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Between planning the bands Japan and European tours, playing the bands US tour,
and rehearsals, I manage a quick word with Fordirelifesake's Brian.
It is thanks to Skipworth Records that I am currently writing this article.
Fordirelifesake's debut album "Breathing In Is Only Half The Function" hit UK
stores yesterday, thanks to the aforementioned Skipworth Records. The band released
the LP on Cloud Ahead Records over in America in mid-February this year. But Skipworth
picked up the guys over here in the UK, Europe and Asia and allowed the band to
get the sort of attention they deserve over here.
Fordirelifesake's history is an eventful one. The band grew from the ashes of
three local bands in their homeland of Detroit, Michigan. Perhaps ashes is not the
right term, the other three bands just took a back seat as FDLS took off.
Fordirelifesake are: Matt, Brian, Eric, Justin and Dave. Before FDLS, Brian played
drums in local band 'Mycomplex', Justin in Bottomed Out, and Matt in Resound.
Through playing together with their respective bands, the idea for FDLS was laid down.
So it began, Fordirelifesake made an immediate impact on their local scene back in
October of '99, soon creating a thriving fan base from their intense live shows.
Pretty soon the other bands took a back seat as Foredirelifesake took off.
Although no-one is certain who's idea the band was, Brian and Justin "sort
of started it I guess". All that it needed then was Brian's cousin Dave on bass,
and Justin's childhood friend Eric to play second guitar. Brian believes that,
although there were similar ideas in all the aforementioned bands and Fordirelifesake,
"it was a new experience for all of us". The band now live in Pontiac, Michigan,
almost next door to each other. Guitarist Brian admits that the members are
"all best friends". In 2000 the band released their debut EP independently. In
hindsight Brain feels the EP was rushed: "The first EP was done in haste.
Everything about it was rushed, the songs, the recording, the original artwork.
I still like the songs and love to play them, but I really wish we could have
had more time to work on it as a whole".
However, this EP, along with the bands dedicated touring, caught the eye of
Forge Again Records. A deal was soon inked which allowed Forge Again to release
the bands new split EP with local boys Wafflehouse. When the bands debut EP sold out,
the band were so happy with their previous work, that they allowed Forge Again
to repress it. The Split EP and the bands original EP were selling fast, and the
band really were becoming a local sensation. The band were also making waves outside
of their hometown, playing shows with acts such as Thursday, Poison The Well,
New Found Glory and Skycamefalling helped sales of their two CD's, and the band
soon had a large fanbase.
With the public crying out for more material, the band began work on a full album.
Local label Cloud Ahead Records approached the boys and offered to work with them
for their new LP. Brian describes the decision to release the album on Cloud Ahead
as relatively painless. The band were keen to get their music out to the public:
"[Cloud Ahead] are a local based label. We didn't want to sit on a record and have
it release a year after it was recorded. [Cloud Ahead Records] are good friends
so we just decided to try it out and see how things go!", "We did shop around a
little, but we honestly just wanted to get it out". "Forge Again is a great label,
but they had a lot on their hands when we were ready to do our record. We wanted
to make sure it was current".
The LP was titled "Breathing Is Only Half The Function", and hit stores in the US
during February 2002. The band set out to support the album, touring with "Boys Night
Out". When they came back from the trek they were approached by UK label Skipworth
Records. Run by Paul Bojarski (who Brian describes as "the best guy, he works so
hard!"), the label gave the band a chance to get their music heard in Europe. Brian
says "We had never thought about trying to get our stuff out [In Europe] until he
approached us, but we are very happy that he did".
Although Brain believes that he cannot cite influences for the new record. His
current CD playlist contains a crop of new talent, all highly recommended by the man
himself: "The Fullblast, Boys Night Out and Waffelhouse". Of Boys Night Out Brian
has nothing but kind words: "They are our great friends, they are a great band!".
Every single piece of music the band has ever recorded has been recorded at
'The Woodshed Studio'. Brian believes that it works so well because the band:
"feel comfortable there, we have a great time recording there, and the engineer
Tim is one of the best guys I've met". Brian was kind enough to give me a
rundown of the meanings behind the songs on the album.
1. 10-31-99
Tom: So Brian, this track kicks off the album. What is it about?
Brian: Well it's not Halloween, (laughs). We wrote that song after a long week of
bad shows, where the situation almost broke us up. The songs about getting through it,
sticking together.
2. Careless Days
Brian: Careless Days to me is about time. Until recently I always had this horrible
feeling about growing up. I always felt like I missed school, missed old friends etc...
I wrote that song in that state of mind. It kind of helped me get over it though.
3. Just A Memory
Tom: Just A Memory. A wistful song?
Brian: I Honestly couldn't help you man, Eric wrote that song.
4. Cross My Heart, Hope To Die
Brian: I actually wrote that song a few years back. I decided to use it on this album
because it had always meant a lot to me. Its basically about someone I loved, whom I
still love, but I messed it up. It's a song about worrying that the mistakes I made
when I was younger will follow me into the future.
5. Four Letter Lie
Brian: Yeah, Four Letter Lie is an older song. Its on our CD/EP. I've only ever written
a few violent songs in my life and that was one of them.
By Tom Winter (tom@skipworthrecords.com)
All content © Spittbs Entertainment 2002, unless otherwise stated.
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