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"Perfect Change"
The debut album from Dakona
On Sale Now
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Alternative Addiction's Exclusive
Interview
with Ryan McAllister of Dakona
AA: In a time when everything new seems to be hard and heavy rocking,
you guys have a very melodic sound. What bands do you draw influence
from?
Ryan: U2 is probably one of the biggest influences. Combine them with
some of the classic theme songs from the 80’s (“the love boat”, “Dallas”
and the “A-Team”) and you’ll have something that resembles Dakona.
AA: I've heard that you guys wrote and recorded many of your indie
releases in a barn turned rehearsal space, how did this come about?
Ryan: When your and indie band searching some place to make known,
you’ll take anywhere you can find. We evicted the chickens and moved in.
It’s been great.
AA: Where did the name "Dakona" come from?
Ryan: It’s Samoan for brotherly love.
AA: What was it like working with producer Rob Cavallo?
Ryan: Rob is GREAT at capturing spontaneity. We did 9 songs in 18
days and had a blast. We even fit in some surfing in between sessions
and had the honor of watching Rob throw back 3 cheeseburgers from In &
Out in 3 minutes. Rob- you are a god.
AA: I know you guys are from Vancouver, which has been an area of huge
interest lately for the music industry with the success of Nickelback
and Default, what was is the music scene like there?
Ryan: It’s been great watching so many Vancouver artists break over
the last couple of years up here. There’s something about the 7-month
rainy season that inspires creativity… or depression… I’m not sure
which.
AA: I see that you guys just finished up a tour with Tonic, what are
those guys like?
Ryan: Like 4 mother Teresa's with guitars (that’s a compliment) . . .
it means there good guys.
AA: We have heard some of your indie releases, which are also quite
impressive, what made you decide to keep some of those songs and not
others? Was their a particular direction the band wanted to take for
this album?
Ryan: This band has been around since 97 and we had a lot of songs to
choose from in making “Perfect Change.” We tried to keep a common thread
running through the album. I think all of the songs have a message of
hope running through them. Something you don’t hear a lot of in today’s
“angst” driven market.
AA: We are really enjoying the first single "Good", is there any plans
to shoot a video yet?
Ryan: We shot a video in Vancouver last week for the song (our
first). Hopefully it will be coming to a television set near you soon.
AA: What are your plans for the summer, can we expect to see you guys on
tour with anyone?
Ryan: This month we are doing some festival dates in Canada and some
southern US dates with lifehouse. After that, we’ll see. (If you have
any birthday parties, bar mitzvah's or funerals you’d like us to play at
please contact Maverick records. We also do balloon tricks!!!!)
AA: It seems like some of the songs on "Perfect Change" are inspired by
relationships, while others draw inspiration from a variety of subjects,
did you find yourselves writing on topics other than relationships more
so on this record than some of your past indie releases?
Ryan: If you put the songs in the order of when they were written you
can kind of hear a band growing up. A lot of the earlier songs were
inspired by relationships the newer ones seem to dwell more in the realm
of introspection and the spiritual. It’s been a long rode of ups and
downs getting to this point; the record chronicles them all.
AA: We have been following you guys for quite sometime, and we know that
this major label debut has been a long time coming for you guys, we wish
you the best of luck, and look forward to catching you on tour this
summer! Thanks so much for your time!
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