A Conversation with The Verve Pipe’s Brian Vander Ark – HuffPost 8.22.14

Mike Ragogna: Brian, Overboard is The Verve Pipe’s first album in thirteen years. Why did it take so long between albums and what has been everybody doing during that stretch?

Brian Vander Ark: We had tried on a number of occasions to get back into the studio, but we were just getting in each other’s way, trying to recreate something that we had already released. It was tough for me to write and sing about teenage angst, like I had on much of our most successful album. Musically, it all felt good, but lyrically, it meant nothing to me. So we waited until the songs made sense. We put out a couple of kid’s albums to satisfy our desire to create – and that worked very well for us.

MR: What was the creative process like and did you find it changed after all these years?

BVA: Well, technology had made it worse for us to record over the years. Once you realize that you can move a kick drum or bass note by nudging it slightly backward or forward, that house of cards falls. So much time wasted, chasing the perfect tracks via Pro Tools.

MR: The title track is a bit dark and was co-written with Jeff Daniels. What’s the story behind the song and the collaboration?

BVA: I had this idea about a girl swimming in Lake Superior – a very simple beautiful image of her, naked in the cold water. Flushing that idea out, I thought it would be more compelling if she was in Lake Superior, but dead. I wrote to Jeff, and told him the idea and he loved it. I knew that he was in love with Northern Michigan, and would set the scene for the story, which he did perfectly. He even wrote a short story about it, with characterizations, and back-stories; all of the things that you would expect from an actor.

MR: Can you discuss the song “Hit And Run”? Its lyrics are pretty intense yet it’s set to a funky track.

BVA: The devil is in that track somewhere, I hope! It scared the shit out of me, writing and recording it. I was obsessed with finding the right lyric to convey that fear of evil – It started with an idea of the devil releasing all of the demons, and the last one out of hell needs to turn out the lights, because every demon is searching for me. I don’t even believe in any of it, but it still creeps me out that no one is in hell, because they are all busy looking for my soul. That idea with a killer drum/bass/guitar track? It’s nearly perfect for me as a songwriter, which NEVER happens.

MR: Which song on the album best reflects the current state of The Verve Pipe and why?

BVA: I think lyrically, “Carry On” best describes the state of the band. It’s the most autobiographical, with little jabs at radio and the status of pop music today. Making millions, getting high, pandering to radio doesn’t appeal to me anymore. Well…making millions on my terms would be cool and I still enjoy a good bourbon buzz…so…strike everything I said except pandering to radio…

MR: [laughs] The Verve Pipe’s hit “The Freshmen” was one of the biggest hits of the nineties. Why do you think it resonated?

BVA: LUCK. I had the rest of the song written before I even tried putting the word ‘freshmen’ in. I was sitting in my little apartment and on the coffee table was the movie The Freshman with Brando and Matthew Broderick. And I threw it in there. Months later, I realized how perfect it was, because most of us have been freshmen whether in high school or college, and there will always be more. It struck a chord immediately at the live shows.

MR: Your film career not only includes contributing music to movies but you also appeared in Rock Star, and a few other flicks. What is it about acting that you enjoy most and in your opinion, have you been employing a kind of cinematic approach when creating your music?

BVA: Acting is an opportunity to be someone else for a bit. It’s the same with the song writing. I’m always trying to get into the mind of a character in a song so I can write from their perspective. I’ve written so many songs about how I feel, I’ve gotten bored with that, and I’m sure fans have too. So now, having the opportunity to write someone else’s story rejuvenates me – and hopefully enables a lifetime of songs.

MR: Do you miss the days of His Boy Elroy and what did you learn the most during that period?

BVA: HA! Damn you. I miss the optimism and bravado I suppose. Those early days, if the band played a song start to finish IN TUNE, you had reason to believe you were the greatest local band around. I started writing back then as well, in fact “The Freshmen” was written just a year after that band broke up. But every other song I wrote during those days is unlistenable now.

MR: What advice do you have for new artists?

BVA: Write all the time. And don’t sign any record deals. Do it on your own, slowly and methodically picking up quality fans. That’s how you perpetuate a life in music.

MR: Is this latest project a signal of something more permanent for The Verve Pipe?

BVA: Well, we will never go another 13 years between albums. My schedule for solo albums is 2 years. And now that we have new members in, we are going to get this band on THAT schedule.

MR: Still got the acting bug?

BVA: Like the flu, baby.