You probably know the band MEST, but you probably don’t know the whole story behind the song “Radio (Something To Believe).” Vocalist Tony Lovato took us through the entire story of how the song was made, from how he got connected with Tom Denney (ex-A Day To Remember) to how music has helped him through everything in his life. Check out the full story below!
MEST is also currently raising money through Kickstarter to fund their first ever acoustic record, Broken Down. Check out how you can donate to the Kickstarter here.
Background
I was on tour with Escape The Fate in April of 2012. We were playing HOB in Orlando, FL and there was a group of heavily tattooed people watching side stage by my tech. The next day was a drive day for us. So, I’m sitting up in front with my friend Jeff from Cute Is What We Aim For who was filling in on bass, listening to music and I showed him some songs from A Day To Remember. As I’m showing him the songs my tech goes, “Hey, you know that was Tom [Denney] from ADTR standing next to me the whole show?” I was like, “Oh shit wait. That bigger mother fucker with all the Tattoos right? I knew he looked familiar but I didn’t play it at the time.” Then my tech told me he talked a little with him and that Tom was a big fan of MEST, which I thought was cool considering I was a fan of ADTR. I hit up my buddy from the band Secrets, who were also on that tour, and asked for Tom’s cell. Tom has produced both of Secrets records (go pick them up!) So I got his cell and texted him and the bromance ensued. We texted back and forth for a couple of hours just talking about music and the music business. How scummy some of the business people are that are in it and how some of these kids that sing in these bands are such cock suckers and no ones knows it. There are certain magazines that highlight some of these bands so much and we know all the behind the scenes stuff and how we wish we could let these fans know what these guys are really like. Just shit like that. Anyway, a couple days later I was hanging by the bar in New Jersey with the “Chelsea” from the song and her fiancé and a couple of others just watching the show and the idea just popped in my head. So I texted Tom and said the record is done but we should co-write one last song together, and he was totally down. So he started sending me some ideas. I found some stuff I liked and through in some suggestions. As we were driving home from the tour I sat in the front with head phones on and just started writing. I thought about where I was in life and where I had been. The one thing that has never left my side and has helped me through it all was music. Something that could draw emotion out of me stronger then anything else in the world. I started thinking about all of the old records I listen to and how it brings you back to a time and place. Then thinking about all the new records and how these songs were becoming the sound track to this time and place. So I wrote away. Got home and headed in the studio. Tom and I were super stoked on the outcome of the collaboration. There will definitely be more in the future.
Lyrics
