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VM Underground spoke with Andrew from A Breed Apart.

VMU: Hey, guys. How are you?
AS: We are great! We are currently writing material for our debut full length CD, booking gigs and tearing up as many stages as possible!

VMU: You have to tell me what the New England indie scene is like. Out here in Hesperia, Ca we have a lot of different styles but very few metal and hardcore bands. Is it like that out there?
AS: It's decent...mostly cover bands. The best music scene in the New England area is the Boston and Mass area clubs, not much going on in RI...

VMU: I'm actually listening to your tracks online right now, very cool sound. You have 2 releases, is that correct?
AS: We have 1 EP release, "Population Refresh", and a full length on the way. Besides the 4 tracks on the EP, you can also hit our website at www.abreedapart.net and sample 2 other DEMO tracks titled "Seven" and "Your Level."

VMU: Where did you guys record these releases and who produced them?
AS: We recorded them ourselves in our own digital studio using Cakewalk...We did all the producing, engineering, mixing, writing and arrangements ourselves also. Everything was done "in house", the only thing that was done outside was the mastering and duplication by Discmakers.

VMU: Could you tell us how you recorded them, live or one on one process? And was it done analog or digital? (If computer, which program?)
AS: Well, our drummer, Glenn is a great engineer and he has the studio wired up all digital. As far as the process, it depends. Sometimes we record the music live and dub the vocals later or we may do everything separately, depending on the situation, ie, production, song structure, sonic issues or what have you.

VMU: I love the guitar sound you have, could you tell us what gear you use live and studio? (This includes drums too.)
AS: Good you asked that. I can't answer for Mat or Glenn, but all their EQ is listed on the site at "The Band" link. When you click on an individual member, his EQ is listed.

VMU: What do you base your lyrics on? I had a hard time reading it on your site, it was scrolling too fast for me. Could you elaborate on them?
AS: When I write my lyrics, I base them on real life situations that have happened to me, i.e, relationships gone bad or backstabbing friends, or just anger in general...I have LOTS of that.

VMU: I would guess from your biography that you are a Nu-Metal band, but I do hear some old school influence in your music. Could you tell us what some of your influences are?
AS: That is so cool that you see it that way, me too. The band didn't intentionally try to be Nu-Metal or old school for that matter, but the thing is that music HAS evolved and those who do not realize this are delusional. We like so many different styles of metal and music in general, me personally, I'm into stuff like, Noise Therapy, Sevendust, A Perfect Circle, Pantera, and Manson to name a few...as far as the bands sound, I think it has that modern Nu-Metal sound and grind with old school guitar riffage, kinda like a perfect marriage of the old school and the nu-school...

VMU: How do you guys feel about the mainstream market? Do you feel it needs help?
AS: Well...some of it I like and some of it I don't. Help, hmm...yes, it will need help when we arrive.

VMU: Do you guys prefer live or studio recording?
AS: I can't speak for the other guys, but me, I like live MUCH better than studio recording. I find the studio very tedious and stressful, although, I do like the end result.

VMU: Could you tell us what was the worst experience you guys had playing live?
AS: None...we always throw it down, that's it, bottom line...

VMU: What is in the works for A Breed Apart? Are you on a label or shopping the new release?
AS: As far as a label, we would love to sign the "perfect" deal and whatnot and blah, blah, blah...but the truth is anyone who is lying around waiting for it to happen is gonna be waiting for a long time. Bands that are successful are the ones who are doing it themselves. We press all our own CD's, shirts, and merch, own our own studio and operate totally independently, and have still managed to sell out our first pressing of 1,000 CD's, not bad for doing it yourselves? When you see us and our presentation and the quality of our music and merch, you will already think we’re signed.

VMU: The Song "Until You Crack" kicks, very cool vibe! Did you guys have a hard time recording the bass tracks to achieve that sound?
AS: "Crack" is my fave off the CD too!...The bass tracks were easy, our bassist Adam rules! As far as the sound sonically that was between the way Adam set up his rig and the way Glenn engineered them. Glenn is a kick-ass engineer!

VMU: That's all for now guys, hope to hear more of you! Thanks for your time! Any last words?
Don't be afraid to try something new, visit the bands website and give us a listen. www.abreedapart.net

VM Underground
May 6, 2004