Charlottesville, VA pop-rockers Parachute only formed three years ago, but for the quintet, it already has been a lifetime as the prolific tourers released their sophomore album "The Way It Was" on May 17 and then went back on the road for support with the Goo Goo Dolls and Michelle Branch. The band sat down for a little Q&A in between tour stops.
KIT
How does it feel to have your second album out (and getting great reviews) and being on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls?
Having the second album out feels amazing on so many levels. It has refreshed our boundaries as recording artists and as performers. The album has truly allowed us to think, act, and play bigger and this tour we've been on with the Goo Goo Dolls has only encouraged us to push ourselves.
Speaking of touring, what is your favorite city/venue to play at?
We've hit up so many cities this summer, I can't believe we haven't lost our minds yet. We're so thankful for all the amazing nights that we've been a part of. Touring with Michelle Branch and the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as our own headlining run back in June with support from Hugo and Damato, has brought us to some great places. Of all of them, Milwaukee's Summerfest and Alice's Summerthing music festival in Golden Gate Park, San Fransisco we're definitely stand outs.
ALEX
Also (yes...here comes the cliche question), if you could tour with anyone who would it be?
I would love to tour with The Killers as soon as they get back together
Watching you play last night in Chicago in a big venue (which was a fabulous performance!) and I also have watched you play in a smaller venue (House of Blues), which do you prefer when it comes to shows..small or big venues and why?
I prefer smaller venues because they are more intimate -- which makes them more fun. Plus, we usually headline smaller venues and I love playing to our fans.
Back to your new album, 'The Way It Was', which song is your favorite off of the album?
Currently, my favorite song off The Way It Was is what I know.
WILL
You took a risk with this album by having 10 songs instead of 12 like your last album, however two of the songs exceed six minutes. With the music world today usually trying to stick to the 3 minute mark, did it worry you as to what the response would be to these two songs?
It didn't really worry me. Good songs are good songs, and since we thought those songs were strong enough and were able to keep the listener interested the whole time, it would be fine to put a few six minute songs on there.
How was the writing and recording process different on 'The Way It Was' than 'Losing Sleep'? Did you try to go in a different direction this time with the whole process?
Definitely. I think it just naturally happened in a different way. I wrote a lot on the road, and with the second album it was such a small time frame (a couple months) that it made me really be disciplined in sitting down and writing when I could, rather than just being a little looser about the process and letting the songs come to be.
Recording wise, working with John was great. We worked fast, and hard and were able to get the album done a lot quicker than the first. It was just more focused and insular in who was working on it, which allowed the process to be smoother and more timely.
You had some guest writers (like Lady Antebellum) on this album, are there any other artists/songwriters that you wish to collaborate with in the future?
Would love to write with Bruce Springsteen!
NATE
If there was anything you could change about the music industry today, what would it be?
The selfish part of us wishes we could just turn the clock back to the '90s so we could reel in the cash hand over foot. The music-loving part of us, however, realizes that the accessibility, creativity, and variety of music is better than it's been in a long, long time. Now, the pre-requisites for a (long) successful career are true talent and persistent hard work rather than what record deal you inked and whether or not you can get airtime on MTV. This is not to say that artists in the '90s weren't talented and hard-working, but the playing field has been levelled, the price of admission is nil, and those with talent and hard work are rising to the top. In the words of Don Miggs, "Let the games begin."
What has been that defining moment in Parachute's career where you all stepped back and knew everything would be different and better from that point on?
I don't think we've had one defining moment yet; there have definitely been milestones--like hearing our song on the radio for the first time, getting to play a set in a packed Wembley Arena or being on late night TV--but our trajectory towards success has been a slow climb, with progress being sometimes imperceptible, sometimes encouragingly noticeable. We've taken the two-fold path of touring our asses off to build a fanbase slowly and solidly, while pursuing success at radio at the same time. We hope to achieve long-term success this way.
JOHNNY S
Even though the band has gotten so far already, what are some goals you wish to accomplish in the upcoming year or so?
We want to continue to expand our fan base through touring and radio. It's great opening for a band like the Goo Goo Dolls but we're excited and focused on our headlining tour this fall. We'd love to sell out a few shows. We're also releasing a new single "Kiss Me Slowly". We're hoping good things for this tune.
Is there anything you'd like to tell your fans to conclude this interview?
We're traveling all over the place this year. Come check out a show and meet us! Pick up our album!
