MYSPACE

Interview with Drummer “Duck” from Becoming the Archetype on 12/3/09

How did you come up with the name Becoming the Archetype?
We had to come up with a name because the label  thought that our first name the Remnant might cause a conflict with a band called The Remnants. The name comes from the Biblical principle that we were created in God’s image. And, we were called to be conformed to His image.  Archetype means the intended form. The Christ is the best of the best. He is the intended form. So we are to become like the Archetype. If we are buried with Him in baptism, and raised to walk in newness, as he is. Then, we are Becoming the Archetype.

How long have you guys been playing together and how did you guys meet?
I (duck)met Jason the first day of high school. (August 16 1999). We met and became friends quickly. We became friends with Sean and Jon sometime later in the year. I started doing some music with some other guys from my church and Jason started coming over and hanging out while we would goof off. He would just sit and give us ideas, but by the time we had our first show he was in doing vocals. We did a few years of local stuff and had myself, Jon Star, Sean Cunningham, and Jason Wisdom. Jacob Franklin joined the band when Jon went to college and he stayed on a little while after Jon returned. Jacob left right before we signed with Solid State Records.

We were really into the three guitar sound then, so we decided to go after a replacement for Jacob. Jason had met up with Seth Hecox at College and suggested him for the spot. Seth came in right before signing the deal with Solid State. He really brought us all together. That was the lineup for our first record Terminate Damnation.

After touring on that record, Jon announced he needed to leave to pursue his family at home. We pursued a replacement quickly. We found a fantastic replacement in Alex Kenis. We borrowed him from Aletheian, his progressive death metal band. He would often pull double duty on the road playing for both bands in the same night. Shortly after, we parted ways with Sean.

Alex helped us write The Physics of Fire. We toured on that record and we even got to go to Europe on that Record. In the coming years I (duck) left the band to get married and settle things at home. My buddy Brandon Lopez came in to fill my place and record to subsequently record the new record Dichotomy. During the writing process for Dichotomy Alex stepped down and Jon Star stepped back into his position on lead guitar. Very shortly after recording the new record Lopez dropped back to let myself come back and reform our core line-up.

So since you guys have released a new single, Necrotizing Fasciitis, are there any plans for a new album anytime soon?
We do have plans for an album. We are currently throwing out ideas. We are just trying to get a solid record for the fans and for us. We were talking about trying to get one out mid-next year. But, right now we are trying to just get music that we are really enamored with. We are trying to up our game and make it heavier and more epic and more progressive. All of the things we are known for, just bigger and better.

What is your favorite BTA album?
All of them honestly. Dichotomy I really like and I don’t feel dumb listening to it because I am not on it. HA! But, quite honestly I love all three of them.

Why weren’t you on Dichotomy?
I left the band for an amount of time that I could not see when I would be back. In certain terms I quit all together. I am sure that in the back of my mind I knew I would be back, but I could not know when or what that would look like. My buddy Lopez (Brandon) took over for me, with what I assume was a better understanding of my return then my own… He took the reigns while I settled things at home and watched the boys do what I love. When I really felt like it would be Ok for me to return Lopez really felt like he did not have much more to contribute to the group. In a sense we just switched places again. I had t learn his parts to the new songs just like he had to learn my parts to the old ones.

Coming back to the band was like putting on your winter coat. You put it away for a ling time and then put it on when the season comes. At first that coat is heavy, but it also feels really good and has old smells and memories. It is then that you remember why you picked that coat out in the first place. Sometimes you even find some money in a pocket or an old ticket stub. It is a good thing. The boys were happy to have me as I was to be there. It is nice having a new guy and that anticipation and new fire. But nothing gets you back to the heart of it like an old friend. Upon my return, we were able to even sort through some old ruts and make some needed changes. The fans were also glad to have me back. Some (a lot) didn’t even notice that I was gone. I am not sure if that is a compliment or not. But I received much warmth upon my return to shows and the public eye. There have been many questions about the member changes but we don’t have anything to hide so we will keep giving out answers.

Do you guys still see yourselves making killer albums in five years?
Yes. Absolutely I do. Lord willing we will be doing it.

I followed your tour schedule for quite a while hoping for you guys touring close to me, and it seems like you guys tour a lot in Europe. How come?
Well, that is an interesting question. We have only been to Europe twice in the entire life of the band. Right now   touring has been very difficult in America. I admit it is also because we are so busy with our own private lives. But, I do want to say it looks like 2010 looks like it will be a very busy year for us, touring and writing and all that. Also, I just want to tell everyone there are some other secret things we are looking into and talking about. This is going to be a big year.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you guys while out on tour? Honestly, the fact that we forgot why we were out there. We were not giving each other the grace we needed to give. There were some things that I am sure people would say were bad. We had our bus blow up, broken vans, got all the way across the country and were totally broke. But the worst is when we were un-loving quite honestly.

What inspires your song writing?
Good times, bad times, beautiful, ugly, music, noise, man everything. We were created to be creative. In the image of the most creative one. That is a weird answer but it is true. Sometimes just sitting at my house I come up with some heavy stuff man. Sometimes I am at a metal show and I write some acoustic stuff.

Does one person write or do you all contribute?
We all write. Not all of us write on every song. But, I would say that our best stuff is when we are all involved, and I am sure that is what all of us would say.

Who are some bands that have influenced your music?
Extol, Embodyment, Living Sacrifice, Five Iron Frenzy, Mxpx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ben Folds, Garth Brooks, Opeth, Dream Theatre, Metallica

Who are some of your favorite bands to listen to?
Derek Webb, Five Iron Frenzy, Between the Buried and Me, Extol, the Famine, mewithoutyou, Brad Pasley, Jay-Z, Waterdeep, Sandra McCracken, Alli Rogers

Everyone has at least one album in their CD/mp3 collection that they would never ever want anyone to know about.  Care to tell us yours?  Want to snitch on anyone else in BTA?
We are a very eclectic bunch. I feel like we are pretty open with that. With that being said I cannot think of anything we would be embarrassed about. We are open about our love for country and ska and “Weird Al”.  From there, what is there to be embarrassed about?

What is the best tour you have done and who did you tour with?
Wow. The Demon Hunter tour. It was crazy cool tour. We totally felt like a big deal. Also the Extol tour because they are one of our all time favorites. Europe was also like a dream. We got to ride and live on a sweet bus and see parts of the world I never figured I would ever see.

Touring with Opeth, Living Sacrifice, the Famine, Slipknot would be really cool. We would love to tour with alot of bands. And anytime we can go international I am in.

What show has been the most nuts and what is the craziest pit you have caused?
At the Door in Dallas on the DH tour. Man in the first 4 seconds of the first song we had 3 pits. Our first show in Denmark. The stage was a bout four inches off the floor and it was about 15×7 feet total. Those kids were flying all over the place. I think all of us ended up with one minor injury from that show.

What is it that fans do to pump you guys up while performing?
Chanting, screaming and circle pitting. Those are things fans do that get us pumped. Also, when they give us food and stuff.

What do you do back stage to get pumped for your show?
I do push-ups, jumping jacks, pray and sing before a show. It gets me going. Sometimes I warm up, but not all of the time.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you guys during a show?
The most embarrassing thing that ever happened was that Alex broke a string and Seth broke two stings and different times in the show. We only had one backup guitar and so there was a great deal of dead time while we changed strings. We had some piano jam time and knock knock jokes and question and answer time with the crowd. It was awkward but it was fun. A memory I am glad we have. One time I started the wrong song while the other guys all started another song. That was a big bad time.

What do you guys do when you are not touring?
We do work when we are not touring! I work at Starbucks, Jason works at JC Penny, Jon installs home entertainment, and Seth goes to school.

If you weren’t playing music what would you be doing?
If we weren’t playing music we would be playing music. It’s as simple as that. We would find other boring stuff to do. I have tried not playing music, but I got antsy. It’s in my blood.  I think most of us feel that way.

If you could schedule one Mega Show what bands (Current Bands) would you have playing with you?
A mega show. Hmmm. Opeth, Metallica, Between the Buried and me, Dream Theatre. I am sure I could go all day with this. If I booked a mega show like that I would just want to watch it.

What are your top 5 metal albums of all time excluding BTA?
My favorites are…….

1)Embodyment: Embrace the Eternal
2)Extol: Undeceived/ Synergy
3)BTBAM: Colors or Alaska
4)Living Sacrifice: Reborn
5) Zao: Blood and Fire

I am sure there are others but I honestly cannot think of anything right now.

Becoming the Archetype is:
Seth - Guitar, Keys
Duck - Drums
Jason - Bass, Lead Vocals
Jon - Guitar