Interview: Newamerica
Anyone who’s lived in the South knows that if you’re not a country band, metal band, or rapper–that there’s really no scene for your particular genre of music. If you plucked Newamerica (formerly The Discover Radio) out of Clarksville and plopped them into the local pop-punk scene in any big city there’s no doubt they’d fit right in.
Assault.it: I noticed you guys are from Clarksville, Georgia. If Georgia is anything like I remember (I went to school at SCAD) then it probably sucks in that area. Have you had luck touring locally in your area, and if so, what’s the scene like in that region of the country?
Jared: Yeah, Georgia seems to get a pretty bad reputation – not only for its lack of a defined music scene, but also for its lack of. . . well, things to do. We are from Clarkesville. We don’t kid ourselves like a lot of Georgia pop/punkers and say we’re from the ATL. We’re not that cool. But I think we like that about us – it fits. We’re just some honest kids who do what we can musically, and then hang out and do the whole small-town thing in the meantime. I guess we are what we seem to be – not trying to be city kids with bright purple shirts with monsters on them. Just normal, small-town kids. As far as the music scene goes, there isn’t really one – at least for our genre. And the bands that are in it, we’re not really into. This has probably been good for us though, allowing us to define our own sound and mature at our own pace.
If you had to pick your biggest influences as a band, who would it be and why?
Alex: We have a lot of different individual influences. Some bands that have definitely influenced us as a whole are Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, and Brand New.
Assault.it: I noticed that your MySpace didn’t have any tour dates on it–any plans to totour in the near future? Are there any other bands in your area you’d like to tour/play with?
Joel: Well, as of now, we’re in the studio for a few more weeks (which we’re super stoked about), we are beginning to book for the month of March and we’ll be doing mini tours throughout the spring to build up some hype about the band. We like to think that this is a new era for the band so we’re making sure that everything is sort of ‘ in-tune so we can take Georgia as a whole instead of bits and pieces. We’re currently booking a 3 week summer tour that’ll be all the way up the East coast. As far as bands in our area, there aren’t too many as it is. They’re either metal or country. So I’m going to have to say, as of now, we’re in the works of building a scene for this area.
Seems to me like you guys were early adopters into the pop-punk scene–any ideas where your music is headed next? Will you be at the forefront of the next major shift in the punk/rock genre?
Jared: We like to think that we were kind of part of this incredible scene from the beginning – well, as much as we could be for being our age. As far as where the direction our music is heading – it’s hard to say exactly, but I do know it will not be electronic. We did that whole thing, it got wore out, so we’re out. I think just solid pop/punk-genuine pop/punk – a genre that has been messed with and messed up by so many bands these days that it’s almost lost the very thing that attracted us to it in the beginning – that’s what we’re hoping for at least! We’ll see! I think we have the potential to redirect the scene, but we’re still learning ourselves (and I mean that doubly).
Can you walk us through the process in which you create songs from concept to actualization, especially the song writing process?
Alex: We don’t really have a set way of writing our songs. Usually either Jared will start the process with something he wrote on the guitar, or it starts with a melody or lyrics on Joel’s end. Once the song idea has been thought out, we add drums, bass, more guitar, and lead. It’s nothing too complicated but it seems to work out well.
What separates you from the rest of the bands out there on the scene now?
Jared: I think the biggest thing that separates us from the rest of the bands in the scene right now is the fact that we actually have a genuine sincerity for the scene. We’ve grown up in it and kind of know the history of it – so our appreciation goes deeper than the All Time Low rip-off band’s. That and the fact that we are pretty nice guys – we don’t think higher of ourselves than anyone else. We listen to every band we play with, whether it’s four hours before our set, or four hours after. We care about people, we care about the scene, and we just want to get as much out of this as we can. Also, we’re not trying to hook up with any of the desperate-for-attention girls that feed off the scene at the shows.
If we were to give everyone to read this article $3, what would you have them do with it?
Alex: I’d say buy some songs from our EP! Or buy some songs from other local bands who could really use the money.
If everyone we gave $3 was forced to buy songs form your album, what 3 would you say were your best and why?
Joel: Jeez, this is a tough one. Well, I really don’t know. We’ve changed so much since we’ve recorded those songs. I’d feel weird recommending those songs to anyone now that we’ve started recording our new stuff. But I’d say “I’ve Got You,” “Raising the Bar,” and “What’s Missing.” But I’d definitely tell them our new stuff is something to look out for!
Is there anyone you wouldn’t want to listen to your music?
Jared: Of course not! I want everyone to listen to us! Metalheads and gangsta-thugs alike. All are wanted.
On a dream tour, who would you be playing with? Who would be your openers?
Jared: Dream tour: Paramore (those guys are legit people), Hellogoodbye (preferably with the old members because they were hilarious), You Me and Everyone We Know (maybe the best EP of all time), and either Jimmy Eat World, Panic!, or FOB, just ’cause. I can’t imagine any of them opening for us. They are such good role models.
Have you had any interest from record labels? What would be your dream label to sign to?
Joel: Well, we’re working on some new stuff for several labels. We’d love to be a part of Fueled By Ramen, Doghouse, Epitaph, and Fearless. We don’t have an interest in the majors. We aren’t in this for the money. We love music and the people who love ours. Indie labels are where it’s at.
Have you had any crazy ideas to help market yourselves? (Such as secret shows, an impromptu show in a mall, or dropping your cds in stores on your own.)
Alex: One day, after Different & We Know It had just been released, we went to the mall to try and sell some CDs but ended up handing them out more than selling them. Back in high school I used to walk around the halls selling them to my friends or whoever I thought would by one.
It seems like you guys go way back as friends and aren’t just band buds–have any crazy stories that happened when you were younger, or while you were in the band?
Jared: Yes we do! Joel, Jordan, and Jared are family, so we have thousands of stories about our ridiculously awesome family times. And we know Jo from playing in a church youth band in middle school. One thing that I think most people will find hilarious – and they may get mad at me for saying – is that Joel and Alex met each other after Alex started dating Joel’s ex, then were on the same rec. basketball team.
Alex: There’s been so many crazy, awesome times. The funniest time was probably after one of our shows us and a bunch of our friends went to Steak & Shake. Joel was dared to drink from his coke using a cigarette as a straw. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.
Joel: Well, to set the record straight, Alex and I met before he dated my ex, which is even worse. But I think, like Jared said, we all go so far back that we’re truly all like family. Sometimes we fuss, complain, and push each other around, but there isn’t really ever any band drama. We all have each others backs. We’re like the Jersey Shore group in a way. I’m Mike, Jared’s Pauly D, Alex is Vinny, Jordan would be Ronny, and Jo would be Angelina (but mainly ’cause he has been here for the shortest of time). No, we don’t all live on the beach, we’re not super tan, we don’t wear sleeveless shirts or use hair product, but we do try and make something fun out of every situation that gets thrown our way. One time, when we played with Sparks the Rescue, there was this crazy, rabid dog in someone’s car, and Pat (Sparks), Jared, and I took turns taking people to see the dog. When they got close to the window, the thing went crazy. It’s one of those, you had to be there, kind of things. But you really can’t ever tell what might happen next. We’re a pretty fun group though. 
Newamerica:
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About the Author
Tim is the co-owner of Assault, and tends to think he can party twice as hard as anyone. Follow him on twitter @assaultEmail this Author | All posts by tim
I LOVE these guys! I wish the whole world knew about them. But at the same time, I’m glad they’re kind of my little secret. The world can’t handle too much of a good thing.
I agree with Lindsay. Although, I do wish more people knew about them. Check them out if you are reading this!
I have been following the guys since they were only electronic. They r so good! They have the ability to b any type of music that they want to b! I’m n love with Joel. He’s so cute. So is everyone else n the band though. Not to mention, they’re just good n general.
“I think just solid pop/punk-genuine pop/punk – a genre that has been messed with and messed up by so many bands these days that it’s almost lost the very thing that attracted us to it in the beginning.” – I love this line. Newamerica does a great job of sounding so fresh but not being a “wannabe” band. I love them from the bottom of my heart. I can’t believe they’re not signed.
Awesome interview! Keep it up! If Assault blog sponsors, they should pick up Newamerica. For reals.
Sweet ass! Newamerica is it!
I love how these guys are so normal. Listened to the music and it totally wasn’t what I expected, it’s actually incredible.