-Interview- Neil To Aldrin (9/14/12)

Neil To Aldrin
www.facebook.com/pages/Neil-To-Aldrin/261007600583147
From: Vidor, TX
Sounds like: Melodic Metalcore

www.facebook.com/pages/Neil-To-Aldrin/261007600583147


1. How did Neil To Aldrin get together and form? What’s the meaning behind the name and who thought of it?

Andrew, Jess, and I went to school together and shared a love for music. Josh came in way later on, but we're grateful to have the oppertunity to work with such a wonderful musician. I (Jay) came up with the band name. I thought of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, the first men to ever set foot on the moon. They achieved something the world thought was impossible through hard work and dedication, and we wanted to recreate a similar story through our passion for music.


2. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?

Lots of harmonizing riffs, in-your-face drums, busy bass lines, and a mixture of clean/heavy vox.


3. How would you describe your live show?

Intense. We give 110% on stage. It'd be an insult for any perfomer to give any less.


4. What’s your favorite track to perform live? Favorite crowd track?

Everyone in the band differs on their favorite song to play, but we always get alot of positive feedback from the crowd on "Goodnight, Seattle", which is great because that song means alot to me, personally.


5. What’s your view on the current state of metalcore?

Very much alive. I believe that heavy music, in general, comes in waves. It's big in one generation, people lose interest, and now metal is almost as big as it was back in the 80's!


6. The artwork for the “From Ashes We Rose” EP is unique. Who came up with the design and what was the inspiration behind it?

Jay came up with the album art a while back. The children holding hands represent a bond that can't be broken. The long road that stretches towards the horizon represents a long journey full of tribulation that they will have to overcome in order to find where they feel they belong. The whole concept represents the band in some way.


7. What’s your view on illegal/legal music downloading?

Telling people not to download is like telling them not to breathe these days, it's crippling the music industry immensly, causing bands to tour more often to make a living due to the major decrease in hard copy sales. But we can't stop it. Downloading has become a part of this generation whether we like it or not.


8. What are you guys currently listening to?

Andrew - All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Upon A Burning Body
Jess - Old Suicide Silence, Caliban, Memphis May Fire
Josh - Rihanna.. Usher..
Jay - New As I Lay Dying, Pierce The Veil, and Memphis May Fire as well.


9. What’s next for Neil To Aldrin?

We've actually already started writing the next record, and are aiming for a full length album. We have quite a bit of material written for this one already, it is definitely something that will catch anyone who knows NTA off guard. It's going to show a much more mature, angry side of the band. Instead of writing what we think people want to hear, we just started writing for ourselves. The newest member of the band, Josh, has contributed alot of this material so far.


10. Any shoutouts?

We want to say a HUGE thanks to Louis Moore at Elgin Audio for bringing the EP together, and Benjamin English (Invent, Animate) for performing guest vox on the record. Thank you to Jay and Jess' parents and Jason and Joyce Andrews for their efforts in helping us in the many ways that they have. Thank you to the friends, family, and fans for getting us to where we are today, you're support does not go unappreciated. I can't speak for everybody in the band, but I personally want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for blessing me with this passion for music and the oppertunity to play with such talented musicians. We'd also like to make a shoutout to anyone who's ever doubted us. Thank you for giving us an opinion to prove wrong. P.S. Yo, Tio Joker.. We did it.