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Interview with I Am Ghost
By: Caz* Bevan
 Ryan Seaman, drummer for the band, I Am Ghost (Epitaph
Records) describes the band as "epicore" implying that they
are both epic and hardcore.
Epic indeed...I Am Ghost's legacy is that of a DIY band
promoting and selling 20,000 copies of their first album,
having only played four local shows.
Currently on tour,
Ryan, the newest member of the band, took a few moments
to speak with NowOnTour.
NowOnTour: What do you feel is the most unique
feature of I Am Ghost?
Ryan: I think that the most unique thing about our music if
you listen to it is that it's different. We have a metal sound
with a classical element. We all have different tastes and so
it's really hard to label us, so we came up with the genre
name "epicore" to label us. Because we feel our music is
"epic" and we really can't decide what we are.
How long has I Am Ghost been together and
when/why did you join the band?
The band has been around close to 2 years now, and I
joined the band after their EP was recorded, and got into the
band in their 6th show ever. I joined because these were
people that understood what being a band was about and we
had shared the same views/visions and musical tastes and
what we felt a band should be all about.
We view it as a family: all for one, one for all. I could tell
that these were people that wanted to succeed and wanted
to write meaningful and honest music, so when I joined the
band, we immediately started writing Lovers
Requiem, which came out Oct. 10th 2006.
What have you learned since being with I Am
Ghost?
I feel I've learned more about myself, who my real friends
are and are not, more about people and the music business.
I almost feel like all the other bands I've ever been in were
a warm up to this one.
What do you love most about your
band?
I think the fact that everyone wants the same things, the
fact that we want to work hard, we are hardworking and put
everything we have into the band. We want to have the best
live show every night. I've never been in a band like this
before. It's a great dynamic.
Where did you record?
We took a long two-day-straight trip to Virginia. We drove
there, no stops. On the beach of Bavon, Virginia - a little
town where there would be no distractions and where we
could all be productive and get work done. It was
amazing.
Who did you record with?
A great dude named Michael "Elvis" Baskette. He's a young
guy in the industry who has [already] had a lot of
experience and a lot of records under his belt. He's trying
produce up and coming bands, and I felt he captured our
vision.
,Br>
He has [recorded] bands like Incubus, Chevelle, Stone
Temple Pilots and Iggy Pop. And now he's working with up
and coming bands like Escape the Fate, The Classic Crime,
Tyler Read and A Change Of Pace. He is amazing.
What, to you, is the most important aspect of
recording?
I think to have a vision and be focused and know what you
really want to do and to just go with it. I think trying new
things in the studio is a way to express who you are, try
endless possibilities and I think the outcome will be
surprising.
How do you feel about the new
album?
I feel that this album is probably one of the more honest
things I've done in my life. I'm sharing experiences with
people who I call my family, and showing people what we
have put our efforts towards. That, to me, is how I feel
about the new record. It's so amazing. I want to share it with
the world. I don't think there will be any
disappointments.
As a whole who are the greatest band influences
for I Am Ghost?
This is such a hard question. Our band has so many
influences - everything from Suicide Machines and Muse to
The Beatles, Glassjaw, Refused, Lamb of God, Slipknot,
Tool, Yellowcard, MxPx and AFI. It's so hard and it's so
random, but somehow if you took all those bands, that's
where I think we get our influences.
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