Fake Problems is getting ready to release a new album, "Real Ghosts on Tape." At the Warped Tour in Pomona, CA I got a chance to talk face to face with singer/guitarist Chris Farren to discuss the upcoming record, his love for Phil Spector's work and the Warped Tour in general.
(Sidenote: this interview, as well as others and a Warped Tour review can be found by clicking here).
Matt Baldwin: I’m here with Chris from Fake Problems
Chris Farren: What up!
M: My first question is your new album comes out in September. What can you tell me about the album?
C: It’s awesome! We recorded it with Ted Hutt, who also did Gaslight Anthem, Bouncing Souls, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Lucero. I think it’s definitely our most stripped down record, but it’s also our best.
M: How was it working with someone like Ted Hutt with his experience with bands that you mentioned like Gaslight and Lucero?
C: It’s amazing. We’ve never had a record produced before. We’ve always just gone into the studio and done whatever we want. It was cool to have somebody to be like, “you know what, actually, what if we did this instead of this?” and have all of us go “wow.” We’re all so invested in our songs that getting a fifth person to comment on them while we’re making them is really awesome.
M: I got a chance to listen to the album and it’s really, really good…
C: …Thank you!…
M: …it definitely has a Phil Spector, girl group sound to it. Is that a fair assessment. And also, how has that era influenced you as a whole?
C: For this record that was like all I was listening to. It was my number one influence. I downloaded maybe like, three hundred songs that Phil Spector did and listened to them over and over again. Not even examining them from like a songwriting perspective, just like loving them. That’s all I listened to for so long and it shows.
M: You guys are touring with Gaslight Anthem and The Menzingers. Are you guys coming to California?
C: We’re not. I’m pretty bummed we’re not.
M: Where’s the closes place you guys are coming?
C: Uhh…Seattle.
M: Wow.
C: Yeah, pretty far. I’m pretty bummed about that. But we’re going to try and make our way over here headlining.
M: You guys are playing the Fest, right?
C: No we’re not. At least we don’t plan on it yet. They didn’t ask us. I think we’re kind of planning on other things.
M: How is the Warped Tour going so far?
C: Great. It’s fun. I think especially in your’s and my scene of music there’s a stigma about it that it’s a lame thing to do. But the whole reason we did was to reach out to new fans. We’re playing for kids who don’t even go to shows, they only go to concerts.
M: And how has your reception been so far from the fans?
C: It’s been pretty good. It’s been positive. We’re definitely gaining new fans and I think we’ve definitely achieved what we set out to do here. I think we’d be doing a lot better if we were a Christian metal band with keyboards, but we’re definitely not.
M: Who have you been excited to see on the Warped Tour this go-around?
C: There’s been a lot of bands that I’ve been really stoked about. Flatliners, Polar Bear Club, The Swellers, Andrew W.K., Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die, Riverboat Gamblers, Never Shout Never. We had never even heard of that band, and then we became really good friends with them on this tour.
M: Had you ever attended a Warped Tour as a kid?
C: Yeah, I did. I went one year to see Thursday, and I went another year to see Glassjaw, which is still my favorite band.
M: What do you think the diversity of the Warped Tour brings to the overall Warped Tour experience?
C: You know, I don’t really think there’s that much diversity. I just think there’s a bunch of s***** bands and like ten really good bands.
M: Anything else you want to add?
C: Buy our record, or download it, but also buy it!
"Real Ghosts On Tape" will be released on September 21st. Want to receive a free download of "Soulless," a track on the new album? Click here to visit SideOneDummy.com and get your free download today! Thanks to Jon Pebsworth for setting the interview up.
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