Chad Bowar: How did the band’s sound evolve from Reach to The World Outside?
Alexia Rodriguez: I think that we have all matured as musicians and The World Outside is a perfect example of this fact. On Reach there were about 5 songs that I had written in advance while I was in high school. The writing process for this new album was different and new, but it helped us grow in a way. We didn't have much time to prepare for Reach, but for The World Outside, it was the first time we all collaborated equally, and I can honestly say that it came out better than I expected.
Was your songwriting or recording process different for this album?
We had more time to collaborate and experiment through or music together. I have trust issues, so it was hard to write music with everybody at first. But I realized that we all have great chemistry as musicians and it is actually more fun to write music with other people instead of only trusting myself to come up with a whole song.
When it comes to the placement of male screaming and your singing vocals, is that something that’s decided when writing the song and not deviated from, or do you experiment in the studio doing it different ways?
It really doesn't matter if there is more screaming than singing or vice versa. We never set out to write a song with specific restrictions or necessities. We write what we feel. If that happens to be an angry aggressive song then there will be more screaming. If it is more sensitive and mellow sounding then it will be a melodic singing song.
How did Craig Mabbit’s (Escape The Fate) guest appearance come about?
Craig is our good friend from Arizona so we thought it would be cool to have him as the guest. We were actually talking about it at a kickback all drunk together in L.A. and didn't know it would actually become a reality since he is so busy all the time. But it worked out, and recording that song was one of the best nights of recording. He is fun to work with and party with.
What inspired your lyrics for this CD?
I have been through a lot of emotional experiences and have even watched my friends suffer as well. I wrote about the toughest of times that I witnessed over tour or at home. I like to write about pain and emotions like that, because nobody ever talks about them even though they go through them. I want to help people cope with those emotions and know that they are not alone.
Where did the album title come from?
The World Outside is a track title about how much the road takes its toll on me and how I feel like I am slowly losing my true self out there. Everyone in the band relates to that song completely, so we decided it would be the best title to represent us and the album as a whole.
What’s the response been to The World Outside so far?
Everyone seems to love it for the most part. A popular favorite is “Come Home,” which is my favorite song too. It’s about my relationship with my father and the abandonment that I felt. Divorce is a huge issue in the eyes of the American youth so I understand why the majority of our fans are connecting to that song.
You’ve got a few more dates left of the New Nu Metal Tour. How has it been going so far?
This tour has been amazing. All the guys are awesome and so talented. I love Sky Eats Airplane and the lead singer Jerry is a phenomenal entertainer. It’s kind of intimidating playing with all these hardcore musicians, but I am learning a lot!
What’s been the most memorable thing that’s happened (on or off stage) on this tour?
Having panties thrown at me was disturbingly memorable. Another memorable experience was when we were playing in Brazil. This little boy jumped on stage and made out with my cheek while I was singing. I had to eventually stop singing to cut him off.
What are your tour plans after that?
We are playing on tour with Drop Dead Gorgeous starting in July until August 3rd.
