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| The Energy is: ADAM WOLFSDORF (VOCALS) JAMES CLIFFORD (BASS) ZACHERY THOMAS (DRUMS) IAN VANDERMEULEN (GUITAR |
JOSHUA KOLOSKI
| THE ENERGY INTERVIEW |
M4M – Hey guys it is great to be sitting here with you, as you know this interview has been almost a year in the making. Now we recently did
a review of your latest release “Realize Your Sin”. It seems to be a high energy album that is well written. What was the writing process like
for you and do you feel that real life played a part in the writing of the album?
The Energy- We always try to write positive, and the message to each song is always hopefully positive as we try not to write songs
that are downers. Everything is on the up and up and we try to send positive messages through our songs.
M4M- now “Realize Your Sin” is your third release. How has the transition been from the first album through this one musically?
The Energy- We think we are really starting to craft our song writing process.
Ian (guitar) - “Realize Your Sin” is the first album that I have done with the band. Right now we are also working on a new album and I
would say that “Realize Your Sin” is very diverse and artsy at times and right now in our song craft we are trying to I don’t know if reign
it in is the right term but kind of bring it back in to that poppy realm kind of thing. I think with “Realize Your Sin” was a really good
opportunity for us to stretch ourselves.
Adam (Voc) - I also think that when you are first writing song’s you want to write anything because it’s fun you know. It inevitably
becomes less about you start to think more about the listener because you try to give them what they want. You obviously try to make
it personal but also universal for your listeners.
M4M- That is great! Now speaking to people on line about your group it seems as though you are being labeled as a Christian Rock group
is some people’s eyes. Is this kind of a misconception on what you represent?
The Energy- No we are definitely not a Christian rock group. It could be the title of the album “Realize Your Sin” but that was not the
intention.
M4M- “The Energy” is a pretty powerful band name. How did you come up with the name?
The Energy- Well a couple of years ago our first album Awake back in 2006 we did not have a name and we were playing some local
show’s with a different name on our demo, our producer came to see us play one time and he said to us immediately after the show
“you have a lot of energy, you should call yourself “The Energy”” so at first we didn’t have a band name so we were like yeah that’s
pretty cool you know so we just stuck with it because everyone thought our performance was really energetic. There are so many
different types of energy kinetic, potential but we won’t get into the scientific part of it. We are all are good friends and have a good
energy when we play. Energy can be many different things’s and can be translated many different ways to the listener.
M4M- you know looking around this venue today I realized you played big arenas, sell out clubs, and played with groups such as 3 Doors
Down. I am wondering are you able to bring that same high energy you have to a smaller venue like this one? My other question to this is
how do you feel differently about playing a smaller venue compared to the clubs you sell out or the big stage? How do you approach it
differently?
The Energy- yeah we definitely can bring the same energy. We care a lot about the music we produce and we care about the audience
whether we are playing for 50 people, 100 people, 5000 people. We feel a big obligation to bring a great show to people and affect the
listener. We have seen it all from the smallest venue to the big ones.
M4M – You know it seems like I see you online all the time on various social networking sites such as MySpace, twitter, and facebook. How
do you feel that has helped you drive fans your way?
The Energy – We have been enslaved by the internet. You know we find that we have steady growth in markets outside of our home
base which is New York City. We are strong believers that sites like MySpace has brought let’s say our Baltimore fan base from 1to 5
to 20ish loyal fans that will come out and see us every time we play there. We definitely feel MySpace had something to do with that.
M4M- The other thing I noticed is that you answer every comment and every message from your fans. To confirm this I sent you a comment
last night and by this morning you had replied. Is this a group thing or is their one member that kind of handles the internet?
The Energy- Yeah we all do it. We might alternate each week to handle the comments. Every day is like 120 comments a day so it is
great that we are reaching people around the world. Music is as the industry has changed so much a totally different entity now then it
was say 5 years ago so we feel like the bands that are on the rise like we are become a duty of the band to go out and deal with your
audience online and we don’t think it has been that way in music before so it’s a new part of the game. People expect that now that
age of the artist being the Ivory tower so to speak, that distance between the audiences that’s really breaking down and the internet is
a huge part of that.
M4M – You know again looking around this room you will be playing in this evening I cannot help to think I would much rather play a big
arena rather than this small personal venue how do feel about it is there more pressure.
The Energy – There is kind of mixed feelings about that in the band. It is important to be tangible to your audience very much so and
think it makes much more loyal fans, some people might disagree.
Ian- No I don’t disagree I think no matter where we play we have to have immediacy kind of. Artistically I think our music sounds really
good in big spaces. I think a lot of what we write can be very spacious sounding, but either way the aim is to connect you know.
M4M- Now on “Realize Your Sin” what is your current radio single and how can fans help to hear it played on the radio where they live?
The Energy- Our current single is “Lights” which is the first track on the album and you can call up the radio stations on our MySpace
page and just requesting, requesting, requesting. The more request they get the more apt they are to play it on a regular basis. The
biggest thing is requesting, requesting, requesting.
M4M- I see that you have a few shows coming up. Are those plans to do some live shows finish the new album, and then hit the pavement
touring?
The Energy- Yeah we think we are going to record our new album in May and then head out to do a summer tour. We are hopefully
going to release the album at the end of summer but you know we are going to feel it out test with a good crowd and see how they
respond. So put out the record at the end of the summer and then tour again, just keep touring.
M4M- Now will there be any hopes of a live DVD from some of the clubs you sell out in the city. It seems it would be a perfect setting.
The Energy- Sure why not? We did a show at the Gramercy theatre in NYC back in December which was sold out and the show was
filmed in full HD so we actually have HD footage from that show and it is currently being made into a DVD.
M4M- So am I reading this right that you will be on stage from like 7pm-11pm tonight?
The Energy- Yeah that is right, we are doing three 40 minute sets so we will do a set take a few minutes do another set and repeat the
process.
M4M- Wow that has got to be tiring by the end of the night.
The Energy- It is but we just ate a bunch of food so we will be ready.
M4M- Now I know these interviews seem to always be one sided so is there anything that you would like to say on your own?
Adam- I just feel like saying we are definitely not a Christian rock group which is not to say we have anything against Christian rock
bands at all. We are really about sharing our music and our craft. Don’t be misled by the title of the album. “Realize Your Sin” was
actually meant that everyone has good and bad in them and that is just who we are it was not any more than that.
Ian- I find it to be a funny phenomenon that any band that has even an inkling of a spiritual message automatically becomes Christian
rock. “Live” which was my favorite band growing up and a lot of people misconstrued them as a Christian rock group because they
have a lot of spiritual power in their writing but they are totally not. I just think it is a funny phenomenon that’s all.
Zachary- I think the album is about self reflection also and I think that can also be misconstrued as religious music. You know self
reflection pretty much transcends all religions it is about examining yourselves.
M4M- Well that is the thing I think that when someone hears something remotely spiritual they automatically like Ian said label at Christian
rock.
The Energy- Our goal is to reach anybody and everybody you know. We don’t think we fall into any category. Our mission is to make
people feel and whatever that feeling is to them at that point well then we did our job.
M4M- You know even if they are saying that you are Christian rock then you obviously succeeded in touching them some way and that’s the
only way they can describe it.
The Energy- That is true and if you are happily Christian and said that then it is a compliment and we would love to see you come to
another show again.
M4M- Ok guys well I know you have to get on the stage pretty soon here so I will let you get going. It was a pleasure sitting with all of you and
I cannot wait to see the show this evening.
The Energy- Thank you and seriously if you ever want to come see us in the city let us know. NYC shows rock. We appreciate you
speaking with us. We will see you in a little while.
a review of your latest release “Realize Your Sin”. It seems to be a high energy album that is well written. What was the writing process like
for you and do you feel that real life played a part in the writing of the album?
The Energy- We always try to write positive, and the message to each song is always hopefully positive as we try not to write songs
that are downers. Everything is on the up and up and we try to send positive messages through our songs.
M4M- now “Realize Your Sin” is your third release. How has the transition been from the first album through this one musically?
The Energy- We think we are really starting to craft our song writing process.
Ian (guitar) - “Realize Your Sin” is the first album that I have done with the band. Right now we are also working on a new album and I
would say that “Realize Your Sin” is very diverse and artsy at times and right now in our song craft we are trying to I don’t know if reign
it in is the right term but kind of bring it back in to that poppy realm kind of thing. I think with “Realize Your Sin” was a really good
opportunity for us to stretch ourselves.
Adam (Voc) - I also think that when you are first writing song’s you want to write anything because it’s fun you know. It inevitably
becomes less about you start to think more about the listener because you try to give them what they want. You obviously try to make
it personal but also universal for your listeners.
M4M- That is great! Now speaking to people on line about your group it seems as though you are being labeled as a Christian Rock group
is some people’s eyes. Is this kind of a misconception on what you represent?
The Energy- No we are definitely not a Christian rock group. It could be the title of the album “Realize Your Sin” but that was not the
intention.
M4M- “The Energy” is a pretty powerful band name. How did you come up with the name?
The Energy- Well a couple of years ago our first album Awake back in 2006 we did not have a name and we were playing some local
show’s with a different name on our demo, our producer came to see us play one time and he said to us immediately after the show
“you have a lot of energy, you should call yourself “The Energy”” so at first we didn’t have a band name so we were like yeah that’s
pretty cool you know so we just stuck with it because everyone thought our performance was really energetic. There are so many
different types of energy kinetic, potential but we won’t get into the scientific part of it. We are all are good friends and have a good
energy when we play. Energy can be many different things’s and can be translated many different ways to the listener.
M4M- you know looking around this venue today I realized you played big arenas, sell out clubs, and played with groups such as 3 Doors
Down. I am wondering are you able to bring that same high energy you have to a smaller venue like this one? My other question to this is
how do you feel differently about playing a smaller venue compared to the clubs you sell out or the big stage? How do you approach it
differently?
The Energy- yeah we definitely can bring the same energy. We care a lot about the music we produce and we care about the audience
whether we are playing for 50 people, 100 people, 5000 people. We feel a big obligation to bring a great show to people and affect the
listener. We have seen it all from the smallest venue to the big ones.
M4M – You know it seems like I see you online all the time on various social networking sites such as MySpace, twitter, and facebook. How
do you feel that has helped you drive fans your way?
The Energy – We have been enslaved by the internet. You know we find that we have steady growth in markets outside of our home
base which is New York City. We are strong believers that sites like MySpace has brought let’s say our Baltimore fan base from 1to 5
to 20ish loyal fans that will come out and see us every time we play there. We definitely feel MySpace had something to do with that.
M4M- The other thing I noticed is that you answer every comment and every message from your fans. To confirm this I sent you a comment
last night and by this morning you had replied. Is this a group thing or is their one member that kind of handles the internet?
The Energy- Yeah we all do it. We might alternate each week to handle the comments. Every day is like 120 comments a day so it is
great that we are reaching people around the world. Music is as the industry has changed so much a totally different entity now then it
was say 5 years ago so we feel like the bands that are on the rise like we are become a duty of the band to go out and deal with your
audience online and we don’t think it has been that way in music before so it’s a new part of the game. People expect that now that
age of the artist being the Ivory tower so to speak, that distance between the audiences that’s really breaking down and the internet is
a huge part of that.
M4M – You know again looking around this room you will be playing in this evening I cannot help to think I would much rather play a big
arena rather than this small personal venue how do feel about it is there more pressure.
The Energy – There is kind of mixed feelings about that in the band. It is important to be tangible to your audience very much so and
think it makes much more loyal fans, some people might disagree.
Ian- No I don’t disagree I think no matter where we play we have to have immediacy kind of. Artistically I think our music sounds really
good in big spaces. I think a lot of what we write can be very spacious sounding, but either way the aim is to connect you know.
M4M- Now on “Realize Your Sin” what is your current radio single and how can fans help to hear it played on the radio where they live?
The Energy- Our current single is “Lights” which is the first track on the album and you can call up the radio stations on our MySpace
page and just requesting, requesting, requesting. The more request they get the more apt they are to play it on a regular basis. The
biggest thing is requesting, requesting, requesting.
M4M- I see that you have a few shows coming up. Are those plans to do some live shows finish the new album, and then hit the pavement
touring?
The Energy- Yeah we think we are going to record our new album in May and then head out to do a summer tour. We are hopefully
going to release the album at the end of summer but you know we are going to feel it out test with a good crowd and see how they
respond. So put out the record at the end of the summer and then tour again, just keep touring.
M4M- Now will there be any hopes of a live DVD from some of the clubs you sell out in the city. It seems it would be a perfect setting.
The Energy- Sure why not? We did a show at the Gramercy theatre in NYC back in December which was sold out and the show was
filmed in full HD so we actually have HD footage from that show and it is currently being made into a DVD.
M4M- So am I reading this right that you will be on stage from like 7pm-11pm tonight?
The Energy- Yeah that is right, we are doing three 40 minute sets so we will do a set take a few minutes do another set and repeat the
process.
M4M- Wow that has got to be tiring by the end of the night.
The Energy- It is but we just ate a bunch of food so we will be ready.
M4M- Now I know these interviews seem to always be one sided so is there anything that you would like to say on your own?
Adam- I just feel like saying we are definitely not a Christian rock group which is not to say we have anything against Christian rock
bands at all. We are really about sharing our music and our craft. Don’t be misled by the title of the album. “Realize Your Sin” was
actually meant that everyone has good and bad in them and that is just who we are it was not any more than that.
Ian- I find it to be a funny phenomenon that any band that has even an inkling of a spiritual message automatically becomes Christian
rock. “Live” which was my favorite band growing up and a lot of people misconstrued them as a Christian rock group because they
have a lot of spiritual power in their writing but they are totally not. I just think it is a funny phenomenon that’s all.
Zachary- I think the album is about self reflection also and I think that can also be misconstrued as religious music. You know self
reflection pretty much transcends all religions it is about examining yourselves.
M4M- Well that is the thing I think that when someone hears something remotely spiritual they automatically like Ian said label at Christian
rock.
The Energy- Our goal is to reach anybody and everybody you know. We don’t think we fall into any category. Our mission is to make
people feel and whatever that feeling is to them at that point well then we did our job.
M4M- You know even if they are saying that you are Christian rock then you obviously succeeded in touching them some way and that’s the
only way they can describe it.
The Energy- That is true and if you are happily Christian and said that then it is a compliment and we would love to see you come to
another show again.
M4M- Ok guys well I know you have to get on the stage pretty soon here so I will let you get going. It was a pleasure sitting with all of you and
I cannot wait to see the show this evening.
The Energy- Thank you and seriously if you ever want to come see us in the city let us know. NYC shows rock. We appreciate you
speaking with us. We will see you in a little while.
music: Dancing in The Groove