Daniel Williams - The Devil Wears Prada (12/07/2013)
Touring with A Day To Remember and Dream On, Dreamer, The 59th Sound chats with Daniel Williams, drummer for Ohio band The Devil Wears Prada.
Hey Daniel, how's it going?
I'm good. How are you?
Good, good. Where in the world are you right now?
I really have no clue where I am. I'm somewhere in Germany outside of Berlin. We're doing the whole festival run over here in Europe.
How's that been?
It's been great so far. Tons of big shows and lots of people coming out and I think we've been playing to a lot of people that have never heard us before which is really cool. We're on the main stage with all the big bands.
You guys are actually heading down to Australia next week for a tour with A Day To remember and Dream On, Dreamer so you must be excited for that?
Super excited. I was actually just telling somebody else that I just saw A Day To Remember last night and we all started discussing how we need to go on tour together again and then it suddenly hit us that we're touring together next week (laughs)
What are your best memories of Australia?
I have a lot of good memories from Australia. There was one tour with Parkway Drive where I just remember sun and nice weather which was wonderful. I learnt to surf for the first time on I think it's called Surfer's Paradise or something so all my memories are very nice of Australia.
That's good to hear. Just on your live shows, how would you describe a live Devil Wears Prada show?
I'd describe it as just metal, aggressive, heavy music that's fun to nod along to (laughs) Basically we just try to write the heaviest music we can that still has somewhat of a coherent thought behind it so it still sounds like a song rather than a bunch of cool heavy riffs.
Do you have a favourite song to play live?
Yeah I really enjoy playing Untidaled and Mammoth. Both of those songs are just really fun on the drums.
The band has been working on a new album, is that all done?
Yes. We actually just got mixes in last night but because we're still on the road and none of us have wi-fi right now we can't download them just yet but they are sitting in our emails. I can't wait to hear them.
I bet. What was the recording process like for the album?
We went into the studio with Matt Goldman and about halfway through Adam D (Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage) flew over to join us to, I guess, do some executive producing and it was a really good situation. The album came out amazingly from what I've heard so far, though as I said I'm still waiting to hear the final mixes, but Matt and his assistants were really cool, we got some really cool drum sounds. There was a really cool room for the drums to be tracked in. We tried different methods to get different sounds that we've never tried before to try and give the album a different feel and I definitely think it worked.
You mentioned Adam from Killswitch, what was he like to work with?
He's rad, man. He loves lobster and chicken wings (laughs) He's a cool guy. He's also really, really, really good at what he does. Pretty much every suggestion he gives you is golden. He came in without having heard any of the songs before which was good because we grow so attached to the songs that we don't want to change certain points but then when we have someone coming in from an outside perspective saying things like “that's strange” or “you should change that” you usually end up changing it and I think the product at the end is better because of it for sure.
When you are writing the lyrics and music what's the major influences behind them?
As far as the lyrics I'm not too sure because that's up to Mike (Hranica, unclean vocals) but with the music it's mostly just music we've listened to in the past. What's a really great influence to be honest is really bad heavy music (laughs) because it makes you go “wow, that's not very good. I can do so much better. Let me show you” (laughs)
So you just search the internet for really bad metal?
(laughs) No, it's more just stuff in passing. You'll hear a track or someone will say so and so band came out with this new song and I'll just say “oh, play it. I wonder if they've gotten any better” (laughs) and most of the time it's a no.
When you were growing up who were your biggest influences musically?
I know this is very cliché but Blink 182. I've always loved Dave Lombardo from Slayer, he is just absolutely insane. Joey Jordison of Slipknot is another one. As far as music in general it'd be Underoath, As I Lay Dying, The Bled. All those bands shaped a nice path for us to come along with.
Are there any bands you're loving right now?
I haven't been listening to a ton of heavy music. I do like the new Meshuggah album. Gojira's too. I haven't been listening to much heavy music but I do love this new band called Alt-J. I love them.
They seem to be all the rave at the moment.
Oh yeah, they're so great.
I guess just because you play metal music doesn't mean you just have to listen to metal music.
Exactly! (laughs) It seems that people kinda think that sometimes. They're like, “wait, you like Brand New?” and I just say “yeah, I know. It's weird huh?” (laughs)
It's good to have some variety. Just onto the band, you guys formed almost ten years ago now, did you ever think then that you'd be about to release your fifth album now?
Absolutely not (laughs) It's crazy. I definitely expected nothing more than to play some shows with my friends in some small basements really and people started liking the music and asking for more and more so it just keeps coming as long as the people love it we'll keep writing it.
Except for James (Baney, former keyboard and synths) leaving the band you've managed to keep all your original members which is very impressive. How do you think you managed to do that?
I think it's just the fact that we've all known each other prior to being in the band. We were all already friends and we've just grown up in the band. I feel like the ages we were when we formed the band and the time of our lives that it was it was just a nice learning process. It makes it easier to know when somebody is upset, or what makes them upset and things like that. Certainly makes it easier to live with them at all times of the year. So far there has been no fist fights, nobody has been killed yet (laughs)
(laughs) That's good to hear. What would you say is the best and worth thing about being in The Devil Wears Prada?
The best thing is playing shows and honestly, just seeing peoples faces when you're playing live music. It is awesome to share such an experience with somebody. As far as the worst goes, I'd say my body. It is killing me (laughs) Just for sleeping in a bunk every night. For having to wake up early for bus calls or flying. When you're doing this for ten months of the year for seven or eight years it starts to take a toll on your body for sure. Too much head banging (laughs)
So when you do get some time off from your constant touring what do you like to get up to?
Well when I'm on tour and it's a day off I just try to relax and play some video games or whatever but when I'm at home I live a lot more active lifestyle. I attempt to surf but I suck at it (laughs) I go snorkelling every once in a while. I go to the beach a lot. I'm always riding my motorcycle and I read a ton of comics (laughs) and anything that comes with that, so I guess a lot of nerd-em if that's a word (laughs) Lots of nerdy things like video games and such. I'm trying to get into rock climbing but I haven't yet (laughs)
You'll get there.
(laughs) cheers for the support.
You've toured with a lot of different bands over the years, who has been your favourite to tour with?
Honestly, I love touring with A Day To Remember so the fact that I'm going to Australia with them it couldn't make me any happier.
Are there any bands that you haven't toured with that you would love to?
I'd like to do a proper club tour, well, I guess it'd be arenas actually, but with Slipknot. We did a festival that they were on called Mayhem Festival but that was lots of other bands too so it's not the same as being on a four band bill with them. It'd also be cool to play with Iron Maiden. I love that band.
We'll make this the last question. After the Australian tour, what's next for The Devil Wears Prada?
After the Australian tour we are going to release the new record and hopefully everyone on Earth loves it and buys it (laughs) and then after that just more touring. We're always trying to stay out on the road and play music for people who wanna hear it so hopefully lots more of that.
We'll wrap it up there. Thanks very much for your time and good luck with the new album.
Alright man. Thanks a lot.
Matt Barton
Hey Daniel, how's it going?
I'm good. How are you?
Good, good. Where in the world are you right now?
I really have no clue where I am. I'm somewhere in Germany outside of Berlin. We're doing the whole festival run over here in Europe.
How's that been?
It's been great so far. Tons of big shows and lots of people coming out and I think we've been playing to a lot of people that have never heard us before which is really cool. We're on the main stage with all the big bands.
You guys are actually heading down to Australia next week for a tour with A Day To remember and Dream On, Dreamer so you must be excited for that?
Super excited. I was actually just telling somebody else that I just saw A Day To Remember last night and we all started discussing how we need to go on tour together again and then it suddenly hit us that we're touring together next week (laughs)
What are your best memories of Australia?
I have a lot of good memories from Australia. There was one tour with Parkway Drive where I just remember sun and nice weather which was wonderful. I learnt to surf for the first time on I think it's called Surfer's Paradise or something so all my memories are very nice of Australia.
That's good to hear. Just on your live shows, how would you describe a live Devil Wears Prada show?
I'd describe it as just metal, aggressive, heavy music that's fun to nod along to (laughs) Basically we just try to write the heaviest music we can that still has somewhat of a coherent thought behind it so it still sounds like a song rather than a bunch of cool heavy riffs.
Do you have a favourite song to play live?
Yeah I really enjoy playing Untidaled and Mammoth. Both of those songs are just really fun on the drums.
The band has been working on a new album, is that all done?
Yes. We actually just got mixes in last night but because we're still on the road and none of us have wi-fi right now we can't download them just yet but they are sitting in our emails. I can't wait to hear them.
I bet. What was the recording process like for the album?
We went into the studio with Matt Goldman and about halfway through Adam D (Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage) flew over to join us to, I guess, do some executive producing and it was a really good situation. The album came out amazingly from what I've heard so far, though as I said I'm still waiting to hear the final mixes, but Matt and his assistants were really cool, we got some really cool drum sounds. There was a really cool room for the drums to be tracked in. We tried different methods to get different sounds that we've never tried before to try and give the album a different feel and I definitely think it worked.
You mentioned Adam from Killswitch, what was he like to work with?
He's rad, man. He loves lobster and chicken wings (laughs) He's a cool guy. He's also really, really, really good at what he does. Pretty much every suggestion he gives you is golden. He came in without having heard any of the songs before which was good because we grow so attached to the songs that we don't want to change certain points but then when we have someone coming in from an outside perspective saying things like “that's strange” or “you should change that” you usually end up changing it and I think the product at the end is better because of it for sure.
When you are writing the lyrics and music what's the major influences behind them?
As far as the lyrics I'm not too sure because that's up to Mike (Hranica, unclean vocals) but with the music it's mostly just music we've listened to in the past. What's a really great influence to be honest is really bad heavy music (laughs) because it makes you go “wow, that's not very good. I can do so much better. Let me show you” (laughs)
So you just search the internet for really bad metal?
(laughs) No, it's more just stuff in passing. You'll hear a track or someone will say so and so band came out with this new song and I'll just say “oh, play it. I wonder if they've gotten any better” (laughs) and most of the time it's a no.
When you were growing up who were your biggest influences musically?
I know this is very cliché but Blink 182. I've always loved Dave Lombardo from Slayer, he is just absolutely insane. Joey Jordison of Slipknot is another one. As far as music in general it'd be Underoath, As I Lay Dying, The Bled. All those bands shaped a nice path for us to come along with.
Are there any bands you're loving right now?
I haven't been listening to a ton of heavy music. I do like the new Meshuggah album. Gojira's too. I haven't been listening to much heavy music but I do love this new band called Alt-J. I love them.
They seem to be all the rave at the moment.
Oh yeah, they're so great.
I guess just because you play metal music doesn't mean you just have to listen to metal music.
Exactly! (laughs) It seems that people kinda think that sometimes. They're like, “wait, you like Brand New?” and I just say “yeah, I know. It's weird huh?” (laughs)
It's good to have some variety. Just onto the band, you guys formed almost ten years ago now, did you ever think then that you'd be about to release your fifth album now?
Absolutely not (laughs) It's crazy. I definitely expected nothing more than to play some shows with my friends in some small basements really and people started liking the music and asking for more and more so it just keeps coming as long as the people love it we'll keep writing it.
Except for James (Baney, former keyboard and synths) leaving the band you've managed to keep all your original members which is very impressive. How do you think you managed to do that?
I think it's just the fact that we've all known each other prior to being in the band. We were all already friends and we've just grown up in the band. I feel like the ages we were when we formed the band and the time of our lives that it was it was just a nice learning process. It makes it easier to know when somebody is upset, or what makes them upset and things like that. Certainly makes it easier to live with them at all times of the year. So far there has been no fist fights, nobody has been killed yet (laughs)
(laughs) That's good to hear. What would you say is the best and worth thing about being in The Devil Wears Prada?
The best thing is playing shows and honestly, just seeing peoples faces when you're playing live music. It is awesome to share such an experience with somebody. As far as the worst goes, I'd say my body. It is killing me (laughs) Just for sleeping in a bunk every night. For having to wake up early for bus calls or flying. When you're doing this for ten months of the year for seven or eight years it starts to take a toll on your body for sure. Too much head banging (laughs)
So when you do get some time off from your constant touring what do you like to get up to?
Well when I'm on tour and it's a day off I just try to relax and play some video games or whatever but when I'm at home I live a lot more active lifestyle. I attempt to surf but I suck at it (laughs) I go snorkelling every once in a while. I go to the beach a lot. I'm always riding my motorcycle and I read a ton of comics (laughs) and anything that comes with that, so I guess a lot of nerd-em if that's a word (laughs) Lots of nerdy things like video games and such. I'm trying to get into rock climbing but I haven't yet (laughs)
You'll get there.
(laughs) cheers for the support.
You've toured with a lot of different bands over the years, who has been your favourite to tour with?
Honestly, I love touring with A Day To Remember so the fact that I'm going to Australia with them it couldn't make me any happier.
Are there any bands that you haven't toured with that you would love to?
I'd like to do a proper club tour, well, I guess it'd be arenas actually, but with Slipknot. We did a festival that they were on called Mayhem Festival but that was lots of other bands too so it's not the same as being on a four band bill with them. It'd also be cool to play with Iron Maiden. I love that band.
We'll make this the last question. After the Australian tour, what's next for The Devil Wears Prada?
After the Australian tour we are going to release the new record and hopefully everyone on Earth loves it and buys it (laughs) and then after that just more touring. We're always trying to stay out on the road and play music for people who wanna hear it so hopefully lots more of that.
We'll wrap it up there. Thanks very much for your time and good luck with the new album.
Alright man. Thanks a lot.
Matt Barton