Interview Travis Miguel Atreyu

THICK AS THIEVES TOUR ATREYU Unearth Norma Jean Scars of Tomorrow 3/13/05 HOB Interviewer: Sharita Lumpkin Photo: Kimisha L. Pierce

Lineup: Alex Varkatzas - Vocals Brandon Saller - Drums Dan Jacobs - Guitar Travis Miguel - Guitar Marc McKnight - Bass

"I think everybody has a place in their heart for

 stupid, cheesy music"

According to the band's ace guitar virtuoso (is what Joe, the tour manager, introduced him as), Travis Miguel, they may be "boring" and "cheesy" but they sure are popular. The music from Atreyu could fall under many categories, some have even said that they are too emo or pop sounding, however, these west coast rockers have a lot to offer the music industry as they prove it at their live shows. The band is headlining the Thick As Thieves Tour in support of of their latest album The Curse off Victory records. Along for the ride are Unearth, Norma Jean, and Scars of Tomorrow to support but many consider they are the softest hardcore band on the bill. Maligned by peers, critics and by so called hardcore music fans, these guys show they belong in the genre and made yours truly, eat their words!

Join me as Travis talks to me about how this band never claimed to be in any specific genre, how they along with Eighteen Visions put the west coast on the hardcore map, and how they are the most boring band in music. Travis even finds out some secrets about the band he didn't know and gets stumped by a question from Karma E. about the "Right Side..." video.  Brandon and Dan are also in attendance and put in their 2¢.  

Sharita: So I read that you guys are from Orange County, CA how did the band get started and were you in other bands before Atreyu?

Travis: Well the band started with Brandon, our drummer, our singer Alex and our other guitar player Dan. It started off as a street punk type of band. After a few lineup changes and switches in musical direction, it eventually evolved into what it is today.  As far as being in other bands, I played in garage bands and played in friends bands but as far as anything worth talking about, this is it.

Sharita: Tell me how you guys got signed with Victory, and were you approached by other labels?

Travis: Actually we didn't even send anything to Victory because that was so far off our radar but our demo fell into the right hands at the right time. One thing just led to another and we had a contract in front of us. It was really cool too because we grew up with a lot of the old Victory bands like Earth Crisis and Reach The Sky, so it was great being on the same roster with the bands we grew up loving.

Sharita: So, what were some of your other influences growing up?

Travis: Well we all grew up on punk rock, hardcore and metal, now we all listen to different stuff but before it was just a steady diet of [those kinds of music].

Sharita: Were you self taught or did you have lessons?

Travis: I took lessons for a little while. I studied music theory and took classical and jazz, stuff like that. Dan took some lessons as well. Brandon, did you take some lessons?

Brandon: Yeah, I took a few.

Travis: Yeah so a few of us took some formal lessons but only for a short time so, we're all pretty much self-taught.

Sharita: Do you think it's better to be self-taught because it gives you some freedom to create?

Travis: Well it's good to have some formal foundation so you know what you're doing. It's good to have that knowledge even though it's not necessary. I think there's about 75% of rock musicians out there that can't read music, they don't know a lot of music theory, but really, you don't need it. It will help, but it won't hinder you if you know all the formal stuff there is to learn.

Sharita: Ok cool. Tell me about the video for "Right Side Of The Bed". It's a very catchy tune, where did you shoot it and what's the story behind it?

Travis: We shot it in this old theatre in downtown LA, I think it was built in the 1920's. It was really cool place to be at less alone shoot a video. As far as the video itself, there is no huge underlying concept really, it's just us rockin' out. (laughs) Like you said, it's a catchy song, but I think it's a song that you can grasp on to whether you like our band or not, or this type of music. There's a little something in it for everybody.

Sharita: Our other journalist and editor, Karma actually had a question about the video, she said there is a shape shifting scene in it, what is the purpose behind that?

Travis: A shape shifting scene? In the video?

Sharita: Yeah, I mean I've seen the video quite a bit...(laughs) but I don't think I paid close enough attention to notice a shape shifting scene.

Travis: Hmmm, If there is it's beyond me. (laughs) I dunno. Who knows about these video directors and editors. (laughs)

Sharita: They put something in there and you didn't even know it.

Travis: Well, you learn something new everyday. You'll see something different every time you watch it, which is cool. (shrugs shoulders) I dunno, I'm gonna be looking for that scene now. (laughs)

Sharita: Since the name of the band came from the movie Neverending Story, what other movies are you guys fans of?

Travis: I'm a fan of everything from very low brow humor, knuckleheaded comedies to really intellectual indie films, action flicks are always good, horror movies we're all big fans of.  (Brandon is sitting in front of his laptop it sounded like he said gay porn) (laughs)

Sharita: What was that? (laughs)

Travis: You don't want to know. On tour especially, you have a lot of downtime and will do just about anything to pass the time which includes watching movies...

Sharita: ...and do interviews, things like that.

Travis: (laughs) Yeah... we're all big fans of movies as long as we're entertained. (laughs)

Sharita: As far as the lyrics are concerned, does anything in particular inspire you while writing songs?

Travis: Well, Alex writes all the lyrics. He basically draws from personal experiences that he's gone through or other people that he knows. Stuff that everyone goes through at some point, how to deal with it or how he's dealt with it. It's basically an observation from his standpoint.

Sharita: Ok, great. I read that you guys are really big fans of some of the 80's glam bands, any one in particular?

Travis: Dan, he's Mr. 80's glam metal.  He’s just in love with that whole era, the sillier or cheesier the better. I think everybody has a place in their heart for stupid, cheesy music. (laughs) For me it would be Def Leppard, especially the Pyromania album because that whole record was hit after hit after hit, the Hysteria album the same thing; everyone knows a song off those.

Sharita: Karma has some more questions for you. Since struggle, depression and despair have been underlying themes in your music do you find writing therapeutic?

Travis: Yeah, for Alex I’m sure. Who knows what kind of person he’d be if he wasn’t writing all this out. He needs to get it off his chest. I mean, I think that’s why people write whether they’re in a band or not. People write in journals and nobody is supposed to see it but them. It’s the reason why you wrote it so it can be therapeutic and you can learn from what’s in your head and you can look back on it.

Sharita: What is your motivation for the album cover?

Travis: Eye candy. (laughs) That's about it really.

Sharita: At least you're honest. (laughs)

Travis: I mean everybody thinks that this album is a concept about vampires. Alex does make a few references to vampires but each song is independent of the other. That's kind of where we're at right now. I mean the next album might be devoted to...

Sharita: Werewolves.

Travis: To werewolves, Frankenstein's monster or money. I dunno. (laughs)

Sharita: What do you want the buyers to walk away with after looking at the cover?

Travis: Hopefully the CD. (laughs) But if not...

Brandon: No, just get the CD.

Travis: Yeah, that's what we want them to walk away with. (laughs)

Sharita: Good Answer. What song is your favorite lyrically and musically?

Travis: Musically, it depends on what day you ask me. (laughs) I think we all go back and forth on this. I think the last song on the album "Five Vicodin With A Chase of Clarity". I think it represents us musically best as a band.  And lyrically I honestly couldn't tell you, you'd have to ask Alex about that. (laughs)

Sharita: If not music then what?

Travis: Probably finishing school or getting a regular 9-5 job. I mean that's the only thing I could see myself doing really. (chuckles)

Sharita: Ok. What would you have done if your dream had not panned out or was this your dream?

Travis: For me this was always a dream but I never thought it would happen, I don't think any of us really did. I mean when the band first started it was record a shitty demo, send it to whoever would sign us, then maybe we'll do a few shitty van tours and go back to school and work. Obviously it didn't end up like that, it's gone a lot further. We've got so much further than all of us would've imagined so if it would end tomorrow, I think we'd all be very satisfied.

Sharita: Great! Karma says she read in an interview that you don't pay attention to groupies.

Travis: Hey Dan, what do you think about groupies?

Dan: They're too young for us anyway.

Travis: (points to Brandon) He's practically married and Alex just hates people in general. 

Brandon: I think Alex has got a girlfriend.

Travis: See there is so much going on in this band whether it's videos or personal relationships that I know nothing about.
It's there, but most of the time it's not because we're just 5 douche bags that have no game.

Dan: Plus, all the girls are like 15 years old now.

Travis: Yeah so, even if we wanted to we couldn't and Mark our bass player is a southern gentlemen so...

Dan: Unless you're thinking of getting away from the law.

Travis: (laughs) We're the most non rockstar band there is. I mean, our idea of trashing a backstage area or hotel room...
(Brandon throws a can on the floor) We're really boring. I don't want to disappoint our fans who think we're huge rockstars and we party all the time.

Brandon: Party all the time, party all the time... (Brandon is singing the old Eddie Murphy, Rick James tune)

Sharita: (laughs) You guys play video games or...

Travis: See there you go, we're the biggest bunch of video game dorks and our bass player Mark is on Xbox Live talking to all his friends, totally nerding it up. (laughs) We're so not cool.

Sharita: (laughs) If you could collaborate with anybody, who would it be?

Travis: Anybody, live or dead? Wow that's hard. Probably Tom Waits for me because he's so out there. I wouldn't even have to collaborate him, I'd just watch him do his thing. I'd be like wow, I'd never be that deep. He's obviously has nothing to do with music like this but he's an interesting character. I'd love to work with him.

Sharita: She wanted to know the details on the video Crimson, was there a story behind that?

Travis: Again, there is really no big concept behind that, it's just us playing in like two different environments. One is very soft lit and we're wearing white and the other one is really dark and gritty and we're all wearing black. And then water falls and we get wet and break all of our instruments which is actually the most cathartic thing in my life. We filmed it in one day and it was done by our bass players roommate, Sean and he did our "Lip Gloss in Black" video as well. Basically he's a film student, fresh out of school and when we gave it to him he made a piece of dog shit look like a golden nugget, case in point us. (laughs) He does amazing work, he's young and we're lucky to know him on a personal level and work with him too so he did an awesome job.

Sharita: Ok, cool. I wanna start a little shit.

Travis: (laughs) Ok.

Sharita: What do you say to people who are fans or your peers who say your music is not metal, that you're not cool?

Travis: Oh we get plenty of that believe me. (laughs) We never claimed to be a metal band, a straight up hardcore band, or scr(emo) band whatever people label us as. Basically, were just playing aggressive music. I think the cool thing about this band is that we toured with Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Lamb Of God and Chimaira. Those are two opposite sides of the spectrum but it still goes over very well for us. A lot of people hate that about us, I mean a lot of the criticism we get comes from 16 or 17 year old kids who when you're their little band that nobody knows about and then all of a sudden the high school jock is wearing that bands t-shirt they didn't want anything to do with them. I was the same way when I was that age, you know. When I saw the big man on campus wearing one of the bands t-shirts that I loved or adored, I was just like fuck that band then, they're not cool anymore because more than my people know about them. (laughs) I grew out of it and I know they will grow out of it too, that's just the way it goes.

We're definitely not going to let it stop us, we're used to it now. Our skin has definitely gotten a little more tougher when it comes to criticism. We're gonna just keep doin' what we're doin' and take it as far as we can and have fun with it. When it comes to our peers, everybody is entitled to their opinion, I mean you can't please everybody and you're gonna get criticism whether it's some kid that is 16 years old to management to magazine editors, everybody is gonna place some kind of judgment on you. That's the way it goes, you can't do anything about it. We take it into heart that we can't do anything about it so why bother getting mad, so it's cool.

Sharita: Ok, cool. How is the tour so far?

Travis: The tour is awesome. Pretty much all the shows have been selling out, the bill on this tour is amazing. Scars of Tomorrow, Norma Jean, and Unearth. I hate going on after them because they're all so good. That makes us have to not suck! (laughs)

Sharita: Pressure! (laughs)

Travis: (laughs) It's good that we have that extra kick in the ass to not suck. (laughs) We're all fans of all 3 bands. Unearth, we've toured with on Ozzfest last year and all the off dates. Scars of Tomorrow, they're from Orange County and we've known them for years. Norma Jean, Mark (bass) is a huge fan of theirs and they're some of the nicest people we've ever met. So it's been a great tour!

Sharita: Ok, what has been the best tour to date?

Travis: I dunno, that's kind of like choosing your favorite kid. (chuckles) We just did 2 weeks in the UK with a band called the Black Maria. We didn't know them, we met them at an airport and shared a bus with them. It was kind of like hi, we're Atreyu, we're gonna be sharing a bus with you for 2 weeks. (laughs) We got along famously though, they're some of the best guys we've ever met, definitely formed a relationship with that band. It's always cool to go overseas and see new places and meet new people and experience different customs and whatnot. We all had a blast on that tour and we we're kind of bummed out that it was so short but that one will definitely stick out in my mind.

Sharita: Ok, my last question is what do you think of tours like Taste of Chaos, I mean I've always been of the opinion that bands should only tour within their same genre.

Travis: Yeah, I got ya'. I think it's cool. You can only benefit from doing a tour like that because you're playing to new kids. There's kids there that had never seen Killswitch let alone heard them or their music; they're playing to a new audience. Granted, you get a lot of blank stares when you're playing to a new audience. On those weird tours with CKY, Taking Back Sunday and The Used we made so many fans on those tours. Tours like that are a big reason as to how we got here today. Even on the opposite side of the spectrum you got kids who are there to see Killswitch and they might have never heard of Underøath so it's just more exposure for Underøath to get a new set of fans. It's good for kids to get to hear a type of music they wouldn't normally get to hear if they're just focused on one type. I mean, even Warped Tour, Bleeding Through is on it, Avenged Sevenfold and we're on it this year. I mean we stick out but it's going to be cool playing to new kids; but I understand what your saying, I mean when we toured with Taking Back Sunday, all the bands on that tour were on the pop side. When we got on stage and started playing, there we're all these 15 year old girls looking at me and they were like, "Oh my God, what is that!" (laughs) Halfway through the set they were a little bit more receptive so it was cool. 

Sharita: Ok well thanks so much Travis, I really appreciate it. Good luck on the rest of the tour and tonight.

Travis: You are quite welcome.

Thanks to Stephanie Marlow from Victory and to Joe, the band's tour manager, for setting this interview up.

Click here for more live pix from tonight's show

Here for Ozzfest 2006 photos of the band