ITS SUMMER TIME @ FYS

Artist: Dropout Year

Location: Maryland

Genre: Pop-Punk at its best.

Social Networking:
Myspace: www.myspace.com/dropoutyear

Suggested Audio Favorite:
“Breakin’ Bones in ABC Order” (off of Seven unreturned Phonecalls-EP)

I got the opportunity to get some of my questions answered by Adam Goodman of pop-punk band Dropout Year. Take a look below for some of his ideas on the music biz as it is now, the process of writing a ground-breaking DY song, and how the guys keep their figures while on the road. Be sure to pick up their new EP “The Way We Play” on iTunes or in select Hot Topic locations

Interview by Ella Goldsmith (www.twitter.com/ella_goldsmith)

You guys are from the very admirable Maryland scene. Who would you recommend to us (other than yourselves) from the area?

AG: Yes, we are. Maryland has a great music scene, and has for a while. I would certainly recommend All Time Low, of course. They are probably the biggest band right now from our area. Other bands I would recommend are Count Your Blessings, Fairgeen and Victory By Revenge.

Following Warped Tour has become a big deal for today’s bands. How was your experience with this when you went back in 08?

AG: Looking back, it was such a great experience for us and really helped get our music in the hands of a lot of music lovers out there. Not to mention, it pretty much payed for our newest record, The Way We Play. A lot of great memories of doing 3 weeks of that tour. At the time, it was tough. When I think back, I just remember how hot it was, all day and everyday. It took a lot out of you but the feeling of accomplishment at the end of the day was such an amazing feeling.

How much have social networks such as purevolume and myspace affected your progress as a band? Any bad points?

AG: It’s hard to wrap my head around how much Myspace has done for us since we first began. Our myspace was the place to come if you wanted to hear us, book us, see where we are playing, etc. We would be nothing without that. Purevolume, Facebook and Twitter, and Youtube have also helped us a ton, but Myspace really helped us become who we are today, I really don’t see any bad points about those networks, they keep us closer to the fans and help get our music out there.

What keeps people coming out to your live shows? What can we expect when we finally get a chance to see one?

AG: What keeps people coming out is our energetic live show, and hanging with us after our sets. We like to spice up our sets too, so you can expect something new everytime you come. It’s just a whole ball of fun, that’s what keeps people coming out.

If you guys weren’t rocking out, what would you see yourselves doing? (Hard question, I know)

AG: Hmm. I think most of us would have full time jobs, ya know. Jordan would probably continue focus on recording. He’s a bit younger than the rest of us.

You had a sold-out show celebrating your new EP at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore (congrats!) How would you describe that night in 5 words or less?

AG: haha. Um, Amazing, Epic, Extraordinary and downright fun!

What sets DY apart from all the pop punk bands out there?

AG: It’s gotta be the music. We don’t want to sound a certain way, or like a certain band. We put all our ideas together and what comes out is who we are.

When can the rest of the nation expect a visit from Dropout Year?

AG: Hopefully soon. We are working on getting a Booking agent, we’re hoping that will help us get on some nice tours :)

Give us each of your individual guilty music pleasures.

AG: We will really listen to whatever we want. Some of our guilty pleasures have got to be NSync, Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga. We listen to all that stuff.

How do you feel about today’s music industry? Good? Bad? Slowly declining substance-wise?

AG: It certainly isn’t what it was when I was growing up. I remember seeing music videos on mtv all the time, albums going platinum all the time. Rock music was HUGE!!! There was so many successful bands, it was amazing. Now, record labels are going under, there isnt as much money in the industry and I think that has hurt so many aspects of the business. People just steal bands records from the internet, for better or worse. The industry as a whole seems to be going down the drain more and more every year.

You guys are known for your addictive melodies that keep everyone singing along. What is the creative process behind songs such as “Counting Down” and “This Notebook”?

AG: Our songs usually start with one single idea, a riff or just something small. Maybe a song will start with a cool riff that would be the intro. We just start from there, making the outline of the song around that one single idea. While we’re writing, we make sure we figure out a verse, chorus, bridge, and pre-choruses or an outro or whatever. Lyrics and melodies are usually the last thing we work on. They are usually added after the outline of the song is finished.

The Way We Play (2009) was an huge success (the songs are still stuck in our heads after months of listening). What’s next for the band in terms of new material?

AG: We have written a few new songs, but we are still working on promoting our new record. Eventually, we expect to pack ourselves back into a studio to work on a new CD. Maybe even our first full-length cd this time around.

What is one thing you would NOT like to be given from a fan at a show?

AG: We love gifts at shows, but there are some things we don’t usually enjoy getting. Our old lead singer used to eat anything, but with our new lineup we usually don’t eat any of the sweet people give us, like cookies, cakes, cupcakes, etc. We all have things we individually enjoy though. It depends on who you ask.