Romperchic Chats With Jared Weiss Of Port Amoral
January 5th, 2009 by Stephanie Stevens
Thanks to the mighty Myspace page, I once again hear it before I get the press release!! PORT AMORAL is the newest signing to Roadrunner Records. The band actually contacted me through Myspace and a friendship was attained and led to this lovely little email interview.
The band, which is comprised of Jared Weiss, Eric Weiss, Andrew Campbell and Matt Hallick are from Winnipeg, Canada and like I said before are the newest Metal band to sign to the highly known Indie label Roadrunner. The bands music combines melodic death metal riffs, shredding guitar solos but with an added ingredient of punk rock undertones and serious pop sensibilities. People have been said to compare their music as if you molded Iron Maiden and Rise Against together, to each their own. You just have to hold on a bit longer and pick up the debut album VILLIANS when it releases in June 2009.
For now read a bit about this band from the words of Jared Weiss (bass player/singer) of PORT AMORAL.
ROADRUNNER RECORDS HEARD SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH YOUR BAND AND SIGNED YOU. WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BAND HAS THAT OTHER BANDS COULD LEARN FROM YOU? AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO STRENGTHEN IN YOUR BAND BY THE END OF 2009?
We don’t get stuck in trends when it comes to music; we keep a solid concentration on our songwriting and appeal to the average fan. We make music for the average person to hear, not just guitar gurus or musical scientists.
In 2009 we hope to strengthen our band in every aspect, we’re always learning.
HOW WAS IT RECORDING A RECORD THAT IS GOING TO BE ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDIE LABELS IN THE US?
It was amazing; we’ve never had much of a budget to work with so it was nice. It really didn’t change our approach though, it was just recording songs we know and believe in. We felt no added pressure, but perhaps that could be because it was our first album, and we have the gift of naivety at this point.
YOU WORKED WITH BRIAN MCTERNAN WAS THERE SOMETHING HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WORK WITH HIM?
Yes, Brian had done a lot of records we love, in a production sense, and a musical sense. Bands like Thrice, Strike Anywhere, Moneen, and Darkest Hour.
WHAT IS THE ONE BIGGEST THING THAT YOU LEARNT FROM BRIAN?
We chose Brian off the top because we felt that we already did think alike in a lot of ways. It wasn’t so much learning from him as it was re-enforcing what we already knew. You cannot overlook the finer points of a recording and this is one area Brian excels in. He also knows how to push a band, and what you’re capable of and will always get the best out of you.
WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE AND THE ALBUM WAS COMPLETED, PERSONALLY WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE MOST DEFINING MOMENT ON THE RECORD AND WHY?
There is no defining moment on the record; it speaks for itself as a whole. There were definitely times in the studio where things were moving more smoothly than others, but we feel strongly about this entire record as whole.
YOUR MUSIC INCORPORATES A DIVERSE AMOUNT OF GENRES OF MUSIC. TELL ME ABOUT EACH BAND MEMBERS INFLUENCES AND HOW THOSE PLAYED A PART IN THE SONGWRITING YOU DO?
Great question. One thing that does separate us from many bands is us as individuals have very different musical tastes. We’re first and foremost a metal band, but one listen to us and you’ll hear we have a pretty different approach to it. Our influences range from classical music, to punk, to 50’s rock, and some newer metal as well.
DID YOU BRING BACK ANY SONGS OFF YOUR 2005 ALBUM JADE DEAD EYES? AND IS THAT ALBUM STILL AVAILABLE?
The album isn’t available anymore, it’s out of print. We do have a few copies left that we only sell at shows, and yes, a couple of the songs off that have made our new CD!
LYRICALLY WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION AND IS THEIR ONE PARTICULAR TOPIC YOU FIND EASIER TO WRITE ABOUT THEN OTHERS?
We write about real life stories and situations, we are people who have beliefs, and that will sometimes come out in our music, but it’s never a particular topic we stick to.
IS THERE ONE STORYLINE OR TOPIC YOU GUYS FEEL IS BETTER LEFT UNSAID FOR ANY FUTURE SONGS OF YOURS?
No, we haven’t thought that far ahead yet!
I’M SURE THE LAST FEW MONTHS SINCE THE SIGNING HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND. WHAT KIND OF PRESSURE DOES THAT PUT ON YOU GUYS WRITING A RECORD OR EVEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL?
It puts as much pressure on us as we choose to let it. It’s definitely different than writing a song you’re not sure anyone will hear, as opposed to the whole world, but in the end you’re still just writing and recording music, and that’s a pretty nice place to be in. We are new to this, and like I said earlier, we have the gift of being naive and not too exposed to everything, so this question might be better to ask us in a year or two, but at this point, we feel no added pressure.
ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE BANDS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE “FRESH SIGNING” OR WILL BE IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON HOW TO STAY FOCUSED AND “REAL”?
Don’t expect anything and don’t assume you ever have it in the bag. We went through the motions with RR for over 2 years, and ended up securing the deal when it seems least likely. Keep your head up, and always present yourselves as your own entity. Don’t ever make it seem to the label like you need them or are desperate.
WHAT ONE BAND ON ROADRUNNER PAST OR PRESENT WOULD BE YOUR GO TO PERSON TO ASK ADVICE ABOUT THE MUSIC BUSINESS? WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU ASK?
Slipknot, because they played the music buying public perfectly. We aren’t an extreme band by any means, which was their selling point, but anyone could learn a thing or two from those guys about their approach to furthering your band.
ANY TOUR PLANS FOR 2009?
We plan to tour a lot in 2009; nothing is booked at the moment.
