A Conversation with The Fray’s Isaac Slade – HuffPost 1.21.14
Mike Ragogna: How do you feel you did on your recent Jimmy Kimmel appearance and does performing on network television for millions get you guys a teensy bit nervous before or during a performance or are you hardcore broadcast warriors by now?
Isaac Slade: You know, I do still get nervous. Usually, when we’re trying something new–new song with new lyrics, new city we’ve never played in. We’ve done Kimmel enough though that he puts me right at ease. He’s so chill, helps a lot. We always say, “Hey,” side stage right before we play. Jimmy’s a class act.
MR: Can you take us on a quick tour of Helios‘ songs, it’s creation, et cetera?
IS: Yeah. We started writing Helios last January. We hammered out maybe three dozen songs, all over the map. Wrote with a handful of other writers on this album, which we’ve never done before. It was thrilling to see how the real pros get it done. We put together band demos at our studio in Denver and then started working on them at Henson Studios out in LA with our producer Stuart Price. He’s really focused but laid back at the same time. Absolute pleasure working with him. Busted out a dozen or so songs by the end of the summer and whazaam–our fourth record.
MR: Which song was the most challenging to create and record and which was the most satisfying after its very first studio playback?
IS: The most challenging song for me was one called “Give It Away.” It’s brand new territory for us, musically and lyrically. Took a long, long time getting that one up on its feet. The first studio playback of the rough demo was so great though–kept us chasing it ’til we got it right.
MR: What’s the creative and recording process like these days and how has it evolved over the four albums?
IS: It has evolved considerably. We can play our instruments a bit better than that first record–‘bit’ being quite the understatement. We broke free from some of the constraints we’ve had over the past three records and really let loose on this one. Usually, I’ll do 20 or 30 takes on a vocal track. Stuart came on the talk back after take three of our first song and said in his perfect British accent, “Alright. Think we got that one.” Naturally, I made him record 17 more takes until I realized he was right. First two takes were still wrapping my head around it, nailed the third with energy and fire, and then the rest were all tired caricatures of that third take. Never done that before. Felt refreshing.
MR: Has making music together for this long made you more close?
IS: It really has. Most bands start close and just start splitting apart more and more as the success–or failure–grows. We’ve had the opposite. Through the ups and downs of twelve years together, I still love making music and living with these guys. We’ve laughed and cried a lot together.
MR: What is the group or artist that influenced you the most in your life? Are you still a fan?
IS: Usually say U2, although that’s shorthand… Love that band, seems to sum up my influences pretty well. But probably the biggest influence on me personally was Third Eye Blind. That first record was unbelievably good. Still a believer to this day.
MR: Which cover songs might you like to take a swing at recording someday?
IS: I don’t know. Maybe some old school De La Soul track, or maybe an obscure Willie Nelson song. Loving me some rap and country lately.
MR: What is your advice for new artists?
IS: Man, I don’t know. Keep at it. Long as you can. If you do it long enough, and if you do it well enough, someone will eventually come along and pay you for it. No guarantees they’ll pay you enough to make a living at it, but it’s sure worth hitting it with your best shot. Glad we risked it all. Got to quit our ice cream and coffee jobs…literally.