FEATURED INTERVIEWS

The 88

Pop blended, melody infected and rock tested. Welcome The 88.
By: Gian Erguiza - - October 26th, 2008 - 3:35 pm PST

Blending beautiful pop elements, infused with touches of rock, The 88 are ready to take on the world with their latest release, Not Only...But Also. These Los Angeles natives are going to be turning some heads with their unique sound and it only gets better from here. We got a chance to chat with Adam about Babyface, politics and Not Only...But Also.

Hey Adam, where are you right now and what are you up to at this moment?

Well, I'm here in Los Angeles, getting ready for our big release October 28th so we've been really busy. We have a record release show at the Troubador on November 1st and then we're doing a West Coast tour the day after.

Man, you guys sound busy already, that's good!

It is! It's what we've been waiting for! It's been a while since the last album and we're just really crazed about playing out again. It's been really fun!

And speaking of the album, you guys latest piece of work, Not Only…But Also, which sounds absolutely great! It will see the light of day on October 28th. How excited are you guys for the release and how much fun did you guys have recording this album?

It was a lot of fun. We got to work with two really great producers in Matt Wallace and Babyface. Both of them just brought a lot to the table and you know, it was a great experience with talented people, really nice to be around. The whole thing was just a lot of fun and went pretty smooth. It didn't take too long. We all got to play live which was really important to us cause we really wanted to capture that sound like when we're all playing onstage. Now that we're done with all of that, we're ready to get out and really start playing again.

Awesome. What was the main drive in finishing the album and was the most challenging aspect of getting this album done?

I think the most challenging part for us was making sure that the songs were right. Keith is the main songwriter in the band and there were definitely moments of the recording process where he was just like, concentrating on lyrics and making sure that they were right and all of that. I think in the past, we haven't really given that part of the recording too much attention and this time around, Matt Wallace made suggestions with the lyrics with looking at the lyrics and making sure that they all made sense. That part definitely was the most challenging. The music always comes easy for us. And that's the best part!

Let me ask you man, was there some unusual way that you guys wrote the songs for this record? Anything different? What's the usual song writing process like for you guys?

A lot of the songs on this record were written in a house in Lake Arrowhead. We rented this place up in the mountains, about two hours away from Los Angeles, and I'd say a good chunk or more than half of the record were written up there. A lot of it, were kind of written on the spot, spontaneously, like all of us getting together playing in a room. Some of the songs were also written in a rehearsal room. So it's a little different form the way we did song writing in the past. Keith would bring in a whole complete idea for the band or has written something at home where this one was done with all of us playing at the same time.

Any goals or expectations for this new album?

"We've never really been a political band and don't have much say in the whole thing? I just want to see a big change, not necessarily what people are saying right now, but I would really like to see something really drastic happen in a positive way. I really want to see what people can do to make a huge difference. There's a lot of problems right now and I don't think that the real issues are being addressed."

Just to keep on doing what we've always done. I think if you have a goal like that, then nothing can go wrong. Everything else that happens from now is an extra or a bonus. We just want to get out there and play as many shows as we can since we love doing that and love being out on the road. We always have such a good time doing that. So anything else that happens is just us extras for us.

With so many bands popping up everyday from all genres, screaming to be heard and clamoring to the top, where does The 88 fit into the equation in this vast musical landscape?

The thing that's pretty cool about The 88 is that it fits into a lot of different radio formats. We appeal to the Top 40, teen audience, the hard rock audience, alternative audience and we're just kind of all over the board. When you attend one of our shows, you see a people from the age of 13 to the age of 50. So that's one thing that's always been on our side. I think it's just a fact that our music appeals to a bunch of different types of people.

So far, you guys have got some great TV musical placements in 90210 and Gossip Girl. It's not regular for a band to score so many TV musical placements but you guys are way pro on this subject. How do you guys get your song placed and are there any other song from your latest that might be on a new show soon?

Well actually, one of our songs, 'Sons And Daughters,' is going to be in the video game 'Rock Band.' That's the first song we've ever had in a video game before so that's going to be really cool! That game is very popular. We have this guy, Danny Benair, who works with a company called Natural Energy Lab and his job is to send out our music to different music supervisors that do film, televisions and commercials. He sends out the music and then somehow the people take to it and it just work into these television shows and we've been really lucky. It's a big help and it has helped us out a lot.

Let's talk Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. How in the world did this come about, how was it working with Babyface and what's the most integral part with working with Babyface?

He is managed by the same manager, that manages The 88. It was a suggestion to meet with him and so he basically went to come see us at a show and really loved the band. So we met with him the next day and hit it off. We then decided to give it a shot and record a couple of songs with him. He is very talented. You know, a lot of people know him for his R&B production but he's also worked with people like Paul Mccartney, and Eric Clapton, so he does a bit of everything. The most integral part of the whole process was him playing guitar on one of the songs. The song is 'It's a Lot. ' He picked up the guitar and played a little solo, he's just awesome. Been in the business for a long time and is just super creative, has a great ear and made a lot of good suggestions.

Interesting! I didn't even know that he could play guitar, that is awesome.

Yeah, he does a bit of everything. If you've never gotten the chance to see him live, he puts on a great show, just unbelievable.

You own an iPod?

Of Course!

Any recommends for our readers?

Hhhmmm, what have I been listing to lately? Um, I'm trying to think? There's this new band that's going to be playing the Troubador with us called 'The New Number Two.' They kind of go back and forth between England and Los Angeles and they're awesome. The new 'Duffy' album is awesome. That's the first thing that comes to my head for some reason. I don't know? We like a bunch of everything. Our singer likes a lot of older stuff and the drummer and I listen to pretty much a bit of everything.

Hey, do you guys ever pay attention to what's happening on the radio or the charts?

Well, a couple of us do and a couple of us don't. I definitely stay up to date and just find it interesting. I don't necessarily listen in to that too much. I more listen to like iTunes radio and whatever's on my playlist, listen to things at random. But I think now that we're starting to get people's attention and stuff, I'm just curious to see how we pop up in these places and stuff. It's never been too important to me but at the same time, I'd love to see us with everyone too.

So Adam, off your latest, which song speaks to you the most or speaks to the band the most?

I really like them all but 'Sons and Daughters' is really fun to play live. It has a real high energy. It's been getting some play at some alternative radio stations and definitely has that edge. That's actually one that Babyface produced too.

What's the best advice that you guys have gotten as a band or do you guys have any advice for up and coming bands about to break into the scene?

The best advice that I've got is to make CD Samplers of your music and to pass them out around town. It is very cheap to do and doesn't take a lot of time to make the copies. It helps bring people to our shows and that's actually how we met the guy that places our music in television and film. You never know who you're going to hand one to. So what we would do was put a flier in the CD envelope with our upcoming show and instead of people crumpling it up and tossing it to the ground, they'll have a CD that they can take home and listen to. That really helped things going with trying to get the name out there and the music out there.

That is some good points my man! I'm sure our readers have learned a thing or two today! In your opinion, what are some obstacles or problems in the music industry of today?

Changing. I think people need to adapt to the way it's changing. Everyone is downloading music these days and so I think that people need to find other ways to get the music out there and develop other things to adapt to this whole new time.

Keeping up with the politics?

Not really? We've never really been a political band and don't have much say in the whole thing? I just want to see a big change, not necessarily what people are saying right now, but I would really like to see something really drastic happen in a positive way. I really want to see what people can do to make a huge difference. There's a lot of problems right now and I don't think that the real issues are being addressed.

There ya go! I totally agree. Alright, is The 88 going green anytime soon?

I haven't looked into it to be honest but I would definitely be interested in doing something like that for sure. I know people that do it so I just got to look into it more.

What are some of the bands guilty pleasures?

Growing up I listened to the Grateful Dead and that's all I can think of right this second?

Now is there some kind of ritual that you guys do before you guys jump onstage to get the jitters out and make sure that you guys have a great show?

I pace.

Nice! Alright my man, it's refferal time! At the top of your head, give me your 5 best albums of all time or 5 best rock phrases of all time?

Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon The Beatles – The White Album Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Sings Newman Rolling Stones – Beggar's Banquet

How about The 88?

Oh yeah, The 88's new album!

Help me finish this sentence. The 88 loves________________?

To go on tour, play in front of people, and meet them after the shows.

What else is in store for The 88 for the rest of 2008?

We're doing a radio show on Halloween called 'Morning Becomes Ecclectic.' It's a nationally syndicated radio show. Basically, you can listen to the performance on KCRW.com. We've actually done some shows with them before and I think this is our third time so that'll be pretty cool. We've got that record release show on the first, West Coast tour in Nov. 2nd.

Any additional comments or shout-outs?

Check out our myspace page, we posted a bunch of new songs on there and that's about it!

Adam thank you for doing the interview.

Thank you for your time and nice to meet you!

Likewise! We'll see you at a show soon!

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