A Holiday Chat with Danny Stevens from The Audition
By: Amanda Bawarski
Witty, charming, intelligent, and gorgeous are all things girls seem to call modern pop-punk musicians. Currently on a short north-eastern tour The Audition has been called all of these words, and probably some more seeing as they have a fan-base that is willing to follow them where ever they seem to go. However when I got the opportunity to sit down and talk to Michigan native, and lead vocals Danny Stevens I was refreshing dosed with reality, the Chicago scene, R&B, and some news about their last album Champion, and their recent writing. Oh, and did I mention anything about Australian flag boxers?
He found a simple spot where we both sat above from the stage, and the interview, which seemed more like a simple conversation based off of questions began. If you do not know anything about the Audition, I guess it’s time for me to give you a quick summary of the band. Joe Lussa (bassist) and Ryan O’Connor (drummer) started off in suburban Chicago, Illinois with a multi-talented group, releasing an EP called All In Your Head. At this time Bob Morris of The Hush Sound was part of the band, and after the EP was released: the members began to change. Fast forward a little bit and Bob leaves, and Dan enters The Audition to cover as a guitarist. Dan is a young man from Detroit, Michigan who dropped out of school, quit his job, and ran to Chicago after the former lead singer of the Audition, Evo Soria quit back in 2004. Sound ordinary to you? Yeah, I thought so. He found the Chicago scene that everyone always seems to gossip about as “Warm and welcoming.” The band however “Had quite the following as it was before I joined. So it was cool just to come in and do my thing.”
Time progessed, and the Audition finds themselves on tour with some of the biggest ‘emo’ bands out there. Not that they mind because whether it’s Boys Like Girls or 30 Seconds To Mars; the fans are open minded, as well as dedicated to the band; a tight knit following for the band. The internet brings the fans closer to them, but sometimes for the worse. “I think it’s good that you can have a hundred fans in a click of a button, but I think it hurts it as well because…well everyone has a band now.” A laugh, before his opinion on just how close the fans get to the band. “I think it’s detrimental for us, and bands like All Time Low. With myspace, and facebook people feel like they know the band, without even meeting them. So if you see this persona on stage, videos, all over online, and read interviews you almost feel like a friend to that person. If someone is having a bad day and doesn’t want to talk to anyone you are automatically considered an asshole.” However that’s the way it is, and he’s alright with it. “It’s okay, I’m a people person.” he says with a welcoming grin that is seen often throughout the night with his fans. Indeed, he is.
When asked about Champion he feels it’s done great with reviews and all responses, as well as the band’s musical taste. “We just took all the things everyone wanted to write and wrote a record.” The majority of the band is into rap, however Dan enjoys Country, Soul, and R&B. A few artists? Stevie Wonder, Dwele, John Legend, and Ray Charles. The Audition all can find common ground out their love of pop music. As well as a role model for Dan? “I really look up to Jacks Mannequin. I feel that he’s pretty much conquered everything, and that’s pretty awesome.”
So what’s in store for them now?
They have just finished writing some new material, and are going to be heading to the studio this January to finish recording what will be their third record; that has been rumored to be released March 2009. The album is “All the stuff we love from Champion, and all the stuff we love from Controversy”, which should be a great blend for all you older (as well as you younger) Audition fans. “We loved the soculful aspect, and kind of the groovy dancey aspect and blended it together with in your face with hooky, catchy choruses.”
Want to see them soon? Well, if you are in Australia; you are lucky. In late February and early March 2009 they will be part of the Australian Soundwave festival with some familiar names: Jack’s Mannequin, Forever The Sickest Kids, Nine Inch Nails, Minus The Bear, and I Am The Avalanche to name a few. He’s elated to go back to Australia, and when asked about gifts fans have given the band, he laughs. “You have to fly to get to every city in Australia. People found out which flights we were on, and waited at the gate with these silk Australian flag boxer shorts.”
