Photos & Interview By: Chapin Patel
I had the chance to sit down with California-based, post-hardcore band, Hail The sun during the final cross country run of The Vans Warped Tour. We chatted about tour life, lyrical content, and favorite foods!
Photo Via: MerchNow
With Your Vocalist (Donovan) being in so many projects and so many business ventures how is planning for a tour if at all more difficult than say someone who may be in one band?
Donovan: Hail The Sun has always taken precedent. We have been working on it since 2009. Even before that, I was in bands with Eric. I think we just kind of work around Hail The Sun's schedule and that's that.
What can you tell us as far as lyrical themes go for your new album? Would you relate this closely to your last Full Length: Culture Scars?
Donovan: As far as lyrical themes go, I'm not sure I would ever try to relate them. They're just totally different entities, and the stuff that's talked about is current at that time.
A haunting video was released for your single “Mental Knife”. Can you tell us more about the video like maybe it’s meanings? Does it differ from the message of the song (Mental Knife) itself?
Aric: The song is about wanting to cutout certain aspects of yourself. The video is a visual representation of that and there are a couple scenes that imply psychological tendencies that you might want to erase from yourself hence the theme, of a mental knife. It is a metaphorical representation of actually cutting thoughts and such out of yourself.
Donovan- how long did it take you to learn drum and sing at the same time?
Donovan: That has also been a natural thing for me. When Eric and I would jam from fifth grade onward it would be just us two. So Eric would play guitar or bass and I would play drums and sing when we could cover songs.
When you’re in your hometown where is your favorite place to eat?
Donovan: Topper's Pizza and Gloria's Kitchen!
Aric: Pho Saigon, shoutout to Jimmy! I live in Los Angeles so I am a huge ramen and pho guy!
John: The top one for me is Kay N Dave's in Culver City. They have good margaritas and good tacos, Monday nights!
What are some other hobbies you have besides playing music?
Donovan: All of my hobbies revolve around music, but I do like to run. I love going to the movies! I like to analyze movies and think critically about them.
Aric: I am active in cross fit when I am at home. I also enjoy video and computer games. I play a lot of PUBG. I have won my fair share games. It's too much fun.
John: I am a huge cooking guy. I love to cook anything and trying out new recipes. But you cant cook all day or you would be broke. I also enjoy hiking and playing with my cat. My favorite thing to cook is a shrimp pineapple fried rice with red curry.
Do you have any local bands you can recommend listening to from your hometown?
Donovan: There's a band from LA that I really enjoy, Groves. They are an amazing band.
Aric and John: Check out VIS for sure. That is our touring drummer's band!
Donovan: That is how we found Allen, he used to play in a band before he was in VIS that we would play DIY shows with. VIS is incredible.
Do you guys look at reddit posts, or fan pages about you do you guys take it to heart, or pay attention to it? What do you think about it?
Donovan: That's a great question! I look at reddit maybe every two months but I also do look at social comments sometimes, for the most part it's nice to gauge peoples interest. But I never take anything too close to heart.
Aric: I don't check it very often. But when I do its interesting to see how so many have lost touch.
John: I don't check it very much.
Whats your favorite kind of cereal?
If you don’t like cereal then what is your favorite kind of breakfast food?
Donovan: Frosted Flakes
Aric: Cinnamon Life. I eat eggs like every single day.
John: I don't really eat cereal. Sometimes I eat yogurt and fruit.
Do you have a favorite breakfast while you’re on tour?
Donovan: Egg and cheese sandwiches.
Aric: My ideal breakfast is two or three eggs and an apple with peanut butter.
John: It's the same!
When you write songs what does the process look like?
Donovan: When we write songs we always start with the music first. It is really critical and it is a team effort. We have been writing songs for nine years. The majority of the lyrical content comes from me, I don't really think ahead of time. I like writing about cool stories from history and the news.
