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Chad Perrone

"Lie"

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For More on Chad Perrone
visit www.myspace.com/ChadPerrone

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Fresh after his departure from fronting the band Averi, we had a chance to sit down with Chad Perrone and talk about his new solo career, his writing style, and his feelings about Averi moving on without him.

AA: So I guess I should get right to it, we've heard from the members of Averi that you are no longer in the band because they didn't think you were committed to the band any longer. What's your take on it? Was it your intention to return to Averi after finishing this record?

Chad: Yikes. That's a loaded question... It's tough to know where to begin...

The statement the band made about the "break" was unfortunate and, in my mind, a little tactless. I had hoped that things would have been dealt with in a way that kept personal feelings aside and celebrated our "ventures" together, leaving open the possibility of future collaborations...

And personally, as much as I've wanted to, I've intentionally avoided speaking publicly about the break out of respect for the people who have been so supportive of myself and the band for so long - despite the claim that I turned my back on everyone (which might be the most hurtful and ridiculous statement of all). Because anyone who knows me well, knows how important those people have been to me and how grateful I am for everything they've been and hopefully will be a part of. But it comes down to the fact that anything I could say about what has happened behind the scenes would just escalate into a nasty "he said/she said" type situation. So, I think it's best to leave the details out. We are each going to have our sides of the story...

With that said, I think I can safely say that I initiated a hiatus for a number of personal reasons and the guys decided not to respect my wishes by finding a
replacement without informing me of their intentions. As to whether
I would ever
have come back, I honestly don't know. My intention was to get myself back to a positive place in music and in life. And regardless of the drama that has followed the break, I feel that I've accomplished that.

As for the solo record, that's a story which seems to have taken on a life of its own. I'm excited about things...and I'm excited for the future.

AA: Your solo music is definitely very stripped down, but I think it reveals the core of what made Averi so great, the songwriting. Do you feel more freedom and a different inspiration writing solo music?

Chad: The way I go about writing a song hasn't change much, if at all. Even with Averi, I would write with an acoustic guitar and a piece of paper and bring a song to the guys. Now, I just have myself to bring a new song to. Of course there is an element of being in complete control of a songs "destiny," where I wasn't before... but overall I think I've always written songs for myself. The only thing that is changing is how the song is handled after it's conception.

As far as the direction I've taken, it has a lot to do with the fact that I've become so attracted to music that feels "real." I think there is something wonderful about simplicity and honesty in music. I want to know that someone singing to me is as human as I am, that this person goes through the same shit I do. Imperfections are okay...they remind us that we're all human... and whether it's in life or in music, I think that can be a beautiful thing.

AA: I'm really digging the 4 songs you have up on myspace, I think my favorite is "Lie". Tell me a little bit about the inspiration about that song, was it a song you wrote recently or a song that you have carried for years and now finished?

Chad: It's funny because I wasn't crazy about the song at first, but I've gotten a lot of great feedback it since I started playing it out.
When I started writing it, I almost threw in the towel mid-way through, but forced myself to finish it hoping it would get me out of a nasty writer's block. The song is basically about not being who you think you need to be for someone...it's a song about fucking up and doing your best to right your wrongs...but not necessarily by telling the truth.

AA: Tell me about your song writing style. Are you the kind of person who sits and writes an entire song in one evening, or are you the kind of person who spends months and months trying to get things perfect?

Chad: I think I'm the kind of guy who will usually finish 1/2 to 3/4's of a song in a sitting. Often, if it's a song that I didn't finish, I'll end up playing out a half written song live and ad-libbing the rest of it, sometimes finding the missing pieces in that performance. There are songs that have been written in a half hour, and then there are songs that are finished years later. I guess it all depends...

AA: So when can we expect this solo record from you?

Chad: There are a couple things that I need to iron out with the record and things surrounding it, but I'm hoping for sometime before the summer...early to late spring perhaps.

AA: Do you plan to tour in support of your new record? If so, will you be playing just solo, or do you plan on hiring some musicians to go on tour with you?

Chad: There have been a lot of exciting things that have been happening over the last couple of months. I've already been playing out a bunch in support of the new songs I've been writing and I definitely plan on playing out more. I think it's a bit easier to get out there when it's just you and a guitar. But now that I've said that, I've been playing with a couple friends as of late that help thicken up the sound a bit with piano, harmonies, bass, and mandolin which has been really wonderful. So, I think touring will be a split of both playing with other people and playing out solo.

AA: I'm sure by now you've heard that Mike Golarz will be taking your spot in as lead singer in Averi. How do you feel about that?

Chad: I wish I had been told about it by the band and not found out about it when everyone else did, but I'm glad that they were able to find someone like Mike. I've met him a couple times from playing out around Boston and he's a great singer who seems to be a nice, genuine person.

AA: I know the "new" Averi plans to play several of the songs you previously wrote with them, how do you feel about that? Do you feel like those are and always will be Averi songs, or does it feel kinda strange knowing someone else is playing the songs in concert you were a big part in creating?

Chad: To be honest, I feel like they are Chad Perrone songs that appear on Averi records. The arrangements on those records are unique to Averi, but the songs, at their core, are songs I wrote. Given that and the fact that I write extremely personal songs, I feel very strange and uneasy knowing that they are going to continue to play songs that are about my life with a new lead singer...but I'm not going to lose sleep over it. There are many more songs to come...

AA: I wish you the best of luck, and I'm confident from what I have heard already, that this new record will be just as impressive as the previous work you've done, and I look forward to working with you and helping you promote it in the future!

Chad: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me... and for the kind words on the music I've been making. I'm looking forward to getting you a copy of the new record when it's done.

For more on Chad Perrone visit his MySpace page at:
www.myspace.com/ChadPerrone