Words - Emma Bowdidge
Seattle rock band Fall From Grace have just released their 3rd studio album ‘The Romance Years‘ via Road To Hell RekKids (an indie label based in Seattle, Washington) - Lead vocalist Tryg Sebastian Littlefield talks to Noise Addiction about the new record amoungst other news including how their record release show went at the Neptune Theatre, Seattle and the filming for their new music video for single ’18 and Out’.
For our readers that haven’t heard of Fall From Grace yet – Can you give us a brief history of the band?
Fall From Grace formed in May of 2004, when we released our first EP called Rise From The Ashes, recorded in our own practice space. In 2007 we recorded and released our first full length CD, Covered in Scars. At that point the 4 members had all quit our jobs to persue music. We toured extensively on our own until we joined the competition Bodog Music’s Battle of the Bands. We did 3 rounds locally in Seattle, and then graduated to the filming of the TV show. Fall From Grace endured 9 weeks of the filming of this TV show which took place across the United States. Cities such as Cleveland, Memphis, New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles, and Vancouver BC were the hosts of this television show (which aired on FUSE TV in 2007). We eventually won the grand prize of a $1,000,000 record deal, beating out over 7,000 bands across the lower 48 of the United States of America. We recorded in 2008 the album Sifting Through the Wreckage, and in 2009 we toured that album in 14 countries, traveling for 6 months playing 155 shows in 180 days. In 2010, we fulfilled our contract with Bodog Music, and started working on our latest release, The Romance Years. I opnened my own record label (Road 2 Hell Rekkids, LLC), and found out the avenues to market our new record. After spending a year in the studio writing and recording The Romance Years, we put the band back together! Fall From Grace’s original rhythm section left the band in 2009 to persue directions other than music, and in 2010 Fall From Grace welcomed new members Jesse Smith, Ty McDonald, and Justin McDonald. These 3 new members have been old friends for a very long time. Now, with the release of The Romance Years, Fall From Grace are very excited about getting out there again and bringing it to the masses!
After 4 years you’ve just released your 3rd full length album ‘The Romance Years’ – Why did it take so long?
My apologies, I think I answered this question above! But for the most part, the album was written and recorded by myself (Tryg Sebastian Littlefield), Brian Olson, and the 5th Beatle to Fall From Grace, Mike Caviezel. We wanted to cross boundaries and expand our sound. After spending over a year in the studio, we did exactly that.
How’s it being received by fans, new listeners and press?
New fans and press are loving the new sound from Fall From Grace! This brings a tear of joy to me because for the first time we wanted to release an album that wasn’t target marketed to a specific type of audience. We wrote this record for us, and had hopes that it would be received well. The approval is literally music to our ears!
How did you find writing and recording the album compared to your previous albums?
Again I have touched on this. However, usually when bands are “under the gun” they’re wipping out music so that their momentum isn’t lost and people don’t forget about them. We didn’t really care about that, however. We all wanted to create an album that we were all very proud of. I think we accomplished that with The Romance Years.
How’d your release show go on 27th January at the Neptune Theatre, Seattle? You were filming for your first music video since 2008 right?
Yes, we were filming the video for 18 & Out, which will be getting airplay from mid March on. The opportunity to play on such a legendary stage was absolutely phenomenal, but most importantly it was the first local based show that the Neptune has EVER done! What that means, exactly, is that the entire lineup was from local acts. Up until now, the venue has only seen national touring acts. We were able to break that chain, and show everyone that not only could the local scene represent, but come close to selling it out!
Yes, also it was the first time that Fall From Grace has had the opportunity to work with Ryan and Adam from King of Hearts, Productions in the creation of a music video. Working with these two people is always an amazing experience! In 2008, we filmed 3 videos in 23 days! Talk about exhaustion that followed THAT experience! Although difficult, King of Hearts buckle down and get things done! In a timely fashion, a wonderful work flow, and an experience that lasts a lifetime! They are not only my very good friends, but trusted colleagues in creating the image that represents Fall From Grace.
If you could share the stage with one act, who would it be?
One act to share the stage with? Man oh man that’s a hard one!! We’ve had the opportunity to share the stage with great acts such as Faith No More, Motley Crue, ZZ Top, Marliyn Manson, and Katy Perry.
I think I’d have to say that the one great opportunity would be to perform with Queen while Freddy Mercury was still alive. Not only were they a phenomenal act, they were very adept in theater, and Mercury…he was one hell of a performer! And his voice and their songwriting have single handedly influenced hundreds if not thousands of artists!
What’s it like being a band in Seattle?
Well, being from Seattle, you learn to love coffee, and speak the language of the “coffee snob”! I say this tongue in cheek, but sadly it’s very true. The coffee flows as strong as the rain, and the art that is created from it is exceptional!
Seattle is a wonderful place to live, although the people can be somewhat distant at times. I only say this because I have done extensive traveling. Seattle is the best on the West Coast, however the passive aggression can be trying at times.
Being in a band from the West Coast is quite fun, actually. Fans are super dedicated, and absolutely ecstatic about their bands! They love music, art, and everything that seems to represent their local scene. We’re quite blessed to be from Seattle, especially with punk bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam paving the way.
What else can we expect from Fall From Grace this year?
You can expect Fall From Grace to surprise you, the listener, by engaging everyone we meet, to throw down harder than most bands, and give you an experience that will last quite a long time! Our live show is pretty exceptional, although not crazy and “over the top” as most. Just good music with an intimate setting, bringing across that “up close and personal” feeling. I guarantee that anyone that sees us this year will remember us for awhile!
If you wern’t in a band, what do you think you’ll be doing with your life?
Wow…um that’s really the hardest question of all! The “What If” Question.
I’d be a lawyer, most likely. With the amount of law and contractual negotiations I’ve learned over the years, I would have to say I would go into law. Only to help people though. You see, the law is in place to help people, for without law we would run amuck. I’m a huge fan of all types of law, and therefore would be a great rock and roll lawyer!
Who’s been your favourite band to play with so far?
Favorite band that Fall From Grace has shared time with? Alesana. Although our styles don’t mix all that well, that band has been such great friends to Fall From Grace, not only on a band level, but a personal level. I had the opportunity to fly to Baltimore this past Autumn and represent myself as the minister at Shawn Milke’s (lead melodic singer to Alesana) wedding. They’re wonderful people, their families are wonderful people, and I love them all dearly…as family or my own.
Can you tell us something about the band not very many people know?
Fall From Grace’s name comes from the Anne Rice movie “Interview With the Vampire”. I am (and have always been) a huge vampire fanatic, and loved that book before it was a movie. In March of 2011, I had the opportunity to see the house she lived in in the Garden District of New Orleans. And not 4 blocks away was the Lafayette Cemetery. You know, she must have snuck into this cemetery night after night for inspiration of her books.
I’m a huge fan of her work, and surprisingly turned off to the massive cult following of the NEW vampire phenomenon (like True Blood, Twilight, etc.). However, none of the new generation of vampire writing would have been quite the same without Anne Rice.
And lastly do you have a message you’d like to leave to your fans and our readers?
The only message is this: study hard, stay in school, follow your dreams and make them come true! You can do it!! If your support system (such as your family or friends) don’t support you in the best way possible, change and find people that do. Stick with greatness..and you will be great!
For more information, check out the Fall From Grace website: www.fallfromgrace.us
