Jason Evigan - vocals
Spencer Bastian - guitar
Danny Morris - drums
TJ Armstrong - bass, vocals
Christian Meadows - guitar

“I could have been a lover,
could have been a fighter
But I didn't know how...”

Those are lyrics from “Fighting My Way Back”, a hit single from After Midnight Project’s debut full-length album, Let’s Build Something To Break, released on August 11, 2009. With emotionally charged lyrics, moving vocals and rock melodies that are bound to inspire you, you won’t be able to get enough of this band! If you didn’t catch them on their tour with Chevelle, they’ll be on Warped Tour all summer long.  mym volunteer Amanda got a chance to interview the guys and talk to them about some emotional song lyrics, an unreleased track about a break up and more...

www.myspace.com/aftermidnightproject     http://www.amparmy.com/images/stories/search

Questions written by youth volunteer, Amanda, age 16

 mym: Was there a story behind your band title? What made you all come up with "After Midnight Project"?

After Midnight Project (AMP): After Midnight if we touch water we turn in to Gremlins. It’s kind of like the money

mym: Your songs can relate to any teen or young adult who has or is going through an emotionally trying time. Were some of the songs in your debut album, for example "Let's Build Something to Break", about experiences in high school and not just the present?
AMP: That’s crazy you know the song Lets Build Something to Break. I have never recorded it before, but the title of the album was based on a sarcastic song I made up and was singing to my friend after my break up. I felt like I put so much time and energy into something just to break it down. But to answer your question yes, absolutely. I feel like age doesn’t matter when it comes to your emotions. When I was 16 I hurt just as bad as I do now. I have the same heart now as I did then. As I get older I feel my heart is getting harder and it takes more to break through it. I hate when people say oh “you’re still in high school, you don’t know what love is”… What they should be saying is “you’re still in high school enjoy that feeling of free love and not having to worry about bills and the rest of the BS that taints love”.

mym: Why did you guys decide to go into the direction of writing darker and emotional songs, and not something light? A lot of bands tend to shy away from touchy topics about depression and mental health.
AMP: I write what I feel. If I want to write a happy song I write a happy song. I think people like myself tend to stick to the darker more “emotional” topics because pain is truly a beautiful thing, and something that everyone can relate to. People shy away from pain, I think we should embrace it more.  A lot of positive things come from pain. I love storms because I know after the rain and the clouds pass the sky will be bluer than ever and the air will be so fresh and so clean (clean).

mym: Since some songs seem pretty personal, do you write songs right after you experience something, or do you wait a while to let things simmer down?
AMP: That’s a good question. It’s hard for me to write when I’m in the middle of “The storm”. Whenever I try to pick up my pen and write after a fight or a break up or whatever I feel like it just comes out to literal like “I’m so mad. IM so angry, My life sucks”. If I give it a little time and take a second to reflect on what really happened, it helps put things in perspective and makes my lyrics a little more interesting I think.

mym: It's pretty rare now these days to find bands who not only perform, but write their songs too. Were there any bands from the past, and even the present, that influenced After Midnight Project to do the real thing?
AMP: Yes! All the bands I listened to growing up, Nine Inch Nails, Rage against the Machine, Deftones Etc. The list is to long! I always appreciate when the band writes there music. But at the same time some of the greats didn’t write their own music, but what great singers and performers they were. You know? BTW thanks for asking the “Who are your influences?” question with a nice spin on it J

"Sometimes I wish I was never born In Hollywood I get so scared I don't know how to walk I'm always running unprepared"                                - Hollywood

mym: In accordance to the song "Hollywood", were there any struggles with having to change the type of music you make, or pressure to go with what the music industry wants?

AMP: I have had a lot of people throughout my life who thought they knew something tell me how I should be and what I should wear. Thank god I never listened to them. I always believed in myself and my music. I always said “Hey I like it so I hope other people will like it”. Hollywood is filled with “know-it-alls”. But no one knows anything, especially me.

mym: Again, with "Hollywood", do you think that the majority of today's music tends to lack depth and substance? After all, a lot songs are pretty narcissistic, or in some cases, about brushing your teeth with a bottle of jack.  
AMP: YEP!! There are some retarded lyrics out there. I guess if you look back in through time, whenever there is a war happening music tends to get light and fluffy. I think the best war music was during 60s though.  My good friend Robert Figarola said to me “Whenever there is a war people just want to hear dance music” I guess that makes sense now. There is a lot of great music out there with substance though. It just takes time to dig through the poo.

mym: You guys are performing with the Warped Tour for the whole summer, is there any stress with being away from home? How do you guys cope with the hectic touring schedule?
AMP: Yeah, for sure. It’s always hard leaving the ones you love for long periods of time. Skype is my savior, as long as it is around. You can really feel like you’re home when you put your headphones on and go into Skype land.

mym: What are your plans after the Warped Tour?
AMP: We have a few tours lined up that we cannot announce yet. BUT we do plan on recording a new album around Dec.!!!!!!! So exciting

 mym: This is pretty random, but was there any intent to make your album cover of "Let's Build Something to Break" symbolic? Was it supposed to be personal to anyone who deciphers it, or is there only one meaning to the art?
AMP: There is for sure meaning behind it, but we really like to leave it up to you to decide. It’s a pretty vague cover and we made it that way so you people at home can sit and look at it and just wonder. I love buying an album and just trying to figure it out for myself.

Thank you so much for asking real questions with substance. I hope people can learn from you. You got a bright future ahead of you.

mym: Thank you so much for talking with us!