An interview with Project 86

By: Brandon Jones for Indie Vision Music

Let me preface this interview by saying a few quick things. I am a long time fan and supporter of the rock band known as Project 86. I was there for their very first rock show in 1996 at a small church in Mission Viejo. There I witnessed the power and ferocity of a band on the brink of worldwide acclaim. Sure their first concert showed very visible signs of being influenced by Rage Against Machine but the music itself very much stood on it’s own two feet, gaining new fans that evening and word of mouth soon spread throughout the southland and neighboring cities. I saw them a few more times and each time they consistently got better and better (and less like a RATM knockoff). Ethan Luck soon departed the band and in his place came the notoriously talented Steven Dail who was coming off his short stint with local hardcore band Inner Means. During my short brief stint promoting and putting on concerts in Orange County at the ripe old age of 18, I once booked them, this band of rugged hellions bent on total world domination ;) I did a show in Orange County called “Holypalooza” in 96’ that P86 so gracefully appeared at. The show was a disaster but the band was in prime form that evening, blowing the glass out the windows and knocking the ceiling to the ground. Well I say that with a big smile on my face but they did rock hard. I may have booked them one other time but my mind is fuzzy and a part of my brain would like to clearly block out my past involvements with booking shows. When you’re only 18 and handling money and not to mention dealing with managers, sometimes things can go over your head and get out of control quite fast as is evidenced by my prior experiences. Anyway, I was enthralled by this band and totally won over by their sound. Even though (don’t knock me, I was inexperienced and only 18) I once tried to get this band signed to the then start up company “Slingshot Records” which later changed their name to “Screaming Giant Records” and was basically an offshoot of the extreme sports/music video show “G-Rock”, but the band so gracefully declined due to bigger offers by another large company at the time (we all know who that was). I was a big time Rage Against the Machine fan and I was hungry for other bands that played this style. Sure we had EDL but they were a bit more metal and unrefined. Then Project 86 slipped into the shoes of the still untested formula of what was considered “Rap core” and they played the style with ferocity and knack for catchy tunes. I remember getting their very first demo on cassette tape mind you, that their manager dropped off for me at my Sonshine Christian Store job I had at the time. I tore into that stuff like it was fresh candy being poured into my ears. I played that tape over and over again until my ears started to bleed out. In fact, I still have that demo in my collection, just collecting dust on a shelf in my room. So as this little preface comes to an end, let me just say that I was instantly addicted to the music of Project 86 and their unrelenting show of force in the form of a rock show. I was captivated from the start and have followed each of their albums with an intent purpose to devour all their music, and boy did it taste good. Each of their albums has unique qualities that set it apart. The band’s self titled debut album stands alone as a legendary debut, ahead of it’s time by a few years. The next release “Drawing Black Lines” is an instant classic and often referred to by fans, as their “Favorite” release. It too is my favorite of all their albums, but that’s not to say that the other releases should be neglected or overlooked. Each set of songs has it’s strong points and each has unique qualities that sets this band apart from all of their contemporaries. I am a fan, yes, and welcome to my interview with the man behind the mic, the one and only Andrew Schwab. May their music reach a new generation of fans much the same way their music did for me in the 90’s.

Brandon: So tell me a brief history on your band that I didn’t mention above. Maybe a little meaning behind the name Project 86 and where it came from?

Andrew: To “86″ something is to reject it, remove, it, etc. We applied that concept as if to say “despite possible rejection, we will stick to who we are as a band no matter what.”

Brandon: You heard me above mention the similarities to your early sound and Rage Against the Machine, how far do you feel you’ve come since those early days of 1996 in Orange County?

Andrew: I haven’t heard those references in ages, so I guess that means sonically we have come a long way. We have made it a goal since very early on to have our own distinct sound and I think most people agree that we don’t sound like anyone else!

Brandon: You solidified your lineup in 1997 with the addition of Steven Dail. How far do you believe you’ve come since then?

Andrew: We have driven approximately 587,698.6 miles on the road. Give or take.

Brandon: Your self titled release came out in 1998 and a lot has happened in the music industry since then. What are your thoughts on your debut and how well do you feel it holds up to the music of today?

Andrew: It was a solid release for that time, but we have definitely evolved since then. I wouldn’t even call us the same band in many respects. Hopefully it would be called “classic” at this point!

Brandon: This is the inevitable “Drawing Black Lines” question, lol. This album is often referred to by fans as their favorite. This album had big budget production and a sound that was unique for it’s time period. The whole rap rock/nu metal thing was huge in 2000 and a lot of bands seemed to blow up in popularity that year. Was it tough to fit in with your music contemporaries and find a niche of your own? How well do you think that album holds up to the test of time?

Andrew: It actually didn’t have big budget production. We spent very little time and money on it! We wanted to be a part of that movement to an extent, but we always came from more of a hardcore background vs. rap/metal. I guess that’s why we always existed on the fringes of that whole thing a bit. I think that records as a whole still holds up well…there are a few tracks that have aged better than others, but we still play a bunch of them live and the kids love them.

Brandon: When Truthless Heroes came out, it was controversial for a few different reasons. Why do you think that was? Does it ever bother you that some fans wanted “Drawing Black Lines” Pt. 2?

Andrew: I think what everyone didn’t understand at the time was that we were on Atlantic Records, not an indie, and they wanted us to write a commercial record. My mentality was to go heavier because that’s where my heart was at, but in the end we got kind of swept up in what everyone else around us was trying to tell us to be. I think we still wrote some very good songs, and I like that record alot, but the process was challenging because of the label, management, and politics surrounding it. We got very frayed in the 18 months it took to make it and the 500,000 dollars that was spent to make it. Hence, the departure musically and lyrically.

Brandon: You guys became notorious for your comments toward your previous label and much of that heat inspired the “Songs to Burn Your Bridges By” album which you self released. What inspired some of those songs and what caused the initial split and later, re-pairing with your label home Tooth and Nail Records? How do you feel about T&N today?

Andrew: We played a large role in developing Tooth and Nail as a label, as we were one of their first acts to have commercial success. But with the growing pains that took place and all the legalities surrounding our move to the “bigger sea” the relationship become strained. It’s a pretty typical scenario that many bands go through as they get some success. But that’s the music business–everyone is fighting for their piece, especially as the pie gets bigger. At the end of the day I think we have had a mutually beneficial relationship with Tooth and Nail over the years.

Brandon: The sound changed yet again for your “…..and the Rest will follow” album with songs like “My Will Be a Dead Man” , “All of Me” and “Sincerely Ichabod”. How do you feel about the progression between “Truthless Heroes” and “And the Rest Will Follow”? What inspired the change?

Andrew: We have never wanted to put out the same record twice, and love trying new things. If we did keep doing the same things over and over we would become bored (as would our fans). You have to evolve, and I think we have done a decent job of evolving while still relating to our core fans.

Brandon: A new sound was brewing once again with your last album “Rival Factions” which saw more of a keyboard influence and industrial touches. Were you happy with the sound found on Rival Factions? What has fan reaction been like since that album was released?

Andrew: We went pretty melodic on that release but we were definitely happy with the results. If we had delivered songs like “Evil” or “Illuminate” to a major they would have probably done quite a bit with it in terms of radio.

Brandon: Now we are on a brand new full length and what I suppose are a new set of influential P86 tunes. I have heard several of the new songs from Myspace and from what I heard, it’s your best set of songs yet. Some of the past influences found on albums like “Drawing Black Lines” and “Truthless Heroes” can be found in the new songs as well as that dark almost goth sound you started to experience on “Rival Factions”. How satisfied are you with the new album “Picket Fence Cartel”? Do you feel like it’s your “Best Album Ever”? What influenced your writing this time around? Any lyrical themes in this new set of songs that you’d like to share?

Andrew: I am pretty happy with PFC, and I think we have another good batch of songs that kids will relate to. Lyrically, this album is about the link between fame, power, and corruption. Our culture seems to think we are put on this earth to become little celebrities–with the endless self promotion of social networks to reality TV to the 10,000,000 bands that exist out there. We tend to disagree with this. Humans were not meant for fame and power and self-recognition. Just ask MJ. Peace and meaning can only be found in a true connection to your creator. That’s why we conclude the record with these words: Who do I belong to? Not earth, not world, not evil, not mortals…Who do I belong to? Immortal. Eternal.

Brandon: Switching gears here for a minute….What influences you personally as a songwriter and frontman for a leading rock band? Who or what can we thank for shaping Mr. Andrew Schwab into the songwriter he is today? Any personal stories you’d like to share?

Andrew: I didn’t make it in sports.

Brandon: What are your favorite 5 albums to come out in the past year (or will come out this year)? What bands are you really into lately that have left an influential mark on your soul?

Andrew: I couldn’t even name 5 records that I love in the past year! It seems the music industry has lost its creative energy or something…that being said there are few dark horses out there that have come out in the last couple, like the first Shiny Toy Guns Record, and Aesop Rock’s None Shall Pass. I also like The Sword.

Brandon: You guys have an obvious tie to the Christian market due to your songwriting/compositions. A lot has changed in that market the past 15 years that all of us can either love or hate. In 2009, how do you feel about the “Christian Market” and fellow Christian fans you might have? Are you ever disappointed with the Nashville centric industry for not honoring Project 86 with any sort of “Dove Award” or nomination the past 11 years? Is there anything you’d like to say to the executives in charge in Nashville?

Andrew: I think there are a lot of people in that industry who respect our band, but we have always been snubbed by the higher-ups. I think that’s a good thing, because if we were pleasing that element of the industry we would be losing our identity, I think.

Brandon: How has your faith in Christ influenced your songwriting as a musician and lyricist? Do you feel your music and Faith intertwine exclusively? What are your thoughts on faith based imagery and popular music?

Andrew: All I can say is this: We have never wanted to use God to market our band. And we have always tried to present God in a creative way, so as to not alienate anyone who does not subscribe to our belief system. We have definitely never wanted to appeal solely to the Christian market.

Brandon: Are there any bands in the Christian scene that you’re particularly impressed with?

Andrew: I like Haste The Day, The Chariot, and a few of the bands we are on tour with now.

Brandon: So I hear one of my favorite Spirit Filled Hardcore bands, FOCUSED, are back with their “Bow” lineup with one very interesting addition, your former drummer Alex Albert filling in for them. What are your thoughts on band reunions, specifically Focused, and the fact that Alex is drumming for them? Any comments?

Andrew: I am a little confused by it, but hey, that’s just me. Reunions can be cool sometimes, but second and third reunions tend to be a little tired. You just water down what you did originally by trying to conjure up some magic that doesn’t exist any more. But who knows, maybe it will be amazing, who am I to say?

Brandon: Do you guys have a full time drummer now and is this person a part of your band? Who might it be? Is there any possibility for Alex to rejoin your band in the future?

Andrew: We have had a few different people play with us live, but no one that we have staked. We have been blessed to play with some really great guys, and touring has been amazing. Matt, our current live drummer, is an amazing and humble guy who is fun to tour with and excited to be with us, not to mention an awesome drummer. I could see us playing with him for a long time.

Brandon: Going back to the Picket Fence Cartel album, how do you feel it stacks up against all your prior work as a songwriter?

Andrew: I think it stacks up nicely and there are some keeper songs on this record.

Brandon: Will there continue to be music from Project 86 in the future? Do any of you guys have side projects or other music commitments?

Andrew: Time will tell. We always have taken this one day at a time. We all dabble in other areas, but it all comes back to this band.

Brandon: What do you want fans , both new and old, to get out of your music found on Picket Fence Cartel? What do you want all of us to walk away with?

Andrew: We have always wanted people to walk away with something more than just a couple good songs or a good time at a show. This music means a lot to us, and it continues to mean a lot to many people, for which we are very thankful. Our fans stick by us through thick and thin. In general we want people to walk away asking themselves some of the more important questions in life.

Brandon: What are your absolute favorite Project 86 songs of all time? What songs have your favorite lyrics of all time?

Songs? Dark Angel Dragnet, Evil, Sincerely Ichabod, Stein’s Theme, PS, Last Meal, Oblivion. It’s always changing. Lyrics…The ones I mentioned earlier I like a lot.

Brandon: In this economy, it’s tough for musicians to succeed on a financial basis. A lot of bands are breaking up and/or switching gears to follow a more non-traditional music distribution system. Where do you feel Project 86 falls in to the grand scheme of things? Where do you want to see your band in this current economy? Any thoughts on traditional record companies that you’d like to share?

Andrew: We have been blessed to be able to do this and nothing else full time since we started. There really isn’t a formula, beyond divine provision. More and more, bands don’t need record companies because they aren’t really marketing the way they used to. If you have the goods, it will sell itself, eventually.

Brandon: What are your future touring plans, any bands that you’d like to see yourself tour with? Any other details you can reveal? I’d personally love to see a Stavesacre/Project 86 pairing though I doubt that would happen. Maybe you could tell the powers that be, Brandon was thinking about a Stavesacre/Project 86 pairing? ;)

Andrew: We just want to keep touring and playing to new people, and playing with bands that we like. That has always been our philosophy. Last year we did Europe 3 times and Australia. It would be great to keep hitting international markets as the opportunities present themselves!

Brandon: Well that about concludes this interview. Do you have any prayer requests for all of us fans to help you with? How best can us the fans assist you as a songwriter and member of a rock band?

Andrew: Now more than ever bands need your support. Come to shows. Buy the records and t-shirts. That’s all we could ever ask.

Thanks for your time and for answering my many questions. Everyone look out for “Picket Fence Cartel” releasing nationwide on July 14th through Tooth and Nail Records!!

Andrew: THANKS!

Peace out,

Brandon Jones

Indie Vision Music