LIVE FROM ICHTHUS
Interview with Still Remains: April 22, 2005
Featuring lead singer, T.J. Miller

www.stillremains.com

Ichthus is one of the nations largest Christian music festivals with crowds reaching over 20,000.  Ichthus was a reaction from Woodstock and is now stronger than ever.  This year's theme, "Let it Rain!", caused a stir.  Why? Because every year it rains....LOTS. This year a couple hours before Still Remains was to perform, all stages were shut down as 50 mph wind gusts brought in total chaos to over 19,000 sleeping in tents. Ichthus was able to reschedule Still Remains for the next evening but  we did not get to catch their live show. A few hours before the storms hit I did sit down with lead singer T.J. Miller.

Dennis: Still Remains is still fairly new to many people out there with your first full length cd debuting in a few weeks (May 3). Tell everyone just a little bit of info on who Still Remains is.
T.J.: We got together about 3 1/2 years ago. Jordan, Zack and I were in a band called Shades of Amber and Evan was in another band and both of our bands use to play a lot of shows together around town. Both bands ended up breaking up about the same time, Jordan and I wanted to keep going so we asked Evan to come play bass with us.  We added a couple other guys we were jamming with.  Eventually Zack was added in as a keyboard player, who was originally our drummer but he had gone on to play in a Weezeresque type band called Joust.  As far as the name goes, Still Remains, well our first show the promoter needed a name and we didn't have a name yet.  He was like he needed one for the flyer and we were like 'oh crap' (laughs). We sat down in our basement for a few days to brainstorm and Still Remains was the coolest name we came up with (laughs). It really means something different for each one of us.  It has an evolved meeting you know. We were like yeah someday we will change it but you know it works and it has been 3 1/2 years.

Dennis: Man, that is so cool you have been signed and releasing an album with Roadrunner Records.  I can't believe it.
TJ: Man, me either!
Dennis: Well, you had the ep and then all of the sudden I hadn't heard anything else from you guys.  Then one day I get my email newsletter from Roadrunner and see they had signed you guys.  How did that get hooked up?
TJ: Well, it went through our manager Mark LaFay. I mean he really made a lot of things happen.  We were getting a lot of offers from other labels at the time and he knew Mike Ginner (?spelling) from Roadrunner. He basically came up with the ep and told Mike this would be the next band Roadrunner will sign. Mike was like, 'uh ok, alright.' He listened to it and told Mark he didn't know and didn't get it.  Mark told him to listen to it for the next few days and to call him.  He did and called back and told Mark, 'I get it and want this band." He eventually flew out a few times to see us and negotiations went through and the deal was done.  We liked what we saw with the label and it was cool. 

Dennis: That's awesome man to be signed to a big label like that. Currently you guys are on tour with Trivium, 3 Inches of Blood and The Agony Scene. How is the touring going so far? And have you had a chance to meet any of your other label mates yet?
TJ: The US leg is over and all the bands have been amazing.  They are the only bands we have met so far.  We are still the new guys and we haven't been around much yet. The guys in Trivium, 3 Inches of Blood and The Agony Scene are amazing people and feel very privileged to have been able to get to know these guys. As far as the rest of the tour, we are hitting the European leg and head out on April 29 and that will go to about mid-June. 

Dennis: Of Love and Lunacy will be debuting in just a few weeks. Your ep had a very diverse and unique sound.  What can fans expect when purchasing Of Love and Lunacy?
TJ: This debut is a lot different from our ep but it still has the Still Remains sound.  We went more metal and really sank more into our true influences.  That is more the Euro style metal, bands like Soilwork and In Flames and even American bands like As I Lay Dying and Killswitch Engage. We got a couple new members.  We have a new drummer named A.J. Barrette and he is what we were looking for.  He is into more faster metal so you can expect that on the new album.  Also a new guitarist, Mike Church, who also does a lot of singing on the record.  He wasn't in the band while we were recording so you won't see his picture in the cd but he actually recorded a lot of the singing on the album.  There is more singing but we haven't gone soft at all.  There is more musicianship and more of a metal aspect to this one. 
Dennis: And what about lyrically?
TJ: As far as the ep, I used to write strictly on belief, what mine are.  I do this on the new one also but also write from personal experience. I wanted to write about things I have gone through the past few years that have really built up in my heart.  This is a release for me.  There are songs in the album that are more I guess uplifting but there are also songs that aren't and deal with real issues.  There is a good mix.  With the songs, I try to write were people can listen and relate and feel like regardless of what they are going through and how dark things may be, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Dennis: Knowing Still Remains is all Christian members, you guys have an amazing opportunity with now a mainstream label like Roadrunner.  I don't think all bands are required to do anything other than play music unless you feet led to do more. How do you mix that type of style on how you address crowds and fans?
TJ: Well, I don't really think we have changed.  I mean we don't consider ourselves a Christian band because we don't preach or talk about our beliefs from the stage.  We leave that up in the air and most people know where we are coming from.  We all have our own personal beliefs.  From a ministry standpoint, we aren't a ministry, I mean it is a personal ministry and each of us what to accomplish certain things with fans.  We do the same things at secular shows as what we do at Christian festival like this.  We get up there, have a good time and rock out.
Dennis: I agree.  My main job is pharmaceutical sales so my lifestyle is my testimony, not always my words on a mainstream job. I don't always tell my docs that Jesus loves them.  Saying that, what do you think with bands that seem to require a certain label and how do you avoid being labeled?
TJ: What I think about Christian bands labeling themselves, I don't know.  You know, I look at what they are doing and what Jesus did. I think about and see so many of these bands, I'm obviously not going to name any names because there are a lot of Christian bands I like, but they stay to the Christian scene, the Christian venues and the Christian shows.  I mean they aren't reaching out and sharing the love and ministry with crowds that really needs to hear it.  I mean all of us need to hear it but you know whether you are Christian or not.  But there is something about what Jesus did and He went out and talked to everyone.  I'm not necessarily saying Still Remains is following that type of path because we are playing to have a good time. But as far as what He did and what many Christian bands are doing, you know God said preach the Gospel to every creature but many wont be out to anyone else.  They need to open their hearts to new scenes and new crowds.
Dennis: I see what you mean cause yeah so many people are just preaching to the choir because it is an easy comfort zone. 
TJ: Yeah, that's right man.

Dennis: Well, TJ, thanks man so much for talking with me. Congrats again on your new cd with Roadrunner! Any final thoughts or shout-outs?
TJ: Yeah, I have a few things I would like to say. Man, I just spit on you when I said that (we both laugh), Sorry man. For anyone that knows who we are, I still want to shout-out the new members again, AJ Barrette on drums, Mike Church on guitar and backup vocals and we are really happy with them.  The record releases May 3 here in the States and May 2 in Europe. Come out to the show and we want to see everyone dancing.  Let's stop moshing and have dance parties at our shows. Also be on the look out for the new Haste the Day album and Demiricous records coming out this year.  Thanks man. 
Dennis: Thanks again TJ and good luck with the European tour and album!