The Early November | Interview

The Early November have a long history, one that started in New Jersey,1999.The band was signed to Drive Thru records, the previous home of New Found Glory, Allister, Home Grown and Midtown. After 8 years of playing shows and having released two albums and three EPs, The Early November went on hiatus in 2007. After 4 years of being inactive, the band reformed and released a new album, In Currents, in 2012. 

Three years later, the band have released their highly anticipated 4th album, Imbue, via Rise Records. We spoke to vocalist and guitarist Ace Enders ahead of the release at Hit the Deck to find out more about what to expect from the new album...

HOW WAS HIT THE DECK YESTERDAY?
It was actually very nice, a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

WHEN YOU'RE AT FESTIVALS LIKE HIT THE DECK, DO YOU GET A CHANCE TO WATCH OTHER BANDS OR IS IT TOO HECTIC?
Sometimes it's a little hectic but it's not bad. 

YOU RECENTLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT ONLY SOME MEMBERS WOULD BE COMING TO THE UK. NOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE OLDER IS IT DIFFICULT TO ORGANISE TOURS DUE TO OTHER COMMITMENTS?
It's not so much commitments but lifestyle choices and how you want to live. Everybody would like to be here but sometimes you can't be. They'll be in the states and going some of those shows but you can't necessarily make it to the other side of the world sometimes. 

ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED WHEN EVERYONE CAN'T MAKE IT OUT?
If you can't it's not the end of the world, everybody's adult enough and we know that sometimes you have to sit one out.  

YOUR NEW ALBUM IS OUT IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS ARE YOU EXCITED?
Very much, we're very excited. 

DOES THE ALBUM TITLE IMBUE HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANCE?
Yes, it means what the definition of the word is (to inspire with feelings and opinions) and it's all about finding that inspiration. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG FROM THE NEW ALBUM AND WHY?
The first one we released, Narrow Mouth, I think because it sums up what I wanted the whole album to be in one song. I think that's my favourite. 

WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THE ARTWORK PROCESS AND IF SO HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON IT?
We just wanted it to be a striking photo and your imagination could run with it. It turned out really cool and I'm very happy with it. I like the purple effect and my wife is in the photo.

SPEAKING OF YOUR FAMILY, WHAT DO YOUR KIDS THINK OF YOUR MUSIC? ARE THEY INTO IT? 
Yeah, they're into it. They love the idea of it, they think it's really cool and it makes me very proud to know that I'm contributing to their development and this is a part of their life too. It's cool.  

DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE ONE OF THOSE PARENTS THAT MAKES THEM PLAY AN INSTRUMENT BECAUSE OF YOUR MUSICAL BACKGROUND?
I'm not going to make them do anything apart from be good people. I'll support them in what ever they desire. 

YOU WRITE AND PRODUCE FOR OTHER ARTISTS, IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS FOR THE EARLY NOVEMBER DIFFERENT TO YOUR OTHER PROJECTS?
It's very different. With The Early November, for me, it's a very freeing thing. I write from a different place, I don't want to say a darker place but I keep myself locked in most of the time and that is where I write from. When I'm writing for another artist I write from where they're coming from. I'll find that place and what they're looking for and pull it out of someone. 

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO AND IS IT SIMILAR TO THE EARLY NOVEMBER?
I honestly listen to a lot of Talk Radio or nothing at all.

IF YOU COULD PLAY A SHOW ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?
I would have to say my home of Philly. I guess I would like to play Alaska that would be fun. 

WHO'S BEEN THE BEST BAND THAT YOU'VE TOURED WITH?
I did a tour with a band called Steel Train once. They were real tight and real fun and we were really great friends so it was a really fun environment. I would relive that tour for sure. 

YOU GUYS WERE ON DRIVE-THRU BACK IN THE DAY, WHY DO YOU THINK DRIVE-THRU IS STILL SO ICONIC NOW?
I think because it was a really special time. They created something really cool without knowing it. It was a very pure, awesome thing that came to an end, a very fast end and I think that's what made it live on. It didn't like trickle out and die it just ended. It was something I'm very proud to be a part of. 

WHAT FIVE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE IMBUE THAT WOULD PERSUADE SOMEONE READING THIS TO GO AND LISTEN TO IT?
I would say different, focused, angry, desperate and inspired. 

Check out Imbue below: