Written by Josh Mahoney
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
If there’s any band bound to put Belleville, Ontario on the map, it’s Amnesia Amnesia. They’ve already released their first EP, VS Bear, and the second one is to shortly follow. I had the fortune to interview Tyler Randall, the vocalist, and the newest addition to the band.
DP: Amnesia Amnesia’s original album (vs Bear) featured Todd on vocals. How did you get involved with the band, and eventually become the frontman?
AA: Well, I had known Jordan for years because he used to promote my old bands shows in Belleville, and helped us out whenever we needed it. Prior to his offer I contacted them about recording some of my solo stuff and it was his first instinct to ask me knowing that I was bandless. He sent me a text offering the spot. At first I was very reluctant because I wasn’t fond of the direction that they had gone in, but I loved the band name and was jealous of it prior to the conversations we’d had. I told him that I was into heavier stuff and he said it’s what they were aiming for and that was it, I was sold.
DP: Pretty cool, and good timing for sure!
The thing I’m sure most of our readers are interested in is your upcoming EP, The Eating Disease. What inspired this name, as well as the other gruesome gross names on the album? (Bones, Lidnless Eyes, Skin, Hangnails)
AA: I’m not positive as to where The Eating Disease came from actually. Jordan texted it to me in the summer to see if I wanted to use it for lyrics and I absolutely hated it at first. I suggested it later for the ep name and everyone was down so that’s how it came to be. As for the song names, I wanted to grab people’s attention right away. We already had Hangnails because it was on “Vs The Bear” but it was called “I’ve Got A Hangnail, Let’s Get A Room At The Ramada”.. don’t ask, I had no part in it! Though lame, it set a good stage for the rest of the song names. The other’s were just a play off of that besides Lidless Eyes, that one is taken from a horrible accident that I saw on youtube that involved a young girl and a drunk driver. It’s gruesome and horrifying so that’s as far as I’ll go with that. I personally just wanted song names that fit really well with The Eating Disease.
DP: Well it certainly flows together… disgustingly. Ha.
So the EP drops on December 17th, what exactly should readers/listeners expect?
AA: What you hear, is what you get live. Period. We did nothing on The Eating Disease, easy or technical, that we can’t do live. That was very important to us as it should be to anyone paying to see a band they enjoy. Expect pure honesty in every word and every riff.
DP: That’s the worst, is when you hear something amazing recorded, and live it’s nothing the same, a real let down.
Are there any guest vocalists found on the tracks?
AA: In my last band I got the chance to do a tour with the band From Man In Ghost and I absolutely loved that band. When recording with Mike Alsop, formerly of that band, we asked if he would be able to contact Pat and Jordan to do vocals and we were lucky enough to have those guys come in and work with us on two songs. Pat sings on Bones and Jordan sings on Counterparts. We couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!
DP: Awesome, is there a way for the readers to help spread the news about the free release?
AA: Tell your friends, tell your brother and sister, tell your pasture, tell your parents, myspace, facebook, twitter. If you visit www.myspace.com/amnesiaamnesia we will have all of our information there on the day of the release!
DP: Great!
Anything else you’d like to add?
AA: It’s free! If you love it, tell us! If you hate it, delete it and it’s no skin off your back. We want everyone to get it, that’s why it’s free. Paying for music sucks, having your music downloaded when you’re trying to sell it, sucks more. We didn’t put this one in stores for a reason. It’s a new start, a change, a new beginning and we want everyone to share that with us!
DP: Awesome! Thanks for your time!
AA: Always a pleasure sir!
