Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Remember Paris

It is rare that I come across a band that not only has talent but also has the personality of a best friend. The guys that I am hanging out with today are some of the nicest guys I have ever met and better yet match the style and genre of bands like Panic at the Disco and Fall Out Boy to a T. Just by looking at their photos you can tell they know how to have fun. But as soon as you turn on a track you also know they understand what it means to be get down to business. These guys have been playing together for a while and have created a sort of cult following that is hard to replace. Not that I want to continue to tie them to the likes of Fall Out Boy, but their song titles match that mold as well. Regardless, these boys knows what it takes and have created some timeless tracks for our enjoyment. Sit back, relax, and get ready to meet the guys from Remember Paris. (Also note that these guys scream in a few of their songs. I am not sure how someone is born with a talent like that but I regret not being able to scream like these guys can. It boggles my mind thinking what his voice must be going through. Regardless, it is quite enjoyable!)

Where did you guys come up with that name?

There is a line in Casablanca where Bogart says, “We’ll always have Paris” it’s kind of a spin on that.

How long have you all been playing together?

We’ve had a couple line up changes in the last four years, and we got our new drummer Mike about a year ago.

Where did you all meet?

We all grew up in the same town and we knew each other through playing shows in different bands together.

Is there a ringleader in the band?

(Laughs) No, I’m sure if you asked us individually we’d all say  that we are. It’s a give and take kind of thing really.

Describe your genre in one word.

Indescribable.

How was it sharing the stage with Every Avenue?

It’s always awesome to share the stage with a national act or other bands that are doing well for themselves. It’s nice to see people are still willing to come out for shows with the way the economy is.

Do you guys have a favorite venue?

The Emerson Theater in Indianapolis for sure. They’ve always treated us great.

Who writes all the lyrics?

Mainly me, (Ryan) and TJ.

If you could be any cartoon character whom would you be and why?

Michaelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Because he likes to party like I like to party. TJ would be Popeye. He just seems to be so over being the little guy. Mike would choose Captain Caveman, because he’s awesome. And Ramsey would be Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants. If you knew it know that it makes sense!

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Unfortunately. (Laughs) We all work in warehouses to support our music addiction.

Tell me about the new album.

We recorded with John Naclerio at Nada Studios in New York and it was the best recording experience any of us have had. From day one he made us feel comfortable. We worked very well with him because he knew the direction we wanted to take the album. This record isn’t just hooks and sing along parts, it’s who we are. We put everything we had into it.

Who are some of you’re a biggest influences?

We all grew up with classic rock, so that’s definitely an influence for us. Thrice for their structures; those guys are super talented. The Ataris for the true emotion they put into their songs on record and in their live shows. We’d also have to say a lot of hip-hop, it sounds funny because we don’t have that kind of sound, but we always want to write after listening to a lot of hip-hop artists.

How do you know the folks over at Accidental Photography?

I believe he  goes by Keaton Andrew Photography now, but TJ saw some photos he had done and was super stoked on them. Keaton was based out of Ohio at the time and we really loved his style. We aren’t really into taking serious photos and he had the exact same state of mind.

Do you guys have any plans for a tour this year?

Definitely. We are going to complete a couple circles of the Midwest then eventually branch out east a little bit.

You have a pretty complete sound overall. How are you guys not signed by now?

We all think that now too many bands are too worried about getting signed and relying on the label to do everything for them. We started a band to play music not get signed and put on MTV. We are capable of handling everything ourselves at this point, it’s a lot of work but we get to reap everything we sow so to speak.

Where can I get some Remember Paris merchandise?

We are in the works of getting a Big Cartel account. In a couple months it’ll be available online and at all of our shows.

Who is doing all that screaming?

That would be TJ Greer. He’s a little tiger isn’t he?

I want to see you guys on Warped Tour.

We played a date last year and we are going to try to get more than one this year, hopefully you’ll get to!

Where did you come up with that album title?

We’ve been through a lot in the past two years,  but we’ve never lost sight of the “dream”. We’ve all supported each other day in and day out and we’re always going to do it. We are starting to get a little lucky now, but that doesn’t mean we still aren’t working hard so we decided a fitting title would be “…But A Boy Can Dream” No matter what, no one can take your dream away from you.

How do you think music will change now that the King of Pop is no longer with us?

It’s hard to say what will happen with pop music now. When he first went solo no one knew he was going to grow into an icon, but sooner or later someone’s going to take the crown. I doubt his shoes will ever be fully filled though.

Let’s say that you guys are about to headline a show at Verizon Wireless Music Center. Who is your opener?

.38 Special. No doubt about it. Ryan wants to do guest vocals on “So Caught Up In You” and TJ wants to take the tasty solo.

Any reason why From Backseat Kisses has so many more plays on your MySpace page compared to the other two?

It was the first song we got on the radio, and we’ve never released the demo it was on so it was kind of like a MySpace exclusive.

Speaking of MySpace, what are your thoughts on the service?

I think it’s great. It’s an awesome way to get heard but I think the days of a band getting signed off of their play count are over.

Are you guys on Twitter?

Sort of. We have accounts but we are waiting until our MySpace gets fully designed to put them up and to be active on them.

What are you drinking on stage?

TJ is all about Arizona RX Energy. Mike drinks Gatorade but Ryan and Ramsey usually just stick to water.

What is the single best concert that you have ever been to?

We did a band vote and REO Speedwagon won. TJ saw them when he was six years old. So far no one has been able to beat them.

If you could only play one song for the rest of your career what song would you pick?

From Backseat Kisses To Butterfly Kisses. We have so much fun with the song. We always have friends on stage to do it with us and it’s fun to sing along to.

What was the last movie you saw?

Avatar.

Did you like it?

Yeah. Ryan loves fantasy stuff like that. He’s a WOW/D&D type nerd.

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

If we’re lucky doing the same stuff we are doing now, except maybe making a little more money doing it. (Laughs)

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

We want to be known for being able to make everyone have a great time. We want everyone to forget about anything and everything that is bothering them and just party and have a good time with us for that 30-45 minutes we are on stage.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

Hammertime!