I had the opportunity to interview
Jayna Doyle and Blake Arambula from Death of Paris for my school newspaper. Here
is the full interview. :) Enjoy!
1. - How did you get started in music?
JD: I started taking cello lessons when I was 6, but when I was
4, I told my parents I was going to be a singer when I grew
up. I was in a fun band in high school, but it was nothing serious.
My middle school and high school years revolved around anyone and everyone that
came to the House of Blues in my town. I fell in love with live music and
the idea of being on the same stage that I've seen my heroes play
on. Music has been a huge part of my life from the beginning and I always
knew that I would eventually end up pursuing a career in it.
BA: It had to have been from when I was really young. Growing
up, my mother had always surrounded me with music. She was constantly singing,
and while we were living in North
Carolina, she got really big into the Karaoke scene.
I would tag along some nights whenever they would allow children to be in
the bar, which was only really until about 10pm. While I was there,
though, I was able to see firsthand people enjoying music. At only 7 or 8
then, I was fascinated by people performing on stage and singing to a
crowd, and I wanted to become a part of that somehow. A few years later,
my parents bought me my first acoustic guitar from Dick’s Pawn Shop. It
was $75 and the strings were so high off of the fretboard I could barely make
chords, but I kept learning with it and eventually began playing simple
songs. I began to take lessons at a local music store, and I guess my
parents saw that I was enjoying the guitar enough so they bought me an
electric one on my 14th birthday. I’ve been playing ever since.
2. - How did the band start?
JD: When I graduated college, I felt myself at a crossroads. Our
keyboardist, Blake and I had been in a band together that I had joined in 2007,
and that band broke up shortly before I graduated. I had two degrees
in hand, one in theatre and one in film, but I knew being in a band
was what I was best at and there was still so much I wanted to do as
a musician. Blake graduated a semester after me, so in the meantime of
"not knowing what's next" we began working on unfinished songs from
our old band. Those finished songs became demos. And we were soon contacted by
an LA based producer we knew in college. Before we knew it, we had formed a new
band, recorded a new album in LA under the name Death of Paris, and
returned home to find the missing piece in our guitarist, Patrick.
Throughout 2010-2012, we started developing our live show,
growing an understanding of booking and the business behind being in a band,
and aggressively touring in order to build our regional fanbase. In September
2013, we recorded our "GOSSIP" EP with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount
(Mayday Parade, Cartel, We Are the In Crowd, Jimmy Eat World, Ludacris)
and are touring full time in 2014 in support of that release.
BA: After Jayna and I's previous band dissolved in 2009, we
were left without a musical outlet while we finished graduating from the University of South Carolina. We began writing
songs, and as they were coming along, we became more and more excited
about them and really wanted to begin playing them out. As our new music was
taking a more focused direction, we thought a name change would be in
order to showcase the new sounds. We flew out to LA, recorded an album,
and have been Death of Paris ever since.
3. - Where did you go to college?
JD: University
of South Carolina!
Gamecocks!
BA: I graduated from the University
of South Carolina
(Go Gamecocks!) with a BA in Journalism & Mass Communication. (Go
Journalism!)
4. - What was it like working with Zack Odom and Kenneth Mount?
JD: It was amazing! When it came time for us to scout
studios and producers, we really wanted to work with someone had a distinct way
of producing. We were really drawn to the off-the-wall way that they sometimes
record drums - like hanging mics from a sunroof and then slamming car doors to
add a different type of sound to add to a bed of bass drum, or crushing
lightbulbs in a trashbag as an extra cymbal crash. We were really looking
forward to that one of a kind experience. They are two of the sweetest, most
talented, and most hilarious guys we have ever met and had the pleasure of
working with. And we are so unbelievably proud of the EP that we were able to
create together.
BA: Zack and Kenneth are amazing! Those guys, they are true
professionals, and we couldn't have asked for a better EP. We felt so
lucky to have gotten the opportunity to work with them, especially
because they don't really work with many unsigned bands. We've really loved
the records they had done in the past by Cartel, We Are the In Crowd and
Jimmy Eat World, and knew they would be perfect fit to focus our music. In
the studio, they had a real knack for helping us record the little things
in the songs that make them even better. They were really encouraging
throughout the entire process and were really fun guys to be around. It
was really sad when we had to leave, but you never know, we might be back
for another record!
5. - What is the meaning behind the band name?
JD: Paris
is a city that serves as the universal symbol of love, romance, and light.
So, the term "death of paris"
is meant to symbolize that city in ruins and is a play on the
term "death of romance." Sometimes we feel like love
isn't what it used to be and that more and more it seems lost on a generation
that is caught up in social media, and quick fixes, and hookups as a sport. We
write songs that explore personal connections, love, lust, trust,
loss, betrayal, and escapism.
BA: The name comes from the idea that Paris represents the city of love. The
Death of Paris, then, is the decline of romance over time - things like
chivalry, honesty, true love and passion. These are all messages we try
to convey in our music, and we hope you enjoy them!
6. - How has your sound changed since the first album until now?
JD: Our sound has changed a lot since our first album. One thing ZK
were really good at were being able to hone what makes our sound ours. The
first day in the studio, they asked us, "what makes you Death of
Paris?" With this EP, our synth parts have become more gritty, more
layered, and more integral to our signature sound. I've also stepped up my
lyrics in hoping to capture what I'm trying to say in a more simplified,
more direct way. This is the first EP that we've recorded full band, so
Patrick's touch is definitely there with his crunchy guitars and tones coming
from guitar pedals he's personally made. This actually feels more like a debut
album that the first because we've really found ourselves as a band this time
around.
BA: The first album was just Jayna and I recording it, so the
songs showcased mine and her particular influences. On the new EP, the
writing was much more collaborative among the 4 members of the band, so all
of our influences were represented. On this record, we also were able to
try out many of the new songs live before recording them. That process let
us tweak the sounds more and really keep our live show in mind while
recording. I am super happy about it!
7. - Who are your influences?
JD: I'm personally extremely inspired by The Wombats, Metric, Emily
Haines & The Soft Skeleton, Garbage, Savage Garden,
Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, and pop music in general. The psychology of pop
fascinates me.
BA: Growing up, I would constantly be listening to the radio.
The 90’s had a big impact on me musically, because it was one of the last
decades where one-hit
wonders truly existed. Because of
that, you could hear many different kinds of singers and bands during a
radio set, where as now many artists are blending together rather
than sticking out. Some of my very first tapes were of The Wallflowers,
The Presidents of the United
States of America, Matchbox Twenty, and
Green Day’s Dookie, and I still would like to think my songwriting still
comes from an amalgam of them all. Once I got to college, my tastes began
leaning towards electronic music, accessible stuff like Daft Punk,
Chemical Brothers and Basement Jaxx but also weirder stuff like Aphex
Twin, Autechre and squarepusher. Now that I think about it, that may have
started even earlier than that. I can remember a 7th grade field trip to Washington DC,
and while everyone was listening to the latest 311 album, I was jamming to
Moby’s “Bodyrock.” Go figure…
8. - Favorite moment from any show you've played?
JD: I have so many! Having everyone already know and be
able to sing along all of the words to "Shut Up & Kiss
Me" at our EP Release party was a pretty amazing moment for me. It
was the very time we had ever played it live, and we had just put out a
lyric video just a few days before. Seeing that 500+ people had taken the time
to watch that video and learn the words in time for the show was such an
unexpected and grateful moment for me that I won't forget.
BA: there’s been a number of times with this band where I feel
everything was suddenly perfect in that moment. One of those times we were
playing an acoustic set in Myrtle
Beach at the Fresh Brewed Coffeehouse.
Traditionally we have always played this venue full band, but we had
always wanted to play it more
intimately with just us and
acoustic guitars. We began our set and it was so quiet. Everyone was
listening intently. We played with so much passion that night. No movement
or anything, just us sitting on the stools on this small stage with one or
two lone spotlights lighting the room. After every song, the applause
became louder and louder. By the end of our set, everyone was cheering and
clapping. Here we were, in this small tourist town where I grew up,
surrounded by some 70-80 people packing in this small coffeehouse and they
were really listening. We had connected, and in that moment of post-set
applause everything felt perfect. I knew then that playing music was what
I wanted to do.
9. - Favorite moment since you've been a band?
JD: Playing the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach. I'd seen so many bands that I
look up to play that stage, and I'd always said to myself I would be there
someday. I've so many people tell me it wouldn't happen, that I wouldn't be
good enough to be up there and on the level as all those bands. But I did it.
And I was very aware of it in the moment and shared that with everyone there
with us at that show that night. It was a defining moment for me.
BA: We've had a ton of awesome moments,including opening for Young
the Giant, Middle Class Rut, Shiny Toy Guns and Chevelle, but one of my
favorite moments I can think of is performing during the St. Patricks
Day Festival last year in Columbia which is
Columbia's
largest annual festival. Getting added to Pandora this year was also a
really exciting achievement.
10. - Is this your first time in Tuscaloosa?
JD: Yes! We are so excited to be playing in Tuscaloosa! We've heard really great things
from our friends in touring bands who've stopped here and everyone at Green
Bar, where we're playing, have been so nice to us!
BA: Yes! In fact, most of these dates during this tour will be
in all new cities we've never played before. Hopefully we can make Tuscaloosa a new stop
on our future tours. Seems like a really cool place!
11. - What do you like/dislike about touring?
JD: I love traveling and the adventure of it all. To see new
cities, meet new people, explore tourist traps, take silly pictures
in front of welcome signs, try the local foods, discover new bands,
network, learn from mistakes, improve on things we learn, being crammed in a
van, living on the edge, not knowing what's coming next.. all while getting to
play shows each night and express myself and grow as a musician - I love all of
it. Going home is the only dislike.
BA: I love the travel and getting to perform in front of new
people and reuniting with old friends, and playing music i've written is
just the excuse I need to get on the road and do this full time. If I had
to pick one thing I disliked, it would be the planning and booking process
of the tours. While I love making new contacts in cities and confirming
new dates, it can be a very nail-biting experience waiting to hear back
from venues.
12. - If you were not in music, what would you be doing?
JD: I'd probably start by trying my hand as a PA and
merge my way into the film world.
BA: Right after graduating from college, I took a substitute
teaching position at my old high school in Myrtle Beach and really enjoyed it. If
not doing music, i'd definitely be in the classroom teaching students. One
way or another, I want to make an impact on people, either musically
or educationally.
13. - Where do you get lyrical inspiration from?
JD: I'm lucky enough to have had my heart broken plenty of times to
last me a lifetime of songwriting. I write about things I can't quite control,
exploring my life had things gone differently; I use my songwriting to confront
relationships that will never give me closure, and feelings I don't quite
understand. I'm fascinated by the honesty and vulnerability in Emily Haines'
lyrics and Matthew Murphy of The Wombats' ability to mask very dark
confessions and "everyone thinks it but nobody says it" kind of
honesty into very high energy pop.
BA: Definitely a Jayna question! I only help!
14. - Anything else you want to add?
JD: Our Tuscaloosa show at Green Bar
is launch party for local AL
clothing label Live, Grind, Love! We can't wait to meet the fun people of
Tuscaloosa
:)
BA: I'm Very excited to be performing in Tuscaloosa for the first time!
