Interview with Alex Gaskarth from All Time Low

All Time Low . Interviewer Dianne Perez . Sydney (Australia) . 2009 . label: Hopeless Records

Interview with All Time Low - Sydney . 2009

Punk76: How did you guys get involved in the Take Action tour?
Alex: Our label actually runs the Take Action tour so it’s been a concert, when we signed with the label, we’ve been aware of the entire time. When we signed at Hopeless (Records) we were signing up for a label that does more for the community than just music. A big part of Hopeless Records is the Take Action tour, and it’s a charity that involves helping people with issues like depression, thoughts of suicide, and things like that. It’s a really good cause and although you wouldn’t necessarily expect our band to back that kind of thing openly, it’s something we absolutely support 100%

Punk76: This is the first Take Action tour in Australia, but you guys have been here before at the Soundwave Festival. What’s your favourite city in Australia so far?
Alex: Yeah, last year. Shit, without offending anybody, I’d have to say Sydney. It’s always a good time here. If you go to America, you either go to LA or New York. It’s like Sydney is the place to go in Australia. It’s going to be a good time.

Punk76: Nothing Personal is released next month. I heard you say it was different from Put Up or Shut Up and So Wrong, It’s Right. How so?
Alex: It’s a much more realised view of what we want to be. This band has always been very young, and we’ve been growing into our sound and I think we’ll continue to grow into our sound. I think on this record it’s the most fully realised version of All Time Low that there’s ever been, so that’s what I’m really excited about. There’s a lot of songs for all different kinds of people. There’s something for everyone on this record and for that reason alone I think it’s one of the best things we’ve everdone. Also, it does sound cohesive – you know how I say it’s got something for everybody – it still sounds like one record when you play it front to back.

Punk76: Do you have a favourite song on the new album?
Alex: I have a couple actually. There’s a song called Too Much, which is probably the most out there song on the record. It’s definitely my favourite song on the record. We have a song Therapy that means a lot to me, which is a song that I really love. Weightless is a huge song that means a lot. I think my favourite song though is either Therapy or a song called Lost in Stereo.

Punk76: Can we expect any guest vocals on the new album?
Alex: We actually didn’t get any guest vocals on this album. We had one in mind but it didn’t work out because of scheduling and time and stuff like that. We didn’t want to do it just because there was no one that really made sense. We felt like if we tried to get somebody it was just like us pulling for someone just to have it, whereas other bands would do a guest vocal and it really means something. The one that really made sense didn’t work out, so… It’s all good.

Punk76: Some fans have had negative reactions to your growing success, especially on the All Time Low Secrets livejournal. Have you read that? Do you ever make a fake response?
Alex: They always do. I have, I’m actually a big lurker of those livejournal communities: atl_secrets, hopeless_trash. There’s probably new ones that I don’t know about. We definitely all kind of lurk those. I’ve actually never responded, I promised myself I would never do that. No, I swear, I swear! I really haven’t. It is what it is. I get it but it’s a little weird.

Punk76: Would you rather be locked in solitary confinement with Shake It (by Metro Station) blasted on infinite repeat or lick Rian’s pits after a show?
Alex: Like Rian’s pits after a show, hands down. I’ll do it right now.

Punk76: Would you rather have all 13 year olds for fans or all 75 year olds?
Alex: 13 year olds.

Punk76: Would you rather make out with Danny DeVito or George Bush?
Alex: George Bush. Fuck yeah! Bet that dude’s a good kisser, great kisser.

Punk76: What song are you the most proud of writing?
Chopper: These days I think Therapy and Too Much. New songs you’ll hear eventually.

Punk76: If this all fell through tomorrow, what do you see yourself doing for a living?
Chopper: Dolphin trainer slash Dog whisperer.

Punk76: Do you have a last message for your Australian and German fans?
Chopper: Australian and German? Wow, shit. I mean, really just thank you for checking us out and thank you for continuing on with us, it means the world, so thank you. We’ll see you when we see you. Come hang at a show… or in my pants.

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