Emotional Punk Interview - September 23rd, 2009

By Matt Zimmerman
Source

Thanks for taking some time to chat. What are you doing on this fine Wednesday morning?
AM: Just chilling at my home in Los Angeles.
EP: For all this talk of fall coming, it still feels like a typical day in So Cal, ha.

Well, I guess we can start off by talking about the new documentary Dear Jack, to be released in this November. Can you describe the film and why it’s finally coming to light now?
AM: The film itself is essentially a by-product of footage I took from December 2004 through 2005 when I got sick [with leukemia]. I was given a video camera to shoot the eventual recording of my record and it was my first time on my own, away from Something Corporate. The video camera became like my secondary art project. I would document my day-to-day, shoot some short movies and whatnot. So I think the reason the process [of releasing it] has taken so long is that it’s taken a few years for me to objectively be able to look at that period in my life. It’s hard when you’re still so close to it to and trying to create a piece of art from that. When I came back this summer from The Fray tour, I had crossed the four year mark since my transplant and all of a sudden, it seemed like that chapter in my life was closing. That is why we chose to come out with the film now; any later and it would be too late. Frankly, it feels like this is a chapter in my life that is closing so [the film] serves as a nice period after the sentence, ha.

What feelings come up when you re-watch the footage? Does it feel like you are reliving those difficult times?
AM: The thing I am most proud about the movie is it is a very truthful portrayal of what it was like to be in that moment. For what it’s worth, I think the reason the film is compelling is that I’m sure people know others who have encountered something like this themselves and the film gives a perspective of how that is. For me, it’s difficult to watch. It’s definitely got a powerful effect on me. Seeing it now, it doesn’t put me back in that space; it’s more like “wow, that happened.” I’m far enough now that I can see the value in it.

EP: I guess, in a way, you can look at the event like you would a family member who has past. Not in the way that it happened to someone else but I guess what I’m trying to say is, you can look at the positives versus the hard times.
AM: For me, it may surprise people to hear but that was an incredibly positive time in my life. There’s not doubt it was hard but I learned a lot of powerful lessons about how important the people around you really are and those were lessons I was glad to learn. Granted, it didn’t feel good but there was a strange amount of peace in moment.

Your story is such an inspirational one but do you ever worry that “the story” could overshadow the music i.e. it defines your career more so than the music?
AM: It’s one of those things that I’ve struggled with a lot. I’ve had to reconcile that it is a part of my life and I would’ve had to go on hiatus for probably a decade until nobody remembered who I was, ha. Cancer is so universal and so many people deal with it, it becomes a huge part in my life and in my story. The goal has always been to focus on the music and the reality is, there is a part of that which happened for a reason. Maybe that reason is that we are out here and able to do such great work and make a difference. There was a time when I resented it but I realized I can’t help what people latch onto except maybe get this film out so people can see what it was really about versus an idealized version of it in their head. If nothing else, from now on I can say “there is a movie about it, you’re welcome to check it out but that is not where I am right now.” In large part, that is why we are doing this.

You have worked with multiple fundraising charities including Light the Night, and of course your own foundation Dear Jack, to raise money and awareness for leukemia. I wanted to give you a chance to talk about those organizations and where people can get more information on them.
AM: We’re going again for another year hoping to raise $100,000 for the Light The Night walks. There is a Jack’s Mannequin team that walks nationwide. You can find out about that at dearjackfoundation.com or Leukemia/Lymphoma Society website. You can donate to that through November. We’ve already raised over $50,000. In October/November, Macbeth will launch a Jack’s Mannequin shoe. All the proceeds we collect will go to the foundation. If anybody wants to find out more, we will be launching a new dearjackfoundation.com website in the near future.

I also wanted to talk about the video for “The Resolution”, off your latest album The Glass Passenger, which was directed by Stephanie Meyer of the Twilight series fame. How did you come about getting her to direct the video?
AM: It started out as a friend of mine whose wife was really into the books. She told me that [Stephanie] mentioned me in the ‘thank-you’s of her novels. I was flattered but didn’t know what to think of it. So we were banging our heads against a wall because none of the treatments for the video really spoke to us. One day we were ripping with my marketing directed about getting an author or actor; someone who brought a different perspective. The conversation I had with my wife’s friend came into my mind and I thought what about Stephanie Myer who was now huge due to the film. We called her and she said yes; it was pretty simple. She really stepped up and wrote a great treatment that we loved.

EP: I actually got this question from my girlfriend who is a big fan of the novels.
AM: That’s cool. I think it really opened us up to a lot of those fans who read the books. It was a good thing for us. Its funny when you go into that pop realm, you can really end up getting a lot of new fans.

EP: Have you kept in contact with her?
AM: I have actually. We hooked up at a concert in Michigan for The Fray tour. She’s really cool. It’s fun to see her out of the business aspect which we were in for the video.

You have a solo tour which you will begin at the end of this month. What made you decide to do this tour and what can fans expect from it?
AM: There were a number of components. One is that when I took stock in how long I’ve consistently been on the road. Other than the six months I took off when I was sick, I’ve been on the road ever month, to some extent, for seven or eight years. I was getting a little burned out but I knew I had to be out supporting the documentary. The idea came about of doing something really grassroots and playing some small venues. When you play those size venues, you pretty much guaranteed to get the people who have been around for a long time. That seems to be an appropriate and nurturing environment to put something out as personal as a documentary. For the music component, it made sense. It’s not really my environment; there’s a chance some songs will be really powerful and then some may fall flat, ha. It’s a new thing but it helps me do something exciting and new. I’ll make a point to incorporate a few Something Corporate songs into the set. You’re going get a chance to hear songs you know and love approached differently. There is something cool about the intimacy. I can’t say what to expect but when you get into a room with people who really want to be there, good things happen.

EP: Other than the Trouabour show right before Glass Passenger was released, the last small venue I saw you in was the last Something Corporate show at Chain Reaction.
AM: Oh shit, ha. The old Chain Reaction days...

Got to love ‘em! So what are your plans after the tour?
AM: That tour will finish out the year. After that, I will probably spend some time writing and recording which I’m really excited about. I definitely feel inspired in this moment. Like I said, with the closing of this chapter in my life, a lot of my focus will shift to new music. We may go out in the new year to do the make-up dates we canceled to go out with The Fray.

EP: Is there a timeline for the new record yet?
AM: It’s really up in the air right now. I started working on a couple songs which have taken shape and make me excited for it but the reality is that from this point until I feel the record is done, it could take a year or two years. I just don’t know. I have a good feeling that this thing is going to just happen but until we get further down the road, I would hate to attach any expectations to it.

EP: I know that happened with the last album. There was an expected release schedule and when it wasn’t met, fans freaked out when they weren’t met.
AM: Ha, yeah, exactly! It was great to have so many people excited about a record but I learned a lot of lessons from that. I learned to wait until the moment it happens to really say anything. I think that is the way we approached the documentary too.

EP: I think Glass Passenger turned out all for the better though. Obviously I don’t know what it was in its initial stages but the album turned out so well in the long run.
AM: I’m happy with the record. It was going to be a difficult album no matter what. I think some of that confusion actually added to the art of the record itself.

I was asked by a fan to make sure and ask about the always-rumored Something Corporate reunion. What, if any, plans are there in the future for that?
AM: At this point, it’s closer to the ground that it has been but to call it plans would not be totally fair. Again, this speaks to the not wanting to attach too much expectation to anything. I’ll be honest, we’ve talked about it and it’ll happen at the right time. Give me until the end of February to finish out the dates for this record and we’ll readdress it at that point.

I’ll finish up with a few quick Q & A’s. First, what is some of your favorite music right now, past or present?
AM: The album I’ve been listening to for about the past month or two is the new Regina Spektor record [Far]. I have a thing for her tunes. She has soulfulness to her music; there is something very evolved about her. Also, band we took out recently Low Vs. Diamond which I really got hooked on. I have to admit I have had this guilty pleasure for that Owl City record. It’s quirky and youthful, almost too playful, but I’m a sucker for melodies and this guy delivers some sweet melodies. I got hung up on John Mayer’s Continuum record recently.

EP: That is a really great record. I just a chance to listen to the new Paramore record Brand New Eyes and they definitely have that youthful energy you talked about. It’s a solid pop record but they really branched out I feel on this one. I wasn’t a fan of the last one as much as this.
AM: What sells me on a song is usually a good melody and a hopefully a lyric, no matter what angle it comes from, that sounds like it came from the heart. Those are pretty much the two factors. Everything else is up in the air. Haley is a total badass! I’m always rooting for her and the Paramore guys.

Other than music, any good books you’ve read lately or movies you’ve seen?
AM: I just finished an amazing book titled The History Of Love [by Nicole Krauss]. It’s a really great book. It sounds like it would be a romance novel but it’s definitely not. Movies I’ve watched... nothing I’ve seen lately knocked me on my ass. I saw The Hangover. I thought that was hysterical. I also saw a documentary on John Smith which was ridiculous. I saw it on an airplane of all places. Have you seen Lars And The Real Girl?

EP: No but I’ve been meaning to.
AM: It’s almost slow in a sense, like Lost In Translation where there is a lack of things happening but it makes you feel like you’re in the movie. I think you’ll really like it. I don’t get a lot of time to watch movies. I don’t have as much time for movies as I used to. When I’m home, I’m either writing or just taking a minute to breath. I usually just catch things on Netflix.

Yeah, same here. I’ll definitely check out Lars though; you sold me on it! Well, I’ve wrapped up my questions. Is there anything else you’d like to add for our readers?
AM: Let them know we’re going to put an EP out in the next few months. There are a bunch of songs throughout the making of the film which are featured. I went through and collected them and will be putting out a 4-song EP next month.