We started by talking about the new release “Evolve” and I explained to Don what I liked in the diversity of the music on this release. From the heavy track like “One Day” and “The War Isn’t Over Yet”, to
melodic tracks like “Beyond The Stars”, the moody haunting sounds of “The Man I Am” and the
stripped down ballad in “I Don’t Want To Leave”. I asked about what went into the preparation and
getting to the finished product. “With this new record, we had to walk that fine line from what we did
with Impact but we had to maintain a cohesiveness to the overall appeal of the music”. States Carpenter
“It comes down to lyrical context and the story and topics that we as a band try to discuss. Something
that I as a vocalist took very personally. It all came together in this record. It’s very honest. At some
points it’s brutally honest. I think that’s the common thread overall. It’s very connected to this music
and the passion that comes through.
Continuing with the music, we discuss the song “The War Isn’t Over Yet”, which is a song about being
in the military. Don prior to his days in Eye Empire and as vocalist for Submersed was in the military
and I asked him about those experiences. “I was in from 97 to 2000. I got out about a year and a half
before 9/11. I had a different experience. I served but the service that these men and women do today is
a contrast from what I did. But I had the experience of being in the shoes of what these people prepare
for”.
Our conversation shifted to touring and I was amazed that this band had played well over 800 shows in a
three year period and I asked how as a band, were they able to maintain staying out for such a long
stretch of time? Don states that “As an independent band, the business is going through some changes
and we knew we needed to take an old school mentality. We knew we would need to play 5-6 shows a
week and be away from our friends, our family, our kids. Things that kind that help you balance life
out. We question ourselves if we were going to still be standing. But we are here and we have this new
record out and it helps us regain focus. It interjects some new energy and we are stronger than ever”. I
followed up by asking that if they felt by not taking a break, if there was any fear of missing an opportunity? Don said “It’s a lot of politics that goes on. You need to find solid roots. We need to build this
the old fashioned way. We cut to the core and it’s been working for us. We have our approach and
that’s what we stick to”.
As we got back into the music, I told Don how refreshing it was to hear a track like “I Don’t Want To
Leave”. In that after all the heavy songs, that “Evolve” closes with a light track that really stands out.
So I asked how the song came about. “It’s exposed” stated Carpenter. “The topic and the content of the
song carries more weight than the actual heaviness of the song. It’s a ballad in the style of “Outside” by
Aaron Lewis of Staind (who is a friend of the band). It’s a tribute as family men and the sacrifice that
our families have to put into this dream. We were in the writing process and a lot of emotions were
coming out. In the middle of writing heavier songs like “The War Isn’t Over Yet” and “The Main I
Am”, I just got caught with this feeling of leaving my family and this experience. All these things that
tear into your inner being. Regardless of your musical taste it cuts to the core of the human condition.
We want our music to by a dynamic experience. We want our songs to pull everyone together.
Eye Empire is wrapping up a Fall tour, but is working on some opportunities of some tours in 2014.
“We got to keep pressing” states Carpenter. “We want to stay ahead of the game. We have a new
record with a lot of ears to hear”. - Jim Santora
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