Out of Metro Detroit, We Are The Union is a band notorious for their blend of Pop Punk, Hardcore, and Ska, with the kind of socially-aware lyrics that'll leave a mark. The band is currently wrapping up a full US tour and are also set to release a new EP in the near future. Click the Read More… link to read my interview with the band's vocalist/guitarist, Reed.
Firstly, can you state your name and role in the band?
Reed: My name is Reed, I sing and play guitar in We Are The Union.
So you recently embarked on your full US tour with I Call Fives, Handguns, and The Story So Far - tell us how you've been enjoying this so far.
Reed: It's been great! We were sad to see Handguns go, but The Story So Far have been great to hang with as well. The turnouts have been really good and we're stoked to see how the package does on the east coast.
Are there any places on the tour that you're particularly looking forward to?
Reed: Long Island, definitely. Long Island has always felt like a hometown crowd for us.
Dating back a bit, can you tell us how the band name was chosen?
Reed: I'm glad you asked this question, actually. We get tossed in with all the We Are The bands, and it's actually a point of frustration for me. We Are The Union comes from something that union workers are known for chanting during strikes. We thought it represented our band in spirit and, being from Michigan, many of us have family in the auto industry and we thought it would be a good thing to show solidarity with worker's unions.
In late May you also played Bled Fest in your homestate of Michigan - what was this show like and how did you get involved with the festival?
Reed: Bled Fest was great. Nate Dorough puts it together every year, and he's been really supportive of us over the years. He asked us to play and we were stoked to be part of it!
What's it been like working with Paper + Plastick Records? Did the label find you or did you find them?
Reed: They found us. We had released our first record, Who We Are, for free download online. Vinnie picked it up and offered to put out our next record.
Working with P+P is great for us because we believe very strongly that if you want people to buy your record, you have to do something extraordinary with it. P+P helps us make sure our presentation will stand out as something truly unique.
I understand the band's new EP has been tracked and is set for a release this Summer - What can you tell us about the new songs?
Reed: It's actually looking like it'll be a fall release. We're really stoked to get it out. When Matt left the band, we knew we had to get some new material out quickly to show people that we weren't going to slow down at all. The EP is six songs, and I would compare it more to Who We Are than to Great Leaps Forward.
When could we expect an announcement with more details about the EP?
Reed: Hopefully we'll get the details out there in a few weeks.
How did the writing and recording processes compare to your previous releases? How much would you say the band has changed since the Grow Up Or Shut Up days?
Reed: In a lot of ways, it doesn't feel like we're the same band that released Grow Up Or Shut Up. We've changed a lot sonically over the years, but our songwriting process has always been the same. Someone creates the overall structure for a song, and then everyone comes up with ideas for their individual parts.
The band's lyrics have always been very thought-provoking and meaningful - what would you say are the band's biggest influences?
Reed: As far as lyrics go, I find inspiration for lyrical content in whatever's going on in my life or the world. I write a lot about politics and social issues. Some people don't like it, but I couldn't stop myself if I wanted to. As far as influences on the way I craft my lyrics, I draw a lot from Strung Out, Less Than Jake and Kid Dynamite. I think all three of those bands' lyricists find really interesting ways to say the things they want to say and that really inspires me to challenge myself to do the same.
Even though it's not what it used to be, I think Ska will always be around, but if you could change one thing about the scene, what would it be?
Reed: I would get rid of the mentality that Ska bands have to play clean upstrokes to be Ska. It's time to progress the genre, there are too many bands that sound like Reel Big Fish still around. Reel Big Fish is fantastic, but they already did it. It's time for something new.
What're the chances of you guys making it overseas in the future? Which countries would you like to visit?
Reed: We've been to the UK a couple times now, and we'd love to go back. We'd like to hit mainland Europe, Japan, and Australia as well. We hope we can someday soon!
Aside from the upcoming EP, can we expect anything else from the band during the remainder of 2011?
Reed: We're going to be touring in the fall in support of the EP and writing a new record. We're hoping to have another release out soon.
Thanks for your time, do you have anything else you'd like to add?
Reed: Just thanks and keep your eyes peeled for some info about our new EP to be released!
Exclusive: Life On The Sideline EP announcement, music video premiere
Since releasing Honesty Is A Dying Breed two years ago, Life On The Sideline has remained active on the road and is now ready to unveil its upcoming EP, Never Settle. To kick things off, we're premiering the music video for the band's new single, "Echo", which tells the sad story of a young girl reminiscing times spent with her deceased partner. While not a pop punk song per se, it's as catchy as one with an infectious chorus that you'll inevitably get stuck in your head. The band's sound could be compared to that of Transit's and The Early November's. Fans can pre-order the EP on iTunes and CD here, before it's released on June 7th. […]
