Augustana: “I
Didn’t Know How Pivotal ‘Boston’ Would Be In My Life
Where are you now and what can you see outside your window?
The band behind the
modern classic “Boston” is coming to Manila for the first time to play at this
year’s Wanderland Music Festival
Image from popcrush.com |
If you know Augustana
then you know “Boston.” The American rock band invaded the airwaves exactly 10
years ago with their mournful but strangely comforting song about anguish and self-discovery.
The band has released
four albums and a few other singles, including the equally lush “Sweet and
Low,” and the tender “Steal Your Heart.” Driven by frontman Dan Layus’ warm and
warbly vocals, they kept pace with the rock-alternative sound of the early
2000s, alongside other similar acts like Switchfoot, The Fray, Dashboard
Confessional and others.
Augustana is one
of the featured acts in this year’s Wanderland Music Festival, which will be
held on April 25, 2015 at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City. The
festival will also feature headline act Kid Cudi, RAC, The Jungle Giants, Lewis
Watson, Youngblood Hawke, plus local acts led by Hale, Kate Torralba, The
Strange Creatures, Sinyma and many others.
Here’s an
exclusive interview with Layus, who is the sole remaining original member of
the band. Excerpts:
Where are you now and what can you see outside your window?
Dan Layus: I'm
currently at home in Tennessee. I can see the snow from the last winter storm
out the window, most of it is thawing out. Spring feels like it's coming soon.
Please tell us your earliest musical
memories. What sort of music did you listen to as a kid?
DL: I have
always loved music as long as I can remember, I don't remember many specifics
before middle school but I do remember really turning into a real music lover
in my high school years.
You play a lot of instruments. Which one
did you learn first and do you remember the first song you learned to play on
it was?
DL: The first
song I ever learned to play and perform on guitar was Nirvana’s “Smells Like
Teen Spirit.” I played it at my 6th Grade talent show, without bothering trying
to sing, just guitar.
I think people will always have a soft
spot for your song "Boston." It's still very popular over here. I
know it’s been a while, but could you talk about the song's beginnings? Did you
know then that there was something pretty unique and special about it?
DL: The song
was written very early in my time in college. I remember very little about the
actual process other than it came very easily and very naturally. I didn't know
at that time just how incredibly pivotal that song would be in my life. Even
now I'm hearing of younger generations discovering the song and I couldn't be
more excited and honored that the song has connected with such a wide audience
for so many years now.
You're pretty much a solo act now but
still carry the name Augustana. Was this a conscious decision? How much
different do you think Augustana is now with how it was as a full band?
DL: I still
for tour for the most part with a full band, however they are not the original
lineup that started in 2003. I treasure those many years with my partners in
the band and know they remember many great times as well. I felt it was
unnecessary to change the name or go in a different direction with what I was
doing, mostly because the material I was and am still writing just feels like
"AUGUSTANA" to me. I know many fans out there hold the name and the
music close to their hearts and memories, as do I.
Image from galleryhip.com |
I think you have one of the most
distinctive singing voices around. How protective are you of your voice? I
mean, do you have a careful regimen? (No cold drinks, smoking, etc?)
DL: I find
that singing more often seems to keep me in better vocal shape. The first week
of a tour can be hard for me to get back in the groove with the longer sets of
music, but come week 2 to 3...I begin to feel more strength and resilience
after time.
Tell us about your songwriting process.
How does a song start?
DL: Sometimes
I deliberately take time out of the day or night to work on a song or write
something (melody/lyric etc) and sometimes it just hits me while I'm doing
something completely normal at any random moment of the day or night.
Which musician/band are you a fan of and
would follow around on tour if you could?
DL: I'm a fan
of all kinds of music. I've been listening to a lot of classic country as well
as a lot of 80's alternative music, like Tears for Fears, New Order, A-Ha,
Depeche Mode. I also like some newer cuts from artists like Empire of the Sun,
The Presets...etc.
You're coming to the Philippines to play
at Wanderland. Have you been here before? Anything you're looking forward to seeing/
experiencing while you're here?
DL: I've never
been to the Philippines before and couldn't be more excited or enthusiastic to
see the city of Manila and play this show.