Interview: Levi Benton of Miss May I

Miss May I are currently out on tour with Parkway Drive, and we had a chance to interview Miss May I from the road. Levi and I spoke about the tour, finishing their new album in the studio, meaning of the album art, future touring, and more!

State your name and role in the band, please.

Levi Benton Vocalist in Miss May I

You’re currently on tour with Parkway Drive; how is the tour going for you guys? Is it nice playing to a different crowd than maybe you guys are used to?

It’s been great so far on this tour and HUGE! Also yes it’s been so nice to play to a real metal crowd and the fans are being great to us as well. Most of them are seeing us for the first time and they are great! Can’t wait to come back!

I noticed the release date for At Heart has been pushed back to June 12th; was it due to a change in the album cover? I know numerous people have wanted the lion to come back.

I know we have been bashed quite a bit on the new album cover but I feel like since we are finally having an OFFICIAL Lion Logo for Miss May I then the story and meaning of At Heart would be lost with just the logo. Also the packaging is great so just you wait ;) The push back was due to some last minute changes on the album.

Speaking of: what’s the significance behind the album title, and how does it tie in with the album art?

Throughout the album artwork it shows how each song is sang from the heart and that is all that matters. No more just trying to be tough and in a metal band but play music worth playing and feeling. The child on the cover shows that even from the beginning of life you have to speak from the heart.

What’s one thing that you can tell us about the album that everyone wouldn’t know on their own?

The album is actually all recorded with the same microphone I play with live a SM58 and its the first time I ever held a mic in hand and recorded on a album.

How is At Heart a progression from your last album, Monument?

Well, we definitely spent way more time on this album more than we have ever spent on a album before. We actually got a chance to do pre-production and sit back and listen to the album before we tracked it so we made sure the best of the best made it to the album.

What song changed the most during the recording process?

The biggest track of the album and the most meaningful song “Hey Mister” probably changed the most and got rearranged at least 3-5 times before ever officially tracking. But the final product turned out great!

What guest vocals did you have on the record, if any? I’m guessing Telle from The Word Alive returned the favor since you appeared on “2012”.

We actually didn’t have any guest vocals this time on the record. We are more about playing live as good as possible and we feel the more guest vocals that clutter the album the more it would not sound the same live.

Did you return the favor on Attack Attack’s newest album? (not This Means War; they made an announcement that they have completed ten songs, produced by John Feldmann, for another album)

Actually I didn’t and I wish I could have!

At Heart is your third album on Rise; that being said is your contract fulfilled, or can we expect another album on the label?

It is our last album on Rise Records but we have not yet looked into new labels yet. WE have put most of our time into making At Heart as large as possible first.

Any more songs about video games like Rust?

Not yet haha. If it was up to us though there would be one about Skyrim or Battlefield 3 on this record.

In your live performances, as soon as your start screaming, you have a much harder time doing more demanding vocal parts. Eventually by the end of the set it sounds like you find it almost impossible to hold a scream out. What impact has this had on how you arrange your set list, and how you take care of your voice outside of your performance? Have you considered going to Melissa Cross for vocal lessons?

I have went to Melissa Cross and I have had a great performance ever since!

I’ve read in other interviews that you’re influenced by As I Lay Dying but what do you say to the critics who think you’re a watered-down version of AILD?

Well we are very big fans of AILD and I know sometimes it seems like we are alike but I guess thats what happens when you are inspired.

What do you hope the remainder of the year holds for MMI, with a new album looming and everything?

Well we will have the year packed with tours and magazine press and have some surprises already scheduled so keep your eyes peeled.

Last question: What are one book and one band that you’d recommend to anyone that listens to your band?

I don’t read books and As I Lay Dying.

Interview: Telle Smith from The Word Alive

This interview was originally gonna take place on the Dec 8th stop of the Fearless Friends Tour in Atlanta but then they broke down in Florida and couldn’t make the show. Thankfully, Telle was cool enough to make it up with an email interview. We discussed their setlist for the tour, his clothing line (Resist and Rebel), and why they chose a new producer for the upcoming record.

Please state your name and role in The Word Alive 

 Telle, I’m the vocalist for TWA.

What are some of your music influences and how involved in music were you growing up?

 I wasn’t really involved with music until I was about 18-19.  But I always loved it.  Some of my influences today are Deftones, In Flames, Soilwork, Underoath, Thursday and many others (as far as this genre goes).

How was the Fearless Friends tour for you guys?

 It was great, 1st US tour after Warped tour and we had a lot of fun.  Our fans sang louder than ever.

How hard was it picking the setlist for the tour? I know it can get tiring playing the same songs over and over  again. Looking over the setlist for the tour, you had the crowd favorites like “The Wretched” and “2012”, etc. 

 We try to pick a mixture of fan favorites, high energy songs and songs we enjoy playing live.  Especially on a support tour we want to play songs that keep our set flowing and bringing a lot of energy to the crowds.

With that in mind, what’s a few songs that weren’t in the setlist that you would’ve liked to play if you had more time? 

 We wanted to play “The Only Rule Is That There Are No Rules” but couldn’t squeeze it in unfortunately.

What’s one song that you haven’t played off the Deceiver yet that you’d like to? 

 We Know Who You Are, which I hope we can one day.

Deceiver is a year old; what are some misconceptions people have about the album?

 I’m not sure of misconceptions really, I haven’t heard anything along those lines.  I think the only thing people might think is that I didn’t do all of the singing/screaming.  There was a misprint once upon a time saying that I only did singing; I do it all.  

 Are you on good terms with Greeley Estates and In Fear and Faith and would you ever tour together in the future? 

 We’ve toured with IFAF since I joined TWA twice now I think, and just haven’t been on any tours GE were on.  We’re all friends though so of course. We’ve been on great terms for a long time now.  It’s good to know everyone is happy where they are at.

You have a clothing line, Resist and Rebel; how did that get started?

 Andrew from Woe, Is Me was in Abandon All Ships at the time, and on our Smartpunk Tour headliner.  We met, became friends, and discussed starting a line, and then decided to do one together and the rest is history.  Just released several new items yesterday actually!

Your main priority is obviously TWA, but do you always plan on continuing your solo work/side project in whatever form you can?  

 I definitely will always create all kinds of music, but TWA is where my heart is and where I belong. I don’t really focus on the other stuff unless I have a ton of free time. I used to have that, but we’ve been writing a new record, I own a business and produce bands on the side now so I don’t have a lot of time for writing my own things.

You guys played Warped Tour this year on the Advent Stage; are you playing the tour next year?

 Nope, we’re taking a year off.  We played the last 2 years and while it would have been great to come back again, Warped Tour is all about staying fresh and we’re taking a year off to try another summer festival tour.  It’s gonna rule.  We love Kevin Lyman and he’s been a fan of our band for the past few years, his support has meant so much to us.

Speaking of touring: in your opinion, which is the best/worst run venues from a production and band point of view?  

 Venues who take huge merch cuts because they want to make up for a lack of promoting.  

You’re set to record with Joey Sturgis in February; what made you decide to choose him over Andrew Wade?

 It wasn’t really a him over Wade thing, we love Andrew and we wouldn’t be what we are today without him.  We just wanted to try something else and see what effect it had on us.  We’ve only ever recorded albums with Andrew.  It was between Joey and a couple other producers, we chose Joey ultimately because of his love for metal, with a huge genius for the production side of things and that was important to us this time around.

Last question; pick two songs; one from your catalog, that you want new fans to check out after reading this  interview. And one song from any band/genre.

 ”Lights And Stones” by us, my favorite and “Disconnect” by Soilwork

August Burns Red fans will have to wait until 2012 to see the band do their first headline tour in North America on their 4th album Leveler. Exclusively brought to you by Rock The Walls, Guitarist Brent Rambler explains below the bands plans coming up over the next 6 months, which includes a North American Headline tour in Early 2012.