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[solidekans]

http://media.www.dig...h-3904207.shtml

Circa Survive: A Leap Of Faith

The term 'blue skies research' refers to the concept of research that is conducted based on no actual scientific evidence. Some have classified it as "curiosity driven science," a science which many opponents denounce as a frivolous search that will most likely not return any tangible results.

It's a shot in the dark. It's blind luck. It's a leap of faith.

A type of leap of faith that is all too familiar to Anthony Green. He took possibly the biggest one in his life when he left Orange County based post-hardcore outfit Saosin in February of 2004. Unwilling to sacrifice his sanity and happiness any longer, Green suddenly quit the band, and in the process walked away from the biggest buzz a band had garnered out of the scene in a very long time, if not ever.

But here we are six years later, with Green sitting outside of the Grog Shop, a venue in Cleveland, Ohio, about to hit the stage as Circa Survive's vocalist, the band that was born from Green's departure from Saosin, return home and subsequent reconnection with friend and guitarist of Circa Colin Frangicetto.

Circa Survive - Green, Frangicetto, guitarist Brendan Ekstrom, drummer Steve Clifford, and bassist Nick Beard - are getting ready to play another show on their most recent headlining tour, prepping for the release of the their aptly titled third album, "Blue Sky Noise," due out April 20, 2010 on Atlantic records, an album Green describes, in his calming voice, (one that gives a bit of insight as to where his almost inhumanly high ranged vocals that appear on Circa Survive records are spawned from,) as "a lot more personal, a lot heavier and a lot rawer."

He forgot to add to that list a leap of faith.

The writing process of "Blue Sky Noise" had much to do with the evolution that can be heard on the band's latest disc. Following their spring 2008 tour with Thrice, Circa Survive began to put pen to paper to craft a follow up to their sophomore record "On Letting Go," but did so in a much different way than they had on previous records.

"The writing process was really different for us," says Green. "There was a lot more communication, everyone got along differently, I spent a little time in a mental institution trying to write the perfect song. It was a very weird writing process, but awesome."

Green most importantly cited the new found communication in the band as aiding the crafting of more meaningful and complete songs. Instead of "tip-toeing" around each other, Green says that the band became much more open, with all of the band member's contributing in different ways. Green ended up writing many more songs on the record than he had previously, and his other band mates contributed to some of the lyrics, another first.

"That's just kinda how it has to work, you either sink or you swim," says Green on his band's new found cohesion. "We weren't communicating and we were doing well, we were communicating enough to get by, but, we're old now. We have to make this shit work, we've gotta do it right, we've gotta get our shit together and we all want the same thing, so we might as well get on the same page and try to figure it all out."

This stronger connection within the band has led to a much more personal disc this time around. One of the most songs personal being "Spirit of the Stairwell," a chilling acoustic based track with sweeping piano accents that chronicles Green and his wife going through a miscarriage.

The lead single on "Blue Sky Noise," "Get Out," is a fiery, fast paced track, featuring some slick guitar work from Frangicetto and Green's signature soaring vocals with a bit of aggressive screaming added in for good measure. It is another track that digs a bit deeper than the cryptic lyrics that Green has been sometimes known for in the past.

"I was in a manic state of depression when I wrote that song," says Green. "I hadn't gotten out of bed in like three days and I was feeling really depressed and I wrote that song."

Other standouts include the album's opener, "Strange Terrain," an airy rock-romp with frantic lead guitar lines and Green singing in a lower, but equally precise and impressive, range.

"Another song is called 'Fever Dreams.' I had to fight to get it on the album, like I had to fight the label tooth and nail to get it on, but it's my favorite song on the album," says green of the album's eighth track, an almost Spanish influenced acoustic/ full band hybrid.

"People just thought it was weird, there's not really verses and choruses. It's extremely experimental. The label said that they didn't really like it, and we said, 'We don't care, we love it.' And that's what is great about Atlantic Records, they are really great to work with and they respect our vision."

One of the discs strongest tracks, "Imaginary Enemy," is a bass heavy fast paced track, that has Green reaching high in his vocal register (which is saying something) to belt out, "I tried so hard/ To be what you needed/ Your Imaginary enemy/ I tried for so long/ To make you believe it."

When asked about what Green hopes people are able to take away from Circa Survive's latest album, for the first time in the conversation, Green pauses.

"… I don't know," says Green.

"If there's any message on anything that I would want people to take away from our band is that they can do anything -- that their mind is the most powerful thing in the universe," Green's speech speeds, and his thoughts get a bit unfocused as he becomes very passionate, almost fascinated, with the subject. "They don't ever have to be scared, they don't ever have to be afraid, they can pretty much have whatever they want. Any freedom they see or hear in art is obtainable in their life. I hope they can take that away from whatever we do."

With the completion of "Blue Sky Noise," Circa will once again return to their grueling tour schedule with dates in Europe followed by a US tour with Coheed and Cambria to accompany the April 20 release of "Blue Sky Noise."

Another tour means another chance for Green to build on the deep connection he and the legions upon legions of Circa Survive fans have created. Something that to this day still surprises Green.

"There's absolutely never an occurrence where somebody will say something to me about the band or our music that doesn't make me feel crazy," he says. "I still can't believe that this is real."

Maybe that 'blue skies research' can pay off

Media Credit: Roberto Chamorro


This was posted in the blue sky noise thread, but i thought it deserves it's own thread.

Edit: I didn't find this someone else did.  Credit goes to whoever that is.

[cobra2341]

Quote

This stronger connection within the band has led to a much more personal disc this time around. One of the most songs personal being "Spirit of the Stairwell," a chilling acoustic based track with sweeping piano accents that chronicles Green and his wife going through a miscarriage.

oof, this is tough stuff. no idea that this went on

Quote

"Another song is called 'Fever Dreams.' I had to fight to get it on the album, like I had to fight the label tooth and nail to get it on, but it's my favorite song on the album," says green of the album's eighth track, an almost Spanish influenced acoustic/ full band hybrid.

and im so glad he did this

[Bílly]

anyone else see a contradiction where ant says he fought tooth and nail to get fever dreams on the record, and then praises them for being easy to work with because he was able to get it on the album?

that doesn't make too much sense to me.

[Drummermang2113]

Great article, I'm glad that we get to hear about the good times and the bad times of these guys. I feel more out of the music with the background that I have read and heard so far

[ᜏR]

Billy, on Apr 13 2010, 08:14 PM, said:

anyone else see a contradiction where ant says he fought tooth and nail to get fever dreams on the record, and then praises them for being easy to work with because he was able to get it on the album?

that doesn't make too much sense to me.

he probably had to explain to the label why it should be on the album and that could be a hard process to get through to some people. Especially because of business aesthetics that are involved with that kind of thing. I think he meant that it was easy to work with them because they did end up understanding where he was coming from and let circa have their freedom with the songs. So there probably wasn't really that much of compromise needed to be made between the label and circa which is a really great thing for the band.

Anyway, this was a good read. Thanks!

[insulttogingery]

I'm jealous of a college student magazine that discusses Circa Survive and Portugal. The Man