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A Midday Atlantic

A Midday Atlantic interview conducted December 2005 by Rachel Carrie Wann.

A Midday Atlantic is… Ryan Lunde: guitar Miguel Ramirez: vocals, strings Tom Hetzler: bass Kenny Smith: synth, piano Ryan Hetzler: drums Rachel: Tell me an abbreviated history of A Midday Atlantic. Miguel: Ryan Lunde and I met through a mutual friend about two and a half years

ago, and we started to write some material. A few months later, we met two brothers, Ryan and Tom Hetzler at our church, and decided to work on our ideas along with another friend of ours

who is not playing with us anymore. After developing our sound together for a few more months, we brought in Kenny, who was a friend of Ryan (Hetzler) and Tom to play synth. Being a guitarist, he never played synth before, but we think he picked it up well!

Rachel: Given that we’re currently residing on the West Coast, what’s the story behind the name?
Ryan Hetzler: It’s a random three words we put together. We like it.

Rachel: How would you describe A Midday Atlantic’s style?
Miguel: We all have a lot of different influences that we bring into our sound, but in general, I would say indie/emo.

Rachel: Were any of the members in previous bands?
Miguel: I was in a metal/hardcore band called Edge of Mortality from 1996-2001 with the current drummer from As I Lay Dying. When we were first starting A Midday Atlantic, I was in an old school hardcore band called Count the Cost, which was with the singer of Point of Recognition. Both bands had decent fan bases here in Southern California.

Rachel: When did you start playing music individually?
Miguel: I started playing music when I was four. Ryan and Tom Hetzler started when they were six. Kenny started when he was 10. Ryan Lunde started playing four years ago, but he must have been a musician his whole life without knowing it, because he’s amazing.

Rachel: What’s your song writing process like? Who handles writing lyrics, melodies, and the various instrumental parts?
Miguel: I write the Lyrics and vocal melodies, Ryan Lunde writes the main parts for the music, and everyone builds on it by writing their parts, forming the song structure, etc. Of course, everyone is always open to suggestions from other band members. We like to work together.

Rachel: Are there any particular themes you like to commonly use in your writing?
Miguel: Relationships, experiences, God, the future, all the things I love, all the things I loathe...

Rachel: Being Christians, do you ever feel pressured to either incorporate more or less spirituality in your music? Ryan Hetzler: As Christians, I think that it’s built into our music no matter what we’re writing about, because that’s who we are. I don’t think we can have more or less. But as far as writing about God, I personally do not feel pressured at all. Rachel: As a band and individually, where do you draw your musical influences from? Ryan Hetzler: We draw from life and past experiences, there are so many bands from all genres that influence us in our interpretation of those things.

Rachel: You’re about to take on a brief tour again, how was the last tour?
Ryan Lunde: Our last tour was not all that great. We went to Colorado and back. It was our first attempt, and we learned a lot.
Rachel: Where will you be headed this time?
Ryan Lunde: This time around things are definitely going much better; we’re going to Texas and back. We’ve been working like crazy booking these shows, and we’re playing almost every night.
Rachel: Where are you most excited to travel…on this tour and elsewhere as a band?
Miguel: Texas seems like it will be cool, I’m really looking forward to it all. As far as the future goes, I’m looking forward to going to Massachusetts because I have friends and family there.

Rachel: If you could assemble a dream tour…who would it consist of?
Ryan Lunde: It would consist of A Midday Atlantic and Long Live Logos, in Mexico.

Rachel: What kind of message would you like to leave for your listeners?
Miguel: One of hope and love.

Rachel: Are you attempting to make A Midday Atlantic a full-time job or are there back-up plans?
Ryan Hetzler: I think we all have stuff we can do beside the band, but for now we’re pursuing this to one day be full-time.

Rachel: What would you say is you’re favorite part thus far of being a part of A Midday Atlantic?
Miguel: …Writing music we love, and meeting all the awesome people at the shows we play.

Rachel: Tell me about your record. Where was it recorded? Who did you work with on that?
Miguel: Our record has been a six month long process involving two separate studios, and getting screwed over. We finally got a good mix from our friend Scott McKay Gibson (of John-Mark). The record has three songs, which is less than we originally had planned, but it's quality. It will be released in mid or late January.

Rachel: What’s your favorite San Diego venue to play at and why?
Ryan Hetzler: The Selah Building is awesome.

Rachel: You’ve played regularly with many San Diego bands, who is your favorite local band to play with?
Ryan Lunde: We hate Long Live Logos.

Rachel: If you were to get signed with any label today, which would you choose?
Ryan Hetzler: One that would appreciate a hard working band, and who would work hard for us. We would love to be represented by a label. Our short-term goal is to get our music out to more people here in southern California, and long term is to release a full-length album with a label.

Rachel: So you would obviously want to be represented as opposed to the do-it-yourself approach?
Ryan Hetzler: We would love to be represented by a label!

Rachel: Are there any upcoming San Diego shows to look forward to?
Ryan Lunde: We’re playing a show up in Escondido on January 14th at The Selah Building with Blesk and Brighten.

Rachel: Last words? Thoughts? Basically, anything else you would like to say?
Miguel: Be our friend on myspace, and support local music. Thank you for the interview.

mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/amiddayatlantic
e-mail: amiddayatlantic at hotmail.com
photos by Cameron

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