Fort Lauderdale’s brilliant fusion group A New Way To Live Forever are set to release their third EP, Monument, with an exclusive release party at the legendary LA Whiskey A Go Go this coming Friday, so RockRevolt sat down with the four-piece band to get the inside scoop on the band’s formation, history, and plans for the future.
1) The band name is definitely a mouth full, what’s the story behind it?
RUSS: In my personal experience, choosing a band name has always been an arduous process to say the least. With this band, when the original guitarist Todd Evans and I decided that we’d actually name ourselves, it took a day. I basically went home and caught a snippet of the news on TV and heard the phrase “A New Way To Live Forever”. I mentioned it to Todd the next day and that was it. Easiest band naming in history. For me though, I truly like the concept of living beyond yourself through art, music, children, design, dance, painting, whatever. We view this band as an extension of our shared strong desire to make an impact through art.
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2) How did you all meet, come together, and form a band?
RUSS: I started the band with original guitarist, Todd Evans in 2008. We got Steve Velez to play bass and managed to put out our first EP Avalanche before going on indefinite hiatus. I was in another band also, and when that one went south in 2011, I went through somewhat of a writing renaissance and decided to focus my efforts on a new version of “A New Way To Live Forever”. Todd had since moved to Washington DC, so I quickly enlisted Velez again on bass, and my former drummer in The Numb Ones, Phil Tucciarone. Daniel Dyer came aboard on Keys and Guitar and we recently added a second (or third actually) guitarist, Stephen Rose. I wanted to surround myself with good people and great players and it seems to have worked out pretty well so far.
DANIEL: And we’ve all known each other for a really long time, having performed in various bands in South Florida for many years. We’re all friends, and I think have that mutual respect for each other.
3) How would you describe your musical style to a potential fan? To a rock writer? To your grandmother?
RUSS: To a potential fan, I’d probably draw some contemporary comparisons so that they had a reference, ie: ballsy, soulful rock, which might fit well on a bill shared with Kings of Leon, Muse, or the Foo Fighters.
To a rock writer, I’d add a little more depth and say that we love groove and hooks, and try to break the mold a little. We are slaves to the song, and it’s through the songs that we connect with each other and our fans.
To my grandmother (were either of them alive) I’d say that we play music that isn’t all screaming, and it’s something she might be able to tap her toe to.
4) Who specifically influences you musically and/or lyrically?
RUSS: Since I was young, my biggest influence has been Prince both musically and lyrically. I really like a lot of diverse stuff though like Fugazi, Slayer, Earth Wind And Fire, early Lenny Kravitz, Maggies Dream, The Cure… a lot of older EDM too like Orbital and early Prodigy.
5) What has been your most significant achievement to date?
RUSS: As a band, I’d say that the whole inception, crafting, and production of our latest EP, Monument. We got to work with Peter Klett from Candlebox (who produced Monument), and he fully gave us his expertise and his friendship like we were peers. He loves Will Ferrell, so that alone set things on a great pace. Monument is definitely our most diverse collection of songs to date, and I feel they have carved out their own tiny unique place in the rock n roll universe.
6) What are your band goals for 2016?
DANIEL: We’re fresh out of finishing Monument and still putting our 2016 plans together, but we plan to share this music with as many people as possible, live and otherwise. This begins with our release party Friday, January 29th at the Whisky in LA, opening for Orgy. Also, Russ has a bunch of new material we’ve been digesting. I suspect we’ll continue writing and recording, as the year goes on.
7) You have an EP dropping this month, what can you tell us about your writing process? Any notable collaborations or production you can talk about?
Russ: I usually write lyrics from experience, especially when I’ve written the music, as well. In the early period of the band, Todd would write music also. For example, when I first heard the music to “Balloon”, it sounded
inspiring, and uplifting… like we’re all in this life together, so let’s help each other out when we can. “Balloon’s” lyrics are based around that principle. I also get inspiration from movies and television. “Monkey In The Middle,” from our EP Rumoura, is about Jesse and Jane’s relationship in Breaking Bad. With “Monument,” I brought some demos to the band, then they add their personal flair to what eventually becomes the final song.
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DANIEL: When recording guitars in Tampa, Peter came up with a cool solo idea for the track, “I Saw Stars”. We ended up keeping that solo in the final mix.
8) You’ll be playing at the legendary LA Whiskey A Go Go with Bobaflex, RDG, Asphalt Socialites, The Lillies, and Death Valley High, the same day as your EP drops, can fans expect a full tour to follow?
DANIEL: We’re hoping the momentum we’re making now towards the LA show continues into the Spring, Summer and Fall. We plan to play as much as possible, preferably outside of our South East region. So yes, look for tour dates soon!
For more info and tickets, click HERE
9) What is your most ridiculous live show moment to date?
DANIEL: A few years ago, we were selected to headline at a very large outdoor beer festival in South Florida. Though scheduled to perform around 8pm, the bands were running behind schedule, as they often do. Around the time we went on, sometime after 9pm, the festival actually ran out of beer. We watched the nearly four-thousand beer fans in attendance swarm out, in masses, to the local bars. It was the craziest thing to see. Luckily, our loyal fan base stayed, along with a few hundred new friends and we had a great, though in comparison, intimate show.
10) What do you each do when outside of the music?
RUSS: Most of my free time is devoted to music, but I’m also programmer and maintain the band’s web site. I also spend as much time watching Will Ferrell and playing Minecraft with my son as possible.
PHIL: I’m a designer by trade, and help with the overall artistic vision and merchandising design for ANWTLF. Aside from that, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my son, who I’ve helped manipulate into a fellow Star Wars fan.
VELEZ: I enjoy time with my family and our dogs, and am big into sports. Unfortunately, I’m a Miami Dolphins fan and am very disappointed with my fantasy football team, coming in dead last.
STEPHEN: Music being my life, I am always doing something musical. When not playing with A New Way, I have a few other music projects I’m involved with. In the rare moment I’m not playing guitar I enjoy art glass design.
DANIEL: I’m an avid photographer and videographer. From a dream I had, I ended up creating our music video for Balloon, which ended up winning Best Rock Music Video in South Florida, a couple years back. I’m currently in the final phases of releasing my first photography book, which benefits a charity organization.
About A New Way To Live Forever:
Blending rock with strong elements of soul/pop with a heavily groove-infused vibe – Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s most exciting sounds in music today are coming directly from the amplifiers of A New Way To Live Forever. This four-piece band of extraordinary unified talent has been stunning crowds of all-ages in venues far & wide with their electrified, energetic melodic-rock. Making memorable music built to last, their catchy anthems, huge hooks and intense riffs have built up a massive following, earned the respect of their peers, and gained the attention of the music-industry.
Led by singer/songwriter extraordinaire Russ Rogers and including a super-group of talented players including Daniel Dyer (Guitar, Keyboards), Steve Velez (Bass) and Phil Tucciarone (Drums) – A New Way To Live Forever released their debut EP Avalanche to a massive wave of critical acclaim and local confirmation. The wild success and support of the EP led to the follow-up release of their second EP Rumoura in 2012, with professional engineer Jeremy Staska (Nonpoint, A New Found Glory) and the talents of well-known executive producer, Ed Goodreau, both assisting this band in the recording of this powerful album.
With full video support for two lead-singles; “Til My Heart Stops Beating,” and “Balloon,” (South Florida Rock Video of the Year 2013) lighting up the internet and solidifying A New Way To Live Forever as a band to both hear AND see for their electrifying performances. As the enthusiasm continued to grow and demand for their music drastically increased, this inspired band of four began to write and prepare for another incredible follow-up to their energy-charged Rumoura.
