After the release of Automatic Loveletter's long-awaited debut album "Truth Or Dare", our writer Schwarz took the chance to put some questions to Juliet Simms, founder, leader and singer-songwriter of this great new rock sensation.
Q: “Truth Or Dare” comes after three years of struggling, it becomes reality after a lot of fighting due to label's problems and many others problems delayed the issue for long three years: can you explain to us exactly what happened?
A: After recording the record for Epic in 2006, we were told to go out and tour and build a fan base. So we did with no tour support, no manager and no booking agent. My A&R, Allison Hagendorf and my mom were playing all these roles. Playing tours with bands such as Between The Trees and Every Avenue in a beat up old Ford Excursion. Once we established more of a following, a manager and a booking agent, we started getting more tours with bands like Secondhand Serenade, Cute Is What We Aim For and All Time Low. 2008 Warped tour was one of our first supported tours. The Label started to see that there was something there. After they made the mistake of firing Allison, I was handed over to another A&R rep. They told me the record was coming out and all my dreams were about to come true, BUT… I have to fire everyone in your band. I was told I would be dropped if I didn’t get more of a "professional" band. So early 2009, we held auditions and hired a band. Out on our first headlining tour, on my birthday and in the middle of nowhere, I got a call from my A&R rep telling me that I’m dropped from the label and that the new president of the label was cutting all costs. Since she was not involved in any part of the history of my band, she had no invested interest in the band. Two weeks later, RCA scooped me up and signed me. I wrote and recorded. In Feb 2010, my RCA A&R rep got the boot. But then I got picked up by Sony Japan and Sin and all is great now! :D
Q: Since the be
ginning the members of the band changed as a normal process of growing up but the only one who continue to go on through all these changes is you. Do we have to consider the band a solo project of “Juliet Simms” covering his name by a band's name or is it 100% a band? Surely if you didn't had all the determination to go on Automatic Loveletter couldn't be a reality nowadays...
A: I was driving it all along, but with the constant help and support from my guitarist and brother Tommy and, for many years, Daniel (my ex-drummer) who was in the band. Let’s just say, Automatic Loveletter wouldn't be here today without my persistence, BUT I couldn't have done it with out a few key people :)
Q: In 2007, you worked on the first issue of your debut album with Matt Squire and you revealed that experience was a total challenge for both of you, challenging each other. Now you worked under the supervision of Josh Abraham: what did you learn from that experience which was needed for this new one? What were the main differences between these producers? Do you still have the result of the job done by Matt Squire?
A: After touring for years and recording so much, I was seasoned and able to speak "Produca!" Haha They’re not much different actually - both are good looking radical Jewish dudes. LOL... but seriously Matt and Josh both have there own styles.
Q: “Hush”, used as the first single of this debut album is the only track which continue to follow you since the beginning (the first version has been recorded on “Recover”, an EP issued in 2007, then it has been recorded into a new version for the “Automatic Loveletter” EP last year): what does it represent for you?
A: It represents a staple for me. I’ve met fans or people that knew that song and didn’t even know it was my song haha...
Q: On “Truth Or Dare” we can find three songs already issued on your previous release of last year such as “Hush”, “My Goodbye” and “The Day That Saved Us”: for “Hush” it has just been answered but why did you choose to release again those songs? They were part of the past, why not becoming a new refreshing way with all brand new songs?
A: For “The Day That Saved Us”, I can say that I feel it’s a song that deserves radio play. And to be honest, I would have rather recorded "Black Ink Revenge" (a different more indie version of "My Goodbye") but the record label (RCA) didn't feel the same way I did… So I learned to pick and choose my battles. So I’ll be playing "Black Ink Revenge" this summer at acoustic performances ;) boom!
Q: In the past you worked with other bands like LoveHateHero, Secondhand Serenades, All Time Low and Cartel: how much did you earned something important to be used on A.LL. both lyrically and musically??
A: It helped me gain fans. I learned how to sing with others, got better at harmonies, AND got to experience other peoples style of writing. Taught me alot.
Q: Unfortunately rock is sexist considered, nowadays on 2010 I think that most of the people seems interested in a female musician for her appearance and not for her musical qualities…what were and what are the biggest difficulties to be accepted as a real rocker one (it doesn't matter if you’re female or male...)?
A: Well it’s not really a difficulty for me now Is i have been doing it for a long time. I think I've proven myself to one of the boys… but with boobs
Q: During these days you're giving away through your official website a “giveaway song for free”, “To Die For”. How strong your relationship with the web is? I mean, do you think it could be a very important way of promoting the music? It's not so normal giving away music for free in a time when everybody seems to be against file-sharing and stuff like that…
A: The web is hugely important. It’s how you stay in touch with your fans and interact with them. Why not give away a song? Let’s be honest. It'll be ripped off for free online anyways. Haha I'd rather give my fans something to listen to, to learn, to show their friends, and, in turn, making new fans=more kids at shows singing your songs! Yay! Win win!
Q: You're playing in the band with your brother while your sister is an actress: how much influenced your songwriting being an artist growing up among artists?
A: It was a constant creative environment… We fed off each other which made it very inspiring. I loved that I could knock on my brother or sister's door and they’d welcome a new song I wanted to show them.
Q: I have to admit that for the firsts two or three listening sessions of the record I haven't found it so amazing but after those times something has changed on the songs (or on me....) and now I simply love this cd! On the review I added just three words speaking about this debut: amazing, fresh and scathing…really impressive!
A: Well Thank You! I’m glad you think so :)
Q: The lyrics seem to be really personal and just like “really loveletters”, can you explain them a little bit deeper? In a way it seems that you're a fighter against the difficulties of life and on the same time an incredible lover…isn't it?
A: How can I make it any deeper… it’s Love… love is deep Haha. Yes exactly, I am a lover and a fighter. You always hurt the one you love…
Q: I was impressed by the lyrics of “Story Of My Life”, at the beginning you sing that “beside all your dream when you are fifteen, the life is really hard also if you're telling your mom and dad that you're happy.” Are you happy now? Was it difficult arriving at your point? What can you suggest to a younger band/artist who's living situations like this?
A: Yes I am happy now…see -------->:D It was incredibly difficult but fun nonetheless. I would suggest to never give up on your dreams and don’t let the man get you down. Discouragement may come but you gotta shake it off and push through.
Q: Juliet, we are at the end: thanking again for your kindly answers, can you let us know what we have to expect from the band in the near future?
A: You're quite welcome and thank you too! We'll be out on the summer's Vans Warped Tour, and the record was released June 22nd… And a music video is coming soon! :) xoxo