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Interview with Underoath
By: Caz* Bevan
 Beginning their tour in the southern Mecca of Christian
hardcore, Underoath is four days into their tour - Houston, San
Antonio, Austin and now, Dallas. Lead-vocalist, Spencer
Chamberlain, is already a little bit sick but perfectly content
with life on the road. Completely mellow and probably a little
tired before the show, Spencer has a few things to say about
touring, the filming of Underoath's new DVD and working on a
new album.
NowOnTour: Do you like playing in
Texas?
Spencer: Dallas is probably my favorite out of all of Texas.
There's more kids.
What kind of things do you do to prepare for
touring?
It depends. We have a lot of multimedia - like video and stuff
playing. We shoot all that. We write a new set list and
rehearse.
For a while your music video, "A Moment Suspended in
Time," was the top music video on Oven Fresh. What do you
think
about that?
I didn't even know!
Really?
[Laughs] No.
I thought it was really funny because it got kicked out
by all the Hop-Hop videos and I was wondering what you feel
about the whole Hop-Hop versus Hardcore. It seems like top ten
videos are either Hop-Hop or Hardcore.
Yeah, it just happens for some reason.
Do you think they are similar cultures?
I guess. Kind of.
You have quite the past with drug abuse
- and you're open about it. Do you think that helps with your
fans?
I would hope so. I think everyone being honest with themselves
is probably the best solution to any problem. I don't like to
pretend I'm something I'm not. I think just being honest with
someone can let them know they are not alone.
Do you get any persecution for being that honest
about your life?
Probably, but I don't really pay attention to that kind of stuff. I
mean like Cornerstone Festival - there are churches boycotting
it - and the whole heavy music thing. Whatever. I don't really
care.
How do you think this type of music helps people like
that?
I think music - just period - helps people cope with their lives
and problems. If a kid listens to us just because of what we
believe, at least he has different styles of music and not just
praise and worship. I think - for a Christian fan to not be able to
have every kind of music - it's not very fair.
It gives you the ability to reach a lot of people who are
already in dark places.
Yeah!
That's really helpful aspect of the whole Christian
hardcore scene. Does Tooth & Nail still claim to be a Christian
label?
Yes.
I just noticed they weren't putting anything like that on
their website.
Yeah, I haven't been on their website in like a year.
On Define The Great Line, you were able
to put a lot of your own writing into it. What sort of things did
you write about?
I wrote most of the album about just myself and my life and
what I was going through at the time. I was having a lot of
struggles here and there. It's about my demons and how they've
overtaken me...and then I get out of it by the end of the
album.
You had to deal with a lot of that as a band, especially
with leaving Warped Tour. How did you work through
that?
Just like you would with any of your friends. You kind of don't
talk to each other for a little bit and evaluate yourself, and each
other, and just be honest and talk about it. Like, everyone was in
the wrong, so we all sat down and said, 'Sorry,' or
whatever.
You all started over, essentially?
Yeah.
What is the future for Underoath now that you've
re-established?
More records. More touring.
How do you feel about your DVD selling 20,000
copies?
That's pretty cool. That DVD was just kind of fun. We're actually
shooting one right now that's more like all sides of Underoath -
like things from arguments or fights with your girlfriend.
Nothing is going to be taken out, per se. It's going
to be real Underoath.
What sort of things did you do to perfect your vocals
on Define The Great Line?
Practice. I got a vocal coach, but most people in bands that tour
do.
You have a very distinct growl in that album - different
from the first one, I think. it was very cool.
Thank you.
Ultimately, how did you guys decide to stay together
and stick it through?
We definitely didn't feel like it was our time. It wasn't like God
telling us to stop. We worked through it and now we're closer
than ever. It's awesome.
I think your ability to share with your fans what you go
through and the real side of what happens is very cool. Everyone
thinks it's just a glamorous life.
Yeah...it's not.
We all have our days - just like any jobs - some days
when you're sick, I'm sure you don't want to get out
there.
Yea I'm sick right now. Our tour manager got sick like the first
day and I'm already sick.
Alright, there are some questions from fans that I
gathered. Someone wants to know how fans differ overseas from
the states?
Umm. There's not as many.
They aren't more aggressive or anything like
that?
No I don't think so.
What's your favorite country so far?
Australia. It's good food and good people. Everyone's really
nice.
What makes you different from other
bands?
Chris.
How so?
He tickles the ivories. Sure, bands are doing it now, but he
started it! There wasn't a keyboard player before
Chris.
[Keyboardist Christopher Dudley interjects: "I invented the
keyboard actually."]
Not really him, but...him!
There you go! Just sponsored by 'all things keys' in
general? The end all and be of all of
keyboardists?
[Laughing.]
Was it a tough decision to leave Warped
Tour?
Sure. We kind of felt like it had to happen.
Okay, someone wants to know what your songwriting
process is? Do you know theory? Do you have
training?
Some of us do. It normally starts from a guitar riff and we build
from there.
Do you write lyrics last?
I normally write all year round and when a song comes together,
kind of see what the vibe is.
Do you have a lot of journals and personal stuff you
haven't used yet?
Oh yeah!
Are you ever going to publish it for your
fans?
Probably not. They'd probably be freaked out by it.
How hard or how easy was it to support Aaron in his
band The Almost, and how has it effected
Underoath?
We hate him [Jokingly]. I don't know. It just kind of happened. He
was just doing stuff on the side and we were like "Oh, whatever,"
and then next thing we knew...
Did it happen while you weren't
talking?
No.
So, he just said one day, "I'm going to go all the way
with it. Cool?" You both tour a lot - how does that work
out?
He can tour when we're not touring.
Is anyone else in the band doing side
projects?
Everyone does, but nobody is trying to make a big band out of
it.
When you guys start on a new album, do you see it as
trying to beat out your previous record or just improve on the
previous record?
We don't make a conscious effort to be better than the last
effort, but, sure, you want it to be everything and
more.
So you're currently filming the next DVD. Do you have
any idea when that will be out?
March, April, May... Winter.
Some time next year?
It's due in February, so March. We don't want it to come out too
close to our CD.
When does that come out?
It will be out in the summer. We're just working on the music
right now.
Hours later, Spencer emerges from behind the stage with an
entirely different energy. Perhaps he's had a chance to nap to
relieve his head cold.
Fueled by a whole new level of excitement, Spencer has a total
command of the crowd and an undeniable stage presence that
pinpoints Underoath's performance as memorable, bold and
intriguing.
Spencer announces - "This band stands in the name of Jesus
Christ and I'm going to be honest with you, if it wasn't for Him
this band wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't be here right
now!" - the perfect disclaimer to the final lines of their closer,
"Writing On The Walls." "I know there must be some way out of
here/and all of them will be waiting there."
Underoath finished their set with two encores and left Dallas
entirely enlightened and hopeful of their return.
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