tunnelMUSIC

Addison Interview – 23/01/2010

 

We caught up with the guys from Addison before their show in Christchurch on the 23rd of January. Sadly this was their last tour, but this is what they had to say.

 

tunnelMUSIC – How did you guys get started?

 

Addision – We used to play in this strange band which kinda broke up, we already had Ryan (lead vocals) and we just conglomerated a few more members along the way which has made this the musical fusion that we are now. We’re quite different now from when the band started, a new guitarist, a new bass player and also we’ve been through another guitarist along the way, but living in Australia is pretty cool.

 

tunnelMUSIC – When did you decide to shift the band over there?

Addison – September we went over, 2008, so the year before last. So we’ve been over there about 15 months.

 

tunnelMUSIC – How do you guys apply your faith to your music?

 

Addsion – I think lyrically the new CD that we made, heaps of the stuff Ryan sings about is to do with the struggles that we have. The CD is more about experiences and the reality of being a Christian in the world. It’s not so much saying that, this is God and everything is amazing, it’s more that you have to try your best being a Christian in the world. Also if you’re a Christian it’s not so much applying your faith to your music, it’s already applied. When you make music it has that in it because that’s what you believe. It’s a part of who we are so much that it’s in playing the music itself. It’s always been a fundamental that it’s more than just the lyrics, it’s going to shows and having that kind of mindset when we go there. It’s more than what we write it’s in the performance and also living day to day as well. It has to appeal to everyone as well, so we just come across as normal dudes so it’s not in your face or that kind of thing.

 

tunnelMUSIC – I was listening to your EP the last couple of days and I definitely noticed some Underoath coming in there. What other bands have influenced you to write your music?

 

Addison – Back then it was all Underoath and Gate City. Other NZ bands such as Callista. I think now we all have our own tastes. I think collectively now it’d be still Underoath, The Chariot, Architects, Oh, Sleeper, Norma Jean. We listen to a lot of different stuff now as well, like heaps of The Mars Volta and Circa Survive plus lots of jazz. Just getting heaps of stuff and trying to mix it up so we could put a new spin on what we were doing before.

 

tunnelMUSIC – What have been your highlights so far since you started up?

 

Addsion – We played Parachute [Festival] 2009 and we opened the festival, it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen, the most people I have ever seen in my life. It was crazy that people were fighting to get into the Deluxe stage. It was five minutes before the doors opened and we were like “Hey do you guys mind opening up the doors early ’cause we don’t wanna play to five people” but they were like “Nah, nah it’s fine.” Then they put on our intro track and I walk out and there’s just this sea of people just going nuts and I was just like, “Oh my goodness, what the hell do I do?” but then everyone else came on and it went off, it was just crazy. (Ryan) I just walked on, vomited and then started singing. I think for me personally, the Haste the Day support in Auckland was the best show and also the Debut stage at Parachute ’09, even though it was smaller than Deluxe. We also played this show in Adelaide where we didn’t think anyone would come, but there were these kids there that not only came but also knew all our words as well, that was super exciting for us. Another show that we played that I liked was in Sydney at a place place called Trash. It was this small kind of yuck over 18 kind of club and it seemed real intimidating cause there were all these older dudes that were in gangs, we thought, “Ahh this is going to be crazy” but we played and it went really well. Some just really good shows I guess, Australia last year in particular went really well. We had spots where we kept really quiet which is when we recorded the CD, but up until then we had a really good run of shows.

 

tunnelMUSIC – I noticed on your MySpace page that this is your last tour. Do you have any words to give your fans as you depart?

 

Addison – Well this is the first time we have come to Christchurch so I guess after tonight we can only see how things go. Thanks to everyone who just listened to our music or even voted for our video on C4, also thanks to anyone who bought our merch or paid to come see a show ’cause all that stuff counts to help us get to where we were today.