 Countdown, and I remember it was on a Friday when VH1 had called us and said “You guys should keep a look out on VH1 tomorrow because your video has reached #1″, and we were just amazed by the whole situation. If it wasn’t for our fans, we definitely wouldn’t be where we are today.

Who are you currently on tour with?

We are co-headlining for Parachute right now, who are really awesome guys.

What has been the craziest experience you’ve had on tour?

Oh god [laughs], well one time after our last show with Theory of a Deadman we were just kicking a soccer ball around and one of our buddies asked us to take shots of vodka, but instead we had an idea of putting the vodka all over the soccer ball and setting it on fire. So we did but the fire wasn’t good enough [laughs], so then we had another idea of instead of vodka putting guitar polish all over the soccer ball. That lead into a 4 foot flame, to us kicking the ball around with our feet, then our knees and then to our chests, and then Doug (our lead vocalist) had decided to hit the ball with his head but because we just finished a show and his hair was just full of sweat and gel before the ball had even touched his head, his entire hair had just went went on fire [laughs]. It’s actually on YouTube so check it out, it’s called “SafetySuit Dangerous Soccer” I believe.

You had released your first studio album in 2008, Life Left To Go, what inspired you guys while writing this record?

The album was actually dedicated to a close friend of Doug’s who tried to commit suicide twice, and the message that we were trying to set across was to hold on and never give up. That your not alone and we care, I would love our music to be able to make a difference in someones life. I remember a quote, I can’t quite remember who said it but it pretty much says “Music has the ability to bring you back changed”, and that’s what I want our music to be able to do.

Do you believe that MySpace has helped you get where you are as a band today?

I definitely do, MySpace has helped so many bands and us so much with growing our fan base and our fans mean everything to us.

Who is your biggest influence music wise?

We all actually have been influenced a lot in classical music and Jazz, but I know that Doug is really inspired by The Police and The Eagles, Tate is inspired by incredible drummer’s like the one from Foo Fighters, what is his name? Ah, I can’t remember but he has great hair. Dave, he’s really inspired by Guns & Roses, and as for myself, I actually didn’t really know much about bass or how amazing of an instrument it really was until I saw Victor Wooten play, he entirely inspired me to start playing and the reason of where I am today. I actually got to meet him once in an airport when we were leaving L.A, I believe we actually just finished shooting “Stay”, but I’ve never once been starstruck before in my life because people are just people but when I saw him, I couldn’t move and I remember telling Dave “Oh my god, that’s Victor Wooten!”, so Dave told me to go talk to him so when I finally got the courage in me, when I finally did he ended up giving me his new CD, and he signed my Bass, so I love being able to bring that out on the stage every night.

Now entering in to the new year of 2010, is there anything that fans can look forward to?

Yes actually! As for tours, we are on tour with Parachute as I said earlier, then I believe in February we are doing a college tour. And in June, I think we are going to be headed towards Europe. Also, we actually started recording our second studio album a week and a half ago, which we all are really excited about since the last time we were writing was in 2007. The album will also include the acoustic song that Doug plays at the end of every show that’s called “You Don’t See Me”, so the fans should keep an eye out for that.

I seem to ask this question a lot, but I feel as if it’s the most interesting for a viewer. Do you have any advice for upcoming musicians who are trying to make it in the music industry?

We actually do get that question a lot, but I believe that you should take as much advice that you can possibly get. Also, don’t listen to what people tell you or what you think you have to be, fallow your heart and find success in different ways that make you happy. Never be someone or something your not, and stay positive and confident in your music.