Thursday, November 26, 2009

Asleep: Staying true, working hard and Mister Rogers' stuff

Though the phrase “melting pot” has been used to describe music in the past, rarely has it represented an outfit better than it does with Asleep. After a whirlwind of management and lineup changes, the band’s core has persevered and they’re ready to celebrate that triumph.

On Nov. 28, Asleep takes the stage for an all-ages show at Jillians. Along with vocalist Todd Kaden, keyboardist Larry Serb and drummer Nick Kloss — guitarist Jon Dean is ready to move their message to the masses. He sat down to describe the journey, and what’s to come.

Valley24.com: The new album is entitled "Between, Above and Below." Why is this an appropriate title for the new disc, and what are you attempting musically and lyrically?

Dean: We’ve had this working title forever, and a friend of mine actually did the artwork itself. He came up with the title, although it was a little wordier. We chopped it down a bit. We feel this album cover represents what the title is all about.

As far as musically, we went a little more up-the-middle with this one. We worked with a producer [Mike Watts] in New York for this one with bands like Hopesfall and Sevendust to his credit, so it’s been a great year. We’ve learned a lot from him. Our producer said, ‘When I listen to this music, it really goes in so many different directions and so many different places.’ So it fits. There’s an emphasis on more mature songwriting, where the first album was a little more experimental and a bit less focused.

V24: You have a wide range of musical influences. How is this diversity good for the band’s progress, and is there ever a time where it is a negative for the band?

Dean: We’ve had some really interested parties [label support]. Our music is so across the map — it spans this big spectrum — that from a marketing standpoint, it’s one of our strongest points and it also bites us in the ass. The labels say ‘Where do we put this?’ I have a lot of pride in this project because of it. We’re not afraid to just do whatever. We don’t limit ourselves.

V24: Your first two albums are now available on MySpace through Snocap music. Do you feel the Internet has been helpful or harmful for the music industry, as far as illegal downloading goes?

Dean: I’m in a gray area on that myself. Everyone’s doing that in this day and age. When you get right down to it, I support downloading, because we want to get our music out to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, the financial implications of that, when you’re giving up your entire life to do this — that $50,000 dollars doing it — you want to make some of that money back. We’d love you to buy that album, or at least come see us live.

But I think the problem lies on the industry and their inability to adapt. It comes down to an ego thing. They think, ‘We’ll sign singers and songwriters – kids that don’t know any better — and we’ll rape them.’ Developmental projects are gone, and that’s what this is. But I don’t fear the reaper. But we’re going to hit the road and tour to really support this thing. Ultimately, I do encourage people to hold this thing in their hands, and not in their iPod with 50,000 other songs.

V24: “Who Am I” is one of the tunes on the new full-length, and it’s quite a mellow song. Tell us the background of this song, and how do your fans respond to more low-intensity efforts, in comparison to the more aggressively-styled songs?

Dean: Todd [Kaden-vocals] actually wrote that entire song. I think it’s a showcasing of what we can do. I think the kid [Todd] nailed the ability to reach out to people that may not usually lean towards our type of music, and bring them in this direction. He didn’t even really want to put it on the album because he said it didn’t really sound like us. I said, ‘Dude, it’s just a great song.’

We tweaked it a bit to make it totally ours, but it can draw people towards checking out what we do. We’re a loud, in-your-face band, live. So if we sit down and do that song, it seems to affect them quite a bit. It’s probably got one of the best hooks on the entire album— it’s just a hooky song.

We definitely try to keep the focus on being a loud, energetic live band. We just write what we feel, and if it finds a home, it does. I mean, that EP... ["The Mass of Empty Spaces"], people were drawn in by that. And that EP got more people laid than it got me laid. That’s cool, and it sucks (laughs). Dudes will say, “I put that EP on, and this girl was like, "Who’s this band," next thing you know things are happening!” That EP hasn’t done that for me, and you can PRINT that!

V24: That might be the headline of the story!

Dean: (laughing) Yep. Asleep! November 28th! Everyone’s getting laid there but Deaner!

V24: You guys had an excellent response headlining VexFest this year. However, a few local acts were very unhappy with the time slots they received. Do you think this kind of negativity thrives in our scene, or do you think it’s rare?

Dean: It’s politics, and it simply happens everywhere. People get pissed off no matter what, but it is what it is. It’s all about how hard you’re willing to work. Bottom line is, people try get along by not doing shit, but that only lasts for so long.

I’m not trying to sound like a douche, but it’s an honor to play that show every year, and it’s something that doesn’t happen anywhere else. For a local music scene to put 4,000-5,000 people in one spot every year, without some giant corporate festival — it just doesn’t happen anywhere else. The people who plan this, they have to take a lot into account. They’re simply going to piss some people off, but they’re just trying to do what they can to guarantee the show can be a success.

Everyone knows the people who put this together are good people, and they’re very hard working. It’s a success every year, so you can’t complain about it. I swear to you, the VexFest show was the most fun I’ve had on a stage in years. That goes for the entire band. It was a tremendous experience.

V24: Finally, let’s pretend Asleep has been chosen for a new book titled “Words We Should All Live By.” What type of mantra would your band put forth? How does this quote encompass what you do as a band?

Dean: I would say, "Don’t sleep. Work until you fall over. Meet people. Drink. Be passionate.’ That’s honestly, what we try to do. We’re passionate about what we’re doing. We drink a lot. We don’t sleep..."

V24: I just find that ironic: Asleep, in fact, does not sleep.

Dean: Right. Isn’t that interesting? Just don’t try to be who you aren’t. Simply believe in what you’re doing, and no matter what people say, you’ll be successful.

In a million years...I didn’t think—no, actually— I did think we could get to this point. It’s very humbling. We have the ability with our band and this studio, to wake up and just play music all day long. Whether a label gets interested and we sell 10,000 records, 50,000 records or five records, we can look at ourselves in the mirror and say we’re doing what we want to do. That’s some Mister Rogers' stuff right there. I feel like I need to put on a sweater (takes off shoe and hurls it over his shoulder). That’s what it’s all about.

Asleep’s release show for "Between, Above and Below" is Nov. 28 at Jillian’s in the Southern Park Mall. The opening acts include Wake The Lion, Lights Resolve, Magma, North Shore and They Promised Escape. This all-ages show starts at 7 p.m. and admission is $8.