EastScene

Hot off the tour circuit and fresh with a new album, EastScene’s Shannah Lauren caught up with vocalist Kristian Hallbert of the Long Island alt-punk outfit Crime in Stereo to discuss I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone, their latest release on Bridge Nine Records, band history, and plenty of other bits to get to know the up-and-coming band.

How did you all first decide to get serious with music, and start this band?

We all really just wanted to do it, so we formed the band then something progressed. We didn’t really say to start this band, more like what are we gonna do next. We’ve seen and done so many cool things one year after another, and it’s something we all loved. We work as hard as we do so we can do that. Early on, when we started doing it we busted our asses so now being where we are is just awesome. It’s something I always wanted to do, it’s something we all wanted to do.
Was there ever any hesitation in what you guys were doing?

There always is, especially when you aren’t indecently wealthy and have the whole set up to fall back on. You just gotta throw yourself into it, and whatever happens in the end happens. Of course there is hesitation, like for it was paying my student loan and life getting in the way, but you just have to go for it and not look back.
You guys have already been playing together for seven, almost eight years. Had you ever thought that the band wasn’t going to work?

Oh definitely! We never thought we would make it this far. I mean we just finished our fourth EP, we never thought we would have done anything close to that. Every day I think about where we are and everything we do, it still shocks me.
How would you describe your style of music?

I am the worst person to ask that! [laughs] People would ask before, and I would say something then after think “What in the world was I talking about?”[laughs], but honestly I would just definitely say that we are emotionally driven, hardcore influenced music.

What do you think it is that attracts listeners to your style of music?

I don’t know actually, we always just have been truly honest. Honest about the lives we live, and it makes it easy for them to relate to us. We write about things that we go through, things that people are going through right now as we speak. In our songs, we write stories. And I think listeners can feel closer that way. We have a little bit of a unique Long Island sound, which I think attracts listeners.

In one sentence, what is your ultimate goal as a band?

I just want every person to be crying and singing “I love Crime in Stereo!” [laughs] and be able to have the songs just get to them.

It’s not hard to sometimes find trends between bands’ songs, as far as inspiration for what the song is talking about (love, hate, being happy, etc.). Is there one sort of emotion that dominates the songs that you guys write, or is it more sporadic?

This last record that we wrote was mainly just based on love, love lost, personal life heart-ache, heart-ache in general, again just life experiences. We write about what we live, which there is a lot of happy moments but there is also a lot of sad emotions included. All of which we write about.

You guys did a split album with Kill Your Idols in 2003. Has there been another band that you guys have wanted to do a split with since then?

There is a million bands! We actually tired to do a split album at first with another band from Long Island, which I was totally psyched about because the singer had inspired me so much. But, there had been some conflict with the label and such, which had made it so that couldn’t happen, which sucked.

Of all the tours you’ve been on, which would you say has been your most favorite?

We did an Australia tour with Against Me!, which was incredible! Australia is one of the best places, I loved it. We also toured just got off the tour with Brand New, which is honestly one of the best experiences because they are just awesome guys! So I would have to say both of those tours.

As you just mentioned, you just got off the tour with Brand New. What’s it like touring with them?

It’s honestly one of the best experiences like I just said before, they are just such cool guys and such positive, fun people. Since we all are from Long Island, it’s like we are just a huge family on tour.

What was the motivation behind writing I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone?

The biggest motivation honestly was just pushing ourselves musically as far as we could go! We want to give every record we make 100% and so it’s always just getting your mindset to that point.

Do you feel more or less confident about this album compared to previous albums?

Definitely more confident, I think that this is the best record yet!

You guys have moved from label to label, three in the span of almost six years. What do you guys look for when you’re evaluating which label is best for you?

We actually were really good friends with the guy that worked the label, and even initially working there he would help us sell our CD’s and promote us a lot because he liked our music. They still are amazing though he’s not there anymore, but the main thing we look for is just to have similar values, and to make sure the relationship between us seems right.

What are your goals for 2010 as a band?

Tour our asses off! [laughs] Definitely sell some records, and just get out as much as we can. Come hang out!

Do you have any touring dates just yet?

We have some upcoming U.K dates, but we’re just gonna be staying busy, so keep an eye out!