Rock alternative act Dorean Lives is ready to explode their musical talents continually as they have been doing since their formation. Since then they have played alongside various bands playing shows and touring and have released an album and gotten signed to Record Cord Records. Logan Freeman discusses the band's past, present, and future.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Logan: Dorean Lives has been around in some form or fashion since 2006 or so. The first version of the band started in my first college rental house with our first drummer and guitar player. I had never performed or successfully jammed with anyone before, and it just sort of “clicked”. We churned out a few songs, started playing shows and gathering crowds, opening for the likes of Cartel, Manchester Orchestra, Mae, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster and a few more, but when momentum would build something would always just push everything to the sidelines… whether it be a personal issue, band member leaving or life getting in the way. One just has to take the down time as a means of refinement. We played with the band I AM TERRIFIED (Gotee Records) a dozen or so time, so when the time presented itself for me to join…I jumped at it. Touring the country not only taught me the business skills…but most importantly it got me over this fear of performing that always hovered around…it really just lit a fire under me to finally make a DL album and do it the right way.
2. How did you guys come up with your band name?
Logan: “Dorean Lives” came from the writing name of Jessica Howard, someone very dear to me that passed away several years ago. When she would write poetry, she wrote under the name “Lady Dorean. Dorean Lives specifically references that through faith, through music and any sort of creation you use to deal with losing someone…they never truly die. I was young, she was young…I didn't treat her as well as I should have…it’s not much, but I promised myself I would keep going with this until the people that needed to hear the songs get what they need out of them.
3. Why did you want this act to be a two-piece? How are you able to pull that off?
Logan: It's not really intentional for it to be a two piece. Dorean Lives has been around long enough to cycle through 4 completely different incarnations of the band. One way or another, life would happen...creative differences...whatever it might be and everything would just kind of "stop" for a year until I could get my bearing back, find what went wrong and move on and correct. Not an easy process as you could imagine. Luckily the original drummer stuck around long enough (through at least 3 of the major line up changes)
to help DL find a style, consistency in drive, until he moved away. Payten joined during the last major line-up shift...definitely thankful he's stuck around because he's added an entirely new level of musicianship to the songs. We're looking for touring musicians to help with shows and whatnot, with the hope of finding the right people to come on as permanent members eventually ...of course the timing has to be right. Keeping it as just 2 people with hired musicians seems like the best bet for right now.
4. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Logan: Anything from The Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Eat World, Explosions in the Sky and modern British Rock to classics like David Bowie, CCR, Pink Floyd and the Beatles. I think we're a healthy mix of that...but we'll definitely be expanding our sound even more with the next album.
5. What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send?
Logan: It gets better. Terrible things make the good much brighter.6. What's the story behind "Shores"?
Logan: Hope just always seeming just out of reach, regardless of how much you plead for it to stay.
7. What's your take on "A Cold Fire From The One I Loved" as a whole?
Logan: Take...not sure how to answer that. I wouldn't have been working on it for this long if I didn't believe in each and every song.
8. Is there any story or concept behind the "A Cold Fire From The One I Loved" title?
Logan: The song which is on the album the song that lyrically defines us. Based on a dream/experience I had a long time ago.
9. Who produced "A Cold Fire From The One I Loved" and what was it like working with them?
Logan: Joseph McQueen. I was lucky enough to work with him over the years fighting to get this album made. He's got a great ear for melodies and finding extra hooks in the songs...I would dare say working with him helped refine my songwriting DNA to what it is now. I can't wait to work with him again...of course over a shorter period of time.
10. Who did the cover art for "A Cold Fire From The One I Loved" and how much input did you have on it?
Logan: I didn't have the money to hire anyone, so I just made it myself. Ryan Sherrod (http://www.ryansherrod.com), a ridiculously talented photographer back in Alabama, donated his time
photographing us during the production of one of our short films and gave me permission to use his work for the album. The model, Jade Patton agreed to let me work the picture how I needed to for the album details. I hate that in this version of the album cover, you can't see the power in Jade's face...it's haunting. With the updated version of the album, I definitely plan on changing that...even getting her to star in one of the music videos if I'm lucky enough.
11. What's your favorite song on the album right now?
Logan: All of them.
12. Is it important for you to paint visual pictures with the songs?
Logan: Absolutely. Songs need to help build a world for you to visit...they need to resonate beyond 1 listen.
13. What would be the cinematic equivalent of "A Cold Fire From The One I Loved"?
Logan: Across the Universe meets Requiem for a Dream.
14. Where is the new material headed for future releases?
Logan: More orchestration, bigger...smaller...I can't really tell at this point other than, I'm even more proud of the material we're writing now.
15. Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
Logan: Absolutely...just have to find the touring band members. We've opened for Manchester Orchestra, Cartel, Mae, and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster (to name a few)...but it really wasn't up until recently that I figured out what it took to finally be a front man.
16. What can the fans expect to see from you in the future?Logan: An episodic short film/music video based on the album and expanding the story.
17. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Logan: Honesty.
18. Any final words of wisdom?
Logan: Never quit. Never accept "no" as an answer. You don't need anyone in your life that tells you to "give up". Follow your convictions and never accept you "can't" do something...that's not an excuse. Events that happen in your life should never dictate who you are, it's only who you were...you put it away and check that it's there from time to time, but always move forward.
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