Interview — 86 After

Skratch Magazine

86 After have a big year ahead of them. Their first full-length album, titled To You From Me has wrapped and Shane Johnson (lead vocals/guitar), Michael Maag (drums/vocals) and Jeremiah Mitchell (guitar/vocals) are gearing up for their tour from late January until April to support their effort. Based in Oklahoma, 86 after makes energetic rock music and they may be coming to a town near you. But if you can’t wait until then, take a look at what they said to Skratch Magazine.

Skratch: Describe your sound:

Shane: We have a unique sound that reaches out to people and wherever they may be in life.
Michael: A well-balanced mix of modern style rock with a slightly harder touch at times that gives every listener a taste of what they like.
Jeremiah: We don’t try to force the music. We just play what is natural. Known artists don’t try to fit in a category. They just play.

Skratch: How did you become interested in music?

Shane: I firmly believe it is a calling of the heart. I have that.
Michael: In elementary school, the high school band came to promote their instruments and that’s when I realized I really wanted to play guitar. But the band won’t let me… They make me play drums.
Jeremiah: I have always had the drawing and connection towards music since my friend inspired me to play guitar.

Skratch: What is your song writing process like?

Shane: I write all lyrics and most of the guitar rhythm parts and some guitar leads.
Michael: We all have a hand in our writing process. Mainly on our own instruments though.
Jeremiah: It’s like making a hamburger. Shane is like the meat. He writes the foundation of the song. Michael is like the buns. He holds everything together. I’m like the vegetables. I try to add flavor on op.

Skratch: What artists or musicians inspire you?

Shane: Toby from Emery is my hero. Also Paramore, In Fear and Faith, Hellogoodbye, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and Family Force 5.
Michael: Dave Powell from Emery. In Fear and Faith, Buddy Rich, Tony Royster Jr., Yanni, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Taylor Swift.
Jeremiah: Mark Tremonti, Project 86, Ben Kasica, Glen Hansard, Nat King Cole, John Mayer, Danny Hargis, and the Smothers Brothers.

Skratch: Where do you take musical inspiration from? Your environment? People? Explain

Shane: I take inspiration from my God and from my beloved fiancé who was taken from me by a drunk driver.
Michael: My fellow band members and the bands I listen to.
Jeremiah: The people around me and the music that makes you say “Dude what just happened?”

Skratch: What is your musical background?

Shane: I have played in the percussion department of middle and high school band. I have played for many churches across Oklahoma or about 4 years. And now moving to a new calling to meet thousands and thousands of people all over the U.S.
Michael: Played percussion all throughout middle and high school. Played for countless churches all over Oklahoma. And now we are playing at tons of well known venues.
Jeremiah: Played in middle school band. I have played guitar for five years. First played in church and now playing in venues.

Skratch: Tell us about how you got started as a band.

Shane: Michael and I fell in love with music and using it to impact people and to build relationships with people. Since then, about 6 years ago, we realized it was meant to be.
Michael: Shane and I realized we both love music about 6 years ago and decided to start this band.
Jeremiah: One random day at church, these weird guys asked me to be a part of their band. And so you have it.

Skratch: What is the most rewarding part of playing in a band?

Shane: To be able to influence people in a positive way as a person in what I do and say and by our music is the only thing that keeps me alive.
Michael: Meeting all the new people and doing what I love while doing it. Playing music.
Jeremiah: Knowing that I’m doing what I love and that we have to make this happen. No one is going to do it for us. Manifest destiny.

Skratch: What challenges have you faced as musicians?

Shane: Jeremiah’s terrible jokes (he says it’s true in background). And stepping out of our comfort zone far enough to be noticed.
Michael: Well music is the easy part. It’s coming up with new and clever jokes to top the rest of the band that’s truly difficult. And my biggest challenge is getting shotgun in the van from Jeremiah.
Jeremiah: Getting a high score in Pac-man. Driving while eating tacos. But seriously trying to get our name out there and getting support from people who think we should have 9 to 5 jobs.

Skratch: What would you say is your best song to date? Why?

Shane: I would say Haunting Me. I write all my lyrics off of real life experience, and this one is my life as it is right now.
Michael: Second Chances. Because it shows where we are as a band with our abilities and dynamics. And it just plain tickles my whistle.
Jeremiah: Well I’m not really looking to date any songs right now. But stats show that we get a good response Returning Home.

Skratch: Do you remember the first album you ever bought? What was it?

Shane: I’m going to have to say DC Talk.
Michael: Linkin Park: Hybrid Theory
Jeremiah: The first one I bought was Human Clay by Creed, but the first one I ever got was the Free Willy Soundtrack. True Story.

Skratch: Where do you see your band in five years?

Shane: Signed by Tooth and Nail and playing a rock show for your mom.
Michael: Signed by Tooth and Nail and traveling heavily.
Jeremiah: I see us following our dream, wherever that may be.

Skratch: Would you say your goals as a band are long term, or short term? What do you ultimately hope to achieve? Explain.

Shane: Loving on people is my calling. Using music to help further that is a bonus. I hope that is for a lifetime. However a lifetime does not always play out the way we may want. My story can contend to that.
Michael: My goals are long term. I hope to influence people in a positive way in everything I do.
Jeremiah: Long term. We treat this as a business and want it to be productive.
Skratch; How has your band evolved since when you first formed?

Shane: We have become more of a family than our own broken families. Not only has our music improved by the millions, we have also become better musicians.
Michael: We have become more comfortable with each other’s playing. We have also become better musicians on performance and stage presence.
Jeremiah: About the time I formed, is the time they made the transition into playing venues. And that’s something that we have all been learning together and has forced us to rely on each other more as a family.

Skratch: How often do you practice? What is your rehearsal time like?

Shane: We practice about twice a week. One electric full band and the other is acoustic.
Michael: Laid back.
Jeremiah: Productive.

Skratch: What would you say is your band’s motto? Explain.

Shane: Love people. Do what you love doing while loving people. Rocking Out!
Michael: Simply love people.
Jeremiah: It’s what happens between the songs that counts.

Skratch: What shows/album releases/plans do you currently have set up? Tell us about them.

Whole band: We are playing fewer shows right now to fully prepare for our upcoming tour, THE to you from me TOUR, which will be aking place all over the west coast from mid January to late April We will hopefully have our first FULL length album, to you from me, out by then. More info can be found on our sites.

Skratch: Where have your performed? Tell us about the experience.

Whole Band: We have performed all over Oklahoma at places like: Bricktown Live, The Marquee, and probably our favorite the Coca Cola Event Center, and many more. We as a band strive to put on an enjoyable ‘show’, not just play some music. People come for a concert, not a jam out session.

Skratch: What sets your stage show apart from all the other bands making the rounds at venues?

Shane: Interaction with the crowd is vital. Make them feel a part of everything and don’t bore them from one song to the next.
Michael: We put a lot of heart and soul into our music and I think it really shows on the stage. Thus setting us apart from others. And I also don’t think my hump dance hinders that at all!
Jeremiah: People come to see a show, not to see people play instruments. We want to make the audience feel like they are a part of the show.

Skratch: Anything else you think we should know about the band?

Shane: If you want a new friend, add us on myspace! Or follow each one of us on twitter, which is also on the myspace
Michael: We put in a lot time, energy, money, and heart into what we do.
And we hope that everyone can see that and appreciates that. And I cannot for the life of me beat Shane in a game of ping pong.
Jeremiah: Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you comes alive, and go do that. Because the world needs people to come alive.

For album release date and tour info visit 86 After at anyone of these sites: www.myspace.com/86after, www.86after.com or www.twitter.com/86after.

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