I got to talk to Mark from the band June while they are out on the road touring right now. We talked about their new album “If You Speak Any Faster” and other great things as well. June’s new album comes out August 23rd 2005 on Victory Records.

Bryce: Ok well lets start off with your name and position in the band.
Mark: Name is Mark Sutor, I play drums in the band.

Bryce: Ok so since our last time chatting with you, you guys have been signed to Victory Records, can you tell us a little bit about how that came about?
Mark: Well, Victory is based out of Chicago, so it was always a huge dream in our eyes to get signed to that label.
We were starting to meet alot of the staff from Victory at shows and other things just because they’re so involved with the Chicago scene, so we at least knew that they would give any of our music a listen.

Bryce: Thats a great way to get your music heard, cause it can be hard.
Mark: Yeah definitely, it really helped that we got to know alot of them over there.
So once we could see the opportunity, we didn’t want to blow it. We worked insanely hard at writing and recorded an EP at Big Gold Studios with Dan Duszynski.
The songs came together amazingly and Dan did an awesome job with the recording. We sent the EP’s everywhere we possibly could and booked our own tour last july-august, and then waited patiently for people to get back to us. When we heard Tony from Victory wanted to meet, we went in right away, worked out a deal and got things moving.
Ever since, everything has been going amazing. He gave us alot of time to concentrate on writing the new album, gave us a budget to work with Brian McTernan (who is absolutely incredible) and has supported everything we have done 100%.

Bryce: Yeah! Your EP came as a great shock to me, it was quite simple yet it was full of surprising elements that made it stand out a lot.
Mark: Well thank you.
To conclude with Victory, everything has been going amazing and we’re stoked to finally get a CD out (in a week!)

Bryce: Yes it should go nice with the fans. A lot of the victory bands are hardcore but its great to see your style on the label as well.

Bryce: On your new album you have re-recorded some of the songs you had on your EP and they sounds amazing. They basically sound like totally new songs, was it your intent to make them that much different or just polish them up a bit?
Mark: We had no idea what was going to happen to them. We wanted to go into the studio with a bunch of new ideas but without any direction (keeping it the same, changing it, etc.). We showed Brian the songs we wanted to re-record and he helped us figure out our ideas.
And they came out incredible. We are VERY happy with the new versions of the songs.

Bryce: Yes I think the fans will really like them too, because sometimes when songs are re-recorded they can be overdone but these are perfect.
Mark: Thank you very much, yeah, we were hoping not to scare some fans off with the new versions, but we felt like they were alot more powerful but still very memorable (for those fans that enjoy the EP).

Bryce: They will enjoy them!
Now your video for Patrick looks like it was a blast to shoot, can you tell us a little about that.
Mark: it was AWESOME.
we had no idea that amount of people would show up.
We seriously played the song like 35 times, and after every time, the crowd would cheer like we just finished an encore at a huge show somewhere. The energy was so high in that room, so consistent. I can’t remember having that much fun in a long time.
Also, what was funny the director, Shane Drake (who did an amazing job), was like “OK everybody, only 4 more takes and then you can all go home!” thinking that everybody was tired (it was about midnight by the time we were done) and would be happy to leave, and everyone booed! It was hilarious!
But so much fun.
As for the “Stand By Me” concept, we can’t believe how good that turned out

Bryce: Ya, is that the story behind the kids?
Mark: we had that exact idea planned out, and those kids that acted in the video weren’t found until the NIGHT before he was going to shoot.
It was very nervewrecking, we wanted to make sure the concept was kick-ass, and everything just came together so well.

Bryce: Ya it goes with the rest of the video pretty good. The bear part is rather funny.
Mark: Have you seen stand by me?

Bryce: I have… But can’t remember much lol.
Mark: Well, at the end, the kid who scares the bully off actually pulls out a gun, and we couldn’t do that in the video. So we wanted to make something that started off pretty serious and straight-forward and then gradually get funnier, ending with the bear suit (which we all thought of the day before the shoot as well). We definitely love that part.

Bryce: Haha ya it turned out great if you ask me.

Bryce: So your out on the road right now, who are you touring with?
Mark: We are touring with a band on Tooth and Nail called “Terminal”

Bryce: I love them by the way
Mark: As do I, haha

Bryce: haha
Mark: Halifax just dropped off the tour before we got to play any dates with them because the singer got strep throat…that’s what we were told.
So now it’s only a Terminal/June tour, and it’s been going on since the 8th

Bryce: Any locals opening for you on any dates?
Mark: Yes, locals are on every show because it was only a 3 band package to begin with, but now with only us 2 there are definitely locals on every show.

Bryce: Thats a good way to hear some potentially good music.
Mark: yes it is

Bryce: So what are your tour plans for this fall like after your CD release show (which has a great lineup by the way)
Mark: We will be routing out to CMJ in New York by ourselves, then we play CMJ on the Victory showcase (which is going to be kick ass), and then we’re going to be touring with Bayside/I Am The Avalanche/The Forecast
Everything after that is in the works right now.

Bryce Is there anyone you would love to tour with? If you could choose.
Mark: I say this every time, haha. Foo Fighters
Such an amazing live show, amazing songs, and I bet they would be amazing people.

Bryce: Haha ya I bet they would be. Great writers. So on that note do you have a favorite album for 2005 yet?
Mark: hmm
new Foo Fighters, definitely
haha
if you can’t tell, I’m a huge fan

Bryce: haha ya I kinda thought would be your choice. So has their drumming inspired you at all to want to try new things?
Mark: Who? Dave Grohl’s?

Bryce: ya
Mark: hell yeah, I can listen to the colour and the shape, and every time hear this amazing new thing they did on drums and be dumbfounded

Bryce: haha I hear ya there, so many things make me wish I was good at playing something.
Like those songs you hear and you just know that if you could do that you would be like king.
Mark: yep that’s a rough feeling to deal with, haha

Bryce: Ya it is, but it makes you want to try harder and become better, so its a good inspiration tool.
Mark: of course, if you don’t use that feeling of pure “awe” at somebody’s effort and feeling they put into something, then something is wrong. It’s very inspiring to hear music like that and actually feel how much went into a song.

[b]So is there any particular thing that got you into music.
Mark: There is 1 thing that got me into music
my first concert ever, seeing Blink 182 at The Tweeter Center
when I was 15

Bryce: Haha, that band changed my whole thought on music with one note.
Mark: I was astounded that 3 guys that were writing music they loved drew over 20,000 people to come and sing along
so I bought their CD
and then the rest of their CD’s
and have been changed by it forever

Bryce: Same here! I was your normal rock band lover before I heard Blink and ever since I have been after looking for great new music and it never fails to amaze me how much stuff is out there.

Bryce: So back to the recording a bit, it can be a fun but long process but do you enjoy the down time to get all your ideas out and recorded?
Mark: Of course. It’s such a creative experience
It’s definitely a bit draining at times, when you need to get something done, but songwriting can never be entirely a “get done on time” process
or else the songs just sound manufactured and boring

Bryce: Yeah thats for sure.

Bryce: So your cover art for your new album… Is there a story or meaning behind it? It looks really cool.
Not really either. We just wanted something that looked very slick and stood out, and we loved that picture from the second we saw it. Credits to Jac Vanek.

Bryce: Well it came out unique for sure.
Mark: Yeah, we’re getting alot of cool reactions to it

Bryce: So are there any bands out there right now that you think we should know of, like someone you heard that not very many people know about yet?
Mark: I don’t know of any really young bands, or very unnoticed
but people are definitely going to like the audition and the hush sound
both bands are going to make nice impacts on the chicagoland area, and more importantly this genre altogether

Bryce: Ya they will get some good coverage as well.

Bryce: Ok well thats about all I have, is there anything else you would like to add for the fans?
Mark: Talk to us. We have a new website coming on August 23rd
It will have all of our screen names
talk to us on myspace
email us
we want to be available for communication in a very personal way
drumlikejune is my AIM name
let them know
haha

Bryce: Haha, everyone should be sending you messages soon letting you know what they think of the new album which everyone needs to go out and get on August 23rd.
Mark: exactly. Let me know what you think.

Bryce: I will
Mark: If you’re at all interested, definitely check out our E-card at http://www.victoryrecords.com/june/ecards/
and get the record! tell all your friends!
that’s all i’ve got
haha

Bryce: Awesome! Look for your feature on www.drivenfaroff.com next week and I’ll have a review of your album up sometime soon as well!
Mark: excellent
thank you

Bryce: Thank you for your time, and have fun out on the road!

You can check out June at these places
www.junerock.com
www.purevolume.com/june