EIS: How’s the tour going so far? Any highlights/surprises?
Adam: Could be worse...
Robi: It's going great.
Adam: Uhm let's see first couple of days we got real sick then we had to get a new water pump in MANchester. Got pulled over and searched by the Nebraska State Troopers for like 2 hours for nothing. Hit some black ice and smashed the front of our van. Had some great shows and some terrible shows... I mean we kicked ass at all the shows but all the shows didn't kick ass.
Robi: Fuck Nebraska.
EIS: Are you playing a lot of cities for the first time? How's the reaction been?
Adam: Yes we are. Everybody loves us... cats, dogs, moms, cougars, snap yeah.
EIS: How did the band form? Let’s get a brief history of the band for all those unfamiliar.
Nick: Serendipity I’d say. Basically Adam and I have known each other for a long time, never got to hang much but knew each other was good peoples. He helped me out of a jam in LA and ended up moving in with my girlfriend at the time and I. We wrote and wrote and when the time came to bail, no questions asked he was down to move and we just never looked back. We’ll do whatever it takes to make this work. Cross country, evacuate a house in a day, anything. We caught wind of Robi through mutual friends and we just knew. It took some courting, but eventually we got him and we’re not letting him go anywhere. Ya gotta die out of this band.
EIS: When can we expect to start hearing Ultra Violent Lights at radio? Is there a campaign in the works?
Adam: Hopefully right after we hand in this interview. We're not so worried about being on the radio at this point we're kind of just getting started. Don't get me wrong if you have a hook up or something we're looking for at least 10 spins a day on every radio station in the country and every other country.
EIS: What was the writing process like for Here In Filth? When was the album written/recorded?Nick: I’m still trying to figure out how the hell Adam comes up with the stuff he comes up with. The parts are so melodic already, so coming up with vocal melodies is not an easy task. Sometimes stuff just comes out, words and melodies stick and you build from there. Arrangement of parts usually happens in the band room but the foundations are usually there before we all work on stuff. The songs on Here In Filth, I’d say, were written over the course of a year in Hollywood. In that years time, we realized a lot about who we were in the past, the present at that time, and who we aspired to be. The songs reflect that sentiment consistently throughout the album.
EIS: Have you written any new material since the album? What can we expect from the next batch of songs?
Adam: I've been writing parts here and there. And recorded some riffs for Nick to start working on melodies. But it's still in the very beginning stages. Greatness I mean we're talking major ear jazz!
EIS: Are there plans to do a wide physical release of Here In Filth? Is the CD available anywhere for fans who want a physical copy?
Nick: If I had it my way, there’d be a copy in every home. Kinda like Frampton Comes Alive. Everybody in the world has Frampton Comes Alive. If you lived in the suburbs you were issued it. It came in the mail with samples of Tide. Our CD will be available shortly at the few remaining music retailers but unfortunately they’re a dying breed. We’re a hard working, touring band so I’d say the best place to get it is at one of our shows. We have an online store so getting our merchandise is possible that way as well.
EIS: With so many great songs on the album, my personal favorite changes with just about every listen. Do you guys have favorite tracks on the record/to play live, and why?
Adam: I have fun playing the bass line to "Thick as Thieves."
Robi: "Some Kind Of Seasoning [Season]" gets spicier every time.
Nick: "Skin & Bones" is a live favorite, and "Here in Filth" is my album favorite, it’s like the kid ya didn’t plan on that ends up a Nobel prize winner.
Here In Filth from ultra violent lights on Vimeo.
EIS: How would you describe your shows in comparison to the recordings?
Nick: We wanted to make a live sounding record. We didn’t go in and try and layer stuff we couldn’t pull of live. We’re three guys who make a lot of noise, and I think we pull off the record pretty damn well. I’d say you’d sweat more seeing us live, but then again I’ve never watched anyone “listen” to the record, could be just as sweaty.
EIS: You’ve all played in other bands in the past, how would you say those experiences have prepared you for Ultra Violent Lights?
Nick: Trial by fire is the best way to learn anything, and seeing how we’ve all done this for so long, there’s just wisdom there ya can’t get from anywhere else. I now know that black ice exists, it will take you off a road, and send you straight in to a interstate sign. Sorry for anyone driving in Colorado who just missed their exit.
EIS: Who are some of the band’s biggest musical influences? Do you all share similar tastes?
Adam: The Beatles, Nirvana, At the Drive In, Echo & the Bunny Men...
Robi: THUNDER ARC. All the time.
Nick: Bukowski, Dylan, and Bowie. Oh and Marc Bolan too.
EIS: During your set at The Church in Boston, Adam and Nick switched who was playing guitar/bass. Is that something you’ve always done? What’s the decision behind that?
Adam: Yes. It's easier for me to sing and play bass on some songs rather than play guitar and sing.
Nick: If we’re sitting in a room and Adam is playing something on guitar and Robi starts playing a drum part, would it make sense for me to sit there or pick up a bass?
EIS: How have Command! and SideCho helped with the album’s release? Are you still seeking a new label home?
UVL: We’re big fans of doing things family, doing em’ in house and not relying on someone else to make things happen for us. Command! and SideCho feel like family and are helping with publicity and distribution. We want it all, we want to take over the world so anyone who wants to be a part of it, we’re all ears. That being said we’re loyal dogs and not opportunistic so don’t go throwing money at us… unless it’s a shitload.
EIS: During your extensive tour you’re playing residencies in Las Vegas, San Diego, and Hollywood. Are you excited to be playing residencies? Do you feel any pressure to make each show different from the last?UVL: Yeah I’m super excited for these residencies. I’ve called all of these places home at one point in my life. Pressure to make em’ different? Not really but we’re definitely not gonna give the same show week after week, we got a few tricks up our sleeves.
EIS: You guys have lived and played in bands all over the country before settling down in New York. Have your surroundings made an impact in your music? Can we expect to hear a Brooklyn influence on the next record?
Robi: Yeah. Expect lots of flannel... and beards.
Adam: Well Here in Filth to me is our Los Angeles record and I guess New York is the next record. I can't actually grow a beard but I do like flannel.
EIS: Are you still looking to book tour dates beyond what has been announced for March?
Adam: We will literally tour for as long as we can. I hate staying in the same [place].
EIS: If you could set up your “dream tour” with any bands still active, who would you love to play with?
Robi: Again, THUNDER ARC
Nick: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club would be fun to tour with. Echo and The Bunnymen would seal it for me. I could die after that, well… maybe not quite yet.
EIS: Ultimate goals for 2010?
Robi: Get a toilet made of solid gold.
Adam :Make it to 2011
Nick: Out do ourselves over and over again.
EIS: Thanks so much guys. Be sure to check out Ultra Violent Light's debut album Here in Filth, available at all digital retailers, and make certain to catch the guys live when they come through your town. The band's tour dates can be found HERE!! Don't forget you can DOWNLOAD a FREE copy of their song "In Lieu of Pay" on Exploding In Sound's Circulatory System compilation HERE along with 18 other great bands you should know!!
In Lieu Of Pay from ultra violent lights on Vimeo.
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