What would you say if we told you Cyndi Lauper was a key influence on the latest album from The Amity Affliction? You’d probably say we’re lying, but it’s true, Ahren Stringer confirmed it when we sat down before their headline show at the Roundhouse on December 6th.
‘This Could Be Heartbreak’ is Amity’s most transformative album to date, with tracks like ‘All Fucked Up’ exposing capabilities previously unknown. There is also the fact that ‘This Could Be Heartbreak’ is catchy as hell, and full of gut wrenching lyrics that resonate with emotional honesty.
Having recently released a video for ‘All Fucked Up’ co-directed by frontman Joel Birch and Ryan Mackfall, the whole record touches upon, and then tears open the reality of living with mental health issues. Joel’s lyrics are equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking – there is a weight to the deeply personal story being told.
Ahren says; “‘It’s definitely easy to put those kind of lyrics to any song, it makes it an emotional song, I always love using Joel’s lyrics, just because they are so deep and meaningful. He just basically writes poems, and gives them to me in lump sums, it’s fun to be the composer for that, because I just get to choose what songs go with what music.”
“Joel never wants people to mistake him having problems for him having answers, it’s good for him to speak about his mental health because it helps people to tackle theirs, but I think a lot of people misconstrue that as that he can help them, but he can’t, the whole thing thing for us is that we’re just putting it in the light. People need to really find help professionally as well.”
The band announced on Tuesday that drummer Ryan would be departing the tour due to ‘ongoing mental demons’, and released the statement below.
“As a group of friends who have had to deal with mental health issues in one way or another, all four of us knew that the best course of action was for him to take the time to go home and get some professional support. It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but it is the right one. Our priority at this point is Ryan’s health, and that will always come first.
The shows themselves will all continue as planned, with Casey McHale filling in on drums. He’s an amazing musician and a great friend of both Ryan and the band, and we know we can rely on him to deliver the show you all deserve to see.
We ask that everyone respect Ryan’s privacy while he’s getting better.
If you need someone to talk to regarding mental health, please don’t hesitate to seek help from someone who is properly trained and qualified. “
Eight long years have passed since debut album ‘Severed Ties’ was released, and the lineup of the band has changed a bit too, Ahren acknowledges that their sound has developed as they have grown into the people they are today.
“I think we’ve grown massively as people since that first record, and as songwriters. When we listen to that stuff we’re just like ‘what were we thinking’” Ahren laughs, then backtracks, “No, not that bad, but i think we have learnt a lot as songwriters since then.”
“We definitely wanted to go a bit poppier with this record, we wanted to try new things, since Dan’s been in the band we’ve wanted to make some real 80s vibey songs. We were aiming for a kind of 80s stabby, boppy vibe.”
“When we were recording we listened to lots of 80s stuff, James Taylor and Cyndi Lauper, seriously anything from the 80s that was poppy, plus some Genesis and stuff, and at the same time, metal, rap, nothing was exclusive.”
Enthusiastically exclaiming that ‘This Could Be Heartbreak’ is probably his favourite track on the record, Ahren is passionate about getting the new songs out for people to experience.
“I think some songs are definitely surprisingly fun to play live, we love playing new stuff, i think most bands do prefer to play new music, and we’re just lucky enough to be one of those bands that continue to put out better music. There definitely aren’t any songs we miss having in our setlist, we are happy to see songs go and take a back seat.”
Supported by Northlane and Stray From The Path on this brief run of shows, Ahren says he has reached a point where all crowds feel the same, there is equal love worldwide for the band and the record.
“It’s fun, you get so used to it though, it’s just like second nature to us now, not that it’s any less special, but you definitely become a bit immune to it at times. Sometimes you do just have to pinch yourself when you’re on stage and you’re playing to a couple thousand people, and it’s like ‘wow, this is awesome’. Sometimes it just comes and hits you every now and again, and out of nowhere it will cross your mind, this is weird, I’m just a guy playing my music to hundreds of people.”
“Every crowd for us is really the same, anywhere in the world, it just differs in size. But if your friends are watching you’ll show off a little bit extra y’know, but in general it’s just awesome to be able to chill with bands that we really respect and actually listen to, it’s always just go as hard as you can every night.”
“It’s crazy to be able to play a venue the size of the Roundhouse as a headline show overseas, the power of the internet, means we are able to play anywhere, we went to Greece and Portugal, and people knew who we were and were singing along, it just makes you go ‘wow’. I would have never even dreamed of going to those countries, but playing shows there, and here, to so many people is a really humbling feeling.”
Top 3 with Ahren Stringer:
- Do you have a dream setlist? “Basically the new record [‘This Could Be Heartbreak’] from front to back.”
- Who is the one artist you would love to tour with? “Bon Scott”
- What is one album you deem as perfection? “‘Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses’ was a big album for me as a kid, but now, probably Turnover, the ‘Peripheral Vision’ record has been my new favourite record for about a year now.”
Catch The Amity Affliction at one of their remaining UK dates in 2016, and keep your fingers crossed for 2017 announcements.
Thu 8th Dec – GLASGOW ABC
Fri 9th Dec – BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Sat 10th Dec – NORWICH Waterfront
For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.theamityaffliction.net/tour.