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Interview by: Chelsey Goraczkowski
Edited by: Joshua Koloski
THE BIGGEST IMPETUS TO COMMUNICATION IS LANGUAGE: WE WALK PAST EACH
OTHER; TALKING, LISTENING, BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING.
DRIFT EFFECT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO BASK IN THIS AURA OF APATHY. THE BAND
HAS EVOLVED, OVER THE COURSE OF ITS THREE YEAR EXISTENCE (19 IN LLAMA
YEARS) INTO A COLLECTIVE OF INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO ESTABLISH
RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH MUSIC; CONVEYING THE RANGE OF EMOTIONS
EXPERIENCED IN THE INFORMATION-SATURATED AGE WE LIVE IN.
WE WANT OUR MUSIC TO BE AN EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A WAKE UP CALL: WE
REFUSE TO BE LULLED INTO CONTENTMENT BY THIS HUXLEY AN PARADIGM
DOMINATING OUR CULTURE.
THE BEGINNING OF THAT WAKE UP CALL IS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION: OUR
SOCIETY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE WE ARE EXPENDABLE AND BETTER OFF
TUNING OUT AND BREATHING THE ETHER OF THE MASS MEDIA. WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO TO PROVE OTHERWISE? - DRIFT EFFECT
OTHER; TALKING, LISTENING, BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING.
DRIFT EFFECT HAS CHOSEN NOT TO BASK IN THIS AURA OF APATHY. THE BAND
HAS EVOLVED, OVER THE COURSE OF ITS THREE YEAR EXISTENCE (19 IN LLAMA
YEARS) INTO A COLLECTIVE OF INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO ESTABLISH
RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH MUSIC; CONVEYING THE RANGE OF EMOTIONS
EXPERIENCED IN THE INFORMATION-SATURATED AGE WE LIVE IN.
WE WANT OUR MUSIC TO BE AN EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS A WAKE UP CALL: WE
REFUSE TO BE LULLED INTO CONTENTMENT BY THIS HUXLEY AN PARADIGM
DOMINATING OUR CULTURE.
THE BEGINNING OF THAT WAKE UP CALL IS ONE SIMPLE QUESTION: OUR
SOCIETY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE WE ARE EXPENDABLE AND BETTER OFF
TUNING OUT AND BREATHING THE ETHER OF THE MASS MEDIA. WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO TO PROVE OTHERWISE? - DRIFT EFFECT
M4M: REVIEWS FROM ALL OVER ARE ALREADY PREDICTING THE FUTURE FOR YOU GUYS AS BECOMING MAJOR
BUT AT THE SAME TIME SETTING "A NEW STANDARD." HOW DO YOU, PERSONALLY, THINK THAT WILL PUT YOU
ON THE MAP?
BEN: ALL I CAN ASK AT THIS POINT IS THAT IT DOES. I’M NOT SURE HOW AND I’M NOT PARTICULARLY
CONCERNED. I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TRUE TO OUR IDEALS AS MUSICIANS BUT ALSO TO OUR
CREATIVITY. WE REALLY DON’T HAVE MUCH OF A FILTERING PROCESS THAT CATERS TO ANYBODY…WE JUST
MAKE TUNES THAT WE THINK ARE GOOD AND THAT PUSH OUR BOUNDARIES WITHOUT JUST BEING OFF THE
WALL AND WEIRD FOR IT’S OWN SAKE. THE SONG STILL HAS TO BE GOOD.
M4M: BEING STATIONED IN THE MIDWEST GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN GENERAL AS IT
WOULD WHEREVER YOU ARE, HOW DOES LIVING IN SUBURBIA EFFECT THE IDEAS/STYLES, ETC YOU HAVE FOR
YOUR MUSIC?
BEN: I DON’T THINK I CAN COMMENT ON THE MIDWEST OUTLOOK ON LIFE…I SUPPOSE PEOPLE MIGHT INITIALLY
ASSOCIATE US WITH “MINNESOTA NICE” BUT I THINK OUR IDEAS/STYLES ARE MORE UNIVERSAL THAN THAT. I
THINK ANYONE CAN RELATE. GENERALLY, I THINK WE SHARE THE VIEW OF MANY IN THE WORLD WHO FEEL
SOMETHING IS OFF…NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE DON’T AUTOMATICALLY RESIGN TO THE GRUNGE
ANGST AS OUR ONLY MEANS OF EXPRESSION, THOUGH I THINK IT’S PRESENT IN WHAT WE DO. I LIKE TO THINK
WE HAVE A SIMPLE PERSPECTIVE, ONE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AND EXPRESS IN THEIR OWN TRADES.
M4M: "BE SOMETHING" IS THE SOPHOMORE ALBUM FOR YOU GUYS, HOW MUCH/WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE
YOU GUYS DID THE EP?
BEN: ONE CAN DEFINITELY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE IN PRODUCTION BETWEEN THE RECORDS DESPITE BOTH
BEING RECORDED AT PACHYDERM. WE ARE NOT THE YOUNG NOVICES IN THE STUDIO WHO ARE THERE
MOSTLY TO STROKE THEIR OWN EGOS AS ROOKIE “RECORDING ARTISTS”. WHEN THERE, WE ARE CRAFTING A
PRODUCT. OUR SONGWRITING HAD COME A LONG WAY AND SINCE “BE SOMETHING” IT’S TAKEN ANOTHER
HUGE LEAP IN WHAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I USUALLY GET ANNOYED WHEN, AFTER RECORDING A
DISC, IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE WEEKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE AND HOW MUCH BETTER THAT
WILL BE. BUT AS SOON AS WE LOSE THAT “DISAPPOINTMENT” WITH CURRENT RECORDS WE WOULD BE READY
TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
M4M: WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OUT PLAYING A SHOW, WHAT ARE SOME
REACTIONS THAT YOU GET FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF YOU BEFORE?
BEN: AT FIRST, I THINK PEOPLE WERE IMPRESSED SIMPLY WITH OUR
TALENT. CRASH ANTHEM’S MANAGER THOUGHT RAY’S VOICE WAS
SPECTACULAR; MARC AND I ARE CONSISTENTLY GETTING HANDSHAKES
AND WHISTLES FROM PEOPLE UP FRONT AFTER SOLOS, ETC. NOW I
SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SINGING ALONG AND HAVING A GOOD
TIME WITHOUT NECESSARILY PUTTING US ON ANY KIND OF PEDESTAL.
I LIKE THAT. IT MAKES FOR A NICE, INTIMATE SETTING WHERE WE ON STAGE AND THOSE IN THE CROWD ARE
ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVING A KICK-ASS PARTY. WE STILL GET THOSE IMPRESSED PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW
TO SHOWS, WHO WE DO APPRECIATE, BUT USUALLY WE CAN’T WAIT TO BRING THEM INTO THE FUN WE’RE
HAVING WITH OUR REGULAR FANS.
M4M: WE NOTICED THAT YOU GUYS WERE ASKED TO PLAY IN SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IN TEXAS, WHAT IS SXSW
ALL ABOUT?
BEN: I ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FOR MUSIC. TO BE HONEST, THAT IS ALL I
REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT.
M4M: WHAT IS DRIFT EFFECT ALL ABOUT?
BEN: HONESTY, IN MY OPINION, WE’RE NORMAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A TALENT AND
PASSION FOR MUSIC. IF ANYTHING, WE HOPE TO OPEN PEOPLE’S MINDS AND MAKE A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE
AS ONE WOULD IF ONE WERE AN ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, SCIENTIST, DOCTOR, POLICE PERSON, ETC. I DON’T
THINK IT’S ABOUT “CHANGING THE WORLD” BUT MAYBE BECOMING A PART OF PEOPLE’S LIVES TO MAKE IT
BETTER.
M4M: THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN YOU GUYS AND ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT IN A VARIETY
OF WAYS. WHAT HAVE PEOPLE DONE TO HELP?
BEN: NAME IT. THAT’S ONE OF THINGS THAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE PEOPLE THAT
GIVE THERE TIME WITHOUT PAY ARE PRICELESS. EVAN TEPLER, OUR TECH, LARA BUSS OUR MERCH
ATTENDANT, SERENA LAWS, OUR MANAGER AND CHARLES FROM KINETIC MUSIC ALL WORK HARD FOR US
EXPECTING VERY LITTLE IN RETURN. THEY ARE ALL AMAZING PEOPLE. . THE LIST GOES ON TO INCLUDE
PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL HOURS TO COME SEE US BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN US, NOT JUST THE TUNES. THERE
ARE NO WORDS TO SHOW THE PROPER APPRECIATION.
M4M: WHAT TYPE OF GOALS DID YOU GUYS HAVE WHEN YOU STARTED AND WHAT ARE THEY FOR THE
FUTURE?
BEN: IT’S REALLY BEEN TO MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT WE LOVE. IT’S TOO BAD THERE ARE NOT MANY
PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE THAT BOAST AND MAYBE IT’S ARROGANT TO THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO. BUT
THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN OUR GOAL. IT’S DEFINITELY OUR GOAL FOR THE FUTURE. BUT THE FUTURE ALWAYS
BRINGS CHANGE AND WE COULD HAVE NEW GOALS NEXT WEEK.
M4M: WHAT TYPE OF PROCESS DO YOU GUYS GO THROUGH TO CREATE
SONGS/LYRICS?
BEN: WELL, ALL 5 OF US GATHER UP AND JAM ON DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT
USUALLY MARC AND MYSELF, AND OCCASIONALLY NATE, BRING TO REHEARSAL.
THEN RAY RECORDS IT ON HIS LITTLE, JENKY 4-TRACK WITH MELODY IDEAS AND
BRINGS IT HOME TO WRITE LYRICS. OCCASIONALLY, PRE-WRITTEN LYRICS
WORK WHICH I THINK IS FUN FOR RAY. NATE HAS THE GOLDEN EAR IN THE BAND.
WHEN HE LIKES ONE OF THE IDEAS HE GRABS THE REINS AND BEGINS
ARRANGING, COMING UP WITH TRANSITIONS, DYNAMICS, ETC. TO ESSENTIALLY
MAKE THE IDEAS INTO SONGS. WE ALL HAVE A SAY IN THAT ROLE BUT I DON’T
THINK ANY OF US CAN DO IT AS WELL AS HE DOES.
M4M: EVERY MEMBER BRINGS/OFFERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE BAND. WHO "PLAYS WHAT PART?"
BEN: RAY IS THE NEUROTIC, OBSESSIVE FORCE BEHIND DRIFT EFFECT…THE ONE WHO KEEPS THE WHEELS
MOVING. WHEN SERENA CAME ALONG A HUGE WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM HIS SHOULDERS WHICH WE NEEDED
IN ORDER TO HAVE FUN WITH MUSIC AGAIN. MARC BRINGS THE MAJORITY OF THE RIFFS TO THE TABLE AND
LOOKS LIKE A SEIZING MONKEY ON STAGE. AS I SAID BEFORE, NATE HAS ASSUMED THE MASTER-MIND ROLE
BEHIND THE MUSIC, MAKING IT ALL GEL AND WORK. JOSH AND I, I GUESS, BRING A LOT OF THE FLAVOR TO THE
GROUP. WHEN WE STARTED PLAYING I DID NOT THINK MARC’S INTRICATE, HARD ROCK STYLE MESHED WITH
MY BLUES ROOTS. BUT NOW, AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS, I THINK THAT NUANCE HAS BEEN AN ADVANTAGE
FOR US. IT’S NOT A REVOLUTIONARY SOUND BUT ONE THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING AND DIFFERENT. BUT I
THINK THE CASE WITH MOST BANDS, IT’S NOT THE PARTS BUT THERE SUM THAT MATTERS. TO US, WE’RE
FAMILY. TIME OFF THE STAGE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS “GOING TO WORK”. THERE’S A BALANCE BETWEEN
BEING CONSCIOUS OF ONES INDIVIDUAL FUTURE IN MUSIC AND BEING A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF A FAMILY.
M4M: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BAND?
BEN: IRONICALLY, WE’RE NOTHING SPECIAL. WE’RE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE WATCHING US. WE
MERELY HAVE A DIFFERENT PASSION AND TALENT THAN OTHERS. WE’RE HONEST IN OUR MUSIC TO
OURSELVES AND TO OUR FANS.
M4M: EVERYONE HAS A SONG THAT MEANS A LITTLE MORE TO THEM THAN THE OTHERS ON (EITHER) ALBUM,
WHICH ONE DO YOU FEEL HOLDS MORE MEANING FOR YOU?
BEN: I LOVE PLAYING RUN FROM. NOT BECAUSE OF THE WORDS BUT BECAUSE IT CATERS TO MY INFLUENCES
AS A GUITARIST. IT GIVES ME THE SPACE TO PLAY WHAT IS IN ME TO PLAY AT THAT PARTICULAR SHOW. IT’S
OFTENTIMES DIFFERENT FROM ME EVERY TIME WE PLAY IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL SONGS, HOWEVER, LIKE
ONE OF THE NEW ONES WE’RE RELEASING ON THE UPCOMING ACOUSTIC RECORD, THAT HAVE SPECIFIC
REFERENCES TO PEOPLE. NOT GROUPS OR IDEAS, BUT TO SPECIFIC PEOPLE. IT REMINDS ME THAT WE’RE NO
BIGGER THAN THE LIVES WE PLAY TO.
RAY: MY FAVORITE IS SOLSTICE MOSTLY BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST PERSONAL TO ME. THAT SONG WAS
WRITTEN AT A TIME IN MY LIFE, WHEN I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN LETTING THINGS THAT HAPPENED
DESTROY ME OR LETTING THEM GO AND FIND MEANING IN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE..
M4M: YOUR DEDICATION TO THE BAND IS EVIDENT. ALL OF YOU HAVE FULL TIME
JOBS DURING THE DAY AND DO THIS AT NIGHT AND ON THE WEEKENDS. HOW DO
YOU KEEP A BALANCE AND KEEP GOING WHEN THE LOAD IS TOUGH?
BEN: I HAVE NO IDEA! EACH OF OUR LIVES ARE DIFFERENT, HAVE DIFFERENT
DEMANDS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DROVE BACK FROM DES MOINES IMMEDIATELY
AFTER A SHOW SO WE COULD DROP NATE OFF AT WORK BY 6:30AM. EVERY
TIME I LEAVE THE HOUSE TO PLAY I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE’S A SITTER FOR
THE BABY. JOSH’S JOB HARDLY ALLOWS FOR HIM TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR THE
ROAD AND MARC USED TO DRIVE DOWN FROM SAINT CLOUD FOR EVERY
PRACTICE! BUT WE MAKE IT WORK. IF IT WAS EASY, THEN EVERYONE WOULD DO
IT AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE MUCH MEANING FOR US. BUT IT WORKS, SOMEHOW,
AND THAT’S THE POINT.
M4M: YOU'RE WELL KNOWN FOR DOING OUTSTANDING ACOUSTIC SHOWS, WHAT MAKES THESE SHOWS STAND
OUT? (DIFFERENT SOUNDS, WORKING WITH MELODIES, ETC)
BEN: I THINK OF ACOUSTIC SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONSIDER THE SONG. I
ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH ACOUSTIC RECORDS THAT SIMPLY PLAY THE SONG AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY
WRITTEN ON A DIFFERENT GUITAR. I CONSIDER THE ACOUSTIC TO BE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT INSTRUMENT,
ALMOST TO THE EXTENT OF CALLING IT A GUITAR AND THE ELECTRIC VERSION SOMETHING ELSE ALL
TOGETHER. IT BRINGS OUT DIFFERENT MOODS AND TONES, AND JIMI DID ONCE SAY THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
TONES. IT GIVES US THE CHANCE TO PUSH OURSELVES AS WELL, JUST TO SEE WHERE THE GROOVE TAKES
US, LIKE READING ANOTHER SCHOLARS TAKE ON A PARTICULAR SUBJECT. HOWEVER, THAT’S NOT TO SAY
THAT WE BEAT OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVEN
THOUGH IT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. SOME SONGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND YOU CAN’T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
IF THE GROOVE BRINGS YOU DOWN THE SAME PATH, SO BE IT BUT WE AT LEAST GIVE IT THE CHANCE TO
WANDER ELSEWHERE AND WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE RIDE. CONSIDER JIMI’S MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF “HEAR
MY TRAIN A’COMIN’”. HIS ACOUSTIC VERSION IS AN ASTOUNDING DISPLAY OF BLUES VIRTUOSITY AS YOU
PICTURE A MAN WITH A GUITAR ON THE FRONT PORCH OF AN OLD, SOUTHERN CONVENIENT STORE WHILE HIS
ELECTRIC VERSIONS PLACE YOU DIRECTLY IN THE THICK OF A NEAR EMPTY, SMOKY CLUB ON A DINGY STREET
IN CHICAGO. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PLACES AS WELL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME SETTING "A NEW STANDARD." HOW DO YOU, PERSONALLY, THINK THAT WILL PUT YOU
ON THE MAP?
BEN: ALL I CAN ASK AT THIS POINT IS THAT IT DOES. I’M NOT SURE HOW AND I’M NOT PARTICULARLY
CONCERNED. I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TRUE TO OUR IDEALS AS MUSICIANS BUT ALSO TO OUR
CREATIVITY. WE REALLY DON’T HAVE MUCH OF A FILTERING PROCESS THAT CATERS TO ANYBODY…WE JUST
MAKE TUNES THAT WE THINK ARE GOOD AND THAT PUSH OUR BOUNDARIES WITHOUT JUST BEING OFF THE
WALL AND WEIRD FOR IT’S OWN SAKE. THE SONG STILL HAS TO BE GOOD.
M4M: BEING STATIONED IN THE MIDWEST GIVES YOU A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN GENERAL AS IT
WOULD WHEREVER YOU ARE, HOW DOES LIVING IN SUBURBIA EFFECT THE IDEAS/STYLES, ETC YOU HAVE FOR
YOUR MUSIC?
BEN: I DON’T THINK I CAN COMMENT ON THE MIDWEST OUTLOOK ON LIFE…I SUPPOSE PEOPLE MIGHT INITIALLY
ASSOCIATE US WITH “MINNESOTA NICE” BUT I THINK OUR IDEAS/STYLES ARE MORE UNIVERSAL THAN THAT. I
THINK ANYONE CAN RELATE. GENERALLY, I THINK WE SHARE THE VIEW OF MANY IN THE WORLD WHO FEEL
SOMETHING IS OFF…NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE DON’T AUTOMATICALLY RESIGN TO THE GRUNGE
ANGST AS OUR ONLY MEANS OF EXPRESSION, THOUGH I THINK IT’S PRESENT IN WHAT WE DO. I LIKE TO THINK
WE HAVE A SIMPLE PERSPECTIVE, ONE THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE AND EXPRESS IN THEIR OWN TRADES.
M4M: "BE SOMETHING" IS THE SOPHOMORE ALBUM FOR YOU GUYS, HOW MUCH/WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE
YOU GUYS DID THE EP?
BEN: ONE CAN DEFINITELY HEAR THE DIFFERENCE IN PRODUCTION BETWEEN THE RECORDS DESPITE BOTH
BEING RECORDED AT PACHYDERM. WE ARE NOT THE YOUNG NOVICES IN THE STUDIO WHO ARE THERE
MOSTLY TO STROKE THEIR OWN EGOS AS ROOKIE “RECORDING ARTISTS”. WHEN THERE, WE ARE CRAFTING A
PRODUCT. OUR SONGWRITING HAD COME A LONG WAY AND SINCE “BE SOMETHING” IT’S TAKEN ANOTHER
HUGE LEAP IN WHAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I USUALLY GET ANNOYED WHEN, AFTER RECORDING A
DISC, IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE WEEKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ONE AND HOW MUCH BETTER THAT
WILL BE. BUT AS SOON AS WE LOSE THAT “DISAPPOINTMENT” WITH CURRENT RECORDS WE WOULD BE READY
TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
M4M: WHEN YOU GUYS ARE OUT PLAYING A SHOW, WHAT ARE SOME
REACTIONS THAT YOU GET FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF YOU BEFORE?
BEN: AT FIRST, I THINK PEOPLE WERE IMPRESSED SIMPLY WITH OUR
TALENT. CRASH ANTHEM’S MANAGER THOUGHT RAY’S VOICE WAS
SPECTACULAR; MARC AND I ARE CONSISTENTLY GETTING HANDSHAKES
AND WHISTLES FROM PEOPLE UP FRONT AFTER SOLOS, ETC. NOW I
SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE SINGING ALONG AND HAVING A GOOD
TIME WITHOUT NECESSARILY PUTTING US ON ANY KIND OF PEDESTAL.
I LIKE THAT. IT MAKES FOR A NICE, INTIMATE SETTING WHERE WE ON STAGE AND THOSE IN THE CROWD ARE
ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVING A KICK-ASS PARTY. WE STILL GET THOSE IMPRESSED PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW
TO SHOWS, WHO WE DO APPRECIATE, BUT USUALLY WE CAN’T WAIT TO BRING THEM INTO THE FUN WE’RE
HAVING WITH OUR REGULAR FANS.
M4M: WE NOTICED THAT YOU GUYS WERE ASKED TO PLAY IN SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST IN TEXAS, WHAT IS SXSW
ALL ABOUT?
BEN: I ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS THE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FOR MUSIC. TO BE HONEST, THAT IS ALL I
REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT.
M4M: WHAT IS DRIFT EFFECT ALL ABOUT?
BEN: HONESTY, IN MY OPINION, WE’RE NORMAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A TALENT AND
PASSION FOR MUSIC. IF ANYTHING, WE HOPE TO OPEN PEOPLE’S MINDS AND MAKE A POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE
AS ONE WOULD IF ONE WERE AN ARCHITECT, ENGINEER, SCIENTIST, DOCTOR, POLICE PERSON, ETC. I DON’T
THINK IT’S ABOUT “CHANGING THE WORLD” BUT MAYBE BECOMING A PART OF PEOPLE’S LIVES TO MAKE IT
BETTER.
M4M: THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN YOU GUYS AND ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT IN A VARIETY
OF WAYS. WHAT HAVE PEOPLE DONE TO HELP?
BEN: NAME IT. THAT’S ONE OF THINGS THAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ON A DAILY BASIS. THE PEOPLE THAT
GIVE THERE TIME WITHOUT PAY ARE PRICELESS. EVAN TEPLER, OUR TECH, LARA BUSS OUR MERCH
ATTENDANT, SERENA LAWS, OUR MANAGER AND CHARLES FROM KINETIC MUSIC ALL WORK HARD FOR US
EXPECTING VERY LITTLE IN RETURN. THEY ARE ALL AMAZING PEOPLE. . THE LIST GOES ON TO INCLUDE
PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL HOURS TO COME SEE US BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN US, NOT JUST THE TUNES. THERE
ARE NO WORDS TO SHOW THE PROPER APPRECIATION.
M4M: WHAT TYPE OF GOALS DID YOU GUYS HAVE WHEN YOU STARTED AND WHAT ARE THEY FOR THE
FUTURE?
BEN: IT’S REALLY BEEN TO MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT WE LOVE. IT’S TOO BAD THERE ARE NOT MANY
PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE THAT BOAST AND MAYBE IT’S ARROGANT TO THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO. BUT
THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN OUR GOAL. IT’S DEFINITELY OUR GOAL FOR THE FUTURE. BUT THE FUTURE ALWAYS
BRINGS CHANGE AND WE COULD HAVE NEW GOALS NEXT WEEK.
M4M: WHAT TYPE OF PROCESS DO YOU GUYS GO THROUGH TO CREATE
SONGS/LYRICS?
BEN: WELL, ALL 5 OF US GATHER UP AND JAM ON DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT
USUALLY MARC AND MYSELF, AND OCCASIONALLY NATE, BRING TO REHEARSAL.
THEN RAY RECORDS IT ON HIS LITTLE, JENKY 4-TRACK WITH MELODY IDEAS AND
BRINGS IT HOME TO WRITE LYRICS. OCCASIONALLY, PRE-WRITTEN LYRICS
WORK WHICH I THINK IS FUN FOR RAY. NATE HAS THE GOLDEN EAR IN THE BAND.
WHEN HE LIKES ONE OF THE IDEAS HE GRABS THE REINS AND BEGINS
ARRANGING, COMING UP WITH TRANSITIONS, DYNAMICS, ETC. TO ESSENTIALLY
MAKE THE IDEAS INTO SONGS. WE ALL HAVE A SAY IN THAT ROLE BUT I DON’T
THINK ANY OF US CAN DO IT AS WELL AS HE DOES.
M4M: EVERY MEMBER BRINGS/OFFERS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE BAND. WHO "PLAYS WHAT PART?"
BEN: RAY IS THE NEUROTIC, OBSESSIVE FORCE BEHIND DRIFT EFFECT…THE ONE WHO KEEPS THE WHEELS
MOVING. WHEN SERENA CAME ALONG A HUGE WEIGHT WAS LIFTED FROM HIS SHOULDERS WHICH WE NEEDED
IN ORDER TO HAVE FUN WITH MUSIC AGAIN. MARC BRINGS THE MAJORITY OF THE RIFFS TO THE TABLE AND
LOOKS LIKE A SEIZING MONKEY ON STAGE. AS I SAID BEFORE, NATE HAS ASSUMED THE MASTER-MIND ROLE
BEHIND THE MUSIC, MAKING IT ALL GEL AND WORK. JOSH AND I, I GUESS, BRING A LOT OF THE FLAVOR TO THE
GROUP. WHEN WE STARTED PLAYING I DID NOT THINK MARC’S INTRICATE, HARD ROCK STYLE MESHED WITH
MY BLUES ROOTS. BUT NOW, AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS, I THINK THAT NUANCE HAS BEEN AN ADVANTAGE
FOR US. IT’S NOT A REVOLUTIONARY SOUND BUT ONE THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING AND DIFFERENT. BUT I
THINK THE CASE WITH MOST BANDS, IT’S NOT THE PARTS BUT THERE SUM THAT MATTERS. TO US, WE’RE
FAMILY. TIME OFF THE STAGE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS “GOING TO WORK”. THERE’S A BALANCE BETWEEN
BEING CONSCIOUS OF ONES INDIVIDUAL FUTURE IN MUSIC AND BEING A CONTRIBUTING MEMBER OF A FAMILY.
M4M: WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW OR UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BAND?
BEN: IRONICALLY, WE’RE NOTHING SPECIAL. WE’RE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PEOPLE WATCHING US. WE
MERELY HAVE A DIFFERENT PASSION AND TALENT THAN OTHERS. WE’RE HONEST IN OUR MUSIC TO
OURSELVES AND TO OUR FANS.
M4M: EVERYONE HAS A SONG THAT MEANS A LITTLE MORE TO THEM THAN THE OTHERS ON (EITHER) ALBUM,
WHICH ONE DO YOU FEEL HOLDS MORE MEANING FOR YOU?
BEN: I LOVE PLAYING RUN FROM. NOT BECAUSE OF THE WORDS BUT BECAUSE IT CATERS TO MY INFLUENCES
AS A GUITARIST. IT GIVES ME THE SPACE TO PLAY WHAT IS IN ME TO PLAY AT THAT PARTICULAR SHOW. IT’S
OFTENTIMES DIFFERENT FROM ME EVERY TIME WE PLAY IT. THERE ARE SEVERAL SONGS, HOWEVER, LIKE
ONE OF THE NEW ONES WE’RE RELEASING ON THE UPCOMING ACOUSTIC RECORD, THAT HAVE SPECIFIC
REFERENCES TO PEOPLE. NOT GROUPS OR IDEAS, BUT TO SPECIFIC PEOPLE. IT REMINDS ME THAT WE’RE NO
BIGGER THAN THE LIVES WE PLAY TO.
RAY: MY FAVORITE IS SOLSTICE MOSTLY BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST PERSONAL TO ME. THAT SONG WAS
WRITTEN AT A TIME IN MY LIFE, WHEN I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN LETTING THINGS THAT HAPPENED
DESTROY ME OR LETTING THEM GO AND FIND MEANING IN THE PRESENT AND FUTURE..
M4M: YOUR DEDICATION TO THE BAND IS EVIDENT. ALL OF YOU HAVE FULL TIME
JOBS DURING THE DAY AND DO THIS AT NIGHT AND ON THE WEEKENDS. HOW DO
YOU KEEP A BALANCE AND KEEP GOING WHEN THE LOAD IS TOUGH?
BEN: I HAVE NO IDEA! EACH OF OUR LIVES ARE DIFFERENT, HAVE DIFFERENT
DEMANDS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE DROVE BACK FROM DES MOINES IMMEDIATELY
AFTER A SHOW SO WE COULD DROP NATE OFF AT WORK BY 6:30AM. EVERY
TIME I LEAVE THE HOUSE TO PLAY I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE’S A SITTER FOR
THE BABY. JOSH’S JOB HARDLY ALLOWS FOR HIM TO TAKE TIME OFF FOR THE
ROAD AND MARC USED TO DRIVE DOWN FROM SAINT CLOUD FOR EVERY
PRACTICE! BUT WE MAKE IT WORK. IF IT WAS EASY, THEN EVERYONE WOULD DO
IT AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE MUCH MEANING FOR US. BUT IT WORKS, SOMEHOW,
AND THAT’S THE POINT.
M4M: YOU'RE WELL KNOWN FOR DOING OUTSTANDING ACOUSTIC SHOWS, WHAT MAKES THESE SHOWS STAND
OUT? (DIFFERENT SOUNDS, WORKING WITH MELODIES, ETC)
BEN: I THINK OF ACOUSTIC SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO RECONSIDER THE SONG. I
ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH ACOUSTIC RECORDS THAT SIMPLY PLAY THE SONG AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY
WRITTEN ON A DIFFERENT GUITAR. I CONSIDER THE ACOUSTIC TO BE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT INSTRUMENT,
ALMOST TO THE EXTENT OF CALLING IT A GUITAR AND THE ELECTRIC VERSION SOMETHING ELSE ALL
TOGETHER. IT BRINGS OUT DIFFERENT MOODS AND TONES, AND JIMI DID ONCE SAY THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
TONES. IT GIVES US THE CHANCE TO PUSH OURSELVES AS WELL, JUST TO SEE WHERE THE GROOVE TAKES
US, LIKE READING ANOTHER SCHOLARS TAKE ON A PARTICULAR SUBJECT. HOWEVER, THAT’S NOT TO SAY
THAT WE BEAT OUR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVEN
THOUGH IT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD. SOME SONGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND YOU CAN’T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
IF THE GROOVE BRINGS YOU DOWN THE SAME PATH, SO BE IT BUT WE AT LEAST GIVE IT THE CHANCE TO
WANDER ELSEWHERE AND WE’RE EXCITED ABOUT THE RIDE. CONSIDER JIMI’S MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF “HEAR
MY TRAIN A’COMIN’”. HIS ACOUSTIC VERSION IS AN ASTOUNDING DISPLAY OF BLUES VIRTUOSITY AS YOU
PICTURE A MAN WITH A GUITAR ON THE FRONT PORCH OF AN OLD, SOUTHERN CONVENIENT STORE WHILE HIS
ELECTRIC VERSIONS PLACE YOU DIRECTLY IN THE THICK OF A NEAR EMPTY, SMOKY CLUB ON A DINGY STREET
IN CHICAGO. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PLACES AS WELL.
