There Are Rules: An Interview with The Get Up Kids
Today marks the release of the Get Up Kids first full length album in seven years. Do you even know who you’re dealing with here? GUK are basically Fall Out Boy‘s predecessors (whether they like it or not–on this site, that tidbit = RELEVANT). They were EMO before emo was a THING. On the eve of the release of There Are Rules, Buzznet got to ask guitarist Jum Suptic about the songs, being friends with your band mates and the changing musical landscape.
BUZZNET: How did you guys feel in the week leading up to your album release? What was going through your mind?
Get Up Kids: It’s been exciting. You work so long making something and then you have to let it out to the world. It’s like dropping your child off to college.
B: What’s the story behind the album title? Does it relate to any themes of the album?
GUK: We became slightly obsessed with German culture and the title fits in more to the feel of the album.
B: Can you tell us a bit about the album artwork?
GUK: Micah Smith made it. We just told him to go to town and this is what he brought back to us.
B: Do you think the way people consume music today (i.e. in single servings or while multi-tasking) will have an effect on how the album is received? Has the way YOU consume music changed in the past few years?
GUK: For sure. This isn’t a “single” driven album. Take 40 minutes, sit down and enjoy.
B: A lot of music fans hold the belief that bands are composed of best friends who want to play music together—not, as it may be, of people who agree to work together creatively but aren’t the best of friends. What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this contributes to bands getting burnt out?
GUK: I have known some of my band mates for 25 years. At this point we are family. We are kind of stuck with each other. This band was formed out of friendship. I don’t like working with people I don’t like.
B: On that note, fans these days also expect to be/feel closer to the bands they listen to—largely thanks to Twitter and other forms of social media—are you guys embracing this? What is your relationship with your fans like, and how has it changed since your previous album release?
GUK: We are slowly embracing the Twitter world. We have never been a band that doesn’t go and meet our fans. So the idea of connecting with them directly isn’t anything new to us.
B: What lyric or verse on the album means the most to you?
GUK: I like the opening lines of the album, “You’ve got the dirty palms, and I’ve got nothing to wash them with.” It sets a tone.
B: Can you tell us a story behind one of the songs on the album?
GUK: ‘Birmingham’ is about a street fight involving Ryan and our sound guy Nick. Let’s just say you don’t punch Ryan in the face unless you want to get seriously hurt.
B: The way people experience shows has changed since your band started out, —what are your feelings on people who are primarily concerned with capturing the show via technology (to relive later) vs. people who choose to just experience it in the moment?
GUK: It can be a little annoying watching people live there life through a lens. At this point you can’t stop it, so embrace it. B: What are you going to do to celebrate on the day your album is released?
GUK: Play a show. Maybe make a toast. The drink kind not the bread kind.
There Are Rules is out today through the Get Up Kids’ own label Quality Hill Records.
+ Matt Pryor gives a track-by-track to Alt Press
