THE THINGS THEY CARRIED INTERVIEW WITH STEVE SCHWARTZ 2011
                   BY: STEPHANIE STEVENS

     THE THINGS THEY CARRIED have created a album that is one part unique and one part beautifully exhausting. This Long Island band celebrates every element of good screamo vocals, melodic and heavy musical attributes and songwriting that isnt afraid to approach and let out the deep issues in people’s lives.
      THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN’T TELL ANYONE came out in Dec of 2010 and has been making strides on the music scene every since. The band lives and breathes music “We believe music is about taking risks, putting yourself out there, and hopefully people grab on to it.” Says  front man Steve Schwartz.
      With the rest of 2011 looking like a touring session for the guys they are excited to get their music out to some new people and see the fans they have built and  impressed through the music they have produced already. They continue to write, and it looks like new music is beginning to take shape and the world will be able to hear more creative and amazing music from this great band.
     I had a quick one on one with Steve (vocals) before his schedule got too crazy to talk about the way the band writes, the future in music and are record deals in the works?

Stephanie: The very first question that needs to be asked is about your songwriting, how do you guys formulate songs and does each member have a certain part in the songwriting process?

 Steve Schwartz:  The writing process starts off by me writing the song, most of the time i'll write it in my apt. on an acoustic guitar.  Then i'll present the song to the band so they can listen to it and get a feel for it.  Then we'll add all the instruments to it, we'll start off with drums, bass, then add lead guitar lines, we all put input into what each member should play.  The great thing is, we're all on the same page musically, so if there is a part to a song that one of the members isn't happy with, i'll trust that it can be better, and i'll go back and change it.  It's really a smooth process with us.   So to answer your question, yes each member plays a certain part in the songwriting process.

In my review of your disc I said that you have this “circus type chaos” going on within some songs, what and how did you guys begin to even create this type of dynamic into your songs?

That type of dynamic just sort of happened naturally, we didn't force it or anything, it was just the sound that we ended up creating. 

THERE’S SOMETHING I CAN’T TELL ANYONE came out back in 2010 how does this album differ from your EP ATTENTION CRISIS in your opinion?

There are big differences between the EP and the album, one of the main differences that the album is a lot heavier, with much more screaming, also has a lot more energy.  The EP, is more of an alternative rock feel to it, while the album has more of a metal/alternative feel too it.  Both records are dark, but the album is a lot more in your face. 

How do you feel the band has improved from the EP days?

I think we've improved emmensely from the EP days.  We've learned so much more about how to be unpredictable in songs, about how to keep the songs energetic and have a better flow.4

Working with famed producer Casey Bates what did you as a band learn from just being in the presence of Casey?

Casey really made our vision come to life 100 percent, we all learned so much, we learned so much more about our sound even then we knew before.

Why did you choose this Producer to work with? Was there one album production wise of his work that made you have no other choice in picking a Producer?

That's a real good question.  We wanted Casey, because I had discovered the band Chiodos and there record Bone Palace Ballet, which he produced.  I just thought that that sort of feel that he did with there record, would be a perfect match for the sound that we wanted to go for, for this album.

Two Vocal approaches can create diversity in songs how do you guys play off each other in the writing process and also in a live apsect?

 2 screamers in the band, I scream, and Matt Sprio screams.  We basically figure out what types of scream would work best for each part, he does the lows, I do the mid's and highs.  Live it works out great.  There are even a lot of parts that I tracked on the album, but he does live, just so my voice can sound as powerful as possible live, and not go hoarse. 

Your songs deal with a lot of issues that are in todays society; Do you feed off others going through certain issues or are most of the songs you write about personal experiences to the band??

It's definitely a mix of both.  Some of the tracks deal with my personal issues, while some deal with issues that I see others deal with through my own eyes.  I really get influenced lyrically by hearing peoples stories, watching and reading as much news and information about the world, even movies, shows, really anything influences me lyrically. 

What topic in a song have you hit upon that you think you could possibly do yet another song about it cause it is a great concern in todays society?

I'd say domestic violence, and relationships. 

Where do you think your music is evolving to?? Have you been writing for a new record and any ideas when its going to be released?

Yes absolutely we've been writing.  It's evolving into something we're really excited about.  There is more experimental aspects happening with the music, we're all trying different things that we haven't done before, and we like where it's heading.  I know that both vocally and musically, I'm writing things I wouldn't have thought of on the last album. 

Where do you see yourselves on the record lable front these days?? Do you want that big sign or are you happy doing a DIY or indie label?? Any interest and if you could choose any label to sign with who and why would you want to go with them?

This band is really just about creating music that we love, and building as big of a fan base as we can.   I don't want to sit here and say a nice record deal wouldn't be great, but I think just touring, and creating music is the most important, if someone knocks on our door with a contract, and we like the sounds of it, that's one thing, but like I said before, we're mainly about the music, and the fans.  I think a nice fit for our music would be Roadrunner Records, Century Media, or Hopeless records, and really, any label that gives us the deal we're looking for. 

The bands philosophy pretty much outlines the music you create; Can you zone in on your opinions as a band with taking risks? And how far will you go to put yourself out there for critics and fans?

We don't really care what critics think, and what they're looking for.  We do what we love and what sounds great to us, and hopefully people grab on to it, if not, they can fuck off.  I'd say with the new material, the music is even getting more risky then it was before.  I think in this genre or in any genre for that matter, it's important to take risks and not play the safe card, it just makes the music that more creative in the end.   

How has your fanbase inspired the creative side of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED??

They've really inspired us and helped us on this journey. 

Who came up with the band name and why such a interesting name?

I knew it was a book,  but I really chose it because, lyrically I like to talk about baggage that people carry.  So, I thought it worked.  The Things They Carried, is baggage that people carry but don't necessarily talk about. 

With a record that is deliriously amazing we know you put a lot of effort into songwriting but what is the bands take on a live performance and what makes you guys stand out from every other band coming out in this day and age?

I think what makes us stand out is the energy and intensity of our live performance, it's also not put on, we don't focus on how good our hair looks, or looking like every other band on stage.  We don't give a shit about that, It's just really raw, and we all give each performance 100 percent.  Also, we try and connect with the audience and make sure everyone is having the time of there lives.

What song on the record do you feel could be placed as the song to sum up the band in 2011?

I'd say 364 Day Anniversary. or The Rationality of Failure. 

What song would you want to recreate off the album and change if you could?

I think we could just leave that record be, and focus on new material. 

Do you ever see a full on ballad coming out of you guys? Why or why not?

I'm sure there will be in the future.  We're really open to do anything.  We don't really force anything, whatever happens happens. 

Any other things happening in the bands life you want to let your fans know about before we end this interview?   

 If you're into any form of rock or metal, check out our album, buy it on itunes, amazing, cd baby, anywhere else online, check us out on facebook at www.facebook.com/thethingstheycarriedband.  Check out tour dates and see if we're coming to your town, we love to tour so let us know you want to see us, and we'll come out and play for you!