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"I
guess one huge difference between the two records is that the first came
out close to three years ago - at the time of that recording we were all
younger and the songs that we recorded had been around with us for six
or seven years," he begins. One of the younger members of Brand New,
Vinnie was barely 18 during the recording of their first album. "We'd
been writing from our teens, I guess this time around we were closer to
the ages we are now. You're so different writing in your teens than in
your early twenties, there's so much music that we started to listen to
since and so many different experiences being on the road together we've
been through."
Pausing for thought, Vinnie begins reciting a list of artists that were
on rotation during the writing of current album 'Deja Entendu'. A range
of music from Hatebread to The Police, The Smiths to The Blood Brothers
and Coheed And Cambria all are mentioned.
"I don't think anything was on my mind but I know at that time we
were all listening to so much," he explains. "I don't really
think it was new music influencing us but using the music we had there
already and realising how to make it a part of us."
The gulf between
'Your New Favourite Weapon' and 'Deja Entendu' is staggering. At times
comparisons are almost impossible. The band are happy to admit there
were elements of their debut they felt it was time to leave behind.
"It wasn't anything conscious but the first record was more up
in-your-face, super-catchy - a very friendly kind of music," Vinnie
explains. "We had done that already, that was easy for us, we know
how to make songs like that. It seemed more challenging to try to explore
new ways for us to make music."
One of the immediate differences between the albums is the melancholic
stripped back feel to much of 'Deja Entendu'. As explained gone is the
super catchy in-your-face the music anthems, replaced by much deeper
music and more reflective lyrics. "We didn't really have any expectations,
most of the record was written in the studio," he continues. "We
had a collection of songs which were just ideas, bits and pieces of
melody. A lot of the elements that the album puts forward are our feelings
of chaos and anxiety that were going on at the time. It was really strange
because the first record was so successful and rather unexpected. All
of a sudden there was a possibility that people actually liked us. One
of the things people say all the time is that it took them a while before
they realised they liked it. I had the album a month before I was finally
happy with it."
Looking back over
2003 Vinnie continues to explain how important the release of their
second album was to the band. "It was such a huge step for us,"
he admits. "We realised we had the ability to transfer our same
energy into songs that may not be so easy to understand."
If 2003 was to prove a hectic year 2004 was to begin no differently.
"This is the first thing we've done this year," remarks Vinnie.
"It's pretty wild to see all the UK shows sold out. It's strange
because people don't realise we've been touring the states for close
to four years now. We've been playing to rooms of 500 for years and
it's just the same thing, it's so exciting to be playing venues this
small again."
Brand New first
came to the attention of many UK fans supporting Finch on their last
UK tour. Vinnie is quick to explain how much they learnt from touring
with the band. "Finch are always great to watch live. One thing
we know about them is that we've toured with them enough and seen them
all have a bad day. Despite this they always go out on stage and maintain
the same show every night. It's great to be able to see a band do that.
That's one thing that a lot of people don't really see - at the end
of the day we're people too. It's hard to always give 110 per cent but
we've developed the ability to put on our own show and do what we need
to do."
The second single
to be released from 'Deja Entendu' was the excellent 'Sic Transit Gloria…
Glory Fades.' Built around an excellent powerful bass riff, layered
lyrics and a huge chorus the track shines through as one of the best
from the album. Equally impressive, working hand-in-hand with the track
was its dark thought provoking video. Set in a gloomy bar vocalist Jesse
Lacey experiences the ability to control the actions of others through
his own movements. "It's about the abuse of power and the repercussions
of it," explains Vinnie. "We met with the director who'd had
the idea for four or five years and everyone he presented it to didn't
like it. The moment he put the storyboard to us we fell in love with
it. He'd had four years to perfect it. It made so much sense, if you're
going to make a video you may as well make it a short story."
The unexpected
levels of success both albums have received have brought new levels
of pressure on the band. Vinnie is quick to explain the effects these
have had. "One of the most important things is just trying to keep
my sanity," he admits. "Brand New has become so big and taken
up so much time when I'm home I just spend it with my family. It's robbed
me of my time with them for the last four years. You don't even realise
how much you miss them. I have a younger brother and sister and every
time I see them they're becoming real people. It's sad that I'm missing
that."
Conversation shifts to life outside Brand New and growing up in America.
"My parents always had music on," begins Vinnie, recollecting
his earliest memories of music. "My dad was the Earth Wind And
Fire 70s disco dude and my mum was all about Led Zeppelin and Black
Sabbath. There was always a huge mix even though I lived at my grandparents'
house when I was younger. There was always someone playing music after
dinner. I remember being about ten and deciding not to play baseball
any more and guitar stuck with me ever since."
Another key recollection was the impact witnessing Nirvana had on Vinnie.
"Seeing Kurt Cobain for the fist time was a huge inspiration, it
must have been on their In Utero tour. I knew then there was something
about playing the guitar that I had to do."
Brand New's second album, 'Deja Entendu' is out now. Visit www.brandnewrock.com for more info.
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