Review Fix chats with Versus the World Frontman Donald Spence, who discusses the inspiration and creative process behind the band’s third album, “Homesick/Roadsick,†set for release this April. Known from their past two albums and appearances in video games the likes of “Tony Hawk Pro Skater†and the WWE series, Versus the World is a hard-hitting rock group that blends passionate lyrics and awesome musicianship.
Review Fix: What do you think you’ve learned from your first two albums and how do you think they affected this one?
Donald Spence: Every time we go make a record we learn something. Â You get smarter. Â We really got to understand the importance of preproduction. Â It made all the difference in the world for this record. Â For the last two records we had collections of songs that had been written over time. Â This was the first time we had sat down and said ” let’s write these songs, with this idea, for this album.” Â It’s really focused and was really fun to just check out of life for a couple months and just get swallowed by a piece of art. Â It was all we did. Â Wrote. Â It was amazing.
Review Fix: What was the creative influence behind this album?
Spence: The last few years on the road. Â We toured this record pretty hard. Â We hit the US & Europe a few times. Â We went to Australia, Japan and China… I never thought I’d see some of the places we got to go. Â This record is, in a very literal sense, about the lives we lead over the course of our last touring cycle. Â We made friends, saw things and shared experiences that were completely new to us. Â Had friends pass away, a couple of us got married. Â It was all worth writing about. So we did.
Review Fix: You guys have had a solid relationship with the WWE over the years, with your music being featured in their games. For one, how does it feel to have your music featured in a place where it can instantly be heard by millions and two, will anything from this album be featured on WWE programming?
Spence: I’m not sure if WWE is going to license anything from this record. Â Might be worth an email. It’s pretty amazing how many people got exposed to our band through that video game. We all grew up playing video games, it’s a medium that I’ve always loved. Â I think that Tony Hawk Pro Skater was a game changer to bringing music and games together. Â I think it’s a perfect match.
Review Fix: What song on here do you think has the best possibility of getting hot on the radio or with long-time fans?
Spence: It’s always weird to see what songs people relate to. Â Everyone in the band has their favorites and songs that they love but you never really know until people hear the record and you play the songs live. Â My favorite right now is A Storm Like Me or The Santa Margarita.
Radio play has never been really important to us. Â We’re not from a scene where that’s really a thing. Â The people I look up to as song writers and most of our peers aren’t big on the mainstream radio… But they have impressive careers and strong fan bases. Â I haven’t turned on a radio since I was a kid because the bands I loved weren’t on there.
Review Fix: What song on the album has the best story behind it?
Spence: The Santa Margarita and Seven Thirty One I wrote while I was grieving the death of our friend Tony Sly from No Use For a Name. Â He took our bands on tour all over the world when we first started out. Â I owe him a lot. Â Those songs were written to sort of help me heal a little bit. Â I still miss my friend.
Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone check out this album?
Spence: I thinks it’s good honest music. Â No pretense. Â We’re not hear to be the next U2, were just here to write good songs.
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Spence: As the third one… But not the last one.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Spence: Tour. Â Play as many different places as possible. Â See and meet new faces. Do that… Stay friends with these wonderful people I get to play music with. Â Then die happy I guess.
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