Everyone Leaves Get Real on The Lonely End
Interview by Jessica Klinner
Interview by Jessica Klinner
We don’t post a ton of streams here at Highlight, but when we do, it’s always a band or artist we truly believe in and want the world to know about. Today, we are incredibly excited to bring you the exclusive stream of The Lonely End, the brand new EP from Ohio alternative rock band Everyone Leaves.
Check out our interview with the band and the stream below, and be sure to pick up the EP when it drops on October 14.
What is the story of Everyone Leaves? How did you guys form?
Jacob: This current lineup is the product of a great deal of trial and error. Not everyone can handle the level of commitment required of a band like ours. We’ve broken 100 shows the last two years and there’s no world where we play less ever again. We’ve all lost or left multiple jobs that we liked because they got in the way of this band. At the end of the day, this band is home. We keep a very tight group around it, with our 5 musical members and Carolyn Ambriano who is our full time touring photographer, in-house graphic designer, and our source of 3rd party opinion for nearly every decision we make. We’ve managed to overcome/avoid most of the usual roadblocks because we are so involved in this band and in nearly every life choice made by each member. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s how we’ve been able to survive.
The triple vocal approach gives a really cool depth to your songs. What made you guys want to go in this kind of direction? Is it just something that happened organically?
Jacob: I was originally the only vocalist, but when we needed a bassist, I heard Aubree’s voice and thought “oh wow, I need this person to be a part of this band, their voice is perfect” and then we felt the same way a year later when we heard Jake while also considering adding a 3rd guitarist.
How long has the The Lonely End EP been in the works, and what was the writing process like for this release?
Jacob: We’ve had most of the EP written since before the split came out, and we’ve actually been playing one of the songs about as long. “Better Love” and “Head in A Vice” were the last two songs which is funny to think of now that they’re the singles.
Is there any certain song that stands out as a favorite or really holds a lot of meaning for you individually or as a band?
Jacob: My favorite is “Better Love,” but “But Can I Still Come Home” is definitely the most meaningful for me lyrically.
Aubree: “Feeling Other” is definitely my current favorite. We haven’t had a really booming opener for a while, so dynamically that song is super fun to play, and sonically I feel like it really sets the tone for the record.
Jake: “The Lonely End” is probably my favorite off of the EP. It’s a really fun song to play live, and I think it encapsulates the record as a whole the best. I don’t know. “Feeling Other” and “How You’ve Been Lately” are also really cool.
Dakota: “Feeling Other”
Brandon: Tied between “Feeling Other” and “The Lonely End.” The song that sets the beginning tone for the EP, and the song to finish said EP.
There’s a sad tone to a lot of your songs, but overall there’s a hopeful message. What do you hope fans can take away from The Lonely End EP/your music in general?
Jacob: I always wanted us to be the band that was super honest about crippling depression, but in the sense of “that’s not all there is.” You can feel hopeless, but acknowledge those feelings as temporary.
Listening through the EP, there seems to be several different dimensions to the Everyone Leaves sound. What bands helped influence your sound?
Jacob: Dikembe and Motion City Soundtrack will always be huge ones for me
Aubree: Jacob stole one of my answers- Dikembe is a huge influence for me as well, but I also draw a lot from Somos and Now, Now. (Side note: I think, in the writing process, we are all just products of everything we listen to, so these lists could really go on forever.)
Jake: I think for this EP, Jimmy Eat World and American Football were my main influences for my writing. There’s a little bit of everything though.
Brandon: As far as writing goes for drums on the EP, bands like Microwave, Somos & Tiny Moving Parts come to mind as influences
Dakota: Trivium, Dream Theater, Brand New
Any exciting plans for the rest of this year/beginning of next year?
Jacob: There will always be a constant stream of shows, music, artwork, and words from this band. We’d like to finish our list of the 50 states, hit the rest of the Canadian provinces, and we’d also love to hit Japan, Australia, and Europe by late 2017/early 2018. We’d also like to keep up the weekly “Bands We Love” playlist so we can keep showing people cool bands we’ve found on the road and on the Internet. The short answer is: more us.
