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METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Andrew. So glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it. Your band, Like Machines, are one of the hottest new rock bands out of Atlanta. Please introduce yourself and the rest of your partners in crime, and then tell us a little bit about Like Machines; what does the new fan, the new listener need to know?
ANDREW EVANS: Hey there, I’m Andrew Evans. I sing and play guitar in Like Machines, alongside my good friends Tanner Hendon on bass, and Cheney Brennan on drums. We’re a hard rock band out of Atlanta, Georgia, which is not a place known for hard rock bands.
MPAP: Let’s talk about your latest single "Destitute." The message is: you can have everything yet have nothing, or, you can have nothing yet have everything. Tell us a bit more about this?
ANDREW: "Destitute" is a song inspired by the dichotomy of large cities. There’s references in the song to Atlanta and San Francisco because the homelessness is really bad and visible in these places. The video takes the song a bit farther, which is the beauty of it, and describes two different lives: one where a homeless man has very little yet is content, and a wealthy 'successful' person who is unhappy. The song and video are more of an observation rather than a stance, so hopefully it just leaves room for people to think.
MPAP: Also, you’ve said you want to challenge the listeners’ belief systems and broaden their minds through music, some might say that’s not an easy task?
ANDREW: Challenging any person or group of people to think in a way they're not used to is always difficult. You don’t want them to feel like you are pushing an idea or opinion on them.
MPAP: About the song and video for "Destitute," you said you really never know what someone may be going through in their life, no matter how they appear on the outside. A lot of people in the big cities only see what the media shows us, the trash, the drugs, the used needles left behind. Are you hoping your video will have people understand both sides of the street in a way?
ANDREW: Yes, I do hope people show more empathy for those in a homeless situation, but also for those in a lifestyle that is overly stressed. I hope this video portrays that message in a way that can observed openly.
MPAP: This is a portion of a lyric taken from Everlast’s 1998 song "What It’s Like." 'We’ve all seen a man at the liquor store beggin’ for your change, the hair on his face is dirty, dread-locked, and full of mange. He asks a man for what he could spare, with shame in his eyes, get a job you fucking slob is all he replies.' After writing your song "Destitute," what would you want to say to both people in this song?
ANDREW: Not sure what I would say because I already know the outcome of the song, and it makes me feel really sad. If I were to have seen it happen in real life, I would hopefully have given the man outside the liquor store some food and water and try to make up for that other guy. And since I’m apparently walking into a liquor store, I’m going to get myself some whiskey!
MPAP: I like your answer, it's a win-win situation for both, food and water for him, and whiskey for you. Now take us back to your debut single, "Kaiser," that came out in April of this year. Your lyrics talk about the brutality of war from all sides of the coin. And it’s not a political pick party sides kind of song. It’s just your observation of history continuing to repeat itself. Now go into more detail, give us your thoughts on why you think history is repeating itself?
ANDREW: Human beings have always battled, since we have had the ability to think and be self-aware, maybe even a little bit before that. But history does repeat itself and it seems like war - the conquest for land, resources and power, will never end. It just seems like a natural part of us.
MPAP: On average, there are 123 suicides a day. But the media only really lets us know about the big names; the actors, the musicians. Your comment 'you really never know what someone may be going through in their life, no matter how they appear on the outside.' That comment can also be said about someone’s mental health, not just homelessness, correct?
ANDREW: It can definitely be related to mental health. As you see in the video, the stresses of the 'successful' man’s life seemingly cause him to be unhappy, so I think awareness and self-awareness is huge.
MPAP: Like Machines plan on releasing new music singles throughout the rest of the year, finally leading up to an album, correct?
ANDREW: Yesssssssssssss, and we are releasing more soon. The next single is called "Run, Hide" which will be out late August, early September, right before our shows with Avatar. Eventually there will be a full-length album. Hopefully next year.
MPAP: You’ve covered the topics of war and now homelessness in your songs, will you have anything to say about politics, mental health, or even religion in the next one, by chance?
ANDREW: The next song "Run, Hide" is about the topic of drug addiction, whether it be prescription or not. Still heavy, but not amongst the topics you asked. There’s more songs coming up after this about sex for money, and another that’s political. So, we’ll get there... haha.
MPAP: Speaking of politics, should musicians, and even Hollywood actors, feed us with their political opinions and statements? Like you’ve mentioned, your goal is to say something that’s not trying to get you to think in a certain way, but rather to observe it, then think. Don’t you think the rest should follow suit?
ANDREW: I don’t know if people should follow suit. I certainly don’t want to tell anyone what to do or how to think. So of course, I don’t like it when celebrities and musicians try to push their opinions.
MPAP: Last question before we bring this to a close. Continuing with the subject destitute. Do you believe it’s almost as like some people would rather lose all those basic necessities, food, water, and clothing than lose the internet, that wi-fi connection, that cellphone that’s in their hand?
ANDREW: Yes, I think basic necessities are very much taken for granted. Everything now is so immediate with short attention spans.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Andrew, for doing this interview. We look forward to what Like Machines does to finish out 2019 and beyond. Any last words for all your fans out there?
ANDREW: Come check us out opening for Avatar September 5 in Pensacola and September 7 in Charlotte! New single "Run, Hide" coming soon! Thanks.
Andrew Evans/ August 1st, 2019/ Interview #153