MUSIC
Audiophile Goes on Record
Josh Brown
Listen to Audiophile's hit single, "Tonight"...
Check out Audiophile's website, or visit them on MySpace!
The following interview was conducted with Aeric Leigh, Lead Singer, Songwriter, founder and frontman for the band, Audiophile
So how long as Audiophile been making music?
Audiophile: We’ve been together for about a year now but I had all the songs on our first album already written before we were “officially” a band.
How did the band come to be?
Audiophile: LOOONG story but I’ll try to keep it short. Basically I was fed up with flaky, no-talent musicians who were only looking for a free ride, Chris (Guitar) was sick of playing songs he didn’t really care for, and Fred (Bass) was tired of playing in boring ass bands. So we basically all found what we were looking for when we made “Audiophile”.
What kind of radio play have you guys gotten?
Audiophile: Mostly internet airplay on places like ChannelBlast.com. We’ve also been on a few college radio stations in NY. Why do you have any places in mind where you can get us some more? I’m ALWAYS looking for more airplay.
You’ve seemed to have quite a few live performances under your belt. What’s been your favorite performance?
Audiophile: Wow. That’s a tough one. Fred once got us to headline a benefit concert up in Portland, ME when the Katrina disaster took place. It felt really good to be on that stage cause we helped raise over $10,000 to help out the people in New Orleans. But you definitely can’t beat the time this hot blonde ripped off her shirt at one of our shows to reveal an “Audiophile” bumper sticker covering her nipples.
Explain what it’s like to be performing live on stage?
Audiophile: Performing live is the BEST part of being in a band. All of us in “Audiophile” will agree on that. I mean sure, everyone would love to be making billions like the Stones or have a billion groupies like Kiss, but in our books the thrill of being on stage with people rocking to our music is what gets us going. And I personally take pride in the fact that in a world where so many performers have to use backing tracks and lip syncing, EVERYTHING we do on stage is live.
Audiophile has a unique style. Do you guys have any musical influences?
Audiophile: We all have our differences in musical tastes but one thing we have in common is our love for Rock from the 70’s and 80’s. One band I can think of that all of us in “Audiophile” can list as an influence is “Queen”. Although you probably won’t pick that up from listening to our music.
Did you always want to be a rock star as a kid?
Audiophile: I was BORN a Rockstar!!!
How well does the band get along? Are you guys pretty close?
Audiophile: We hate Drummers!!! The band gets along great except for all the Drummers we had to go through. But Gerard (Drums) has been cool so far.
Were any of you friends before the band came to be, or were just four strangers with the same dream?
Audiophile: Chris, Fred, and I go pretty far back. I was college roommates with Fred and Chris lived right next door in the same dorm building. So we were friends before we even thought about making a band together. I mean we hung out practically everyday through 4 years of partying, drinking, and getting laid. Shit, I guess we already were a band back then!!! And Gerard actually went to the same school too but I met him only recently when he filled the ever-changing Drum position.
Do you guys try to send any message through your music?
Audiophile: Most of my songs’ purpose is just to let the people listening have a good time and enjoy listening. But some of them have deeper messages. Like my song “Believe” in our Album is about our troops that are in battle right now. My view is that whether the reasons are right or wrong, we’re stuck in this predicament and I just want this shit fixed as fast as it can so that our guys can come home already. I want to BELIEVE that they’ll be home soon. And my song “God” is about how religion blinds people regardless of what religion it is. Two good examples: All the turmoil in the Middle East and the way that Bush won in 2004.
You guys appear to be self-published. Are there any talks of getting a record deal in the near future?
Audiophile: With the state that the Record Business is in these days, I don’t know if getting signed is the best thing anymore. But I’m open to the idea.
You’ve toured all over the Northeast part of the country. Any possibility of expanding your road travel past the friendly borders of the Northeast?
Audiophile: Yea, I’m looking into a small tour down the East Coast to Florida and we’re talking about expanding to around Michigan where Chris is originally from and eventually down to Texas where Fred is originally from.
Your press kit is awesome. Very professional, extremely impressive. Who’s responsible for it?
Audiophile: Thanks, I appreciate you saying that. I can’t go around spreading my idea to everyone but I’ll be vague without being so vague, if that’s ok. Chris was telling me how we should send video footage of us to clubs and all the various other places we’d send a Press Kit to. And it got me thinking, “Most people don’t have time to look at video but what if I sent them footage but NOT REALLY video footage.” The ideas just came to me and it became our new Press Kit. I actually made each one all by myself on my computer and it took me weeks to get it just right. But it was worth it, right?
If you could define Audiophile’s style in one word, what would it be?
Audiophile: Fun
Any meaning behind the name ‘Audiophile’?
Audiophile: Think of a Pedophile. But this guy jerks off while listening to music instead of looking at nude pictures of 15 yr old girls and boys. Pretty twisted, huh?
Where do you see the band being in five years?
Audiophile: Touring the fucken world.
Anything else you want to add?
Audiophile: Yea. Josh, you’re the fucken man and all of you reading kick ass!!! Now go buy our album on www.cdbaby.com/audiophile or download them on itunes. [smiles]
