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Paper Tongues Interview – June 14th 2010

June 30, 2010 By Max Specht Leave a Comment

I recently had the opportunity to ask the band Paper Tongues a few questions about their sound, album and dream collaborations…

Please introduce yourself and your role in the band…
Joey Signa, I play electric guitar and merch guy.

How would you describe your sound to someone who had never heard you before?
We are very much a fusion of several different styles. I think U2 meets Mutemath meets Journey. It is different. The only way of really knowing is hearing Aswans voice, then you’ve heard us.

What kind of emotions or stories went into recording your debut album?
So much. It was quite a collaboration. We all threw as much of ourselves as we could into one computer then sorted threw the mess and picked out what made sense. There was a lot of back and forth and it took lots of ears to complete it but that is what made it what it is! We’re not selfish with our music.

What’s your favorite song on the album?
I love Everybody and Get Higher. Both are emotional and have so much meaning.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be
and why?

I personally would love to work with Death Cab For Cutie. I love what they have created and what the guitarist, Chris, pulls out of each song.

If you had to cover any one hit wonder in music history (ex. Who Let The
Dogs Out) what song would you choose?

I love playing Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Won’t Back Down is such a soulful song that is simple but feels so good.

If you could go back in time and talk to a younger version of yourself, what
would you tell them?

Don’t be afraid of conflict. Often times on the other side of it is freedom and a path that wasn’t previously open.

How would define ‘success’?
Success is growth. It’s coming from one place to another in the midst of change. Success is never a destination, it’s simply a mindset.

Thanks to the band and Kaytea from XO Publicity for helping set this up!

Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With: get higher, octone records, paper tongues, ride to california

Paper Tongues Interview-April 29, 2010

April 29, 2010 By Ben Minsky Leave a Comment

Can you please introduce yourself and your role in Paper Tongues?
Hello, this is Devin Michael Forbes, guitarist for Paper Tongues.

How did the band get started?
We all met uptown Charlotte, NC at an improv music experience that happened every 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Saturday of every month.  We would plug a P.A. system into the city’s power on the corner or Trade and Tryon which is the main intersection in the middle of the city.  We all played there periodically and that’s how we all got acquainted found out that we all could play together.  Years later when Aswan was putting together a band, he called on us all.  We all dropped what we were doing for the opportunity to play music together that really meant something to us.  I dropped out of college and I don’t regret a thing.

Any particular reason for the name Paper Tongues?

When we came together in ’07, it was me, Cody, one of our buddies Nicolas Balachandran, and some of the other guys.  Nicolas and I had been in a previous band with Cody and we all felt some similarities with the two bands.  Nicolas asked Aswan if he would take on the old name of Paper Tongues and Aswan Loved it.  So, we adopted the name from then on.  Nicolas is now one of our main producers.

Your debut album just came out in March. How do you feel about the album?

I love it.  It feels so good to finally have something to put in people’s hands after a show.  We toured for so long without any merchandise I thought maybe we would never release this album.  But, I am very pleased with every song on the album.  I really believe there is a song for everybody on it.  It bounces around from so many different styles and hits on so many different emotions lyrically.  I still get blown away by Aswan’s voice when I listen to the songs.  Dude can sing.

How would you describe the sound of your music to new listeners?

Rock-n-Roll, hip-hop, funk, soul, country, folk, dance, trance, ambient, etc.  You really just have to listen to it.  If you only listen to one song from the album, you will have no idea what we really sound like.

What are your touring plans for the rest of 2010?

We’re doing some festival’s we’re excited about.  Bamboozle on the 1st of May in a couple days, and Bonnaroo is coming up too.  We’re doing a tour with Civil Twilight and Neon Tree’s which I can’t wait for.  After that, there is a ton of tours in the planning process, but nothing confirmed yet.  Lopez Tonight and Jimmy Fallon are coming up as well!

How did you get started playing music?

I started playing guitar when I was about 10 probably.  I was really into Metallica back then, but I couldn’t play any of Kirk hammett’s parts.  So, I learned every Nirvana song I could.  “Come as You Are” was the first song I learned.  I looked up to my older brother who was always playing Nirvana, Tool, Metallica, Allice in Chains, Orgy, etc.  I would make him show me whatever he was learning.  My first guitar was a B.C. Rich Mockingbird.  I customized it with James Hetfield’s EMG humbucker pickups.  Hah, I’ve come a long way since then.

What are some of your goals for Paper Tongues?

We want to tour as much as possible and bring this live experience to as many people as we can.  We’re really proud of the album and are going to push it on radio till your ears bleed.  This music gives us hope to keep on going, and we want to give that hope to others.  We want to inspire people to do something they love with their lives.  We want to inspire a generation with music.

Who would you say are some of your major influences?

Nels Cline is my hero when it comes to guitar, and Wilco is on of my favorite bands as well.  Television, The Roots, Modest Mouse, Talking Heads, The Cure, The Smiths, Pete Anderson.  I could go on forever.  Paul Simon, Tears for Fears, D’angelo, I need to stop.

Any last words for our readers?

Get up and do something you love to do.  Right now.  Get off the computer, unless computer stuff is what you love.

Filed Under: Interviews, News Tagged With: Interviews, paper tongues

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