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Andrew: You're coming to the end of the Atticus Metal Tour. How has it gone for you?
AJ: This has been my first tour in over three years. It has been great to get my sea legs back. All of the bands have been a blast to tour with. It has been a very exciting tour considering every band has released an album this month!

Andrew: The tour has been co-headlined by Born Of Osiris and Darkest Hour. How have their fans reacted to your music in general?
AJ: The reaction has been great. Our new album "Digital Veil" came out March 8th. It seems like this tour was the perfect timing surrounding the release. People are singing along to the new songs already. Can't wait to see how things are going a few months from now.

Andrew: The California Metalfest was a coming together of the Atticus tour and the As I Lay Dying tour. Did the change in schedule throw you off a little bit?
AJ: Yea, we were put on the side stage to headline while every other band on both tours was scheduled for the main stage. Throughout the day we were wondering why we got shifted, but it didn't matter. We wrecked it onstage and got an encore. I'm sure there were some backstage politics going on as to why we were on the side stage, but we did our job anyway... and we did it well.

Andrew: Your new album Digital Veil came out on March 8th on E1. Is there anything you've done different musically on this album, compared to 2008 release Midheaven?
AJ: We did a lot differently on this album. I wasn't around at all for the writing of Midheaven, so I'm not really sure what the process was like. The writing of Digital Veil was very focused. I focused a lot on creating themes that I could use throughout a piece to unify it. The architecture of each piece was considered before the respective writing began. It was a whole new approach. Also, my melodic voice has taken shape in recent years, something that people will take notice of after hearing the album several times.

Andrew: There have been changes in the line-up. How do you feel working with these guys and are you confident that this is the line-up going forward?
AJ: This is absolutely the line-up going forward. This band finally feels stable. Travis has been a huge asset to this band from the moment he came in. The solidarity this band has always been searching for is finally there.

Andrew: Did you get to play any songs from Digital Veil on this tour?
AJ: We are currently playing 5 tracks from Digital Veil and 1 from Nocturne. We are going to play a longer set on our upcoming headliner tour!

Andrew: Where does the album title come from?
AJ: I came up with the title after Travis and I were talking about our how we use technology. We are able to create a persona on social networks that is often incongruent with who we are in real life. We are becoming increasingly more inept at face to face interaction because of this.

Andrew: What are your plans for the rest of the year in terms of touring?
AJ: We have a headlining run scheduled for the summer. We also hope to get overseas for some touring.

Andrew: As a musician who has been your biggest inspiration?
AJ: Several Classical composers have been my inspiration. Brahms, Chopin, Bach... the list could go on and on. These musicians were next level. Most of the rock/metal/pop music that exists just doesn't compare. It's like stick figures compared to Rembrandt.

Andrew: Going away from music for a change, there's this awesome place in Chicago called Kuma's Corner, where they serve burgers named after metal bands. Have you been there? If so, what's your favorite?
AJ: I have been there! I can't remember what I ate, but the chef got mad at our drummer for making a special request. It would have been an amazing meal... but my burger was overcooked. That's right I said it, Kuma overcooked my burger.

Andrew: I've recently been talking to people who buy lots of vinyls, and they say vinyls sound a lot better than CDs. What's your take on vinyl vs CD?
AJ: Vinyl is better than CD for a few reasons. The sound quality is superior, but there is something else that is special. Vinyl turns listening into an "event" You have to blow the dust off of it, line up the stylus, flip the record half way through. It helps to keep us focused on the music. It gets us away from the insane amount of music that we can hold on our ipods, and helps us to focus on an entire work.

Andrew: Following up on the previous question, are you a vinyl collector? Which one was the first vinyl you ever purchased?
AJ: I do collect vinyl. We have a great store in Los Angeles called Amoeba Records. They sell new and used vinyl in ALL genres. my first vinyl was Abbey Road by The Beatles. I also buy a lot of the used classical vinyls. They are inexpensive, and generally in very good condition... and the music is superb.

Andrew: In the seven years of being a band, have you seen any progress in the Los Angeles metal scene or do you feel it has gotten kind of stagnant?
AJ: It seems to be very similar. Obviously the aesthetic and musical fads have changed, but the ratio of standout bands to forgettable bands is about the same.

Andrew: Which LA venue do you most enjoy playing at?
AJ: The Troubadour.

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