Post by zoey denise weiss on Jan 23, 2010 20:27:52 GMT -5
interview of the day!
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Looking for some inside scoop on Batteries Not Included? Well you have most certainly found the place. I have decided to start this blog to give me an edge on other people when I start looking for jobs out there in what adults call the ‘real world’, so you’re in luck that I have found a way to get to talk face to face with some of the hottest bands around. Batteries Not Included is a record company located in the heart of Los Angeles, executive owner and founder Connor Schilling has found the best that LA has to offer when it comes to amazing bands and top notch vocalist. This is definitely the label you want to be on if you want to make it big. Some of the most well known bands from this label include the acoustic band Violet Sunday, the screamo band Seduction By Design, the punk pop bands such as All For Dayna, While You Were Out, Finders Keepers, Sunday’s Ruin, and the softer punkpop band Winter Pursuit, the techno band Party of three, and the rock band A False Start. Not being baised or anything, these are really nine of the best bands I have heard in my entire life. I’ve had the opportunity to interview a person from a few bands, which is pretty lucky to catch them outside of concerts and practices. Granted, I did just email them all questions, but I was lucky that they responded. Yes, I asked them all the same questions, I promise next time I will vary it some.
I got the pleasure of interviewing Riley Friston from All For Dayna, Khristopher Acklin from While You Were Out, Cash Farley from Seduction By Design, Mason Knight from Violet Sunday, Winter Force from Winter Pursuit, Pierce Lindquist from A False Start, and Connor Schilling, the creator and owner of Batteries Not Included Records.
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Khrisopher James Acklin!
What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
-- hmmm… that’s a good question. All of the bands are really really great, and they are all super talented you know. But as for having the most talent and who I get along best with, I’d probably have to say Violet Sunday. Those three are just a blast to be around, and their music is so simple and wonderful
What is your greatest regret?
-- Hmmm, getting kind of deep aren’t we? Well, I’m not going to mention any names, but there was a person who I hurt in the past with something I didn’t mean. I regret not letting her know that I needed her too, even if I thought it was for the best?
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- Hmmm. Probably Kylie. She’s the only person I can be certain that wont get me into loads of trouble, or expect me to be all over the place. I really don’t trust some of the other guys from the other bands. Haha
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- Happiest moment of my life? Hmmm, hard one. I’ve had a lot, like when the band was signed and whatnot, but to avoid giving the typical answer, Im going to say last spring when all of us kids pulled our money together to send my parents on their dream trip to France for their anniversary.
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
-- Really? We don’t have a big prankster in the band. If I had to pick someone, I’d have to say Kylie. She’ll be my answer for anything I don’t know. haha
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- Hmmm, good question. I really don’t drink a lot, so its kind of slim pickings? Well, one time I got up and started singing to a Brittany Spears song, that was kind of stupid, yes?
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- Every single day I encounter Any members of All For Dayna or Winter Pursuit
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- I don’t know? Kicking back at my place, watching a movie and just being our selves?
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- Hmm, I don’t do a lot of crazy things? Well, I did go Bungee Jumping once in San Francisco. That was pretty awesome.
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- Well, none of us really. Haha. Jackson is dating a person who works for Batteries Not Included, I just don’t date…so we’ll go with KYLIE!
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- Hmmm, Reading minds is probably a very scaring thing, especially if you are around the people I am daily. Lets stick with Invisibility.
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- Earlier today actually, but we wont go into details.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- I don’t really cry at movies? But the only one I remember getting choked up about was A Walk To Remember
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- Right now? Probably still living in my parents basement. Maybe going to college?
What's your filthiest habit?
-- Probably my cigarette smoking
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Riley Niall Friston!
What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
-- Oh, you guys should definitely check out Violet Sunday. They're acoustic but so good, seriously. I try and do some charity work with Cassie, their manager so their stuff is often for a good cause. Plus, the music is afreakinmazing. Check it out.
What is your greatest regret?
-- Well, my biggest one recently was stealing Garret's mattress. He's got some issues with hygiene... if you know what I mean. Actually, I shouldn't say that. He'll probably beat me up now... In life though, I probably regret being so damn mean to my teachers in high school. Uhm, stay in school, kids.
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- Well, it'd have to be someone who I could be around all the time... so I'm gonna take the whole of the band out of that. No. I'm joking. Maybe. I'm gonna pick... Benji. He amuses me greatly and he's awesome to hang around with so, yeah. That'd be slightly weird but its the best option haha.
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- Oh great. I'm gonna sound like a pussy now. Fine, i'm going to be predictable and say when I first played the drums... nah that's bullshit. I don't really remember it that well to be honest. My happiest moment was probably when I lost my virginity. Not gonna lie.
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
-- Erm, I'd like to say me but for the sake of this, I'll go with little Dayna. She might look like the cutest thing going but I'm determined to bring out a wicked side in her.
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- Oh god, where. do. I. begin! Rylan will hate me though if I go into too much detail so I'll keep it pg rating. I prank called my headteacher back in England when I was like 14 and had just touched my first bottle of drink. I was expelled as you would expect but it was fantastic. They start us young in the UK.
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- Well, I almost died yesterday. True facts. People in L.A just can't drive and do they not know what an indicator is for? Everyone out there, you use it to tell people you're turning. Not because it makes pretty lights.
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- A romantic meal on top of the Eiffel tower- no, I'm kidding. That place is great apart from the French people that live there. No offence, Frenchies. We just don't understand one another's heritage. Perfect date would be like a girl who actually enjoys watching the football... as in soccer, you know? Then we could have a meal or something. I don't know... I'm not exactly the romantic type…
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- I got a blow job from my trainee teacher. What? I've said it now. I did! It's how I got in the band. Indirectly anyway. I was expelled from 6th form college so my parents decided to move to America which is where I met these losers... and Benji.
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- Parker. Or at least he did. I don't know what I can or can't say here.
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- Uhm. I think the power to read minds because I already have the other one being the drummer! Oh! Where's my small violin playing sad music. Ha ha. I think it would be heard to turn my hair invisible... don't you?
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- When my fucking dog, Sparky, was stolen. Don't worry, I got him back but he's my baby, you know? He's only a puppy. I'm pretty sure he shat on the floor of the mean person though so it's all good.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- Notebook. I've seen it about a million times and I still weep. I have about 100 copies though because people keep bringing it to me after I mentioned liking it. I really don't need any more, thanks guys.
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- Oh, you know. Probably stuck somewhere in America using my kick arse dance skills to get me to the top of the world where I would eventually become both President of Japan and the Prime Minister of the UK. All in a days work.
What's your filthiest habit?
-- Well... I sleep naked? Is that weird? Not really filthy I suppose. Not on the tour bus though... now that would be weird. No, on tour I sleep in my jeans and I sometimes stay in those jeans throughout the day as well. That's a bit disgusting, I guess.
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Mason Xander Knight!
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What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
-- oh uhm i'm not sure! maybe all for dayna? or winter pursuit? i might be biased, i'm not sure! all the bands are pretty rad though.
What is your greatest regret?
-- caring too much about people.
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- someone smart, sot hey could figure out how to get us out of it! hah, um, i don't know. at the moment, probably caleb. he's my best friend after all, and he probably wouldn't go around trying to get us killed, hopefully.
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- the day violet sunday officially began to exist. i was in a band with my two favourite people ever and i was going out with a girl i loved. there has not been anything that has beaten that yet, an it is doubtful anything will beat that.
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
--savannah, probably.
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- tried to jump off a roof. well, actually, i did. it wasn't like, a tall roof. it was the roof of my shed. i'd gone home to visit my parents with caleb and savannah and there was alcohol and we were all hanging outside, and i suddenly realized that holycrap i could fly and i wanted to show my dad because he'd think it was the bomb. so i tried. and i failed. but i didn't die, so it could've been worse!
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- like, yesterday? i wasn't looking where i was going when i was crossing the road... bad idea, okay. i'm not promoting it! keep your eyes peeled kids. it's not very hardcore i know, but hey, you asked. /shrug.
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- oh. uhm, i don't know, haha. i'm really up for anything, to be honest? as long as we are not sitting in the dump searching for scraps toe at cause we're too cheap to even buy a takeaway, then i'm totally cool. any date is cool as long as it's with my perfect girl i guess.
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- i do too many crazy things, it really is hard to keep count. if you hung out with me for an hour, you'd see why it's so hard to think of which is the craziest. i'll get back to you on that!
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- it sounds kind of ridiculous, but at the moment it's caleb. he's a total ladies man. girl's can't keep their hands off him, no joke.
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- power to read minds! mostly cause i'm way too curious and i'd like to know what people think about me, or whether they're lying or not. there wouldn't be much to do if you were invisible, i really do not do many things that i'd have to be invisible for. it's not like i go spying on girl's changing or anything, harhar.
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- like, not very long ago. i kicked a wall. my toes still really, really fucking hurt.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- i don't cry at movies, i'm big and tough and manly! but, i think i must've poked myself in the eye when i was watching the notebook with riley, because it started to water. maybe it was sweating? who knows.
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- ..... in prison? haha, i don't know. i'd be doing some lameass job though. i wasn't good enough at school to get a decent job, to be honest, if i wasn't a musician i would probably work at mcdonald's or whatever. sad, but true
What's your filthiest habit?
--jesus, i dunno. smoking? i bite my fingernails a lot? is that considered a filthy habit, or are you expecting me to say something like i masturbate in public bathrooms? because, uhm, i don't. really.
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Winter Aslin Force!
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What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
--Seduction by Design... HAA yeah. i'd have to say While You Were Out. Kylie has an awesome voice and the band's sound is fun!
What is your greatest regret?
-- Hmm well. I don't really have many. maybe it was telling my mom to fuck off.. i kind of feel bad about it now.
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- oh wow. Noah probably. He's my best friend. I'm pretty sure if I can live with him, I can be attached to him for 24 hours
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- hmm, any time i'm on stage drumming. it's an amazing feeling really and there's no way i can be sad doing it
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
--hmm if I had to choose, it would probably be Noah. Unless you combine me and Leena. We have a hard time behaving when we are together
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- well not that i remember it, but apparently i got Noah to run away from Liberty with me one night. Sorry Lib! don't take it personaly
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- erm to be honest, a few days ago. we won't go into detail, but let's just say it involved a bad trip. no names. no nothing. it's over now
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- HAAAA date.. uhm.. skipping to the 'my place or yours?' question? :]
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- probably coming on this tour! like seriously it's so insane but so fun. I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest though. Never a dull day, yeah
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- Me of course! haha . Noah could get a lot of girls. They all want him. I'm sure if he wasn't with Liberty he would get more girls than I do guys.
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- hmm.. be invisible. I would totally run around to everyone's apartments and go crazy and confuse the hell out of people. How fun would that be!?
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- hmm. when *ahem* someone called me a whore. I threatened to rip her throat out. She apologized or else I would have probably hunted her down.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- none. I don't cry. especially not over movies. Not to mention I don't watch those stupid sappy love movies that all the girls cry over anyway. :]
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- going to college to become a teacher... yeah i know weird right. but i always had a little urge to do so. i'd probably sleep with all the hot students though.. so that wouldn't go over too well.
What's your filthiest habit?
--sex. definitely. i'm a dirty little girl. ;] i can't help myself. it's like, an every day thing... not kidding.
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Cashall Adam Farley!
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What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
--Ew, really? Soundwise, I guess Finders Keepers is.. fine..
What is your greatest regret?
-- I don't know. I hate talking about this shit. Makes me feel weird. I guess I regret not seeing my dad more? Does it matter?
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- Oh christ. I think I would off myself before the 24 hours was finished. I guess Jayden. She doesn't talk much.
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- Joining the band. This tour. Basically whatever has to do with my music career.
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
--.. Not me. I guess Travis could pass?
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- I don't remember, nor do I want to. I have woken up sleeping in girl's clothes.
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- Never
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- None at All
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- I jumped off a small cliff once on vacation. It was pretty wild.
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- Well, Winter Pursuit all fuck each other, as they can't get much outside the band, but I guess that doesn't count, does it?
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- That's hard. Be invisible, I think. To be honest, I really don't know what goes on in the minds of the idiots around me.
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- This morning.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- People actually cry at those things?
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- Probably applying to a bunch of colleges I didn't care about. And I really have no idea what career I'd be following, so it's a good thing I've got the band.
What's your filthiest habit?
--I don't know. I bite my nails a lot. I don't have many civilized conversations. Taker your pick.
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Pierce Octavian Lindquist !
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What's your favorite band on tour besides your own?
--Sound wise? Definitely Seduction by Design. Been listening to them since they got signed.
What is your greatest regret?
-- Oh shit. I dunno. I have a lot of regrets. Maybe that time I pushed that little girl off her swing when I was five, that was pretty harsh. Hah.
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on tour with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- Lily. She gets me hot. ;]
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- Winning that youtube contest. No doubt. I wouldn't be here otherwise.
Who is the biggest prankster in the band?
--Our drummer is a beast no doubt, I've wanted to bash his head in for some of the shit he's done. Hah.
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- Oh damn. This is so fucking embarrassing but...I screwed my best friend's mom? Yeah, no joke. Cougars really aren't that sexy, let me tell you...
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- Last time I got in the car with Lils.
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- Perfect dates don't exist, sweetheart. I like to keep things...less serious.
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- Eh, probably what I said earlier...being with your best friend's mom is pretty damn crazy. And definitely not worth it by the way...shit, what if he reads this?
Who in the band get the most ladies/men?
-- Me, obviously.
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- The power to read minds would be fanfuckingtastic. Who doesn't want to know what exactly going on in their friends heads?
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- Playing Halo...how many times can one man die? Damn.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- I don't cry at movies. If I ever did it'd probably be at My Sister's Keeper though...Lily dragged me to it, I fucking swear.
If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing right now?
-- Damn, trying to find a way to avoid college? hah.
What's your filthiest habit?
--Filthy? I fuck a lot, though I wouldn't say it's filthy.
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Connor James Schilling !
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What's your favorite band on the label?
--well i'm not meant to be biased, you know, haha. but, if i had to pick one band... i would actually have to say a false start. they're one of the older bands, but their sound was what caught my eye, or ear, whatever you prefer, and... they just put on a great show.
What is your greatest regret?
-- hmm.... i don't have too many great regrets... probably every relationship i messed up? i think that should definitely count, harhar.
If you had to be handcuffed to a person that's on the label with you for twenty four hours, who would you choose?
-- ... no one? haha. no, kidding. uhmm... probably brae, as she is the only one that actually gets the type of fun i like and actually puts up with me, you know?
What was the happiest moment of your life?
-- when this label actually became real, i'm not going to lie. the minute i realized that, hey, i actually made a label, i was so excited, you have no idea, mate. i threw a party in my office. just me and the few people that worked with me at that time.
Who is the biggest prankster on the label?
--hmmm.... that's rather difficult. these bloody kids all think they're so funny, harhar. i would have to say riley though. don't ask me why, i couldn't give you a good reason.
What's the most idiotic thing you've done while drinking?
-- hmm... now see, i rarely drink, so these events might be limited... but i think, and i'm not sure on this, apparently one year when i'd gone back to england to visit and i had too much to drink i nearly streaked through the streets of london. i think i was wearing a pair of.... actually, i don't mention it. forget it.
When was the last time you feared for your life?
-- i fear for my life whenever any of the people in the bands fight with each other. as, when i try to help things out, i feel as if one of them is just going to pull a knife out or something and just stab me. i'm rather paranoid when it comes to that thought, leave me alone.
What would be your idea of a perfect date?
-- you are kidding right? oh goodness, i have so many ideas. but i think the nicest thing is just spending a relaxing night at home, you know? the the tv playing softly, maybe a nice, romantic dinner, and just relaxing afterwards. it honestly doesn't take too much to make me happy.
What's the craziest thing you've done in your life?
-- coming to america. no doubt about it. haha. okay, maybe i'm kidding about that. uuh, my senior year of highschool for senior prank. at graduation me and a group of guys ran pretty much naked through the seats with our faces painted and a letter on each of our chests spelling out the mascot of our school. needless to say, i'm rather glad i graduated.
Who on the label get the most ladies/men?
-- that's tough, seeing as there are a bunch of little .... nevermind, i won't call them that. but..... i must say... it's probably either garret, or travis. funnily enough they both hate each other.
Would you rather have the power to read minds or be invisible? Why?
-- read minds. dont' you know, i'm already magic enough to be able to move around without being seen.
When was the last time you lost your temper?
-- actually, it's been a while. i think the last time was when the label was first created, and one of the first bands absolutely refused to actually work, and i just, pardon my language, flipped shit on them.
What was the last movie you cried at?
-- ......... i don't cry during movies, darling, i'm sorry. i may be a nice guy, but i don't cry really. but the closest i came to feeling an emotion that would lead to crying would probably be marley and me, because i'm a sucker for dogs.
If you weren't running the label right now, what would you be doing right now?
-- going to college to become a musical educator. i actually had this planned.
What's your filthiest habit?
--besides my procrastination? haha. uuuhm... it might be my habit of staying in my office for days at a time without leaving. i leave whenever i realize how long i've been there and how long it's been since i washed my hair and stuff. disgusting, i know, but sometimes, procrastination doesn't really work in my favor, m'dear. it's rather sad.