BandSpeak – David, Remedy Drive

Our very own director of Public Relations, Rachel–REV, for you videoBlog fans–talked to David Zach from Remedy Drive. Rachel asked him all of the important questions, and he rose to the task.

What is one essential ‘must have’ on tour?

Sleep.

What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without showering?

Three days. I just did that this week. I’m making my bath tub into a shower so I’ve been ripping a bunch of drywall out to get to the piping. So, I figure I’m just going to get all dusty the next morning.

If your music were an ice cream flavor, which would it be?

Cookies ‘n Cream

Do you enjoy festivals or spot dates more?

I enjoy festivals because it seems like everyone from all over at all those smaller concerts is together for a bit of a ‘Remedy Drive fan reunion’. It’s fun to see faces from all over the region singing along and then some new faces too at the same time. My dream would be two people meet at a Remedy Drive concert – fall in love – get married (and stay married for life).

What advice would you give to people interested in getting into the
music industry?

I think there are a lot of formulas for success but I think what’s more important than most ways we measure success is purposed honesty. Art should be real. People doing the business of getting the art out to listeners should be honest too. It’s not always the case.

I’d rather write honest songs than be the next big thing. I don’t want to end up just telling half the truth with optimistic pop songs that gloss over the tension between sorrow and joy. I don’t read much from my King about how the road we’re on being easy. I hear it’s going to be burdensome, straight and narrow. Not always prosperous when measured by picket fences and suburban vehicles in a plastic paradise.

Even though I know a song that is positive and encouraging generally generates spins and moves units, sometimes it would be misrepresenting the reality of my heart to write that song. A true song will ring
true even if it’s only immortal ears that realize it. The same immortal ears can pick out a counterfeit tune in an instant.

And at the end of the day, I want those ears to be used to hearing an honest cry coming from my songs and my life.

Why do you play music?

I play music because it moves me.  I perform it and record it because
 my dream is that a melody that I discovered could move someone else.

A mere melody can bring to life an emotion in me that I don’t
 understand.  Songs pull at the strings of my heart and bring questions
 to mind as well as fears, longings, doubts and joy.  It seems a bit too
magical. Music reminds me of my emptiness.  It makes me feel like I was meant to be part of something much bigger then any eye has seen or
ear has heard of.  So – you combine that w/ lyrics that resemble poems
(I hope) and you have two very powerful vehicles working in unison.

I
 need to be reminded not only of my need but also reminded of a hope 
that is in something much larger than music – something that music is 
just a shadow of.  I love a rock concert because it gives us a chance 
to celebrate that hope and step inside – out of a broken economy in 
the middle of several wars – and take a break from the anxiousness and
 the trouble of day-to-day living.  Hopefully my music can recharge the 
hearts of the weary as so many songs have done for me over the years.

What’s on your iPod right now?

1000 songs.
What I’m listening to a lot of is Coldplay’s b-side for Viva La Vida called ‘Prospects March’. Also, the new Killers album Day and Age. I’m listening to Bob Dylan quite a bit too.

What is the most incredible thing you’ve ever seen with your own two eyes?

The birth of my daughter Ava Elizabeth a year ago. A lot of pain and hardship – but beautiful at the same time. It’s a perfect analogy for the labor pains of this planet currently and the epic event in my life that inspired our first single ‘Daylight’ and the title of our debut album Daylight is Coming.

–

Make sure you check out Remedy Drive at AgapeFest 2009!

Tags: BandSpeak, interview, remedydrive