Page 5 - Black Velvet Issue 90

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THE CIRCLE

friendship of mine… not like he passed away or now it’s getting to the point when everyone’s so I think that’s something I’m going to keep for as
anything but a falling out that we had, that really burnt out… We’ve had such a long summer out long as I can.”
took a toll on me and I didn’t tell. I really wanted on Vans Warped Tour. We did eight or nine One person who helps keep him grounded
to write a song about it; kind of like a grudgy, weeks out in the hot sun, music festivals all day is his mother. Derek tells Black Velvet, “My mom
angsty song, and I didn’t know if I wanted to do every day. That took a toll on us, even though really inspires me. I’m such a huge momma’s
it. I went back and forth on it for a long time. But the shows were amazing, we had such a good boy. I have to talk to her every day and keep her
now it’s a song that really means the most to me time out there. Now it’s just powering through in the loop with everything that’s going on with
and I’m glad it came out.” these last shows. We went home for one day us. I feel like she’s my No. 1 fan and I’m always
“The song was written about a year after the after Warped Tour and then had to fly immedi- going to be her No. 1 fan because I’m an only
falling out,” Derek reveals. “We have spoken ately out to Europe to do these shows. It’s been child to a single mom. So it’s just me and her
since then but it’s not like it’s even close to what a ride.” The band then went on to perform on the and always has been. And that’s where I get my
it was before. But things are civil now, there was main stage at Reading and Leeds, calling it the vocal background and musical background,
a point where things were very bad, and that “cherry on top”. from her. She taught me how to sing and every-
was before the song was written. Things have thing when I was little. That’s a big thing with me
come around a little bit better so it’s made me n ‘Around The World And Back’ Derek and I don’t think that’s ever going to change.”
feel a lot better about that situation.” Isings ‘I’m not a hero or a saint’. Derek
sees himself as just a normal person despite fter a much-earned break, the band will
n the album title track, ‘Around The World performing on stage to hundreds. He doesn’t Abe back on the road, touring the USA
IAnd Back’, Derek sings ‘Sometimes I can’t even like to call fans ‘fans’. “I do love talking to again in November and December. The UK and
help but say, we’re making history’. Derek finds anybody that comes to the shows. I don’t really Europe already has a new tour scheduled to
himself thinking about how he’d like to make his- like to call fans ‘fans’. I like to make friends and take place in early 2017. And Derek confirms
tory. “I think, “What do we really want to do?” call them friends if anything. But when I do get that being on stage, singing his heart out is what
We’re always goal-orientated but just the fact close and have conversations, there will be the makes him feel most alive. “Regardless of any
that we are where we are right now is just really occasional, or it’s growing where they’ll say “You kind of day that I’m having, not feeling like my-
crazy to us. Something we never thought would saved my life” or “You’re such an inspiration to self or under the weather, something like that,
happen where we travel as much as we do and me and I look up to you”. It does, I guess, put anything that’s getting me down, if I’m on tour
have a growing fanbase, things just keep getting myself on a platform where what can I do to re- with my guys, hanging out, doing what we do
better and better and we think that it’s going to ally live up to that? But I try not to think too much everyday because we love it, then once we get
peak and hit a ceiling at some point, but I feel about that and live the way that I’ve always been onstage and get to pour our hearts out and give
like that’s why it’s almost like an ego thing when living and always keep doing what we’ve been it 100% that will always bring me back to reality
I say “Yeah, we’re making history,” we’re there, doing because it seems to be working in a way.” and literally put my feet back on the ground and
we’ve made it, and it’s not even like that. It’s just The humble frontman continues, “I don’t re- realize this is me, this is what I should be doing.
something that we’re having fun with and always ally think of myself as some crazy hero or some That definitely keeps everything full circle for
staying positive about and reaching for the next Godly figure. I really am just a guy. And I like to me.”
best thing, never saying, “This is where we want say that to people whenever a group of people Get State Champs’ ‘Around The World And
to be, we don’t want to go further than this.” We’ll come up and say, “Do you know who this is? It’s Back’ album, out now on Pure Noise Records –
always push ourselves and we’ll always have Derek from State Champs”. “I’m just Derek. I’m and get to a show. We’ll definitely be there when
fun doing that.” just a guy.” It’s important to let people know that the band are back on our side of the pond. Visit
The band have definitely been pushing and I think a lot of people appreciate that. www.statechampsny.com for more info.
themselves lately – especially with the overload They’re like “Wow, you ARE just a guy. You’re
of touring. “We’ve been on tour for so long right just a friendly dude,” and I think that’s cool and Words By Shari Black Velvet
STATE CHAMPS