Interview With Vocalist Nathan Leone Of Madina Lake
March 24th, 2008 by Stephanie Stevens
In 2005 MADINA LAKE became a band. From Chicago, IL the guys Matthew (bass) Nathan Leone (vocals), Mateo Camargo (guitar) and Daniel Torelli (drums) blasted on the circuit of their home turf on May 21 (my birthday) and played the historic Metro in Chicago. Since then the guys have been a driven and passionate band who made their first demo thanks to the twins appearing on the show Fear Factor and winning 50,000 and using that to get their demo recorded and since then the music world has had the pleasure to hear the fun, poppy and melody driven music that these guys put out. Their debut disc FROM THEM, THROUGH US, TO YOU was released by Roadrunner records in March of 2007. The album is set in a fictional town from a story that was penned by Matthew. The music helps get the views of the bands passion for politics, culture and media obsession. The theme behind the band’s music is in relation to the mystery of Adalia. With all that info and the artwork which shows images of her and the mysteries behind her and the town of MADINA LAKE. This band is just not a rock band that puts out music to put it out. They give their fans a way to stretch their minds. With all that there is still one MADINA LAKE has one other great thing about them and that is their super nice personality. From onstage to off the guys are reachable. They make the shows fun, they interact and build connections with everyone.I had a chance to get to check them out when they came into Providence, RI with Aiden and was able to pull vocalist Nathan aside after the show to talk about new music, weird sightings while driving and how he wants his band to be summed up.
SO WHAT HAPPEN TO YOUR LOVELY FOOT?
Well I’m an idiot and everyone knows that but I usually play in bare feet and it started because when I would go into the crowds sometimes people would steal my shoes. I lost like four pairs of shoes so I decided why bother with those and it helped me for a long time. Then last night the stage was really dark and I jumped out on the barrier and hit a little metal part that was angled to the floor I guess. Everything felt funny for a while it was like the 2nd song and everything felt weird but then the confetti started sticking to my foot and I thought well maybe this could be something to look into. So I got like six stitches.
SOYOU’RE ALL GOOD NOW?
Well I’m okie – ish
SO THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR DEBUT ALBUM IS COMING UP. DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE SURPASSED THE EXPECATIONS YOU HAD FOR THE RECORD?
We try not to have expectations for anything we do because once you kind of plan for the future it starts to pervert your moment. So for us we roll with every situation we have, if we play in front of 5 people or 5000 it is no different to us. So if we go to England,
Japan or play festivals here it’s all awesome. We never try to set goals to achieve, we just want to do what we do every night and I think that is important. I think if people get into being in a band for money or for girls to like them or whatever I think that is hilarious and that is not what we do at all.
NOW HAVE YOU GUYS THROWN AROUND IDEAS FOR A NEW RECORD?
We have 15 songs that are musically pretty much done and I am working on lyrics and those are like 60% almost done.
IS IT ANOTHER STORY BASED RECORD?
It continues its like part two of three installments.
ARE YOU GUYS HOPING TO EXPERIMENT MORE ON THE NEW RECORD?
Yea we have a couple of things we are doing. We haven’t had a chance to be in the studio or even in a live rehearsal room yet but we do a lot of things on the computer and in the van. But we are going to use a lot of different instruments and so far I am loving it.
NOW DO YOU PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS?
Nooooo, I play guitar but I am terrible. I have nothing to do with any of that
ARE YOU HAVING ANY GUEST APPEARANCES?
No, it’s cool for people who dig that but we don’t. We like to not do that.
ARE YOU GOING INTO THE STUDIO THIS YEAR:
Yes this year and its scheduled to come out on the two year anniversary of the first one. So, March 2009.
SO LETS TALK NOW ABOUT THE ENERFY YOU PRODUCE ONSTAGE. WHAT DO YOU DO TO PUMP YOURSELF UP FOR THE PERFORMANCE?
We do these ghetto yoga moves and then I run in place for a long time (laughing) it sounds stupid but that is what I do. You asked the question and I run in place its bizarre but I get nervous so that is what I do.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING ONSTAGE THAT ANY OF YOUR MEMBERS DO ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT JUST CRACKS YOU UP EVERY NIGHT?
No not really that’s a good question but I don’t think so. That cracks me up? I don’t really get a chance to look around and see what everyone else is up to
THE WHOLE STAGE DIVING THING YOU’VE BEEN GETTING HURT A LOT ANY CHANCE YOU MAY STOP IT?
I always think I am going to and I’m suppose to cause everyone yells at me and clubs hate it and I say yea I’m done but then I cant help it. I like being a part of the crowd in a weird way. I hate the fact that bands think there is a barrier and they are kind of up here and the kids that are there are down there. It drives me crazy I don’t understand it there is a room filled with energy and no one is cool or better then anyone else and that is what I want to be a part of so even though I am trying to stop it gets hard for me.
THEY ALWAYS CATCH YOU THOUGH RIGHT?
So far except for these stitches (he points to his lip) and those stitches (points to his chin)
IF MADINA LAKE STARRED IN A REALITY SHOW WHAT WOULD THE NAME OF IT BE?
(Laughing) It would be pretty boring (laughing) God I don’t know how to answer this question cause there is no way I will think of a name on the spot. But to sum up how we are it would be dynamics it would be extreme partying and fun and extreme boredom and grouchiness
TELL ME ABOUT THE BOOK YOU PUT OUT?
It’s out online the first portion of three. There is a game on our website where you kind of put clues together and stuff that unlocks chapters. But the whole first portion is up on madinalake.com
BEING IN A VAN WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST CONVERSATION AND BEST HEATED DEBATE YOUR BAND HAS GOTTEN INTO?
Politics is the most heated we are all on the same page but with politics and religion. Religion is something I refuse to engage with anyone. I don’t believe in it but I understand peoples thinking but I will never talk to anyone about it. So between religion and politics those things we don’t get into. We fight about it in the van but we all argue the same point so it’s retarded. Then the best conversation (laughing) everybody in the world has things about them that you never talk about and will never tell anyone they either hate or love themselves for it and in a band situation they all come out. So things that are unthinkable in everyday life we know about each other. So those are fun conversations and awkward
THE WEIRDEST THING YOU HAVE SEEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING?
I can’t say I’ve seen anything well this is interesting. This is horrific as a matter of fact. We were driving once well this isn’t on the side of the road but I don’t know where we were but we were driving it was in the middle of the night and matthew is driving and if you know Matt or I we are kind of like smile at people hey how you doing type of people. So this car comes by the van and Matthew is driving and on his lieft the dude driving on the side of him is looking over and giving these really bizarre smiles and looks so Matthew is like oh yea hey with a semi smile and he keeps driving. The dude turns on his light and he is wailing on myself and IT WAS A DUDE!!! He was trying to flirt with Matthew.
MAYBE HE THOUGHT HE WAS A GIRL?
No I really don’t think so I think he was just a really SUPER FUCKIN FREAKO. And then after that Matthew almost ran him off the road and everyone freaked out and it was a big disaster. So that was wicked weird
IF YOU COULD SPEAK ANY LANGUAGE WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Spanish
AND WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST SENTENCE YOU WOULD WANT TO LEARN?
Stop talking shit about me in Spanish (laughing)
BIGGEST PRE MADONNA OF THE BAND?
Mateo, he is very vain needs a lot of time to prep himself and get ready. Always wondering how he is looking, in a nice way.
IF YOU HAD A DARE TO SHAVE YOUR HEAD FOR A YEAR WOULD YOU DO IT?
The shaved head bit we have talked about doing for the next record. The reason is cause since we have freaky haircuts, girls or whatever may be drawn cause of that and I think that is the most retarded thing in the world. If you judge a band by their looks then your not a music fan and get out of the way, you know what I’m saying? I will never be annoyed with anyone that supports our band regardless of how or why but people that are pissed about it can eat shit. So if they want me to shave my head I don’t give a shit we are going to write the same music.
IF YOU COULD DO FEAR FACTOR AGAIN WOULD YOU?
Nah, it was a stupid show
WARPED TOUR THIS YEAR FOR HOW LONG AND ARE YOU EXCITED?
Yea we are on it for three weeks. We have never done it before so we are excited.
I’M GOING TO THROW OUT SOME THINGS THAT BANDS AND TOURING BANDS CONTEND WITH ONCE I SAY THEM TELL ME YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS? READY….PHOTO SHOOTS?
Well first thing that pops in my mind is that every article of clothing that I have smells like a dog just pissed on it cause I’ve played in them for two years. So how am I going to get something together that can work
VIDEO SHOOTS?
The concept has to be cool
HAS THAT HAPPEN WITH ALL YOUR VIDEOS?
I refuse to comment (laughing)
DOING INTERVIEWS?
It depends on the interviewer. Yea if they are well thought out questions then awesome but if they are just doing a job and you can tell their bored and asking very basic questions then that’s cool but lame at the same time.
HOTEL ROOMS?
Good times. They are fun
TRUCK STOPS?
It’s a little stressful. We get the gay card thrown at us all the time. But I do love them because there is all kinds of options
WEIRDEST THING YOU EVER VIDEOTAPED?
(laughing with a smirk) I don’t know if we can comment on this (laughing) We’re not orgy band types. We are not a bad band like that. But (laughing) I don’t know if I can say (laughing)
(LAUGHING) SO ONE THING AT ALL YOU CAN TELL ABOUT A VIDEOTAPING MOMENT?
(laughing and smirking and looking at the floor) Same answer as I just said.
IF YOU CAN SUM UP MADINA LAKE AS PEOPLE AND WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU HOW WOULD YOU SUM IT UP?
A passion without distraction. The distraction could be radio, popularity of the band trendy clothes, trendy hair all of that doesn’t matter to us. If you saw me when I was 12 you would of puked in my hair just like you would today. That has nothing to do with us.
GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING HON
You have been a pleasure. Thank you soooo much
I LOVE this interview!
Thanks
this interview is the shiz!
haha nathan rocks!
thanks for posting it!