FEATURED INTERVIEWS

The Dear & Departed

The beautiful letdown. The beautiful sound. The Dear & Departed.
By: Gian Erguiza - - March 28th, 2008 - 1:21 pm PST

These Orange County rockers are the breathe of fresh air that you've longed for. The mixture of different styles and influences that The Dear & Departed deliver, is a rarity in the world of music today. Dan Under, frontman of The Dear & Departed, took some time out and answered a few questions for Frantik.

Hey Dan, what is up and how’s everything in the world of T.D.& D.?

I'm on a plane back from Florida from seeing a beautiful girl. There's a screaming baby next to me. Im listening to Ian Brown.

Now are you guys currently writing new material for a new album and if so, when can we get a taste of what’s to come, what should we be expecting or can you guys give us a quick update on how it’s coming along?

We are writing new material. Its going slow, but exciting. Writing new songs always comes with a lot of uncertainty, at least for me it does, but I'm confident that between all of us and our new guitarist Matt Baker that we are onto something promising. As far as an expected release...who knows. There doesn't seem to be any point of rushing these days (other than to please the great people that like what we are doing). That's exactly the reason why there are so many terrible bands out there. We would rather make great songs.

The mood of “Something Quite Peculiar” reminds me of top-notch type of new wave like the cure and other darker 80’s type bands. Is the new record headed in this direction and where do you guys derive from when writing songs?

Well I think that whether you are writing a song or painting a picture, your experiences determine your influences and these are released when being creative. With the modern world providing an endless source of reference to everything that has happened in the last however many years however, it makes plaguersim flourish... unfortunately, so I guess it can only be left up to the listener to be the judge of what's what. With Matt joining I know our sound will differ somewhat, it must, but I'm sure it will be in the same vein.

With all of the record labels around, how did you guys decide to go with Science Records and how is the relationship coming along so far?

Its hard to find a label these days as the industry is in such turmoil. We are no longer with science so I guess we are technically 'single and ready to mingle'. I am in a band because I have to be, nothing else. Music is timeless. Money is disposable.

I saw the episode of LA Ink where you get tatooed by Kat with some pretty inspirational stuff. How is the tattoo and for those readers and fans that missed the show, what was the significance of the tattoo?

Yes, I was tattooed by Kat on the show a little while ago. She is a friend and tattooed a picture of my best friend Bryce and his family that were tragically taken. She did a portrait of my favourite picture of them on

"It seems these days you have to surrender everything in your life to the public eye, as well as making music, as well as knowing the right people and not to mention praying to whatever god you can, which takes me back to the playing music for love of topic, not for the false hope of stardom. Those days are long gone."

my side and it featured on the show. I did it for their parents and because it has been a major life changing experience for me.

I was at MusINK Festival in Costa Mesa recently and was surprised to all of a sudden see you onstage and do a song with the boys in Tiger Army. How did this all come about and how did you decide which song you would help out on?

I was lucky to be asked to sing on a couple of songs on Tiger Armys last record and we actually just finished up their last US tour with them. I was tattooing at the festival and Nick 13 asked me to sing Ghosts of Memory with them. It was fun.

How do you guys interact with your fans and do you guys personally answer your myspace/website messages or who gets to answer all of the nasty messages, if any?

We all do our share of answering messages. I'm pretty busy these days but we all love to talk the people that reach out to us. It means a lot and keeps us enthused to keep doing what we do in a trying time.

Has there been any artist of late that has inspired you guys or inspired a competitive fire inside of you guys in one way or another?

Well, for the most part I dislike most new music, but there are a few new bands, or new records that have impressed me. Attack in Black are the kind of band I just wish I could be in or write like. True artists in every sense. The new City and Colour record is phenomenal. I like the new Band of Horses and Circa Survive records a lot, but I tend to get more excited about older music that I've more recently discovered.

The recent shift in the music system is being led by none ther than Radiohead and NIN by letting their fans price their album or free album download. What are you guys’ thoughts on this subject and Do you guys think that the internet is killing music or helping music?

It has killed it as far as being able to make a living off music. Nothing is sacred anymore. Those bands can do that as they are both multi platinum selling artists and started in a time where it was fresh and new and were able to ride that wave until the present day, even with both having long breaks between records etc. It leaves no hope for new bands to keep above water at all. It seems these days you have to surrender everything in your life to the public eye, as well as making music, as well as knowing the right people and not to mention praying to whatever god you can, which takes me back to the playing music for love of topic, not for the false hope of stardom. Those days are long gone.

Do you guys ever pay any attention to what’s happening on the radio or the music charts?

No. Should I?

What’s the biggest misconception about The Dear & Departed?

I haven't heard any misconceptions actually. I'd be interested to hear.....actually no, I wouldn't. That led me to think of a couple of reviews I read that made me giggle.

Any additional comments or shout outs?

Thank you so much to those who continue to show their support and make it known. Be good!

Thanks Dan and I'm looking forward to the new record!

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