Taking Back Sunday is one band that needs no introduction. Since forming in Long Island in 1999, the group composed of vocalist Adam Lazzara, guitarist/vocalist John Nolan, guitarist Eddie Reyes, bassist Shaun Cooper and Drummer Mark O’Conell have sold millions of albums, evolved from a scrappy punk act into seasoned songwriters and continues to produce a successful, meaningful career – and that spirit of resilience and innovation – is dripping all over the band’s sixth full-length album Happiness Is that has proved to be of the band’s most personal albums to date.
“Through the years I’ve tried to stay pretty cryptic because often times it’s easier not to have to explain yourself but on this record I was very direct in the sense I tried to use the simplest way to get an idea across. In the past I don’t think I ever would have let a song like ‘Like You Do’ go on an album because it’s so heartfelt in a simple way and I also think it’s actually one of the first love songs we’ve ever written,” Lazzara remarked. “There is no question to me that Happiness Is the best unfiltered representation of what happens when the five of us get in room together and that makes me really happy.”
MNL Online had an exclusive interview with John Nolan about the band’s approach to Happiness Is, his favorite acts today, his best musical and happy memories.
How close did your initial musical and artistic vision for Happiness Is compared to its end result?
We didn’t go into the writing and recording of Happiness Is with a clear plan of how we wanted it to sound. The only thing we wanted was to be more open to different musical directions and to make an album that we were excited about. In that sense, the end result was exactly what we hoped for.
The experience of a live Taking Back Sunday show is always exciting and alive! I can attest to that because I watched your show here in Manila in 2012. [But] you’ve been playing shows for more than a decade now. So what’s it like for you, to hear that echoing of words that you have penned, being sung by the crowd?
Hearing people sing along to our songs has always been one of the most amazing and gratifying parts of being in this band. The songs seem to take on a life of their own when you have a huge room full of people singing them.
Can you talk about what happens in your head when you compose – the creative process before you write it down or put your hands on the guitar? How does your persona play a role in that process?
Everyone in the band is involved in the song writing process and I think we each have a unique approach. When you hear a finished Taking Back Sunday song you are hearing each member of the band’s personalities being expressed simultaneously. I think it’s the main thing that makes this line up of the band so special.
Tell us more about “Flicker Fade” and “Stood A Chance.” What those songs are about and how they came together?
“Flicker Fade” was one that Mark brought to the band on guitar and then we all got to work on arranging it. That was one of the first songs to come together for the album and we were instantly excited about it. Lyrically, it’s a combination of a few different ideas but I think mainly it’s about someone being trapped in a cycle of self destructive behavior.
“Stood A Chance” started out with a guitar part that Eddie had. He just started playing this riff and then Mark joined in, then Shaun and I picked up on what they were doing. Initially it came together very quickly but then it went through a lot of changes as we demoed and recorded it. In the end the riff that started it didn’t even end up in the song. Lyrically I think it’s about someone who has an inability to focus on the present and deal with the reality of their situation.
What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career in Taking Back Sunday?
We’ve always felt incredibly lucky that we get to make music for a living and that people want to listen to that music.
Do you ever get stage fright when performing? What’s one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I don’t get stage fright but I still feel a pretty intense rush of nervous energy right before we take the stage.
Which years hold the best musical and happy memories for you and who were your favorite acts at that time? Fast forward, what are your latest happy memories and who are your favorite acts today?
When I was about fifteen I started listening to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice And Chains and Soundgarden. From fifteen to eighteen the music those bands made were pretty much all I listened to. They changed my life on a musical and personal level.
These days I love being at home and listening to the albums in my record collection. A lot of the stuff I have on vinyl is from the sixties and seventies. Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan and Paul Simon have been some of my favorites recently.
How do we know if you are happy?
I’m not sure. I guess you just have to take my word for it. [Smiles.]
Looking back, are you surprised by how your life turned out?
Pretty much everything that has happened since Tell All Your Friends was released has been a surprise. I never could’ve predicted any of it.
Interview by JAYSON PAOR
Photography NATALIE ESCOBEDO
Special thanks to SAMEER SADHU
and HOPELESS RECORDS ASIA
