 |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Andrew WK
Andrew talks about fun, fun, being thankful, and more fun...
How does it feel to be back on tour in the UK?
Andrew: It's great! I was thinking that earlier, how it's really good to be back here. It was way too long to get here. I'm really glad to be back, now we're here it feels like no time at all since we were here. I hope we get to spend much more time here!
On your site there's a passage consisting of 'There is no point of reaching an ultimate success - every day is a new series of challenges and successes...'. which seems to sum up your attitude when it comes to being in the music industry, you've faced a lot of criticism and challenges but none of it seems to affect you, do you just see the criticism as "a new series of challenges", rather than let it wear you down?
Andrew: It's not that there's no point, it's just impossible! Criticism isn't a challenge, it's a thing that exists unto itself. It's an unconditional thing, it isn't always bad. People say good and bad things about anything. You can't start it or stop it, so I don't look at is as a challenge. All I need is an opportunity of some sort I can apply myself to and over the years theres always some chance to do your best. People always have something to say, but don't see it as an obstacle. Don't look at is as a challenge. Don't let one person influence you, think for yourself. If someone has a criticism, then over the years you will have a chance to prove something to them. I understand why people criticise, but hopefully I'll change their minds!
Where do you get inspiration for your songs from?
Andrew: They're really inspired by the chance to make a song. I was so happy and so excited just to beable to record a song with professional equipment, just to have the chance to make a really exciting song for people to listen to. Making a song that was exciting, and thrilling and big was a high priority. The music itself does, you hear a melody, it's so much fun it motivates itself. If you were a runner and you ran and ran and ran and trained and trained, your inspiration the next day was how much you enjoyed it the day before. Music is like that. Everything about music that is so great inspires it.
What should people expect at an Andrew WK show?
Andrew: We try as best we can to make it a fun time, expect an attempt at fun but really it's going to be up to you! It's up to you whether you have fun or not, it's a group effort by everyone at the concert. What should I expect from you? I try to make the whole room a big celebration. We're all there for the same reason, everyone's there for the music. It's a celebration, music is the tool, the reason to celebrate!
What was it like working with the Jackass crew? You all looked like you were enjoying yourself in the "we want fun" video!
Andrew: It was great, I've been a fan for a long long time. One of earlier songs was used in an episode, some mutual friends we had in common started the whole thing. I thought it as really cool, I was really excited when I hear they were doing a movie. I was hoping it would just be a long show, as sometimes when people make movies from tv shows you hope they'd do it as a lot of shorts and sandwich it together. We have a lot in common, but i can't meet the level of insanity that those guys live up to everyday! They go about living in the world in a way I think is inspiring. Young people of all ages should keep it in mind that a world that is very scary that a young person has to fight with, a young person needs to remember it's a fun house. You know how they play pranks on people? They always put themselves at the greatest risk.
What has been your best gig?
Andrew: Hopefully we haven't had it yet. I hope we never do so we've always got the hope that the best is yet to come. That won't give unsatisfaction but I'm content with never being content as it gives me hope. We've had some awesome shows, but never had the best. We've got a lot to prove, there was a lot of crazy coverage at first but we've got to prove to people what this really is. It's going ok!
What has been the worst?
Andrew: There's been some nightmare scenarios but they've always turned out OK. You'd think the worst would be in a foreign country but they've always been in the US. In Texas the whole speaker system didn't work in the whole venue, I thought it was going to be horrible but it was good. It's all about how you look at it really. I guess I always try to make lemonade when I get a lemon!
Andrew then starts asking questions about Muse for some unknown reason, for fifteen minutes.....
To your fans your music is almost a way of life, you have so many emails on the "ask andrew a question" on your site, how does it feel to see this devotion that you inspire in people?
Andrew: That's the whole reason I do it. I really feel like this is the reason to do it, when you don't feel like doing it, as someone somewhere is counting on you. It's a way of expressing myself and I love that it brings people together. I always liked the idea of a team. I love the cool mix of people.I love bringing people together. I love it very much and I love that other people love it. It's my responsibility to convince people that I'm serious and I love when someone says they love my music. Everytime one person decides to stick around that's a step forward, and that makes me very very happy. I couldn't do it by myself.
If you could tour or record with any band past or present who would you choose and why?
Andrew: Dropkick Murphys! I toured with them before on a festival but didn't get to see them much. I'd love to have them support. Other cool bands are Winnebago deal, who are playing tonight.
Do you ever feel that people aren't taking you seriously? How does this make you feel?
Andrew: I guess, it's like what can you do? I know how I feel, it means the whole world to me, so why should anyone else feel that, how could they? It'll take years to stop people doubting, people go in with confidence that they won't like it but what can you do? I'm very very serious about having fun. People think that if someone is having fun then they can't be serious, but I've never been more serious in my life than when I'm having the best day ever! I'm having a wonderful time. People often feel cluttered with anxieties and very real problems and sometimes find it hard to find a reason to enjoy life. It's not disgraceful but it's an obligation that someone who's alive should undertake the joy of life! When people die people are like "I need to mourn, i need to grieve', but in fact the people who are losing their lives still hope that you are still living your life to the fullest. That's what this is all about. If someone doesn't take it seriously, I'm not here to pick on people to tell them to like it. It's free, I don't need to protect it but if people like it then they like it!
What are your aims for the coming year?
Andrew: I'd like to continue playing as many concerts as possible. We've been playing concerts consistently. Since 'I Get Wet' we've played at least 300 concerts, I was to play as much as I can and spend more time in Europe, and record another album in a year. Just continue, that's all I can do. If I get discouraged or angry I need to remember how lucky I am to do this, and not to whine or freak out. I need to keep motivating myself, I'm so excited and so thankful for what I'm doing, I don't care if people think it's sappy but I'm a really thankful individual for the fact this amazing miracle has happened. While I have the chance I will not waste it.
Is there any advice that you could give someone who is just starting out in a band, is there anything that you know now that you wish you had known at the start?
Andrew: I try to always remember is that everything I knew then is the answer to most problems. How I felt at the beginning is how I hope I feel all the time, really determined. I spoke to this band in Japan and they weren't excited because they were doing so well, they weren't excited because they were over it as they've done good. I don't understand, how can you be doing so well that you don't get excited at doing so well? When you've worked so hard for it? I think about when I was so pumped up and excited. Stay true to your reasons and remember why you started doing this, and don't just play in your own town. Always go outside where it's comfortable and play as many shows as you can. You never know who's going to be there! Nothing will happen if you don't do anything, just DO STUFF!
How does it feel to be back on tour in the UK?
Andrew: It's great! I was thinking that earlier, how it's really good to be back here. It was way too long to get here. I'm really glad to be back, now we're here it feels like no time at all since we were here. I hope we get to spend much more time here!
On your site there's a passage consisting of 'There is no point of reaching an ultimate success - every day is a new series of challenges and successes...'. which seems to sum up your attitude when it comes to being in the music industry, you've faced a lot of criticism and challenges but none of it seems to affect you, do you just see the criticism as "a new series of challenges", rather than let it wear you down?
Andrew: It's not that there's no point, it's just impossible! Criticism isn't a challenge, it's a thing that exists unto itself. It's an unconditional thing, it isn't always bad. People say good and bad things about anything. You can't start it or stop it, so I don't look at is as a challenge. All I need is an opportunity of some sort I can apply myself to and over the years theres always some chance to do your best. People always have something to say, but don't see it as an obstacle. Don't look at is as a challenge. Don't let one person influence you, think for yourself. If someone has a criticism, then over the years you will have a chance to prove something to them. I understand why people criticise, but hopefully I'll change their minds!
Where do you get inspiration for your songs from?
Andrew: They're really inspired by the chance to make a song. I was so happy and so excited just to beable to record a song with professional equipment, just to have the chance to make a really exciting song for people to listen to. Making a song that was exciting, and thrilling and big was a high priority. The music itself does, you hear a melody, it's so much fun it motivates itself. If you were a runner and you ran and ran and ran and trained and trained, your inspiration the next day was how much you enjoyed it the day before. Music is like that. Everything about music that is so great inspires it.
What should people expect at an Andrew WK show?
Andrew: We try as best we can to make it a fun time, expect an attempt at fun but really it's going to be up to you! It's up to you whether you have fun or not, it's a group effort by everyone at the concert. What should I expect from you? I try to make the whole room a big celebration. We're all there for the same reason, everyone's there for the music. It's a celebration, music is the tool, the reason to celebrate!
What was it like working with the Jackass crew? You all looked like you were enjoying yourself in the "we want fun" video!
Andrew: It was great, I've been a fan for a long long time. One of earlier songs was used in an episode, some mutual friends we had in common started the whole thing. I thought it as really cool, I was really excited when I hear they were doing a movie. I was hoping it would just be a long show, as sometimes when people make movies from tv shows you hope they'd do it as a lot of shorts and sandwich it together. We have a lot in common, but i can't meet the level of insanity that those guys live up to everyday! They go about living in the world in a way I think is inspiring. Young people of all ages should keep it in mind that a world that is very scary that a young person has to fight with, a young person needs to remember it's a fun house. You know how they play pranks on people? They always put themselves at the greatest risk.
What has been your best gig?
Andrew: Hopefully we haven't had it yet. I hope we never do so we've always got the hope that the best is yet to come. That won't give unsatisfaction but I'm content with never being content as it gives me hope. We've had some awesome shows, but never had the best. We've got a lot to prove, there was a lot of crazy coverage at first but we've got to prove to people what this really is. It's going ok!
What has been the worst?
Andrew: There's been some nightmare scenarios but they've always turned out OK. You'd think the worst would be in a foreign country but they've always been in the US. In Texas the whole speaker system didn't work in the whole venue, I thought it was going to be horrible but it was good. It's all about how you look at it really. I guess I always try to make lemonade when I get a lemon!
Andrew then starts asking questions about Muse for some unknown reason, for fifteen minutes.....
To your fans your music is almost a way of life, you have so many emails on the "ask andrew a question" on your site, how does it feel to see this devotion that you inspire in people?
Andrew: That's the whole reason I do it. I really feel like this is the reason to do it, when you don't feel like doing it, as someone somewhere is counting on you. It's a way of expressing myself and I love that it brings people together. I always liked the idea of a team. I love the cool mix of people.I love bringing people together. I love it very much and I love that other people love it. It's my responsibility to convince people that I'm serious and I love when someone says they love my music. Everytime one person decides to stick around that's a step forward, and that makes me very very happy. I couldn't do it by myself.
If you could tour or record with any band past or present who would you choose and why?
Andrew: Dropkick Murphys! I toured with them before on a festival but didn't get to see them much. I'd love to have them support. Other cool bands are Winnebago deal, who are playing tonight.
Do you ever feel that people aren't taking you seriously? How does this make you feel?
Andrew: I guess, it's like what can you do? I know how I feel, it means the whole world to me, so why should anyone else feel that, how could they? It'll take years to stop people doubting, people go in with confidence that they won't like it but what can you do? I'm very very serious about having fun. People think that if someone is having fun then they can't be serious, but I've never been more serious in my life than when I'm having the best day ever! I'm having a wonderful time. People often feel cluttered with anxieties and very real problems and sometimes find it hard to find a reason to enjoy life. It's not disgraceful but it's an obligation that someone who's alive should undertake the joy of life! When people die people are like "I need to mourn, i need to grieve', but in fact the people who are losing their lives still hope that you are still living your life to the fullest. That's what this is all about. If someone doesn't take it seriously, I'm not here to pick on people to tell them to like it. It's free, I don't need to protect it but if people like it then they like it!
What are your aims for the coming year?
Andrew: I'd like to continue playing as many concerts as possible. We've been playing concerts consistently. Since 'I Get Wet' we've played at least 300 concerts, I was to play as much as I can and spend more time in Europe, and record another album in a year. Just continue, that's all I can do. If I get discouraged or angry I need to remember how lucky I am to do this, and not to whine or freak out. I need to keep motivating myself, I'm so excited and so thankful for what I'm doing, I don't care if people think it's sappy but I'm a really thankful individual for the fact this amazing miracle has happened. While I have the chance I will not waste it.
Is there any advice that you could give someone who is just starting out in a band, is there anything that you know now that you wish you had known at the start?
Andrew: I try to always remember is that everything I knew then is the answer to most problems. How I felt at the beginning is how I hope I feel all the time, really determined. I spoke to this band in Japan and they weren't excited because they were doing so well, they weren't excited because they were over it as they've done good. I don't understand, how can you be doing so well that you don't get excited at doing so well? When you've worked so hard for it? I think about when I was so pumped up and excited. Stay true to your reasons and remember why you started doing this, and don't just play in your own town. Always go outside where it's comfortable and play as many shows as you can. You never know who's going to be there! Nothing will happen if you don't do anything, just DO STUFF!
© 2003 Jen Thomas
It is an offense to copy, reproduce or alter content (images & text) without explicit prior permission from the copyright holder (Jen Thomas). |