Its really no secret that as much as I like everyday hardcore music, I do have quite passion for what is more or less melodic hardcore with a pop punk influence. So when I was reminded of Daylight by their new song on the MMX Sampler, I thought this is definitely the band I want to do my first international interview with. To be honest they are nothing short of amazing. The interview was great. And Taylor typed the entire thing up on his phone. Which would have sucked.
My name is Taylor Madison and I play guitar and sing in Daylight. Julian Lantier....that's my dude. One of my best friends. I think of him like my own brother sometimes. I would entrust my life and all of my financial assets with him. Nah, actually, fuck that retard. He's actually the worst dude.
For the people that don't know, give a run down of what happened when you guys toured here last. Julian got you guys along but things didn't quite work out.
Ok, as I've said before, I won't go TOO much into detail on this matter in an interview, but I certainly wouldn't lie to someone about it if I was asked directly...
Basically, we arrive in Australia and Julian picks us up at the Sydney Airport. All is well for the first day or so. Then I feel like Julian got a little too comfortable with us, or something and started doing things that were just kind of inappropriate to do around people you've known your whole life. Let alone 4 strangers that you've only known for no more than like....72 hours. So, we just kind of brushed his behavior off as him being nervous, or something, and attempted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
So like the second or so day we are there, we find out this motherfucker DOESN'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LINCENSE. Like, how the fuck are you gonna bring a band over from another country and not even have a way to drive them around? Oh, but good ol' Julian had a way! He suckered us a few times into putting the rental cars in our names, and WE had to drive almost the entire tour. Now, for all of you who may or may not be aware, in America the shit is fucking REVERSED. It's not the easiest thing to just hop on the other side and not run into shit. Even when we had a "driver" (I mean no disrespect to her. Anamari was actually an excellent person to have on that tour and I have no ill words to say about her), we ended up driving a lot still. Now, I'm not trying to whine about driving. Touring in the US we have to drive constantly. But driving on the other side takes some real getting-used-to and we were just kind of tossed into it, without any warning. Also, we not informed of the absence of Julian's license until the day after we got to Sydney.
Among that, he was simply annoying, rude, disrespectful to just about everyone. And most of all, disrespectful to women. And then this motherfucker had the balls to basically accuse our band of harassing the merch girl (I will gladly tell this story to anyone asks as well). I could literally go on for hours about this stooge.
Now some people aren't even aware you guys came last year. Is it getting a little frustrating receiving 'Come to Australia!!!!' posts on Myspace all the time?
No, not at all. If people say that, then it just means they like our band and want to see us. I personally think that it's sometimes a little for people to message bands and say "come here! Come here! Etc," but at the same time, that can sometimes effectively gauge whether or not there is a demand at all for your band in that place. And the fact that anyone in Australia knows who our band is, is cool to me. So no, I don't mind at all.
In the post hardcore genre in which you guys play, lot of bands bands sing about sad shit. Break ups, girls, being lonely. Do you guys think a lot new bands coming through are just copying these lyrical themes because they are the popular things to sing about?
Oh, most definitely. I won't sit here and try to act like I've lived the worst life ever. But at the same time, I've dealt with some shit. Shit that I know the majority of a lot of these bands have not. I'm not stating that as a fact, but it's just my opinion. Obviously, most of our songs are about wanting to end my life, and how truly unhappy I am. That's not to say I never have a day where I enjoy myself. Those days are just few and far-between. I had kind of a fucked up childhood, and for a lot of the bands out today to imply the same, or that they have hard lives is almost insulting, to be honest. I know some of those kids are honest and sing about what they know, but most of them are just trying to emulate the bands that came before them. I don't write many songs about girls because girls are never an issue to me. I don't care enough about girls to be heart-broken over them. If a girl doesn't like me, what the fuck do I care? However, when I write a song saying how much I dislike being alive, I mean it. When I say I hate myself, I mean it.
Do you think that its important whether or not the music these bands are playing is meaningless? Or not?
Yes and no. While I do believe that certain music should have meaning and should have actual heart and emotion put into it, not all music needs that. Music is a weird thing. Some people just like music for the sake of playing it. Shit, I'm one of those people. I don't like anything more than playing music. I guess it really just depends on the band. Like, if a band like Weezer plays a bunch of ridiculous songs and most don't have any profound message, then that's ok with me, because Weezer awesome and I don't see any need for them to have heartfelt songs. But if a band is singing about how bad they're hurting or how they have mental problems, they better be telling the truth, or else their literally just telling lies with music behind it. Shit like that bothers me. Everything bothers me, actually..
I read that you don't really like the 'Sinking' record and that you prefer your new songs. Does this mean that your new 7'' is going to have a new sound to it? Or are the songs just gnarly?
I wouldn't say the new 7" has some profound new sound to it, but I think the songs are better and sound cooler. Sinking just sounds kind of rushed to me, or something. I guess I like the songs, but I don't like playing them all that much.
When you first came to Australia where you at all nervous that not many people would know you?
Of course. But I've wanted to go to Australia literally my entire life, so I really didn't give a shit if people knew us or not. If we would have played to 3 kangaroos, I wouldn't have given a shit.
Now onto your design work. What are some bands you have done work for? And is there a blog or anything people can hit up to view a portfolio?
I've done work for bands like Mother of Mercy, The Wonder Years, Balance & Composure, Daylight, and more. Unfortunately, I don't have a blog right now (well, that's not true. I do, it just doesn't really have anything on it), but I will soon. It's just a matter of compiling shit that I actually think looks good.
Is a lot of your design work for the love and not the money? Or is designing stuff for people a secret little money maker?
Well, a little of both, but I definitely charge for artwork. I mean, I'm pretty cheap, but that's because in most cases, I literally draw a picture and email it to a band. I'm just now learning how to utilize photoshop and shit. I don't make very much money from my artwork, but I wish I did. I don't have a job.
Have you got anything coming up with your work people you should know about?
People should just know that I'm down to do work WHENEVER. I'll do shit on while on tour if I have to. I do basically anything someone wants for shirts or cover art or whatever.
Just some shorties to finish up:
How shit is Vegemite hey? Hahaha
Ugh...ew.
One band you would like to make a design for?
No band in particular really. It would be cool to do shit for a bigger band, just so a bunch of smaller bands would want my artwork to be like them.
Aside from 'Dispirit' what are your next big plans.
Well, we're doing a full US tour this summer, and we are playing Sound & Fury. I think there are plans to start another 7" when my finger heals (I broke my finger and can't play guitar properly. So I've been playing bass and Joe's been playing guitar. I hate it). Other than that, I really don't know.
Anything you would like to plug?
www.coldcutsmerch.com go there.
And bands that need artwork, should email me: xtaylormadisonx@yahoo.com
I am really appreciative of the fact that Taylor gave such a great interview. Especially because of the fact that he did it on his phone! If you haven't heard their new song yet, you should go to their Myspace or download the MMX Deathwish Sampler (Download this regardless. Its full of amazing new tracks) and check it out. New record 'Dispirit' out soon via Six Feet Under Records. Grab their previous record 'Sinking' from Get This Right Records. I have it and its great.
http://www.myspace.com/daylightpa
http://www.coldcutsmerch.com/gtrr/
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