Interview
Blessthefall Interview
- Author:
- Review Date:
- 8/10/09
For most of 2008 Blessthefall did not have a lead singer but later in the year Beau Bokan claimed that spot. Blessthefall has gone through a lot over the past year and a half with member changes but they have picked up and are stronger then ever. They have already made a video for their song TO HELL AND BACK , sold out shows in their home state of Arizona and have been direct support for the tour with August Burns Red this summer. We had a chance to catch up with Beau, lead singer, while in New Mexico.
Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Beau: Hello. My name is Beau Bokan and I sing for a little band called Blessthefall.
How was the transition going from a band like Take The Crown to Blessthefall?
Beau: Well, it was a little bit weird at first because it’s a lot heavier. I kind of had to step my game up, I had to be a stronger singer because the music is heavier and more powerful. I practiced a lot, sang the old songs, they weren’t really too hard to sing but while writing the new stuff I really wanted to blow everyone away so I practiced a whole lot. A lot of hard work went into the new record.
Is it weird to sing someone else’s songs that they wrote?
Beau: Not really, because I take those songs and relate them to myself. I kind of make them my own. Those songs are really kind of open for interpretation so I make them mean something to myself.
Member changes are difficult in bands; how was the transition when you came in?
Beau: It was absolutely perfect. These guys are like long-lost friends because we all have the same sense of humor and we all are just so much alike. It was really weird at first because it was so perfect. It wasn’t hard at all.
How did you get in contact with them?
Beau: Well, when Take The Crown was breaking up I myspaced them. My roommate worked at Science Records so I had been hearing about their singer situation for about 8 or 9 months, and she was always saying “Try out, try out,” but I was already in a band. When that went down the tubes, I decided I might as well put it out there. Take The Crown played with them once and I was really impressed with their live show. After I myspaced them Matt had me write some stuff for a few demos. At the time they were trying out some dude from Versaemerge and they kind of liked him so I thought to myself, “Man, I have to hurry.” I took a laptop into my car and wrote a verse and a chorus for the song and literally sent it to them right after. The guys thought it was cool and asked if I could fly out and learn some songs. We went through the songs once, went through the demo and I had another idea (this was for TO HELL AND BACK), then went to McDonald’s, came back and went through two more songs, then they all left the room. I was sitting in the practice room by myself so I went outside into the lobby and they’re all sitting there and I ask, “What’s going on? Is practice over?” Then Eric asked, “Do you wanna do this?” and of course I said yeah. We all hugged, it was emotional. It was awesome, it’s a love story.
How was the writing process for the new album Witness?
Beau: Basically Eric would write most of the songs guitar-wise, bring it to the table, along with drum ideas in his head. Then Matt and Jared and Mike would have their parts and then we would record these rough demos live and I would just take them home and write and write and write. I would come up with ideas, think they suck, then rewrite some more until we went into the studio and even there I wrote a bunch of stuff. It was a lengthy thought process but in the end I am really proud of it. It’s worth it.
Who are your influences?
Beau: Blink 182 is my favorite band so growing up and watching them onstage I thought to myself ‘ I want to do that’ because it looked like so much fun.
So are you influenced by blink with the live performance?
Beau: As far as live performance, yeah, but obviously our lyrics have nothing to do with that. But they always write great hooks and when I write a song my first priority is to write the chorus and to make sure it’s good and that people can relate to it. I like to make sure it’s not too literal and it’s open minded and have people really relate to it. Lyrically an influence would be At The Drive In and they have really moved a lot of people.
Why Fearless Records over other label offers?
Beau: We talked to some majors and some other indies but fearless was the only one that seemed comfortable and right for Blessthefall. They have a hardworking street team and everyone is awesome there. Bob is such an amazing dude, he is just a real guy who tells you straight up if you suck. He loves the album and that means a lot to us. It’s really good to have a label behind us and he is blown away by it.
What would you say makes your music stand out compared to others in the same genre?
Beau: As far as music goes right now, the heaviest parts in our songs are heavier then a lot of bands out there and our catchy part are super catchy. There is tons of melody, whereas there are bands who kind of do one or the other while I think we do both very, very well.
The August Burns Red tour is about halfway done now, how has it been going?
Beau: Amazing, couldn’t ask for anything better. It really is, we’re all happy, we’re all being treated great. Everyone’s awesome. Jake from ABR is going to come out to do some guest vocals on the rest of tour.
The South America tour is coming up soon, what are you most excited about?
Beau: just the whole idea. I’m half Mexican so it’s getting in touch with some roots of mine, giving back to my peoples [laughs]. It seems unreal, I won’t believe it until we’re there.
Any last words for our readers?
Beau: Go buy the album! It’s coming out the first week of October and it’s called witness. We’ll be releasing a single soon and it will be out on itunes, so look out for
Can you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Beau: Hello. My name is Beau Bokan and I sing for a little band called Blessthefall.
How was the transition going from a band like Take The Crown to Blessthefall?
Beau: Well, it was a little bit weird at first because it’s a lot heavier. I kind of had to step my game up, I had to be a stronger singer because the music is heavier and more powerful. I practiced a lot, sang the old songs, they weren’t really too hard to sing but while writing the new stuff I really wanted to blow everyone away so I practiced a whole lot. A lot of hard work went into the new record.
Is it weird to sing someone else’s songs that they wrote?
Beau: Not really, because I take those songs and relate them to myself. I kind of make them my own. Those songs are really kind of open for interpretation so I make them mean something to myself.
Member changes are difficult in bands; how was the transition when you came in?
Beau: It was absolutely perfect. These guys are like long-lost friends because we all have the same sense of humor and we all are just so much alike. It was really weird at first because it was so perfect. It wasn’t hard at all.
How did you get in contact with them?
Beau: Well, when Take The Crown was breaking up I myspaced them. My roommate worked at Science Records so I had been hearing about their singer situation for about 8 or 9 months, and she was always saying “Try out, try out,” but I was already in a band. When that went down the tubes, I decided I might as well put it out there. Take The Crown played with them once and I was really impressed with their live show. After I myspaced them Matt had me write some stuff for a few demos. At the time they were trying out some dude from Versaemerge and they kind of liked him so I thought to myself, “Man, I have to hurry.” I took a laptop into my car and wrote a verse and a chorus for the song and literally sent it to them right after. The guys thought it was cool and asked if I could fly out and learn some songs. We went through the songs once, went through the demo and I had another idea (this was for TO HELL AND BACK), then went to McDonald’s, came back and went through two more songs, then they all left the room. I was sitting in the practice room by myself so I went outside into the lobby and they’re all sitting there and I ask, “What’s going on? Is practice over?” Then Eric asked, “Do you wanna do this?” and of course I said yeah. We all hugged, it was emotional. It was awesome, it’s a love story.
How was the writing process for the new album Witness?
Beau: Basically Eric would write most of the songs guitar-wise, bring it to the table, along with drum ideas in his head. Then Matt and Jared and Mike would have their parts and then we would record these rough demos live and I would just take them home and write and write and write. I would come up with ideas, think they suck, then rewrite some more until we went into the studio and even there I wrote a bunch of stuff. It was a lengthy thought process but in the end I am really proud of it. It’s worth it.
Who are your influences?
Beau: Blink 182 is my favorite band so growing up and watching them onstage I thought to myself ‘ I want to do that’ because it looked like so much fun.
So are you influenced by blink with the live performance?
Beau: As far as live performance, yeah, but obviously our lyrics have nothing to do with that. But they always write great hooks and when I write a song my first priority is to write the chorus and to make sure it’s good and that people can relate to it. I like to make sure it’s not too literal and it’s open minded and have people really relate to it. Lyrically an influence would be At The Drive In and they have really moved a lot of people.
Why Fearless Records over other label offers?
Beau: We talked to some majors and some other indies but fearless was the only one that seemed comfortable and right for Blessthefall. They have a hardworking street team and everyone is awesome there. Bob is such an amazing dude, he is just a real guy who tells you straight up if you suck. He loves the album and that means a lot to us. It’s really good to have a label behind us and he is blown away by it.
What would you say makes your music stand out compared to others in the same genre?
Beau: As far as music goes right now, the heaviest parts in our songs are heavier then a lot of bands out there and our catchy part are super catchy. There is tons of melody, whereas there are bands who kind of do one or the other while I think we do both very, very well.
The August Burns Red tour is about halfway done now, how has it been going?
Beau: Amazing, couldn’t ask for anything better. It really is, we’re all happy, we’re all being treated great. Everyone’s awesome. Jake from ABR is going to come out to do some guest vocals on the rest of tour.
The South America tour is coming up soon, what are you most excited about?
Beau: just the whole idea. I’m half Mexican so it’s getting in touch with some roots of mine, giving back to my peoples [laughs]. It seems unreal, I won’t believe it until we’re there.
Any last words for our readers?
Beau: Go buy the album! It’s coming out the first week of October and it’s called witness. We’ll be releasing a single soon and it will be out on itunes, so look out for