Los Angeles-based rock band, the Exies, have unleashed their latest rock anthems and taken to the road on a nationwide tour in support of their latest release, A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth. Their art has taken on a transformation and they have upped the energy in their live show. With the recent bridging with 11-7 Records, a freer flow of musical creativity, a change in band members and their unique brand on the classic Talking Heads “Once In A Lifetime,” it will be interesting to see where their musical voyage will take them.
In a recent phone conversation with the Exies’ front man, Scott Stevens, we got the genuine truth about their debut record, the messages behind the music and how change is so important to the evolution and growth of a band. Pick up the phone and listen in…
CraveOnline: What was the inspiration for the new record, A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth?
Scott Stevens: There is a lot of venting, frustration, anger, fear, battles with my shortcomings and trying to become a better person. [Writing this record] was very instrumental in helping me to become emotionally stronger, mentally stronger and focus on myself like I never have before. Each record tests you and if you’re open enough, you will grow as a person and as a musician. The fact that, Dennis Walsh and David Wolf, my former guitarist and drummer quit after a good run with our last record and tour, it was pretty devastating. I am sure that everybody has a story about how you're down and you don't really know what's going on. You just know you want a second chance. You can't know how it's going to happen, but you put some stock in the fact that you want it so badly. As we started to write songs for the new record, we wrote songs just to write songs and not write songs because we had to write songs for the record. I think that's what helped to make A Modern Way... such a good record. This record wasn't designed for mass consumption or commerce. It was written because that's what we needed as a band, as musicians, as people. When Chris [Skane] came aboard, he felt the same kind of frustrations in his life and that's what made this whole thing come to fruition.
CraveOnline: Would you say that you could "breathe" a bit more on its development and the creation of the music?
Scott Stevens: Yeah... [He says with a sigh of relief] the label just let us run with it and do what we really wanted to do. [The band] and the, [the producer, James Michael], had a talk as the record was starting to develop, we could all see the light at the end of the tunnel. Alan said really delicate "Okay, this is from you and this makes my job easier." So, we came to a few conclusions about the music and how we needed this record to really work. It was key in making sure that the record had a point, a flow, was concise, had a point and was, in fact, finished.
CraveOnline:I've listened to the record all of the way through. It does move very nicely! It is well produced and the music hits harder. In that regard, would you say that "more freedom" would be the major difference?
Scott Stevens: I think that the major difference is... On Inertia, we were just starting out as a band and our producer that didn't have a grasp on continuity and concepts. We were finding our way and that's why our early material is so diverse in the songs. You can't have a record full of singles! You have to have a story when you write a record. I think that on Head For The Door, if I had a lot more room to create, it would have been better. That is why on A Modern Way..., it's a record with a vision and not just a product from the record company. That's why this is a new beginning for us and it's fresh. We have two new members, there is a new sound on the record and it's coming together extremely well. Now that we are on tour, we're seeing something that has never happened to us before; we are building a core audience. We're blowing a lot of peoples minds and getting new fans.
CraveOnline: A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth! How did you come up with the title and what does it mean to you?
Scott Stevens: Guitarist, Chris [Skane] came up with the title. I called him one day and I said, "Do you have any titles?" I was stumped and usually a good title can help me write a song. He had one title and that was how we conjured up the name of the title. I went home and fiddled around with it. At the time, there was so much deceit, anger and questioning about what was real. I suddenly came to the conclusion that this is the modern way of living with the truth. We're just so inundated with all of this other crap; there is no other truth than what you find out for yourself. This is how we have come to know it as. It's f*cked up, but that's how it is! [Brief hesitation was all that we needed to know that we were on the same page, we laughed].
CraveOnline: I noticed on the record, you made the decision to cover the Talking Heads hit, "Once In A Lifetime." How did you decide that you wanted to lay that track down for the record?
Scott Stevens: I always kind of liked that song even, though, I never got into New Wave music. I attempted to make that song heavier, but didn’t really work and we shelved it. I wrote all the lyrics down in one of my old books and a year later, I found them when I was going through old notes. I was looking for some inspiration. When I found the lyrics to "Once In A Lifetime," it just hit me in a different. I remember, it was a rainy day, I was by myself and I read the lyrics over and over again. Eventually, I got a real grasp of what the message and meaning was in the song. It made me feel down, somber and a bit mournful. So, I focused that feeling to those lyrics and I deliver that message in my own way. In short, that's how it happened.
CraveOnline:You've changed the direction of your music. So, does that change the direction of your live show?
Scott Stevens: I don't know. We just played a show. It was really high-energy and a lot more moody. Our shows have always been high energy, but with the heavier music, it just adds a lot more to it. I would say, it's just much more intense all around. We seem to be opening people’s eyes more than we did in the past. We don't force the music on anyone and we just play our music. Sometimes, we not on when we play shows, but 90 percent of our shows we get a, "Wow! What happened to you guys?" When you get new members in a band, it changes the whole chemistry. It's all about the flow between everyone in the band. There's a new shot at life, another chance in this band.
CraveOnline:If that's how people are reacting to your music in a life situation, how do you think people are going to react to your record?
Scott Stevens: I think that we are going to get a lot of new people. The fans that liked Head For The Door and our self-titled record... I am not sure what they think. Those records were produced so long ago!
CraveOnline: It is important that if you are progressing or altering your sound, it's a challenge to get your older fans to move on with you.
Scott Stevens: I think that the fans are going to love it. I do believe that there will be a certain amount of individuals that don't, but I can't worry about them. I love it and we're going to get a lot of new fans.
CraveOnline: As a musician and as a person, what are you aspirations and goals from this point on?
Scott Stevens: Well, I just want to live day to day, take things as it comes and enjoy this tour that we're on. This is an amazing tour and it's the most fun that I've ever had. I want to enjoy just that! [I could tell he said it with a genuine, glowing smile] I want the record to come out and do well, of course. If it doesn't happen right away, it's fine. If it takes a year of touring, then that's what it's going to take. I'm in no rush. We've made a good product (if that's what you want to call it) and since it's about the human condition, I think it's got something for everyone to relate to. It just depends on what people hear and whether or not they want to listen.
CraveOnline: On that tip, what do you think about the Los Angeles music scene?
Scott Stevens: [A strange silence causes me to tense up. Abruptly, an explosive laugh rushes out of my receiver.] Ummm.... I don't think about it! I don't think there is one. It feels very, very scattered. Ummm... I don't know what's going on there. We just played a couple of shows at the Whisky out there and we had a great time.
CraveOnline: What kind of advice do you have for bands or people getting into the current music business?
Scott Stevens: If you truly believe in yourself and believe in what you're doing, you must focus on what you want, persevere, and own it. It's the only way that you're going to “get there.”
For more information on the Exies, the record and their tour, go to:
