BAND: Yesterday's Rising
INTERVIEWER: Kayli VerSteeg (Kayli@bandvibe.com)
INTERVIEWEE: Brandon lead singer of Yesterday’s Rising
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 09.27.06

BAND MEMBERS:
Brandon-vocals
Jon-Guitar
Richie-Guitar
Justin-Bass
Jamie-d Drums

Kayli: How old are you?
Brandon: 20

Kayli: Where did you grow up?
Brandon: I grew up in Torrence California moved out to Murrieta when I was 2. I’ve lived in the same house ever since.

Kayli: How did you meet the other members of the band?
Brandon: Um, the guitar players I met at a show at Cox Arena. I met the drummer and bass player in my hometown. We lost our old drummer and bass player and then we brought in the guys we have now.

Kayli: How did the band form?
Brandon: Um, I don’t know I guess when they met me at Cox they were starting a band and needed a singer. Our old drummer and bassist couldn’t make it to one of the shows so we used the guys we have now and it just fit. After the others quit we remembered that we had the other guys.

Kayli: How long have you been a band for?
Brandon: We started in 2002, so four years.

Kayli: What originally got you into music and made you want to start creating some of your own?
Brandon: Um…..it was actually just bands I would see in other areas and other shows and being able to send a message. I saw saw a lot of Hijinx, the singer used to be the singer for New Found Glory and used to be my idol. That’s the main reason I got into music.

Kayli: What inspiration do you have for writing?
Brandon: Now I would worldly issues, like things people should know about like kids starving in other countries because a lot of people just walk around not giving a shit.

Kayli: Who do you listen to a lot?
Brandon: A lot of Deftones, Wolfmother, Tool, Air, I just started listening to them there really good you should check them out, um Aphex Twin and Incubus is always a favorite.

Kayli: What tours have been your favorites?
Brandon: Um we did a tour with this Christian band Showbreed, and then our tour with Receiving End of Sirens.

Kayli: Do you ever get nervous before you perform especially when you’re an opening act?
Brandon: Yes. Our band is really hard on ourselves. We’ll argue because were so nervous and all so tense, sometimes not as much but usually.

Kayli: On your webpage you are described as a band “writing from the heart with passion, not out to follow any trends but to lead its genre into a new musical direction, with the art you produce.” What sort of direction do you believe you are leading your genre into?
Brandon: I don’t know if it’s a certain sound I could describe. All the names and labels like sceramo or metal and stuff doesn’t really mean anything to me. We want to be different we like diversity. We don’t want our CDs to sound like one song.

Kayli: How do you feel that your next album that you have been working on will be different from your previous ones?
Brandon: I think our new album will have way way way way more energy. Its going to be way more intense and in your face. Also I would say more musical talent, we’ve learned a lot. Mostly we’re just more prepared this time.

Kayli: What has your writing process been for this album?
Brandon: Usually guitars first, music first, then vocals.

Kayli: In a letter to your fans you said that the songs from the new album have lyrics that tell stories of deep thoughts. Can you give an example?
Brandon: I’d say just those things that I think people need to know. There’s this thing called Invisible Children which helps kids in poorer countries. There are so many greedy people out there. The new album has a lot of my thoughts on what life is. I think everyone has that part in there life when they trip out and think what is this? It obviously is something that can’t be answered easily.

Kayli: What are some of your favorite areas to play?
Brandon: I love playing San Diego always. The kids are fucking amazing. San Diego and Texas. Texas is always fun and Arizona defiantly.

Kayli: Would you rather be a headlining band for a small tour or the opening band for a really big tour?
Brandon: I’d prefer to be the opening band for a bigger tour.

Kayli: What performance do you think you will always remember?
Brandon: Um…I’d say the Wiltern Theater in LA that was Halloween 2005. We were with Atreyu, From First to Last, and Day of Content.

Kayli: Who would your dream tour be with?
Brandon: Deftones.

Kayli: What are your favorite songs to perform?
Brandon: Um… The Hardest Part or Our Lucid Dream.

Kayli: What are your hopes for Yesterday’s Rising?
Brandon: To live off playing music. To be more successful, I don’t know get paid to do what you love.

Kayli: And is there anything you want to say to your fans?
Brandon: I LOVE YOU. Without you I would be a piece of shit or more of a piece of shit then I am now.

Check out Bandvibe's photo coverage of Yesterday's Rising:
+The Outlining, Yesterday's Rising, Mikoto, Saosin - 09/27/06

For more information on Yesterday's Rising, log onto:
+http://www.YesterdaysRising.net/
+http://www.myspace.com/yesterdaysrising