Edited by: Joshua Koloski
Interview by: Chelsey Goraczkowski
OUT OF DEEP SCARS COMES LOUD ROCK SO WHEN SMILING POLITELY CAME
TOGETHER THEY WANTED TO MAKE MEANINGFUL ROCK. WITH A SEA OF
CLICHE TUNES SP WANTED TO RISE ABOVE BRINGING LIFE’S TALES TO THE
TABLE WEAVING EVOCATIVE LYRICS INTO HEART POUNDING ANTHEMS OF THE
WALK. INVITING FANS AND CONCERTGOERS TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE
SHADOWS OF THE PAST INTO THE HEALING POWER OF HOPE. SMILING
POLITELY’S DEBUT ALBUM "BETWEEN ANGELS & DEMONS" EXPRESSES THAT
BATTLE THE BATTLE THAT SEEMS TO RAGE INSIDE US ALL. SONGS LIKE EVER
DO, ALONE AND BRING OUT THE DEAD EXPRESS THE FEELINGS OF BEING ON
THE OUTSKIRTS WITHIN THEIR OWN LIVES. WHILE HIDDEN INSIDE, OWE MY
LIFE AND FLY EXPRESSES THE HOPE THAT COMES FROM KNOCKING THE
IDOLS OFF THEIR STANDS AND PLACING WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT AT THE
FOREFRONT. SMILING POLITELY’S EAGERNESS TO EXPERIMENT WITH SOUND
COMBINED WITH THE ABSOLUTE JOY AND TERROR THAT COMES FROM
BUILDING A SONG THEN RIPPING IT APART TO BE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE
BEING COMPLETELY HONEST WITH THE FANS EXPRESSES A CLEAR AND
UNAPOLOGETIC SOUND.


M4M: THE BAND CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE MEANINGFUL ROCK. THIS STYLE IS FOUND EVERY SO OFTEN
BUT NOW YOU GUYS ARE BRINGING IT BACK. WHAT DO YOU DEFINE THE BAND TO BE?

S.P: SMILING POLITELY STARTED AND I THINK CONTINUES TO GIVE LIFE AN HONEST LOOK. THERE ARE CRAPPY
TIMES AND GREAT TIMES IN OUR LIVES BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE THE GOOD FAR OUT WAYS
THE BAD WHEN ALL THINGS ARE CONSIDERED. THAT IS WHAT I THINK THE BAND IS, AN HONEST LOOK AT LIFE.

M4M: ROCK GETS THE STEREOTYPE OF “SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK N ROLL” BUT THIS BAND IS THE OPPOSITE BUT
HOLDS STRONG TO THE SOUND IT CREATES. HOW HAS THE POWER OF HOPE HELPED THE BAND AND ITS
FANBASE?

S.P: WELL FOR US, WE HAD GROWN UP WITH GREAT ARTISTS AND BANDS THAT SHOOK OUR WORLD, BUT SO
OFTEN IT WAS THE “SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK ‘N ROLL” THAT DESTROYED WHAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FELL IN
LOVE WITH. WE WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT, IF WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP; HONESTLY
WE WANT TO STAY THERE. “HOPE” IS REALLY US TRYING TO SAY, “YEAH IT SUCKS, MAYBE EVEN IT HAS SUCKED
FOR AWHILE…BUT IT WON’T ALWAYS BE THAT WAY AND YOU WILL PROBABLY BE THANKFUL FOR THAT TIME IN
YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK BACK ON IT.

M4M: SEETHER IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST INFLUENCES THAT BAND HAS,
HOW DOES THIS BAND PLAY A ROLE INTO THE MUSIC YOU CREATE?

S.P: IF YOU ASK ANY HONEST MUSICIAN ABOUT THEIR MUSIC THEY’LL
TELL YOU THAT WHAT THEY CREATE IS A COMPILATION OF ALL THE
THINGS THEY LIKE BEST FROM ALL THEIR FAVORITE AND MOST
INFLUENTIAL BANDS. YOU GET GOOD IDEAS FROM ALL OVER THE
PLACE, ADD YOUR OWN LITTLE TWIST AND THROW IT IN A BLENDER
AND HOPE THAT WHEN IT COMES OUT IT DOESN’T SUCK. THE FACT THAT SEETHER IS ONE OF OUR BIGGER
INFLUENCES JUST MEANS THAT THERE ARE MORE IDEAS OF STYLE OR DYNAMICS OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE
TAKE FROM THEM.

M4M: WHAT IS ONE SONG THAT HOLDS MORE MEANING TO YOU & WHY?

BRIAN: WELL, I HAVE A REAL ATTACHMENT TO A LOT OF OUR SONGS…SINCE I ONLY GET ONE I’D HAVE TO SAY
TONIGHT (A.K.A CHELLE) THIS IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST SONGS THAT ERIC AND I WROTE. IT HAS TO DO WITH A
FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE THAT I’VE HAD TO STOP CHASING AFTER THEIR APPROVAL AND BEGIN LIVING THE
LIFE THAT I’M LIVING RIGHT NOW. BRING OUT THE DEAD IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME AS WELL…GOT THE SECOND
ONE IN!

ERIC: I’D HAVE TO SAY THE SONG THAT MEANS THE MOST TO ME IS SILHOUETTE. IT’S A REALLY PERSONAL
REFLECTION ON HOW IT IS TO FEEL LIKE YOU’RE UNABLE TO OPEN UP TO ANYONE AND PUTTING UP A MASK OF
HOW YOU WANT PEOPLE TO PERCEIVE YOU. I WROTE IT AT A TIME WHEN THAT’S REALLY HOW I FEEL AND WITH
THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE COULD CONNECT TO WHEN THEY HEAR IT.

JEFF:  I WOULD HAVE TO GO WITH ALONE. ERIC WROTE THIS A LONG TIME AGO. ERIC AND I BEEN PLAYING
THAT SONG FOR MANY YEARS. THE LYRICS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND OVER TIME I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
ABLE TO RELATE TO IT.

TUSH: KILLING ME - BUT I SUPPOSE YOU WON'T LET ME PICK THAT ONE...THAT SONG REALLY SPEAKS TO ME...I
WANT TO PLAY IT... THE SONG THAT CURRENTLY HOLDS THE MOST MEANING TO ME IS 'ALONE'. IT
REPRESENTS JUST WHERE I AM IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW - PLUS I GET TO SING BACKING VOCALS...

M4M: THERE ARE A LIST OF GREAT SONGS YOU GUYS PLAY AND THERE ARE SOME THAT CATCH THE
ATTENTION OF THE FANS MORE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE SONGS AND WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CATCH
OTHERS ATTENTIONS?

S.P:THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT COME TO MIND RIGHT OFF HAND. FLY AND BRING OUT THE DEAD
I THINK THAT THEY LIKE THE SONG FLY BECAUSE OF Its CATCHY DYNAMICS. AND THERE’S JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT CHORUS OF BRING OUT THE DEAD THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO SCREAM ALONG AT THE TOP OF YOUR
LUNGS, BANG YOUR HEAD AND THROW UP THE ROCK HORNS.

M4M: YOU’RE CONSIDERED TO BE A CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND BUT HAVE
TROUBLES PLAYING ON THEIR RADIO STATIONS, WHY IS THAT?

S.P: WE TRY NOT TO LABEL OURSELVES A “CHRISTIAN BAND”
BECAUSE IT CLOSES A LOT OF DOORS, BOTH WITH THE FANS
PERSONALLY AND WITH DIFFERENT VENUES THAT WE MIGHT PLAY
AT. WE ARE ALL CHRISTIANS AND IT DOES HAVE AN EFFECT ON HOW
WE WRITE OUR MUSIC, BUT WE’D RATHER BE THOUGHT OF CHRISTIANS
THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN A BAND THAN A CHRISTIAN BAND. PLUS A LOT OF
CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS “PRAISE JESUS” MUSIC BUT OUR MUSIC IS MORE ABOUT OUR WALK, OUR STRUGGLES AND
REALLY MORE LIKE WHAT IT IS LIKE FOR REAL PEOPLE TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD. THAT DOESN’T TRANSLATE
WELL ON CHRISTIAN RADIO BUT IS LOVED ON JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER STATION AND VENUE IN THE WORLD.
U2, CREED, EVANESCENCE, FLYLEAF, RED, CHEVELLE, P.O.D., ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF BANDS THAT WEREN’T
INITIALLY ACCEPTED IN THE CHRISTIAN MUSIC SCENE AND SOME OF THOSE STILL AREN’T.

M4M: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PLANS THE BAND HAS FOR THE FUTURE?

S.P: WE HAVE BEEN WRITING A LOT OF NEW STUFF AND ARE ANTICIPATING GOING BACK INTO THE STUDIO
SOMETIME THIS YEAR.

M4M: YOUR FANBASE IS GROWING, WHAT’S SOME OF THE THINGS YOU’VE EXPERIENCED WITH THE FANS OR
HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THE FANS?

ERIC: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC THINGS THAT REALLY STICK OUT FOR ME REGARDING THE FANS. I
REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME WE PLAYED A SHOW AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE THAT I COULD SEE THAT
KNEW THE WORDS TO OUR SONGS AND I COULD SEE THEM SINGING ALONG. I ALSO REMEMBER THE FIRST
TIME THAT I COULD HEAR PEOPLE SINGING ALONG AT A SHOW. BOTH OF THOSE WERE AMAZING EXPERIENCES
FOR ME AND I CAN’T REALLY DESCRIBE HOW IT MADE ME FEEL. IT’S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF I THINK. THERE ARE ALSO ALWAYS FANS THAT YOU TALK TO AFTER SHOWS AND
IT’S FUN TO GET TO KNOW THEM SOME AND WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE TIME TO SPEND WITH OUR FANS.

M4M: THE BAND ALSO HAS A WEBSITE, WHAT TYPE OF THINGS CAN WE LOOK FOR ON THE SITE?

S.P: WE TRY TO KEEP THE FANS UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING. SO LOOK TO OUR BLOGS
FOR EVERYTHING NEW. WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF MERCH, WHICH IS HOW BANDS MAKE MONEY…SO GO
THERE!! WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET SPTV UP AND GOING…THIS IS BASICALLY 15 - 20 MINUTE SHORTS WITH
ALL THE BEHIND THE SCENE LIFE OF SP AND US GUYS TRYING TO MAKE IT IN THE MUSIC BIZ. SO WATCH FOR
THAT.

M4M: EACH ONE OF YOU HAS THE “DAYTIME LIFE” AND THEN YOU HAVE THE BAND, HOW ARE YOU GUYS ABLE
TO CORRELATE THE 2 AND STILL KEEP EVERYTHING SANE?

S.P: IT’S DEFINITELY ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO TRY AND JUGGLE 4 GUYS WORKS/FREE TIME SCHEDULES
AROUND PRACTICE AND SHOWS, BUT YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO. WE’VE ALL DONE OUR BEST THUS FAR
TO WORK AND PLAN OUR LIVES AROUND THE BAND’S SCHEDULE AND KEEP OPEN TIMES FOR PRACTICE AND
SHOWS. WE ALSO HAVE AN ONLINE CALENDAR OF DATES THAT EACH OF US NEEDS OFF THAT WE CHECK
BEFORE SCHEDULING ANYTHING.

M4M: THERE’S ALMOST A UNANIMOUS VOTE THAT YOU’D LOVE TO OPEN
UP FOR LINKIN PARK/SEETHER/THREE DAYS GRACE. THESE ARE
AMAZING BANDS IN THEMSELVES AND BRING THEM TOGETHER AND YOU
HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TOURS EVER TO BE BROUGHT AROUND. WHAT
IS IT ABOUT THESE BANDS THAT CATCHES YOUR ATTENTION?

S.P: THEY ROCK…BUT HONESTLY WE’D LOVE IT IF ONE DAY THEY
OPENED FOR US.

M4M: WHAT IS SOME OF THE MEDIA ATTENTION YOU  HAVE RECEIVED?

S.P: WE’VE BEEN ON THE RADIO, THAT’S ALWAYS COOL. OUR BIGGEST EXAMPLE WOULD PROBABLY BE OUR
AWARDS FROM THE TELLY’S. A FEW YEARS BACK OUR MUSIC VIDEO “KILLING ME” WON THE TOP AWARD FOR A
MUSIC VIDEO AND TWO BRONZE TELLYS FOR EDITING AND CINEMATOGRAPHY. THE SELECTION PROCESS IS
DONE BY INDUSTRY INSIDERS OUT IN HOLLYWOOD AND IT IS A HUGE HONOR FOR OUR WORK. WE ALSO HAVE
JUST RECENTLY HAD THREE OF OUR SONGS PUT INTO A MOVIE CALLED “HEART OF THE CITY.”

M4M: ERIC AND JEFF’S VOCALS ARE SOMETHING TO COMPETE WITH ALONG WITH BRIAN’S BASS RIFTS AND
TUSH’S UNSTOPPABLE BEATS. EACH OF YOU HAVE YOUR OWN INDIVIDUALITY BUT IN THE END WORK WELL
TOGETHER. HOW DO YOU GUYS BRING IT TOGETHER TO CREATE WHAT YOU HAVE NOW?

S.P: ALLOWING EVERYONE TO HAVE A SAY IN THE WRITING OF ALL THE SONGS HELPS AS FAR AS US HAVING A
UNIFIED SOUND. WE TAKE THE ROUGH SHELL OF A SONG AND HASH THROUGH IT, PART BY PART,
BRAINSTORMING AND TRYING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS UNTIL THE SONG BECOMES SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN IT STARTED, BUT SO MUCH BETTER AT THE SAME TIME. IT ALSO HELPS THAT
WE’RE ALL BROTHERS (NOT LITERALLY) AND WE FEED OFF EACH OTHER’S ENERGY ON STAGE.

M4M: WHAT WERE YOUR GOALS WHEN YOU STARTED THE BAND AND HAVE HOW HAVE THEY CHANGED UNTIL
TODAY?

S.P: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PLANS THAT WE’VE HAD ALONG THE LINE THAT FELL THROUGH. BUT WE
STILL HAVE OUR BASIC PLANS AS FAR AS WHAT WE ALL WANT TO GET OUT OF THE BAND AND WHAT WE WANT
TO ACCOMPLISH. WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT OURSELVES THROUGH THE
BAND, AND WE WANT TO REACH PEOPLE THROUGH WHAT WE PLAY AND HAVE TO SAY. OUR SHORT-TERM
GOALS CHANGE AS WE ACCOMPLISH THEM AND WE HAVE A LOT OF “BAND MEETINGS” TO DECIDE WHERE WE
WANT TO GO FROM HERE AND WHAT OUR NEXT MOVE IS. THAT COMMUNICATION IS ONE THING THAT I THINK IS
A REAL ADVANTAGE FOR US OVER A LOT OF OTHER LOCAL BANDS. THE MAIN GOAL THAT WE’LL ALWAYS HAVE
IS TO BE A WELL KNOWN, NATIONAL BAND.

M4M: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAND THAT THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW?

S.P: YOU ALL NEED TO COME OUT TO A SHOW GIVE US A LISTEN AND HANG WITH US BEFORE AND AFTER THE
SHOW AND JEFF HAS A THIRD NIPPLE…KINDA WEIRD BUT IT’S PIERCED SO IT ALL ROCK AND ROLL!