Alex Band is Back and Better Than Ever

Finally! After five years of working on his highly anticipated solo release "We'˜ve All Been There", Alex Band is back! Band, the former lead singer of The Calling, has fought through every possible kind of adversity to make this album, and it shows. From fighting with major record labels to trying to juggle personal life with touring, Alex Band has definitely been there! From the self titled track to their new hit song "Tonight", Alex Band does not disappoint. Alex Band was kind enough to take a few moments during his busy touring schedule to answer questions about a variety of topics, and you can tell his answers are teeming with enthusiasm of being back.

(Andrew) So how does it feel to be back?
(Alex) After 5 years of getting this album out, it doesn't even feel real yet! I think I am still waiting for reality of this actually happening to set in.

(Andrew) After the huge success of "Wherever You Will Go", did you feel pressure with the follow up album? Do you feel any pressure now?
(Alex) The only pressure I really feel is on myself. Music is my life and I want to share it with the world. Reaching the success I did with Wherever You Will Go would be a dream come true, but at the end of the day just getting my music released and heard is a success at this point. The pressure to succeed is based on being completely self-invested in this album and wanting to be able to continue on my solo career and put more albums out in the future. I can only do so if this album succeeds.

(Andrew) Who were your influences that made you decide to become a musician?
(Alex) I always knew I wanted to be a musician from the age of 3 when I would perform for my family. My Dad was a huge music fan, so I grew up listening to all the classics and being influenced by that in a big way.

(Andrew) What sacrifices did you make to create this album?
(Alex) More like what sacrifices didn't I make! I fought the labels to make the music I wanted to make and that I believed in. I ended up buying the album with my own money from the label and then self-funded and started my own record label. I had to wait and fight for five years to get to this point and am now re-inventing myself and the business and starting from scratch to make this happen. It's been a massive struggle to say the least, but I have faith that it is all worth the wait.

(Andrew) What do you think about having a little part of sports history, with your songs "Our Lives" being played during the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Olympics and "Tonight" being used for this summer's World Cup?
(Alex) It's an amazing feeling! I've had my music be a part of the Oscars and numerous major motion pictures and hit TV shows...but it's things like the Olympics and the World Cup that really put it over the top. It's a very proud and humbling feeling. I would say two of my most favorite pieces of film that my music has been a part of would be those two. I've watched them both at least a hundred times!

(Andrew) How important to you is this album? Since your last album with The Calling, how do you think you've grown as a person as well as musically?
(Alex) This album is about as raw as someone can get through music, it bears my heart and soul and really shares the ups and downs of my life while making it...from love and frustration, to loss and never giving up. Over these past years, I have grown in my understanding of myself and my determination to follow what I believe in. Musically, I have become way more open to try different things and expand my sound. Also vocally I have achieved new heights and also have come in to where I believe my voice was always meant to become...I don't feel I am trying in any way to sound like anything but myself.

(Andrew) On your bio on Alexband.net it mentions that your then-wife was going through health issues. How hard was it to deal with that as well as your career?
(Alex) It was extremely difficult. I even ended up canceling an entire US headlining tour in order to be with her and take care of her. This career demands so much of your time, attention, devotion and mind that it was hard to juggle taking care of her and getting on stage and giving the audience what they wanted. I had to do my best to stay focused when I needed to be, but was always with her through those hard times.

(Andrew) Alexband.net also mentions that you check out bands such as U2 and Coldplay. Any other bands that you enjoy going to see live or listen to?
(Alex) I am a fan of Kings of Leon who I just recently saw at the Hollywood Bowl. I also really like Safety Suit...those dudes put on a great show and their album is amazing.

(Andrew) What are your thoughts on music labels?
(Alex) Most all major labels are just pure evil! I am so happy to be running my career myself, being on this side of things, I would never go back. With The Calling I sold over 6 million records worldwide and never saw a dollar from it. Explain that.

(Andrew) At what point did you decide to create your own label?
(Alex) There came a point when this album was completely finished and ready to be released by the label I was on, and that was after 3 years of pushing them to let me make the kind of record I wanted to. Then surprise surprise, they didn't want to release it and didn't think I had "hit songs". Right at that moment, the label fell apart and 99% of all the staff was fired and they became just an imprint of Interscope. Also at that moment, my manager and good friend of 10 years sadly died suddenly. I decided to take the chance and ask to be let go from the label and buy my album. That process took a year and was extremely difficult to legally achieve, but we did it. Then finally came the creation of my own label.

(Andrew) Was "Tonight" written specifically for the Vampire Diaries, or was it just a thought you had for a song that they picked up on?
(Alex) Tonight was a song I wrote over 4 years ago after seeing the movie Underworld. I wanted to write a vampire love story type song and always envisioned it to be that...hence the vampire themed music video for that song, which could come off as slightly cliche now with vampires being such a big deal all the sudden, but I stuck with what I always envisioned.

(Andrew) What is your favorite part of touring?
(Alex) It's meeting the fans after each show. No matter where I am in the world, how tired, or how strapped for time, I always go out after each show to the merch table and meet any fans that would like to get things signed or take pictures. That one on one interaction is the most important thing for me and I think one of the things I enjoy over all the others on tour.

(Andrew) Do you have any rituals you like to do before you go on stage?
(Alex) Oddly I really don't. Other than stretching and making sure I've drank enough water, I'm just good to go at any time!

(Andrew) How does it feel to have an effect on someone's life with your music?
(Alex) It is the greatest feeling in the world and really one of the number one reasons I do what I do and put everything that I am into it. I have heard stories from so many fans around the world about how my music has literally saved their lives, and that is just something that's hard to really comprehend or take in completely...but it's true and it's a beautiful thing.

(Andrew) Are you looking to sign other artists to your label?
(Alex) In a year or so when I am home and working on my next album and have some spare time, I absolutely will be looking in to signing other artists to my label.

(Andrew) What things would you do differently at your label that other labels might or might not do?
(Alex) I would be very conscious of the amount of money being spent that artists have to recoup. Labels are still spending way too much money to make any sense in todays dwindling music business. I would also make sure nothing is done without the consent of the artist. You would be amazed at how much labels just do what they want without their artist's consent, even though most record deals are 50/50 creative control.

If you have the chance, check out Alex Band live. Here is Alex Band's upcoming schedule, and don'˜t forget to tell him hi after his show at the merch table:

August 4th - Ram's Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
August 5th - Jammin Java - Vienna, VA
August 6th - Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
August 8th - Harper's Ferry - Boston, MA