Any band that’s able to take on another artists music and make it their own is fine by me, and bonus points are added when it’s a genre a million miles away from their own. So when I heard the Adalie’s cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” I knew they were more than just one of those bands that says they’re “covering” a song, only to do a shitty auto tuned version.
Before Adalie was remaking the Top 40, they had their ups and downs like many young bands but have risen above the hard times to begin anew and are taking what they’ve learned from the past to create an impression that gets them out and about to the masses. With new music in the works and a handful of shows in the coming months, Adalie have their plate full, but not so full that their own Derrek Siemieniuk (vox/guitar) couldn’t take the time to dish out advice, plots and character building of the entire Adalie realm.
Kendra: Let’s start with a song. “A Moment’s Time” reminded me of my favorite kind of movies, next to animated, coming of age. “Let the winding of the road come and take me home” just sticks out as a great, go with the flow line. So that leads me to wonder, if Adalie were a coming of age film, what would be the quick summary of the plot?
Derrek: When you’re in pursuit of a goal, anything and everything will emerge from the woodwork to make your journey as trying as humanly possible. If your dream consists of being in a rock band, expect some of your band’s members to take flight when the road gets rough. Essentially, the song “In A Moment’s Time” reflects the internal struggle in which every up-and-coming musician finds him or herself. For me, personally, I am flung in and out of experiencing feelings of failure and success; I experience them interchangeably. It’s when things are going well, though, that the high I feel is enough to kill off all negative emotions, allowing me to push forward until the next break occurs.
If Adalie were adapted into a coming-of-age film, I would like for the story to closely resemble Goonies, only with enough references to contemporary pop culture to keep it fresh. It would probably go something like:
Adalie are on the brink of collapse. Developers wish for the band to abandon their roots, and assume a different form: an Enya style lounge act that exclusively performs at snotty country clubs and five star restaurants. In an effort to retain their dignity, they take an advance from the developers and spend it all, partly on a low budget music video (think “Rock Show” by Blink 182). Mostly, though, they use it to finance a daring expedition. With a treasure map they found inside a cardboard cut-out of Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s fast food restaurants, they set out to find a rock venue which is rumored to exist underground. There, they will be able to play their music indiscriminately, free from the judgment of wealthy industry reps who are completely out of touch with the demands of the market. This trail had been blazed only once before in rock’s history, when the One Eyed Willy band vanished from the scene in 1974. Can Adalie successfully replicate the journey, or will they fall victim to the countless booby traps that lie in their path?
Kendra: I’m guessing you’d say a lot of emotional ups and downs because you all are no stranger to them. How would you compare a band relationship in turmoil to a romantic one? Which is worse?
Derrek: A romantic relationship, in theory, should be more difficult to manage than that of a band. When routine gets stale, members of a band are often seen forming side-projects to keep their creative juices flowing. That kind of outlet isn’t exactly encouraged with a couple. Well, unless you’re a swinger, like this boss I used to have when I was sixteen working at a bowling alley. That guy and his wife sure did get around, sometimes inviting my former co-workers in on the action!
Kendra: I know I write my best when something’s bugging the crap out of me. Did those lows of the band fuel the creativity in you at all?
Derrek: I prefer writing when there is some internal or external force driving me to do so. One of the greatest rewards for me in making art is that, when I look back on it, it becomes an immediate reference to a particular point of my life. A few years ago, when I was writing the lyrics for the song “Decay,” I was going through a really dark time, fueled by struggles in my personal/family life. It was a time when I was strongly contemplating allowing my pursuit of music as a means of making a living to fade away, to be replaced by a more practical dream. Since then, that song has become one of my personal favorites, and has even helped influence me in reevaluating music and its role in my existence. Even more incredible, “Decay” spawned the interest of a talented production crew, based out of Los Angeles, CA, who brought the song to life in the form of an amazing music video. When you pour your heart into something, you’re bound to get something good out of it.
Kendra: Off the top of your head, what are three key factors needed for a healthy band ship?
Derrek:
A) Communication: It’s important to have an open dialogue about individual goals, expectations, concerns, etc., relative to the band.
B) Compromise: See to it that each member of the band has his/her own voice, and that the creative needs of that person are being met. One unhappy band member can result in a lot of lost productivity. Everyone wants a role to play, and it’s important to respect each individual and what they bring to the table. When you lose sight of that, it stops being fun. Period.
C) Friendship: Friends look out for each other. Remember, when you’re in a band with a handful of other people, your individual success is dependent on the success of your counterparts. When opportunity comes knocking, put the band first! You’re much stronger as a unit than you are on your own. So, don’t try and exclude your fellow band mates from reaping certain rewards, and especially don’t plot against them to retain what you think is your “credibility.” When respect is non-existent, the band soon also will be.
Kendra: But all that’s behind you now and you had your last release about a year ago. When can fans expect some new Adalie?
Derrek: We have recorded several new songs since releasing Don’t Give In last Fall. Up until now, we have only released one of those songs, called “The Unknown,” which you can check out at Facebook. More new music should be available in the coming weeks.
Kendra: How do you expect the new material to compare to Don’t Give In?
Derrek: The new material provides a more balanced mixture of our last two releases. The Awake EP seemed to embrace a darker sound, whereas Don’t Give In presents fans with just the opposite. Instead of drawing influences from only one extreme of the sonic spectrum, expect a more cohesive, complete fusing of our many styles.
Kendra: Other than new material you guys some dates right now through October. If you were a mime, how would you “tell” me about an Adalie live experience?
Derrek: That’s actually a pretty good question, considering our fan base is largely comprised of this demographic. Mimes love us! The only gesture I can think to make in Mime language is this box-around-the-face thing they’re always doing at our shows. I’m not sure what that even means, necessarily, but it’s ambiguous enough to leave the message up for interpretation.
Kendra: Some more tour questions for you, Warped VS Taste of Chaos…Do they even compare?
Derrek: Taste of Chaos is/was a more traditional tour, with only a select few bands filling out the line-up. You can pretty much anticipate the kind of crowd you’re going to get at shows like that. Warped Tour is overwhelming, but a lot fun, because there are so many different bands, spanning multiple genres. It makes for a far more eclectic music experience, but a grueling one at that. The sweltering heat isn’t exactly one of the tour’s selling points!
Kendra: Being from Philly…anyone who knows me and is reading this knows what I’m about to ask. Are you fans of It’s Always Sunny? (We’re making this one of those choose your own adventure books right now) If yes, proceed to the next question, if no, please skip ahead to number 11.
Derrek: We are most definitely fans of It’s Always Sunny!
Kendra: Which character from Sunny would each member be?
Derrek: DJ would be Charlie, since he tends to handle a lot of the band’s dirty laundry. He is also short, feisty, and may have some undiagnosed psychological problems. Dan would assume the role of Dennis, as he is undoubtedly the most logical thinker of the bunch. Despite his intellect, though, he sometimes succumbs to making impulsive decisions when his ego is challenged by a peer (think Marty McFly from Back To The Future being called a “chicken”). Matt would be one of the McPoyle brothers, because he accounts for Adalie’s creepy factor. He isn’t actually harmful, but the kid says some pretty bizarre things sometimes. His unorthodox approach to engaging with others socially can be attributed to his incredibly high IQ. As for myself, I’m like Mac in many ways. I devise what in my mind seem like brilliant schemes, only to see them foiled when my lack of actual skill/knowledge comes into play.
Kendra: Now the reason you all caught my attention was your recent cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” which by the way, kudos. It takes major balls to take on that woman’s voice. Were other Adele songs considered when it came to covering one?
Derrek: Thank you! Honestly, we just knew we wanted to cover something in the top 40, because we hoped to be able to expose our band to an audience that otherwise would never have heard us. I was with my girlfriend’s one night, sifting through singles on the radio, and the only one that really stood out was Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep.” It’s a song with real meaning, and so it came naturally to us when recreating it as an Adalie song. We refused to do anything that would come off as gimmicky, which ended up being 99.9% of the songs we had from which to choose.
Kendra: What’s the process for turning an R&B/pop hit into a rock song?
Derrek: Distort the guitars, crank the bass, and add real drums! It was actually a really straightforward process. We kept the formula of the song intact, and just added our little flavor to it. We did pretty much the same thing when we covered “Come Clean” by Hilary Duff, which was recognized by Alternative Press magazine in a write-up they did for us in December 2009.
Kendra: Last one and you’re free from…Considering Adalie’s past, and this being Golden Mixtape, I’d like you to make me a mixtape of the top 5 reconciliation songs.
Derrek:
Jackson 5: “I Want You Back”
Nirvana: “All Apologies”
Tears For Fears: “Sorry”
The Decemberists: “Apology Song”
The Wonder Years: “We Won’t Bury You”
Originally published on September 1, 2011
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