"The Interior Fire"

Interview with Shane Lankford (Vocalist/Lyricist) and Rob Perez (Rhythm Guitarist/Recording Engineer), founders of this great melodic and powerful hard progressive rock band.

By Sergio Vilar

We make some history, friends. How were the beginnings of Fall Of Echoes?
Rob: You have to go back to when I (Rob) was looking for a vocalist to guest sing on the latest Visual Cliff disc called “Freedom Within”. I had demos from a handful of different singers but none of them were hitting the mark 100%. I was surfing some reviews on the Virtuosity website (www.spiritualprog.com) and I came across the review for Shane's band Orphan Project. I went to their site to just checkout the music not even thinking of looking for a singer and when I heard Shane's vocals I knew he was the guy I had been looking for. So I emailed him and asked if he would entertain listening to the tracks I wanted a singer to work on and he replied "Let's talk". After a 4 hour conversation that evening it felt like I knew Shane for years. The rest is history!

When you decided to make the band, which were the objectives that you wanted to get?
Shane: I think our objectives were pretty clear from the beginning. Both of us (Rob & I) wanted to create a sound that would capture music fans from both our previous bands and create a whole "new" sound as well. So far, according to the reviews we've received we have done that!

Now I would like to wonder for your disc, “Red Tree”, why did you decide to put him that title? Is there some concept in the disc related with that?
Rob: The title “Red Tree” is symbolic of the blood stained wooden cross that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified on for all of us. The blood that turned that tree red is the same blood that washes us free from our sins when we come to Christ and ask for forgiveness and for salvation so that we may be made worthy to stand before almighty God.

The album is a work of great compossitive and instrumental level. How long did it take them to carry out it?
Rob:  Being the main writer for the band, I composed all of the material first (except for “She Fits Well” - Shane wrote that song) and then I would sit down with Rick to work out drum parts and bass grooves that would go along with my vision for each song. Once that was completed, all the basic tracks (drums, bass, and rhythm guitars) would be recorded then sent to Shane. Shane would then write the lyrics and melody lines and then record his tracks. Shane would then send me his tracks along with the keyboard tracks that producer Tony Correlli wrote and performed and then I would import all of the tracks into the main project, mix them and master the song. I'm looking forward to working on the next Fall Of Echoes disc as all of us will be taking on more writing responsibilities and it will be a more collective effort now that we have added a full time drummer (Tim Kehring) and keyboardist (Josh MacMurray) to round out the band!

Could one say that “Red Tree” is a conceptual album or does each song act in an independent way inside a general context?
Shane: No, “Red Tree” isn't a concept, although all the songs do have a theme... No matter where you are in life hope can be found through Christ!

In your songs I do believe that you have gotten the perfect mixture among energy and melody Which your method is when composing the songs?
Rob: I have no formula for how and when I write songs. Sometimes the verse hits me initially, sometimes the chorus.  I never ever compose for a particular genre. I never sit down and say to myself, "ok, I have to write a particular type or style of song".  Whatever comes out is what it is. This may sound very selfish but I only write music to truly please two people. The first being to please the Lord and the second is to please myself. Nobody else's opinion matters to me. Don't get me wrong, I hope people groove on what I or we put out and get inspired by it, but if they don't at least I'm still happy!

Could you give us a brief impression about the songs and of the lyrics?
Shane:
“Groaning” - deals with the weight of sin and how it effects the world we live in.

“Mr. Orion” - talks about the majesty of the heavens, but points to the Creator of those heavens.

“Darkness Inside” - this song sends the message that if you're running from something, take a look inside first.

“9th Floor” - this song was written on the 9th floor of a federal building. I (Shane) was drinking an Arizone Mandarin Orange tea and noticed a picture on the bottle... I wrote the lyrics based on that picture... I know pretty shallow, but it lead to a very cool tune!

“Little Girl Lost” - deals with past abuse and the hope and "new beginning" that can be found in Christ.

“Red Tree” - pretty self-explanatory... The blood of Christ was shed for all who believe on the cross... the Red Tree!

“Land of No Choices” - this song was written while I was thinking what it would be like if all the aborted babies and euthanized people ever had a chance to "come back" and speak to those who made their "choices" for them.

“Behind My Closed Eyes” - a song about meditating on God.

“Y.F.M.O.” - this was mostly written by Tony (our producer and keyboardist for the CD). He wanted to write a song that depicted all the "nutty" extreme political points of view. How, when taken to their extremes, you get nothing but very crazy, and catastrophic results.

“She Fits Well” - a song I (Shane) wrote while I was thinking what it would be like to be a father in Pakistan while that huge earthquake hit and finding my child was injured. The fact that I would have to carry my child over mountains for healing would cause me to realize that nothing, not even my child's safety is in my hands, but in God's hands.

“While I'm Alive” - talks about running the race of life and giving it all you got... don't settle for mediocrity!

What did it arise first, the concept and the letters or the music, how did it leave gestating this album?
Rob: I would have to say for this disc the music came first and the lyrics/concept second.

Do the words inspire to the music, or do they write starting from listening the sounds?
Shane: for this CD all the main musical song structures were written first, then I (along with Tony) put the lyrics and sounds around those structures.

Let us change topic. Are you of listening other bands? What discs were you listening lately?
Rob: Porcupine Tree, Moke, The Mars Volta, Outlander, Kings X.
Shane: Jorn Lande “the Duke”, Keane “Under the Iron Sea”, Pink Floyd “Momentary Lapse of Reason”, Iron Maiden “Matter of Life & Death”... just a few.

Some band that has impressed them pleasurably and do want to recommend?
Shane: always love U2... no matter what they do... except for “Zooropa”.

Which is your opinion on the music exchange in format MP3? Do you think that it really harms them to you?
Shane: personally I think it doesn't really harm us too much. I figure that if you like a song you will buy a whole CD by that artist. Although I think the sales #'s of CD's are saying the opposite. We won't stop making CD's... the concept of a full album is great and challenging. Writing one song for a "hit" is, in my opinion, a little bit easier than trying to write 12-15 good songs that can keep a listener through the course of 55-65 minutes.

To end it would like you to comment us which are the short term plans for the band.
Shane: We are currently writing new material for the next Fall of Echoes CD, and we are planning to do some "live" shows in spring '07!

Thank you, it has been a true pleasure to introduce to our readers to Fall Of Echoes. Would they like to leave some final message?
Shane: Thanks for listening and taking the time to read the interview. We hope to see you in '07!!!

www.fallofechoes.com

Nucleus interview: 02/10/06