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Interview with Broke
By: Caz* Bevan
 Yet another band born and raised in
Happy Valley, UT with virtually no chance of making it;
playing music for all the right reasons, from the deepest,
darkest corners of their heart. They begin a show, with
humble intention, "We are Broke..." And Broke they may no
longer be after recently signing with Maverick
Records.
Lead singer Joel Pack gives us the scoop.
NowOnTour: My first show starring Joel Pack must
have been eight years ago - or so it seems. How long have
you been playing?
Joel: Well, I started playing the piano when I was five. A few
years later, I frequently snuck into my older brother's room
to play his electric guitar and bass. I called it "the big fat
guitar." After asking for my own bass for Christmas 3 years
in a row, I finally just saved up 50 bucks and bought one
used when I turned 12. I started screwing around on an old
acoustic that my other brother had left at home soon after
that. So I guess. I've been playing music for about twenty
years, and played in bands for about fourteen of
that.
What were your thoughts and dreams when you
first started out as a musician?
I wanted to be in a rock band since I was seven, and when I
started a rock band, I wanted to play shows, and after I
started playing shows, I wanted to play shows for lots of
people, and after that, I wanted to record. So forth and so
on. I guess my point is, that no matter what your dreams
are, once you achieve them, there's always something else
to strive for.
What have been your greatest experiences so far,
as a band?
My favorite times with my band, are when we are on the
road, with nothing to eat but scraps, next to no money or
gasoline, and a show to play. Oh yeah, getting signed was
pretty cool, but you really feel alive when you're roughing it
on the road.
What are your lyrical influences?
95% of what I write about is just my own life experience.
I'm about to turn 26, and I've had a lot more highs and lows
in my life than I would have thought when I was growing up.
I try not to draw too much influence from other singers'
lyrics, because they've been through what they've been
through, and everyone's different. I usually try to turn my
brain off when I'm writing words, and just sing what's honest
for me.
When can we start looking for your debut album?
Our Maverick release should be out summer of 2006. I've
never had a major label release before, though, so I'm not
sure about all that red tape crap. I hope it releases very
soon. We're working very hard right now, and I don't think
I've ever been so proud of anything in my life. I want the
world to hear it as soon as possible.
Tell us about getting signed. What was that like for
you?
[Maverick Records President] Guy Oseary called our
manager and said he liked our demo, and wanted to see us
play live sometime. He didn't give us any kind of time frame
or anything, so I figured it would be a while, if ever. The
next day, he booked us a flight to Los Angeles to play ay the
Viper Room for him and a few other label people. We all shit
ourselves, changed our pants, then took the plane to LA Our
nerves settled as soon as we started playing, and I felt like
we nailed it.
Guy said a few kind words to me, then split with our
management to go get drinks. I went next door to the liquor
store and drank the whole bottle of Jagermeister I bought.
We got in the van with Branden (our Manager), and he said
with a straight face "well, you guys have a record deal if you
want one...." I started crying like a little bitch!
Why Maverick? Weren't you being considered by
several other labels as well?
We were being considered, but one thing I've learned is that
the people who really make the decisions at a major label
will either move on a band, or not. There's no such thing as
"well, this label's checking us out," or "we're talking with so
and so." Even if we would have gotten a bona fide offer with
one of the other labels, I feel that it's good to work with
people who are energetic and enthusiastic about our music
now, not someone who's arm we have to twist, or even a
label who has to think about it twice. I think Maverick will be
a great home for us.
Who are your greatest influences?
Wow. That's a hard question. There is so much music I love.
I think if I had to say who has helped shape the sound of our
band the most, though, I'd say The Cure, Prince, Muse and
the Police. This little list has nothing to do with what may be
in my CD player right now, but I think it's
accurate.
Where do you go from here - are you going to start
touring non-stop?
It's hard to say. Right now all we're thinking about is right
now. We're so into recording the record that it's all we're
focusing on. I assume once the record is out, we'll be on the
road marathon-style.
What are your fears about becoming famous? What
are you looking forward to?
I don't know about being famous. I mean there are a
gazillion bands out there with record contracts, I just hope
we have success. But I guess if that shit goes down, it would
be hard to constantly be worried about people hanging on
my words and whatnot. I mean, right now, it's so easy to
say something, then take it back.
When the world's eyes are on you, you really have to think
before you speak. Know what I mean? If we were famous,
all the free shit that comes along with it would be rad. When
you're in magazines, everyone wants you wearing their shit,
or playing their amps or whatever. Who knows, though.
Maybe I'd keep wearing my old hand-me-downs and playing
on my old gear.
You've had so much patience in making this band
absolutely perfect over the years and working with only the
best. What has motivated you in Broke?
Broke is the group I started because I was just sick of trying
to "make it." I mean, I wasn't a singer or even a very good
guitar player. I was just writing honest songs about the way
my life was. When you're trying to "make it," you feel like
the clock is ticking and time's running out. Like you're
Charlie and there are only so many golden tickets to the
chocolate factory. The motivation there is to be recognized
for something, or get money, or gain status or whatever.
When none of those motivations apply, it's easy to take
things at a good pace and make good decisions.
The first thing I've said to my boys that joined Broke is that
nothing would ever happen with the band and that any time
we spent working on it would be strictly for the sake of
working, with no other rewards. It's kind of funny, 'cause we
all work ten times harder than any other band I've been in.
We only do what we want, which ends up being quite a
bit.
What is your advice to bands still trying to make it?
Quit trying for Christ's sake! If you love music, great! Keep
playing. If you're just trying to get signed or something, it'll
just turn into another day job for you anyway and you
should make room for the things in your life that you
love.
Don't get me wrong, if music is your love put everything you
have into loving and embracing that relationship. Just
prioritize. "If you really love music so much, why do you
spend all of your time _______ [fill in the blank]." Spend
twice as much time writing songs and half as much time on
those stupid press kits nobody gives two shits
about.
What do you plan on doing now, besides Broke?
Are you going to continue as a producer?
I've been recording and producing local bands for a long
time and I'm sure I will continue to do so when I have free
time. I think it will be nice to take on less projects and dive
deeper into the ones I decide to take on. Same as with the
band. I think that if I only record whom I want when I want,
and the motivation isn't the money, a better product will be
the result.
Do you have any shout outs to local-level
bands?
I love Ayin. Those guys are all so talented, and they are
some of the coolest, most selfless people I know. There is
definitely too much talent in Utah to go
unnoticed.
Undoubtedly, Broke will be famous. With lyrics and a style
that hits home to everyone, it seems so simple and so far
away from what we hear every day and that's exactly what
we all need.
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