Exclusive: Set Your Goals Interview

Set Your Goals is one of the reasons this genre is where it is now, and why this site exists, having reached out to thousands of fans around the world and inspired just as many bands. The band recently released their third record, Burning At Both Ends, on Epitaph Records and have booked tours for the remainder of the year. Despite this, the record has received somewhat mixed responses, so I discussed the the band's present and future with co-vocalist, Jordan Brown, including the controversial upcoming tour with New Found Glory.

Firstly, can you state your name and role in Set Your Goals?

Jordan: Jordan Brown and I'm one of two co-vocalists for Set Your Goals.

So your third full-length, Burning At Both Ends, is finally out, the music video for Certain was released a few weeks ago, and you're currently touring around the US before making it down to Australia for Soundwave Revolution in September/October. How do you feel about the band right now?

Jordan: It's really awesome. We feel in control of the band again. Not that we ever weren't, but our last CD [This Will Be The Death Of Us] had a lot of hype and push behind it, due primarily to the fact that it took us over 3 years to write and record a follow-up to our first album. Things have since quieted down and we're finding ourselves in the same position to really push this release like we did our first. It's great being with Epitaph Records a second time for the album, and they are fully behind what we are doing. There have been mixed reviews on the album online, but all the kids coming to the shows on Warped Tour have been incredibly excited about the new songs and we're hearing that a lot of people (both fans and bands on Warped) think it's our best work yet. That's the most reassuring thing we could have asked for.

Previously you've described the new record as your make or break album and stated that if things were to slow down for the band, you may possibly consider touring less - is this something you've anticipated and were prepared for or something you're coming to terms with now?

Jordan: A little of both. I think it's always been one everyone's mind. The reality is, there is nothing more fun and rewarding for each of us than touring. We hope to see the record take off and reach more fans, and if it doesn't, to sustain a recurring crowd of people at our shows, that we can continue to tour as I know we all want to deep down, is all we can ask for now. Warped Tour is absolutely amazing this year, and the best year we've been a part of it, in fact. Can't wait to see what the year and future bring.

In the past you've also mentioned that the band has never been too concerned with what's cool in the scene or with how the songs will be received, and instead focus on writing important and relevant music. Having said this, can we expect Set Your Goals to continue making music if any label issues were ever faced?

Jordan: I think you can expect that for sure. I'd like for us to always be putting out music. Even if we did stop touring less, to be able to put a few songs out here and there, whether it be with Epitaph or on our own, would be great. We are 6 overly creative individuals and this is our number one outlet. It keeps us motivated to keep playing music, in or outside of SYG.

On a personal level, both musically and lyrically, what does Burning At Both Ends mean to you?

Jordan: Things going wrong and you can't seem to find an escape from it all. Accepting the fact that things will never be perfect for all time, and in that, finding a solitude of sorts to get to the positive once again. A lot of things have happened to us as a band and as individuals since we put out our last CD (and first for that matter). We were able to get a lot of things out there with this record. Whether it be lyrically or musically. I know Matt and I are both really proud and happy with the lyrics we were able to contribute. Matt wrote about 9 songs for the record and I tackled 5. There were a few we collaborated on with each other, and some with the band and our producer, Brian McTernan. But the ones we put together on our own are the songs I think we are both most excited to show people. I know Matt really liked Happy New Year and Unconditional. He spent a lot of time with both those. My favorite two songs on the album are London Heathrow and Raphael. All 4 are very different songs and with really cool stories behind them. I'd be excited to talk about them with fans at our shows.

Considering the band's sound has evolved through natural progression, how did the writing and recording processes compare to your previous releases?

Jordan: The band, as us 6 musicians, was a lot more together than the last. Typically, our drummer Mikey and I would come up with the meat of the song and show it to the rest of the band. This time it was like a blender of guitar riffs, bass lines, drum parts, and vocal melodies. There are some things that didn't make the record that one person in the band may have really wanted, but then there'd be another that did make it that they'd be just as much, if not more so, attached to.

One example of us working together was the song Cure For Apathy. Junior had these great opening riffs in 3/4 time and another really cool guitar part in 4/4 time. They were in the same key and register, and so all we had to do was sit him and I down together and work that second guitar part into 3/4 so we could match them against each other at different parts in the song. Brian really stepped in there and helped us with the chorus chords and vocal melody to glue all the pieces together.

It seems as though the band has dealt with a number of misfortunate events on a personal and collective level leading up to the record release - would you say this has made you stronger and more tolerant?

Jordan: I think for sure it did. We are still learning about ourselves and how to handle situations that come up with the band. Some people handle them a lot better than others, and that can influence the group, helping us to balance out the band's collective personality a lot more.



How was the concept for the Certain music video put together and what was shooting the video like?

Jordan: We wanted to do a fun video, like we did for our first two [Goonies Never Say Die and Mutiny!]. We had done a few serious videos and it was time to not get so serious again. The song speaks a bit differently lyrically, but the mood of the song is upbeat, so the story line for the Certain video is really quite perfect. We are all fans of the 80's decade: music, clothing, movies, TV shows, toys, famous faces, and other popular culture during the decade. It only made sense for us to base the video on that. We originally were gonna just do a straight up 80's dance/prom themed video, but the blob monster eating the students and fighting the band at the end of the video came very spontaneously. Our friend who directed the Goonies video (TJ Burke) also directed this video, and he's come along way in his endeavours since the first time we worked together. He's currently living in Los Angeles and making a great living animating for movies like Avatar, Captain America, The Pirates Of The Caribbean series, and many more. He really stepped up his game on this video and especially with the budget being less than half than the videos we did for the last record. He took no pay cut for himself and neither did his camera, lighting, and costume crew. We spent all the money on the outfits, venue, props, and animation you see there on the final product. I think this was the most fun we've had shooting a video.

Recently a tour including yourselves, New Found Glory, The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, and This Time Next Year was confirmed. The response has been extremely overwhelming and has a lot of fans referring to this as their dream tour, much like 2008's Easycore tour - can you tell us how this came about?

Jordan: Yeah, this was a lot of fun and incredibly exciting for us to hear about. We first got a call from the guys in New Found Glory actually. They told us they had the idea for a Fall tour to help promote their new album coming out on Epitaph in October (this was back in April, just before we left for a tour with August Burns Red and Texas in July). They soon hit up all the bands, and all four of us, five including New Found themselves, were immediately on board. It was pretty hard to keep a secret but I think the underground rumors of the tour have helped to hype up the tour a lot. An official announcement is still to be made. We're trying to keep things cool with Warped Tour and all the people in charge of production and putting the tour together out here. We didn't want it hurting any of the crowd draws for the Warped Tour, and we really want people to come out this Summer to see not only us but all of our friends' bands who are on the tour (Less Than Jake, The Wonder Years, A Day To Remember, August Burns Red, Moving Mountains, MC Lars, Sharks, The Acacia Strain, Winds Of Plague, Big D And The Kids Table, and many more). It's the only time you'll be able to see all of us together, and with such a unique crowd energy. Warped Tour is unlike any venue tour we've ever done. I really hope everyone gets to experience even just one of them in their lifetime.

Since the band will be touring full-time, have you decided what mixture of songs you'll be playing at the shows yet?

Jordan: There's a slew of songs both SYG and SYG fans seem to always love playing and hearing: Goonies Never Say Die, Echoes, To Be Continued, Mutiny!, Summer Jam, The Fallen, and Gaia Bleeds to name a few. And then there are songs different members of the band, and again different fans, look forward to seeing; songs like Our ethos, Look Closer, Work In Progress, An Old Book Misread, and This Song Is Definitely Not About A Girl. For songs on the new CD, I'm not sure what we'll come with just yet, but we have been playing Certain, Start The Reactor, and Exit Summer fairly often and they've been going great for everyone on stage and off, I'd say.

Today's music industry has proven to be quite inconsistent and not easily managed, so if you could change one thing to help artists put out music without hindering their artistic visions, what would it be?

Jordan: I'd say to always go with your gut instinct and first thought or feeling when you're writing a song. Typically, the stuff the comes out first is gonna be your best work. I find with music, the more spontaneous the better. It might be the only time I advise anyone to be spontaneous with something they're working towards. Other areas in life, such as relationships and friendships, you want to be a little more patient with and be aware of all sides of an event, and all the outcomes that can come from that event. With this, slower is always better.

Also, I'd recommend trying to work with as many different music producers as possible, when the chance presents itself. Most producers are incredible musicians and have their own style of writing and playing. You can learn a lot. You can learn what not to do and what to do. If it weren't for Barrett Jones (Mutiny!), Mike Green (This Will Be The Death Of Us), and Brian McTernan (Burning At Both Ends), we would not have the insight we do now. I feel very, very lucky to have had these opportunities, and to have them shape me as they have.

What kind of music have you been listening to yourself lately? Do you have any recommendations you'd like to make to your fans?

Jordan: Definitely. Here's a lot of artists that have been on heavy rotation for me the last couple years. Some may come as a surprise, but I'm a fan of seriously everything: Balance And Composure, Fireworks, The Swellers, Polar Bear Club, Title Fight, Crime In Stereo, Daytrader, A Day To Remember, The Wonder Years, All Time Low, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Paramore, Paper Route, Passion Pit, Air, The Cardigans, all the old Death Row records, West Side Connection, Aftermath Rap and Hip-Hop artists, Bare Noize, Pendulum, Kreayshawn, Wes Borland and Limp Bizkit, Breaking Benjamin, Refused, and a ton more. I have literally hundreds of albums and bands I've collected since I first starting building a personal catalogue some 15+ years ago.

On a side-note: I've become a big fan of live comedy albums. Comedians like Maria Bamford, Brian Posehn, Zach Galifinakis, Bill Cosby, Jamie Kennedy, Lewis Black, and a lot more. Their writing style, timing, delivery, and personalities can do just as much to a musical lyricist as I'd imagine it all does for a fellow comedian.

Aside from touring, what else does the rest of the year hold for Set Your Goals? Are there any plans for a follow-up single?

Jordan: For a follow-up single and video, there's a few songs we've talked about. London Heathrow was in the running for a first song release, and we've discussed trying to do something with Unconditional. I'll be excited to see which song Epitaph and SYG get behind next.

As for the rest of the year, we're gonna finish up the Warped Tour 2011 out here, then head off to Southeast Asia and Australia in the Fall. We'll be out on the New Found Glory support tour (which the cat is mostly out of the bag on now) and then we'll hopefully look to start planning some headline tours across the United States and the whole of Europe/United Kingdom. It'd be really great to write, record, and release some more music between now and then, too. Whether it be for a small vinyl release, or fourth full-length studio album. That's been exciting me a lot while we've been touring Warped Tour this Summer.

Thanks for your time, we really appreciate it. Is there anything else you'd like to finish off with?

Jordan: We just want to thank all our fans and friends, all the bands who have given us a chance to tour or play shows with, and all the bands and people who continue to inspire us to keep playing. We owe everything to all of you and we always will.

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