Underoath Interview
I walked up to the Cobo Arena in Detroit and called Chris Dudley so he could come and find me to do the interview. When I hung up, I realized where I was -- at an arena. To think this teenage hardcore band I had seen 3 years ago rocking a tiny stage at Cornerstone Festival was now part of a tour that was selling out arenas... I felt so proud of this band, even though I hardly knew them. A group of girls pounced around me as I was heading up to the doors with clipboards and The Used shirts on asking me if I knew any local bands. My friends I was with smiled, and jotted down a few bands they knew allowing me to sneak inside. I met up with Chris, and we sat down in front of the Cobo Information booth.
I’m sitting here with Chris Dudley, keyboard player for the band Underoath. How did you like the HM cover story on you guys?
Chris Dudley: I thought it was really cool. It was really fun making it, too, because they sent the guy on tour with us, and we pretty much just got to hang out with him the whole time. He was a really cool guy. It was weird reading [the cover story], because if I were reading it about my favorite band, I would have thought, “man, these guys are complete idiots!”
Ha! So how’s the tour going? Do you like it so far?
CD: It’s going awesome. Every band on this tour is super good, but more than that they’re all super cool guys. Everyone just hangs out, and bros down. It’s a lot of fun. There aren’t any people on this tour that are quiet or keep to themselves, and don’t hang out. Every member of every band hangs out with every member of every band. We’re all friends, which makes it easy to be ourselves. Plus -- we get to watch great bands every night, and we get to play too.
So you’re all great friends, but have there been any disagreements yet?
CD: No, no, not yet. There’s a couple guys in some of the bands that tend to not hang out as much as others, but we respect their privacy, and just chill for the most part.
Are you enjoying the incredible amount of attention you’re getting on this tour being with such big bands as The Used and My Chemical Romance?
CD: I don’t really see it as an incredible amount of attention. We just do our thing and I usually end up sitting around in the bus playing video games all day, then go out and watch Killswitch Engage, and that’s fun. Just hang out. We’re not getting an incredible amount of press from what I’ve seen, I mean we do interviews here and there, pretty much we just get to hang out, and do our thing. It’s cool.
So there hasn’t been a big increase in the popularity of your message board, website, or MySpace?
CD: Since the beginning of this tour?
Yeah!
CD: I think if that does happen, we won’t know until way after the tour. When we were on Warped Tour, we didn’t get a lot of attention until after we went into our 2 tours right after that. Kids would come up and say, 'We never heard of you guys until Warped Tour.' Hopefully it’s doing well. We’re playing venues with 8…10…12,000 people, so there’s gotta be a lot of people who are seeing us for the first time, and hopefully we’ll get some new fans from it.
You guys are popular enough to be nominated for a Dove award! So Chris, when is your tux fitting?
CD: Haha, I’m actually…um…I’m not wearing this shirt. You know what, I’m wearing a tee shirt and jeans. I actually talked to my mom last night, and she’s excited because she’s getting a new dress. I told her I was wearing a tee shirt, and jeans, and shoes. She said, 'Oh, you can get away with that because you’re a rock star!' I’m not a big fan of dress up.
That’ll be fun though, getting to walk the red carpet…
CD: Yeah, being on TV!
Good publicity, right there.
CD: Oh yeah.
Now you told me earlier you’re recording the new album in October. What are we expecting with the new songs?
CD: Yep! We have the album almost halfway written. It’s a whole lot different than We’re Only Chasing Safety, like I said, every record we put out is way different than the one before it. It’s been like that since we were in high school. The new records going to be a lot heavier, more screaming, and a lot less of the ‘verse/chorus/verse/chorus.’ We’re just writing what we like to write, as things in our personal lives change, we change, so our music changes with it as well. If people don’t like it, that’s cool. There’ll be a lot of 12-year-old girls who are upset with it, but we don’t really mind that.
Alright, that’s what I like to hear! So are you targeting a more mature audience with this new record?
CD: Not really, I mean whoever wants to listen to it can listen to it. We’ve never been a band that writes songs for a specific genre of people. We write songs, because we think they’re good songs. From slow and soft to fast and heavy, we write what we feel. We won’t write a song so that a certain group of people will listen to it.
You’re not purposely trying to fit the scene.
CD: Right! Then you just start being unhappy with the music you’re writing. You start becoming a trend. There’s a lot of bands out there right now who are doing just that, and I won’t name names, but we definitely won’t become one of them.
What are you hoping to accomplish with this new record?
CD: Honestly, I just want to keep doing what we’re doing. When we were getting started, there was a venue down in Florida where we live, it’s not huge or anything, but it was a great place to play. We aspired to play there. We always said, ‘Man, if we could play here, that would rock.’ We ended up playing there with Zao, and we thought, ‘Dude, we’ve made it!’ Then later on we aspired for something bigger, we wanted to headline that place. I’m at a point now where if we stayed and did what we’re doing right now, I’d be completely happy. We’ll never be a band that’s winning Grammys, and selling millions of records. We’re ok with that. I just want to keep doing what we’re doing. I could do this for the rest of my life. This record might not sell as well because it’s not 'pop,' but like I said before, we’re not aspiring to go platinum.
NEXT PAGE
All Pages | 1 | 2
Return to Internet Exclusives
Comments
This was probably one of the best interviews I have read with Underoath. You have an awesome talent! I loved the pictures too!
Therese
This interview is amazing. I was at this show and Underoath was awesome! I love the way the article was written, and it's refreshing to see different questions asked other than, the run of the mill- what's your favorite color type questions!
I really enjoyed it! Can't wait to read more!
Right on all the way. I love this interview!
i have been a fan of underoath since, way back in the day, and i would have to say that, although i didn't really tear into the 'chasing safety' near as much i did the'times' album, but i would say that my opinion of underoath hasnt changed at all, even though i personally thought that dallas should work his stuff out and get back to good music. i am very glad to hear of the new cd, and very excitied to hear the possibility of underouth going back to their roots. glad to hear it
sorry for my atrocious grammer
i hate to say this, but there newest cd, 'safety', i hate. listen to 'cries of the past'. its is an amazing cd. it has really awsome melodic guitars. but if u like safety, im not gonna condemn u or anything, just listne to cries of the past. email me and ill like maybe send u a copy because u cant buy it anywhere. if someone knows where u can buy it tell me.
I actually have been a fan since act of depression and I remember telling all my friends in school," You see Underoath, Extol, Norma Jean, Demon Hunter and all these guys? They're gonna be Huge!" It's nice to see that finally happen. I've loved every cd for it's specific flavor. I hate it when a band gets stagnant. (Stagnation = Mediocrity) As Norma Jean puts it. Mediocrity is the killer. Keep it up UnderOath. Like the words from Dimebag Darrel Abbott," If you work at it and stay true to it you'll eventually make it. Hey I'm living proof."
Woah...that is amazing.
I love that the new album is gonna be heavier.
This is a really good interview...keep it up.
Chris never seems to amaze me... Such a sweet guy & a major goofball. Although I`m not to happy hearing "teenie" fans JUST mention on how cute Spencer or James or whoever is & not mentioning one bit of their music & how great it is, I`m pretty glad they are getting the recognition they FINALLY deserve.
wow i loved this part of the interview...
There’ll be a lot of 12-year-old girls who are upset with it, but we don’t really mind that.
that is the best thing i have heard in my entire life that makes me happy
I thought this interview was excellent. The questions were very creative, and I was really thrilled by CD's responses. The possibility of Underoath getting harder again is very exciting. I loved the "Cries of the Past" days. I look forward to hearing what's next from Underoath. P.S. - If any of you are interested in a new site dedicated to news, reviews, and discussion of modern Christian hardcore and metal, go to http://tonguesoffire.net
I remember you guys back in High-school, I remember you guys at Zach Wood's party, and I have to say, you're music has changed my entire life, every single band from Solid State, you guys are an inspiration to people out there, and rock for what rocking is truly about. I'm glad to call New Port Richey a former home now. You guys did well in Chicago, I hope you come back.
awesome interview! i remember when we met chris and you asked him about doing an interview with them before their show in detroit...thats hot.
