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In the Shadows with As I Lay Dying
An Interview with Guitarist Nick Hipa
by Fake Train
With the recent release of their new full-length, Shadows Are Security, and a slot on the second stage of this year's Ozzfest, As I Lay Dying is gaining the recognition and overwhelming adoration they definitely deserve. I just had the pleasure to see As I Lay Dying's metal ferocity at Ozzfest and they were hands down one of the more vibrant and heavy-hitting outfits on the bill. With this interview, singer Guitarist Nick Hipa talks a little about everything other than metal for a change, which is a good thing.
Fake Train: As a graphic designer, I'm always interested in the album's layouts. How much input did the band have in the concept that the master design wizard Jacob Bannon (who also did the artwork on your last release Frail Words Collapse) created for Shadows Are Security?
Nick: The cover is all Jake Bannon. We had told him the general ideas behind the album, the concept; he took it from there and came up with the images of moon, skull, and androgynous beings. He actually gave us more artwork than we could use, which is a shame, because a lot of that stuff is incredible.
Set aside music for a minute. Are there certain films, books, or artwork that have really opened your eyes and inspired you as an individual, and as a musician?
It is a hard task listing them all because there are so many things that inspire me. Of the literary circle, e.e. cumming's poem "Buffalo Bill" and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea really struck a chord in me. Both bodies of work left me with thoughts and feelings that sort of changed the way I live life. As far as films, the movie Crossroads with Ralph Macchio, not Brittany Spears, got me stoked on trying to be a shredder. In particular the cutting heads part with Steve Vai at the end. I also have an odd obsession with Andrew Lloyd Weber's Jesus Christ Superstar.
Through all the touring, playing shows, writing music, and having this kind of emotional outlet to be creative, what have you been able to learn about yourself, not just as a musician, but as an individual?
I've learned that the only way I can truly be happy with myself is by being myself. I am finding this impossible to explain as I am thinking about it. The way I've come to see it is this: I am not here to be anyone's clone, striving to be anything other than myself will only leave me feeling inadequate.
As I Lay Dying were just over in Europe touring. I read you had to fire your tour bus driver. How'd you guys manage to drive the rest of the way? I know I have a hard enough time navigating around places I'm unfamiliar with, but that's in a country that I already speak the language and are familiar with the traffic signals. I can't imagine how nerve-racking it would have been to drive through those unfamiliar countries.
Chaos. Complete chaos. Navigating through Europe is virtually impossible without the knowledge of speaking or reading all the languages. We lost a lot of sleep and probably years off of our lives during that time. Surprisingly, we were in good spirits and found our way every time. What we did was organize pairs of competent navigators and worthy stick drivers (on the other side of the bus!), and the two what do the best they could at their respective positions.
What was your favorite country you visited while in Europe?
I love Germany!
Singer Dan Weyandt of Zao makes a guest appearance on the venomous "Control Is Dead." Dan probably has one of the sickest vocal chords in the metal scene (and is one of my favorite vocalists). How'd you hookup with Dan for the collaboration, and has the longstanding Zao had any influences on As I Lay Dying (because the closer "Illusions" seems to encompass the ferocity of Zao)?
When our band first started out, we were very much influenced by Zao. We have always liked Dan's lyrics and vocals. About a year ago we did a tour with Zao and became tight with all the dudes. When we were writing the album, a lot of parts in "Control Is Dead" seemed like they just NEEDED Dan, so we called him up and asked if he was interested. Conveniently enough, Zao was in town the same week we were doing vocals. Pretty much everything just worked out.
What would you say you are you trying to do differently with As I Lay Dying to separate the outfit from the countless amounts of metal outfits out there today (and even past metallers you grew up listening to)?
Our main concern musically is to write the best songs we know how. We are always looking for ways to progress our sound and incorporate more interesting technique, but our first priority is a cohesive and solid song.
Your tour on Ozzfest is coming up soon with hands down one of the best lineups. Does it get any better than this?
Unfortunately, no. It has to be all downhill from here because this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us. [Laughs]
I'm sure the misconception is that all the members (or all metal heads for that matter) of As I Lay Dying live on nothing but a steady diet of metal (which rarely is true). Steering away from metal, what are your top five favorite albums you like to listen to when you lay your head down to sleep at night (and elaborate on what is it about each one that makes it special to you)?
Pink Floyd - Animals
This construction of this album is my favorite. They have a similar short intro/outro with a very long and epic three songs in between. The lyrical theme is very dark and the mood is very sullen. David Gilmour's leads on this album are super tasty as well.
The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
This is a great album for me to listen to at the end of the day. Putting on headphones, lying down, and letting your mind go will optimize this albums impact.
Stevie Wonder - The Definitive Collection
Stevie Wonder writes songs that move me. So much groove, feel, and emotion. His music makes me happy to be alive.
Radiohead - OK Computer
Another great headphones album. I love listening to the basic core of their songs, and then focusing on the layers they put over everything. You could listen to the same song five times and get a different feeling every time.
Cat Power - Dear Sir
Chan's voice is so mellow and honest. This is a very soothing album, I listen to it when I've had to much of the loud rock.
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