Words With: The Calling

The last time that The Calling appeared on these pages, they were listed as being ‘pop’. Not long since they were last in this part of the world they’ve returned for bigger shows, so Gigwise thought it’d take some time to have a word with front man Alex Band about whether or not the band are pop, how they’re perceived across the globe, and also that dodgy cover of ‘London Calling’. We got more than we bargained for, with a touch of Hollywood thrown in…

Gigwise: How’s the tour going?

Alex Band: It’s been good, we’ve been on tour for 9 months and this is our sixth trip to the UK this year already. Yesterday was the first show of this stint, it’s good because we’re playing bigger places this time, there seems like a growing fan base with older fans this time too.

G: It was only back in July that you were last in Manchester…

AB: I guess people want to see us again!

G: Are there any differences to the summer shows at the smaller venues?

AB: Yeah, the shows are longer, we’re playing some cover songs and songs that fans wouldn’t expect us to play. I think we’ve gotten a lot better, we’ve a new band that’s been playing together for about 9 months but in the last few we’ve gotten much better.

G: ‘Anything’ is the new single, why have you chosen to release it?

AB: I felt it was the strongest song on the record; I would have had it be the first single. It’s a big love song, more along the lines of ‘Wherever You Will Go’, which did so well for us. It’s a song I wrote for my wife, and she’s actually the star of the video, so it’s special.

G: Are you bored of ‘Wherever You Will Go’, and just being associated with that one song?

AB: I owe everything that song, so I’m very respectful of it. I’m not bored of playing it, but the point of the new record is to move on and take people off of that. But I don’t think any song will ever be quite as prolific as that song for us, because it introduced us to everybody and it’s what we’ll be remembered by. I’m hoping a song like ‘Anything’ will do really well, but I’m not expecting it to do as well as ‘Wherever You Will Go’.

G: How has your music developed between the records?

AB: It’s less personal, this record has been written for a world audience. There are bigger messages and bigger ideas in the songs. On the first record we were just sitting in a garage, we didn’t know who we were writing for and had no money, so we just wrote about a girl who had broke our heart or losing someone close to us. This record has bigger ideas for everybody.

G: Have you started working on new material?

AB: No.

G: Any ideas how you’d like your new record to sound?

AB: Probably go even more along the lines of U2, incorporate sequencing and more of the computerised world of rock music. It’ll still be the same but a little more evolved. We’ve only made two records, and I think the second is more grown up than the first.

G: Do you have.phpirations to do more production?

AB: Before this record came out, we built a studio in Aaron’s house because he doesn’t like to do the visual side of things or touring. So while I’m out here doing this he’s at home working with other artists, and me and him produce and write for other people. One of the acts we’re actually writing with right now are Busted.

G: Why did you do the cover of ‘London Calling’? Would you say The Clash is an influence?

AB: We did it for Party in the Park, because they wanted us to, and did it at a couple of shows around that time. They’re probably a little more dirty rock than what I’m into, but they were great songwriters, and a great live band. I wouldn’t say they’re one of our biggest influences, but they’re definitely an influence.

G: Who are your influences?

AB: U2 obviously is one, Pearl Jam I love. Growing up I would say the influences were The Beatles, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Bowie – a lot of the bands from the UK.

G: Do you consider yourself a pop group or a rock group?

AB: We consider ourselves a rock group, and unfortunately we have screaming girl fans but it is what it is. A rock band does it all themselves, and I’ve always done that. I write the songs, produce the records, sign the label and run the business in everyway. I think a pop group you usually associate with someone that’s being manipulated by someone behind them.

G: Do you see a pop group as something manufactured?

AB: Yeah, and there’s absolutely nothing manufactured about what we’re doing at all. The only difference between a normal rock band and us is that I think in a normal rock band you have five people who are equally split and they create the band together. In our band the only two people signed to the label are me and Aaron (Kamin), we’re the only people running the business, making the records and writing the songs, then we hire people to play with us.

G: Would you prefer to have an older fan base?

AB: I think it’s fine; it’s quite a split and depends where we are. In America we have a lot of adult fans, and in Brazil where we were last week it’s like 10,000 screaming girls! But even though there are screaming girls I think they’re still there for the music. Maybe what first attracted them to the band was the video, but nobody will buy a record because you look cute, they’re going to buy it for the music.

G: Where are you most popular? How does your profile in the UK and America compare?

AB: Brazil is up there, a lot of places in Asia, and parts of Europe such as Italy. The UK is a really hard market, and though people know who we are we’re still making our way. America is a huge place and it’s difficult with radio there. ‘Wherever You Will Go’ was the biggest song of the year two years ago, so people know us for that, and last year I had a number one with Santana not as The Calling but as Alex Band, so radio knows who I am. This record has had songs on TV and movies, but ‘Our Lives’ didn’t break top ten in radio, so we’re still working. I’d like to be better known, because it would be a lot more touring at home, but if we were as big there as we are in Brazil I wouldn’t be able to have a normal life there. I’m happy with the way it is for now.

At this point there’s a knock on the door, and expecting interview time to be up Gigwise turns around to see… Band’s wife, who happens to be the beautiful actress Jennifer Sky. It’s a pleasant interruption with Band referring to her as “sweetheart”, and though some younger fans may be disgruntled by his marriage, it is pretty rock ‘n’ roll to have a thespian partner.

G: What do you hope to achieve short term and long term?

AB: Short term with this record is to do as well sales-wise and popularity-wise as the first record. There are a lot more singles on this record and so we have more chances to make it happen bigger. I’d also like to clear up that we are a rock band and not a pop band. Unfortunately I do a lot of pop press in the UK and it’s probably the only place in the world where I do a lot of it. I’d like for people to realise we are a real band, that’s why we play shows so people can see we’re real musicians. Long term to keep growing musically is ideal; our first record wasn’t so big that we’d have to go backward. To sell more records, gain more fans, and have a career is what you want.

G: How would you like The Calling to be remembered?

AB: For writing positive songs that bring people together. The second record is a lot more positive than the first, so to be remembered in that way would be pretty cool. A lot of fans tell me our music helps them through situations they are going through, and even though you don’t think about it while writing, it’s always a nice surprise to hear.

The Calling can’t choose who buys their records, goes to their concerts, or the looks they were born with. In Alex Band they have a front man who is a good-looking guy, so naturally attracts the attention of young girls, but he is passionate about his songs. He proves it on stage later that night, and he is right about his audience - throughout the hundreds of adoring girls, there are adults of both male and female, singing along to every word. The Calling may look like a pop band, but they do rock as well.

‘Anything’ is released on November 1st on RCA/BMG