Interview with Evan Willey Bassist for Still Remains
By Robin Steeley
Still Remains is originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and emerged from the shadow of the infamous Detroit Rock City underground, the band has struggled to make their music known, a huge step in this process has been inking a deal with notorious Roadrunner Records. Still Remains has a gritty, almost European metal sound to them that makes them stand apart from the rest. The band is now out on the Road Rage tour playing live in support of their debut RR release, ‘Of Love and Lunacy’ that was produced by GGGarth Richardson (RATM, Kittie). I caught up with bassist Evan Willey during a few minutes of downtime from the tour.
Evan: So where are you at today and how is the tour going so far?
Evan: We are in Philadelphia today. The tour has been really good so far. In the beginning I really felt like I was kind of lost, the bands that we are playing with have been touring non stop for awhile, and we haven’t toured really since July, but a couple of shows into the tour we really got into our rhythm and got our live set going, so now its been going really well.
Evan: How are things going with Roadrunner?
Evan: Absolutely wonderful. They were actually all at the show we played last night at CBGB’s in New York. The warm welcome, and the family like environment we have with them is awesome. There are many people in the office that we have contact with pretty often, and they are all business people but they know how to treat their bands and show them respect too. They have been so great to us.
Evan: I really love the RR label. I have been on their Road Crew for many years and some of my favorite bands are on the RR label. What will be the first single off “Of Love and Lunacy”? First video?
Evan: It’s called “The Worse Is Yet To Come” and we are doing the video here pretty soon in Texas. We released one song called “White Walls” on Pure Volume and My Space and at the RR website. That song is available for download, and then we are going to be releasing a different song as well because we felt it was a really single worthy type song. Some of the vocal patterns and singing weren’t completely written until we were recording it so it was one of those things where the impact of the song came out in the studio as we were recording it. We are excited to release the single.
Evan: How would you best describe the bands unique sound?
Evan: I want to say metal first, also kind of blended with synth pop attributes as well. One of the 3 Inches of Blood guys described it as 80’s synth sounds infused with metal.
Evan: What’s your favorite track off the new album?
Evan: I would have to say that “In Place Of Hope” is my favorite song on the album. We haven’t played it live yet, I’ve been pushing for it though. Its another song that has a very powerful hook chorus and its one we want to be so confident when we do the song, we really feel like if we are lacking at all for any reason it will be a disaster. It’s one of those things where it can be so powerful, but if its not 100% it will falter severely. We are still warming up to our touring shoes before we throw that one into the mix, but I think it will be soon.
Evan: What was it like working with Gggarth Richardson?
Evan: It was amazing, he really knows how to get the best out of music and it worked for us. He is definitely challenging, but he is also very serious about making us feel comfortable, and making us feel at home, and understanding the pressure of being in a studio situation like that for the first time. He was great at making sure we weren’t overwhelmed so we could comfortable just go in and do track after track, it was very tedious, a lot of going over the same thing a lot, It wasn’t easy but it’s just he really knows what to do to get that true sound out of the band. He wants the record he produces to have the character of the band that performs it.
Evan: What was the first album you ever owned?
Evan: It was The Cars Greatest hits.
Evan: What CD have you been listening to or bought lately?
Evan: I’m really into the new God Forbid, The Killers, and the new Agony Scene, that’s an incredible album too. I’m excited to be on the road with those guys.
Evan: What’s your favorite city or venue to play?
Evan: Our hometown has always been great for us, we have always had a pretty strong foundational crowd there, and it’s still growing. We are lucky enough to not be one of the bands who get success and end up with people shunning them, other bands and stuff. We know a lot of other bands who get signed or go on tour and then people from their hometown don’t think they deserve it. But we have definitely had a positive experience with our home crowd. Indianapolis too, has always been a home away from home for us. We are going overseas in May and we are all looking forward to that.
Evan: What do you do in the downtime between shows?
Evan: Right now I’m kind of the acting tour manager so I’m calling ahead to as many shows as I can, taking on those responsibilities, I also drive a lot. I’m kind of the old man in the group so I make sure everyone is up and moving in the morning and It just kind of naturally became my role. I talk to my life all the time, being on the road can be hard. She understands this is something I need to pursue, and she is very encouraging. We both realize we want to make sure we both encourage each other in following our own dreams, but we talk as much as we can on the phone.
Evan: If you could tour with any band who would it be?
Evan: I really want to tour with Slipknot. We have a great time touring with our friends in Haste The Day, they are incredible friends of ours, like brothers, and they are a band I would always love to tour with. Maybe Killswitch or Shadowsfall.
Evan: So tell me what’s in the future for Still Remains?
Evan: A lot of touring. Touring, and probably more touring. Meeting a lot of people, making new friends, getting lots of people to respond to our music and hear our record.
Still Remains is:
T.J. Miller - vocals
Evan Willey - bass
Zach Roth - keyboards
A.J. Barrette - drums
