SOCIAL MEDIA

Alien Ant Farm

TM - Hi, this is Amelia and Elizabeth from Twinmusix and we are here with Dryden Mitchell from Alien Ant Farm, thank you for having this interview with us today we appreciate it.

DM - Thank You.

TM - What can fans expect from your Australian tour?

DM - We have been busy all of 2024 playing more than we normally do so I would like to think that our band is tighter. We just like to recreate the songs that we recorded the best we can live. People like to see live music and we try to throw down the best we can. We have done 80 something shows recently and I hope it will make us better on stage for when we get there in February.

TM - Do you have a favourite moment from those shows?

DM - It becomes one big show in some way but we did around 20 shows in the UK. I always have a special place in my heart for the UK, it is different and I can see the loyalty in the crowd when they sing the song back to us. I was a kid in my bedroom writing these love songs and to hear them come back to me by a few thousand people at a time is amazing. I didn't know if anyone was going to hear them and it was overwhelming and emotional.


TM - What can fans expect from your setlist?

DM - We don't want to play too many new songs even though I love my new record. From my own experience seeing bands that I love, the fans want to hear what is cool to them and what they grew up with so maybe some songs from our first record "Anthology" and playing our songs "Smooth Criminal and Movies". That is what people want to hear. The songs they listened to in their high school Hay Day, so a little bit of old a little bit of new and some good vibes.

TM - Do you have a favourite song to play live?

DM - It changes but we have a song from our first record called "Attitude" that I really love, it is more mellow. I also like "Last dAntz" on from the new record that I have been loving live and it's all one long song for me and I just like it.

TM - You brought out your new album "Mantras", How did fans respond?

DM - It has been super cool and the fans that we just play to in the UK knew our new album trucks just as feverishly as our older songs which was cool to see in real time.

TM - What was your writing and recording process on your new album "Mantras"?

DM - We just throw ideas into a hat and the guys play guitar and write riffs and then I wait to see what I gravitate towards. They will throw me ten art twelve riffs and they wait to see what I attached to. I write vocals and then we start working on advanced versions of the songs and we see what gets fleshed out with my ideas. We know what we have to work with and it's a lot of trading MP3s. In the middle of the night I will get an email and it's like opening a present because I don't know what it is or what they have done to make the song bigger or better.

TM - Are you working on any new music?

DM - I am always messing with stuff and I don't know if it's Alien Ant Farm material or not. It is all just notes in the laptop and we keep it until someone wants to use it or not use it.

TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs what band would it be what song would it be and would it be in your style or their style?

DM - I would like to hear Ben Folds do "Movies" in their style because I love Ben Folds. I love the chorus and pre-chorus for "Movies" and it would go great with piano and vocals.

TM - what's your favourite band or artists you have seen live and can you tell us a story?

DM - My favourite artist of all time is Edie Brickell and I saw her live at the Roxy in LA And Edie is pretty mellow.

TM - Who was the first band or Artist you saw live as a kid and can you tell us a story?

DM - Michael Jackson was my first concert at Dodger Stadium on the Victory tour that was in 1984 when I was 10 years old. He was bigger than the Bible and I remember I asked my crush and her name was Karen and her mum let her come with me. I had these Gray zipper breakdance pants and I was excited to wear them to the Michael Jackson show and I held Karen's hand it was cool and it was beautiful.

TM - Did that inspire you to play in a band?

DM - No I don't think it did but he is a temple in my history of music.

TM - Is there anything else you want to say to your fans?

DM - If there is a curiosity for Alien Ant Farm I appreciate how long it has been, we are excited to come out and make a night of it. I appreciate everyone who comes out and shares a good Vibe with me.

TM - Thank you for having this interview with us today we appreciate it.

DM - Cheers for the interview I appreciate it.