CLOSE TO HOME
Interview With Josh Wells (Guitar)
By Nathaniel LayPrior to signing with Artery Recordings, CLOSE TO HOME was already an established act touring the country with two of their own self-released albums. Now, for their label debut, the band has joined with some powerful forces to create Never Back Down, a diverse and exciting record fans will instantly fall in love with. If starting the new year strong is any sign of what’s to come, then CLOSE TO HOME are on their way to blow the nation’s mind in the coming months.
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Having been a fan since the Standby EP a couple years back, I’ve been able to watch you guys grow while unsigned. How would you compare this new album to the last two self releases?
Standby was our way of starting to find ourselves, and we put out a lot of personal demons. We named that EP that because we knew it wasn’t going to be our defining album, just a step on the way. When we recorded Let It Be Known (second EP), we were more saying “we are ready for who we are now.” We had been through so much together personally and as a band. Things changed us, but we still knew what was important to us in life. Never Back Down is our debut full length coming out. It is a concept record and basically about the good and the bad in sacrificing everything for your dreams, passion, love etc. We wanted every song to be its own experience and reflect what that song needed. So the result is some of the heaviest songs we have ever written, some of the most pop punk songs, and just all over the spectrum. I think anyone who works hard and is driven can find something to appreciate on this record, or anyone who has been pushed down and struggled.
How did you come to signing with Artery/Razor?
We spent most of 2010 assembling our dream team, people who are the best at what they do but support who we are and what we want to do. There is a lot behind the scenes that went on, even signing to another label first. We talked to lots of labels from Major to Indie, but after our search, Artery/Razor felt the most like “home.” The support for what we wanted to do was the strongest with out wanting to change us (which we got from other labels). Being true to your self is more important than anything else, and finding a team who supports that is a dream come true.
Where was this album recorded and with whom?
We recorded in Ocala, FL with Tom Denney (formerly A DAY TO REMEMBER).
How long did it take? What was the overall experience?
It took about 5-6 weeks to record the album. We recorded Monday-Saturday while living in a Days Inn. We ended up becoming very close to Tom, who was someone we previously looked up to. He is a great guy and an amazing producer. I would love to and plan on working with him in the future. We also had one of our best friends back home co-produce and help with the record, Eric Tuffendsam. Then Andrew Wade mixed the album. So having such a good team and time made us all very happy with the result.
When you guys were told to do a full length for your label debut, how did that affect the writing process (since you had only done EP’s prior)?
It actually didn’t affect much more than us taking it even more seriously. We wanted the entire record to be something special. Me and JJ are always writing music, so pulling out new ideas is something we love to do. Having Tom in the process helped musically because we respect his input, being fans of his work beforehand. Nick really stepped it up and was writing lyrics day and night, and then we would all go over them together and discuss things. This was the most time we got to spend on a record, but when it ended we could have easily spent more time. We ended up cutting one track at the very end which was almost completed but knew it wouldn’t be finished to the level we wanted.
Tell us about the album title’s meaning, as well as the cool cover art with the giant robot.
It is called Never Back Down. I explained a little bit up further, but in more detail, people who have followed us closely know some of what we have been through as a band. We lost our brother/best friend/bass player to cancer. We always took harder roads in trying to do what was best for the band and our fans, as opposed to letting this industry ruin us. The music industry is hard much like life for many people in general. The cover is kind of a modern David and Goliath feel. Going up against something much greater than yourself, but never backing down. We wanted people to know if you go for something with all your heart, it can be achieved. To show the good and the bad of that: songs about friendship, touring, partying, loving life to what it’s like to live for something worthwhile and meaningful. Then the other side: people who talk shit, who want to drag you down, the strain on family and personal relationships, hardships of giving up everything to do what you love. There is a lot of content on this record.
Speaking of the cover art, who did the picture and how was the design sculpted?
MCHC Art/Designs – Mike C. He is a great artist and done work for many good bands we love. We basically said what our concept/idea was for it and he made it a reality.
Tell us about the big tour this March you’ll be part of with Dance Gavin Dance.
This is our second time on tour with DGD in the past year. [We had the] Scream It Like You Mean It Tour over the summer. We are very excited to be hitting a lot of the same venues we did on that tour so we can see the friends we made on the way. I personally really enjoy the band IN FEAR AND FAITH on the tour, so I look forward to playing with them. We thought this would be a great tour to support the new record and can’t wait to see how people receive it.
What are you guys planning for the year ahead? Main goals and hopes?
Main goal is tour, and a lot of it. We are talking out ideas and possibilities/plans for the entire year. Our main objective is to let every one know about this record and spread that message of “you can achieve your dreams if you put enough heart and work into it.” We just want to tour as much as possible and see everyone who supports us. We look at this thing like we are a giant family.
You guys mold a lot of genre styles throughout this new record. Was this a conscious effort, or is it something that just came naturally?
As a band, we listen to music all over the spectrum in sounds. We agreed when making this record to not try to be one specific thing. We wanted every song to have what that song needed, and to try and put all of our musical influences into the music when we could. It was a very fun process.
On your last EP, you got Shane Told of SILVERSTEIN to make an appearance. Are there any guests on this album?
We wanted this record to be something special from us, so we kept the appearances off of it since we had Brennan from OCEANA and Shane from SILVERSTEIN on Let It Be Known. We could count Tom Denney on group vocals as a special appearance, right? [laughs]. We have plans for guest vocalists in the future again!
Now with a label backing with you, how is the band feeling? Nervous, psyched, anxious, etc?
Yes, any emotion you can name we feel currently [laughs]. We’re very excited and anxious. We have been working on this project a long time and can’t wait for it to get out there and be able to play it every night.
You guys have a big year ahead of you. How do you plan on approaching it on a personal and mental level?
With lots of beer…just kidding. We are a very tight knit family and have the support of so many amazing people, fans, friends and our team. We know this year will be exciting and very busy. We are pretty experienced in doing things on our own, touring, recording, etc. So this year is more exciting then anything knowing all the work is paying off.
Let’s say you have a gap of time to plan a tour all yourself and you could pick any bands to join you. Who would you most likely choose and why?
WE CAME AS ROMANS are our brother band; we have been together forever, so they would be my first choice. THE WORD ALIVE- amazing band, great guys, and I heard Telle is DTP? A DAY TO REMEMBER- they are great at what they do and been a big influence to us. NICKELBACK- for obvious reasons.
Let’s close on one of your favorite lyrics off the new album and the meaning behind it:
This is a hard one for me because there are so many lyrics I love off the record. There is one song we wrote that takes me back to my youth. It is very punk, up beat, and the only song like it on the record. I love this lyric because it captures the essence of the record and how we feel about our fans: “For those who live/For something that they believe/We live and die for you to break the mold and follow your dreams.”
Catch Close To Home on tour with Dance Gavin Dance and Iwrestledabearonce in March and April.
