Alex's Interview with Suburban Roads!
Olivia: For the record can you state your name and what you do in the band?
Alex: My name is Alex Lipshaw and I play guitar in Hey Monday.
O: So Warped Tour is coming to a close, how has it changed you and the elements of the band? Any new experiences, memorable stories?
A: Yeah, I mean, it made me definitely realize first off how well we have done as a band, which was really cool. We came into Warped Tour comfortably - there are a lot of bands here that this is their dream, but it was also my dream. It opened up my world to how many people really care about doing the same things that I do, and how possible it is for really anybody to do it.
O: Right.
A: ...With the right mindset and heart.
O: How did you guys get secured onto Warped, how did that happen?
A: Oh, a booking agent. Our management probably thought that it was a good idea to do Warped Tour this year.
O: What are some of the bands that you've been looking forward to having the opportunity see every day? Are there any new bands that you picked up on?
A: Oh, definitely! I was really looking forward to seeing The All-American Rejects, Sum 41, and We the Kings. It's kind of weird, all those people dropped off.
O: The first leg right?
A: Yeah, but it's opened up my world to a lot more hardcore bands. It's kind of weird, like Four Year Strong, Attack Attack, Bring Me the Horizon. It's really interesting to watch them because of their environment too. Kids come out here to see them, there's a big demand for these hardcore bands. I didn't even really know about that until we came and played Warped Tour.
O: So, what are doing after Warped Tour? New music, touring?
A: We're doing a fall tour, I'm not going to say what it is...
O: Keep it secret.
A: You'll figure it out probably in a few weeks at heymondaymusic.com. We're also getting in a van right after this tour and just driving around and doing promotional stuff because our album comes out a few days after this tour.
O: Is there a track off the album that, when you finished it, you felt the most accomplished?
A: There's a song called "Wonder Girl", I think that's my favorite song on the album. The goal was to write a song that's big and big sounding and I feel like we did it with that one.
O: That's awesome! Do you feel that this record is different than everything else that you've done? How have you progressed as a band from when you started to now?
A: I feel like we just grew up a little bit, that's really it. A lot of people ask what is the difference, and I'd just say more mature because we've just grown up and gotten better at our instruments, gotten better at singing and writing.
O: So I went to see Despicable Me at the movie theater the other day with my cousin, and we were watching the commercials, and all of a sudden you guys just popped up on screen!
A: How long ago was this?
O: About two to three weeks ago. How does that feel having that exposure?
A: Yeah, it's unreal, it's been happening for a year now.
O: How did that come about, because it's for Sony right?
A: Well, Columbia is a Sony company. I just remember it was beginning of 2009 and we were going out to L.A. to shoot a part for this commercial and it was like, "Oh, this is awesome! I didn't expect to be doing this." We actually got to go to Universal Studios, get in a real studio, a big ass studio... All those people that were watching us are actually not there because we were shooting on a set. There was this big green screen behind us and stuff, it was really interesting.
O: That would've been slightly surreal! Obviously, everyone has their musical influences, what artists influenced you to start music, and what newer artists keep you inspired and motivated to make new music?
A: Definitely bands like Blink-182, and as crazy as it is, Sum 41, The All-American Rejects, those are the types of bands that influenced me in the beginning. I feel like with music, there are a lot of people with the same interests as me, like The Summer Set - I really love their music and I love to play that type of music. There are really a lot of bands. Every band on this tour I take as influence. I try to understand and put myself in their shoes, it's just like a big learning experience.
O: Are there any artists that go directly onto a playlist when you head out for tour? What things do you do to "stay sane"?
A: Oh, definitely music! I like falling asleep to something really chill, like ambient stuff. I had this dude on our bus just make a playlist of random ambient music . Have you ever heard a band called The Album Leaf?
O: Heard of, but haven't checked out yet.
A: Yeah, it's just ambient music, it just puts me to sleep, it's awesome.
O: Is there any music that you listen to that people might be surprised at? Any guilty pleasures?
A: Oh, yeah, I listen to everything. I'll listen to anything from Justin Bieber to The Spice Girls...
O: Well everyone likes The Spice Girls, I'm pretty sure.
A: ...yeah! To Attack Attack, so I just try keeping my horizons completely and totally open to everything.
O: That's a great viewpoint!
A: Yeah!
O: So if you weren't in Hey Monday, what would you be doing right now?
A: Probably trying to be doing this.
O: If you could summarize the band in one sentence for people who haven't had a chance to check you out or haven't heard of you, what would that sentence be?
A: Pop rock, female fronted singer, and fun and energetic! I mean, that's for the live show...
O: [laughs] Yeah.
A: [laughs] We try writing catchy music.
O: What would your advice be to other aspiring musicians who are trying to gain some exposure?
A: Well, in life, when you want to do something you want to do, it's all about fixing the problems. Everything that you do is just like fixing a problem. If you want to build a band and you want to be a singer, or have a career, it's just about fixing a bunch of problems.
O: Sure.
A: You know, if you need something, you've got to figure out how to get it. Everything is possible, and anything is possible, you just have to figure it out.
O: Are there any bigger obstacles that you had to overcome as a band?
A: Oh yeah, you know, we had our drummer quit, it's one big work in progress. Every day there's a problem you know? We're constantly working on problems, but it just makes you realize it's just one big problem. We can fix everything, and figure it out as we go.
O: Describe each of your band mates in three words.
A: Cassadee is a female, funny as hell...or funny, and pretty. Jersey is insane, funny, and skinny. Mike Gentile: loud, funny (oh definitely funny), and trustworthy. Well we have a drummer, he's not permanently in the band right now, but he is one of my closest friends from home, so friend, good [drummer], and smelly.
O: Okay, so the majority of your band is funny, that's always good.
A: Yep!
O: Alright, here's a spin on the usual "deserted island question": if you had to resort to eating each other, which band mate would you eat first, and who would you leave for last?
A: Probably I would eat...damn...
O: It makes you think, this one.
A: Yeah. Everyone is the same size so I wouldn't get any more meat from anybody. Probably Mike, I would probably eat Mike just to be able to say I ate him. I'd probably get sick though.
O: Well, you'd probably get sick eating anybody...any closing statements or plugs?
A: Yeah, our album comes out on August 13th and you can find out anything about it at heymondaymusic.com!
[Source]
Alex: My name is Alex Lipshaw and I play guitar in Hey Monday.
O: So Warped Tour is coming to a close, how has it changed you and the elements of the band? Any new experiences, memorable stories?
A: Yeah, I mean, it made me definitely realize first off how well we have done as a band, which was really cool. We came into Warped Tour comfortably - there are a lot of bands here that this is their dream, but it was also my dream. It opened up my world to how many people really care about doing the same things that I do, and how possible it is for really anybody to do it.
O: Right.
A: ...With the right mindset and heart.
O: How did you guys get secured onto Warped, how did that happen?
A: Oh, a booking agent. Our management probably thought that it was a good idea to do Warped Tour this year.
O: What are some of the bands that you've been looking forward to having the opportunity see every day? Are there any new bands that you picked up on?
A: Oh, definitely! I was really looking forward to seeing The All-American Rejects, Sum 41, and We the Kings. It's kind of weird, all those people dropped off.
O: The first leg right?
A: Yeah, but it's opened up my world to a lot more hardcore bands. It's kind of weird, like Four Year Strong, Attack Attack, Bring Me the Horizon. It's really interesting to watch them because of their environment too. Kids come out here to see them, there's a big demand for these hardcore bands. I didn't even really know about that until we came and played Warped Tour.
O: So, what are doing after Warped Tour? New music, touring?
A: We're doing a fall tour, I'm not going to say what it is...
O: Keep it secret.
A: You'll figure it out probably in a few weeks at heymondaymusic.com. We're also getting in a van right after this tour and just driving around and doing promotional stuff because our album comes out a few days after this tour.
O: Is there a track off the album that, when you finished it, you felt the most accomplished?
A: There's a song called "Wonder Girl", I think that's my favorite song on the album. The goal was to write a song that's big and big sounding and I feel like we did it with that one.
O: That's awesome! Do you feel that this record is different than everything else that you've done? How have you progressed as a band from when you started to now?
A: I feel like we just grew up a little bit, that's really it. A lot of people ask what is the difference, and I'd just say more mature because we've just grown up and gotten better at our instruments, gotten better at singing and writing.
O: So I went to see Despicable Me at the movie theater the other day with my cousin, and we were watching the commercials, and all of a sudden you guys just popped up on screen!
A: How long ago was this?
O: About two to three weeks ago. How does that feel having that exposure?
A: Yeah, it's unreal, it's been happening for a year now.
O: How did that come about, because it's for Sony right?
A: Well, Columbia is a Sony company. I just remember it was beginning of 2009 and we were going out to L.A. to shoot a part for this commercial and it was like, "Oh, this is awesome! I didn't expect to be doing this." We actually got to go to Universal Studios, get in a real studio, a big ass studio... All those people that were watching us are actually not there because we were shooting on a set. There was this big green screen behind us and stuff, it was really interesting.
O: That would've been slightly surreal! Obviously, everyone has their musical influences, what artists influenced you to start music, and what newer artists keep you inspired and motivated to make new music?
A: Definitely bands like Blink-182, and as crazy as it is, Sum 41, The All-American Rejects, those are the types of bands that influenced me in the beginning. I feel like with music, there are a lot of people with the same interests as me, like The Summer Set - I really love their music and I love to play that type of music. There are really a lot of bands. Every band on this tour I take as influence. I try to understand and put myself in their shoes, it's just like a big learning experience.
O: Are there any artists that go directly onto a playlist when you head out for tour? What things do you do to "stay sane"?
A: Oh, definitely music! I like falling asleep to something really chill, like ambient stuff. I had this dude on our bus just make a playlist of random ambient music . Have you ever heard a band called The Album Leaf?
O: Heard of, but haven't checked out yet.
A: Yeah, it's just ambient music, it just puts me to sleep, it's awesome.
O: Is there any music that you listen to that people might be surprised at? Any guilty pleasures?
A: Oh, yeah, I listen to everything. I'll listen to anything from Justin Bieber to The Spice Girls...
O: Well everyone likes The Spice Girls, I'm pretty sure.
A: ...yeah! To Attack Attack, so I just try keeping my horizons completely and totally open to everything.
O: That's a great viewpoint!
A: Yeah!
O: So if you weren't in Hey Monday, what would you be doing right now?
A: Probably trying to be doing this.
O: If you could summarize the band in one sentence for people who haven't had a chance to check you out or haven't heard of you, what would that sentence be?
A: Pop rock, female fronted singer, and fun and energetic! I mean, that's for the live show...
O: [laughs] Yeah.
A: [laughs] We try writing catchy music.
O: What would your advice be to other aspiring musicians who are trying to gain some exposure?
A: Well, in life, when you want to do something you want to do, it's all about fixing the problems. Everything that you do is just like fixing a problem. If you want to build a band and you want to be a singer, or have a career, it's just about fixing a bunch of problems.
O: Sure.
A: You know, if you need something, you've got to figure out how to get it. Everything is possible, and anything is possible, you just have to figure it out.
O: Are there any bigger obstacles that you had to overcome as a band?
A: Oh yeah, you know, we had our drummer quit, it's one big work in progress. Every day there's a problem you know? We're constantly working on problems, but it just makes you realize it's just one big problem. We can fix everything, and figure it out as we go.
O: Describe each of your band mates in three words.
A: Cassadee is a female, funny as hell...or funny, and pretty. Jersey is insane, funny, and skinny. Mike Gentile: loud, funny (oh definitely funny), and trustworthy. Well we have a drummer, he's not permanently in the band right now, but he is one of my closest friends from home, so friend, good [drummer], and smelly.
O: Okay, so the majority of your band is funny, that's always good.
A: Yep!
O: Alright, here's a spin on the usual "deserted island question": if you had to resort to eating each other, which band mate would you eat first, and who would you leave for last?
A: Probably I would eat...damn...
O: It makes you think, this one.
A: Yeah. Everyone is the same size so I wouldn't get any more meat from anybody. Probably Mike, I would probably eat Mike just to be able to say I ate him. I'd probably get sick though.
O: Well, you'd probably get sick eating anybody...any closing statements or plugs?
A: Yeah, our album comes out on August 13th and you can find out anything about it at heymondaymusic.com!
[Source]