Techno pop enthusiasts Blood On The Dance Floor released “All The Rage” this past year and to celebrate they have set off on the “All The Rage” tour alongside such acts as News Years Day and Angels Spit. Whilst in route the band goes into great detail about how well they connect with their fans, whats the deal about their writing process and what the fans can expect when their new album drops Valentine’s Day 2012!
ShockYa: So tell me why the name Blood On The Dance Floor?
Dahvie Vanity: We wanted to be dysfunctional, original. crazy, unpredictable, kind of dance music that had a crazy twist to it.
Jayy Von Monroe: To me honestly I heard the name Blood On The Dance Floor from him even before I knew it was a Michael Jackson thing. So a lot of people began to get that mistaken with that. Haha
ShockYa: What’s the first thing you do when the band arrives in a new town while on tour?
Dahvie Vanity: I always fix my face, I explore I go off and I just go to random shops or random things see what’s cool about the city.
Jayy Von Monroe: I smoke a cigarette and then go hunt for food. I got the iPhone so I map out all the spots around us and then we’re good to go.
Both: Good to go! Good, good to go!
ShockYa: Tell me about this tour, how has it been going so far?
Dahvie Vanity: It’s all the rage! Angel Spit and News Years Day are great bands but it’s just get to reconnect with our fans again it’s always wonderful, that’s the best part of doing these tours.
Jayy Von Monroe: It’s fuckin awesome.
ShockYa: Have you ever had an audience member give you the willies because they kept looking at you all weird?
Dahvie Vanity: No I’m not afraid of anything really, but I am more scared of getting my pants ripped off.
Jayy Von Monroe: I’m not scared of anything really I think we’re the scariest people there actually. You never know what’s going to happen except when it just happens.
ShockYa: You have a brand new album “Evolution” coming out for Valentine’s Day next year, can you talk about it or do you want to keep it a secret.
Dahvie Vanity: It’s not really a secret it’s our best album we’ve ever done. The vocals, music and production are stellar the meaning of the album is really cool it’s very meaningful and raunchier and dirtier so it’s pretty much best of the old and best of the new. It’s exactly what our fans want, it’s driven to our fans more than anything and it’s giving them what they’ve always wanted. So there’s going to be a lot more screaming, more vulgarity, controversy, more love, more purity, and just more of who we are.
ShockYa: How would you describe the overall sound of “All The Rage”? How does it compare to “Epic”?
Dahvie Vanity: I think “All The Rage” was a more concept album versus “Epic”. The two are very different. “All The Rage” we started doing actual songs and tried new things and we did new things we’ve never done before but they’re both very unique and both very exciting albums.
Jayy Von Monroe: Wow I don’t even know where to begin. Like “Epic” and “All The Rage” can go from having 22 tracks of exclusive content and then “All The Rage” has like only two exclusive tracks. Like there’s meaning with “Epic” but ‘All The Rage” it’s more of like…..
Dahvie Vanity: “All The Rage” pretty much explains who we are while “Epic” is who we are but we kind of wrote it to make the fans really happy. There both two different writing styles one was personal and one was trying to surpass the ordinary.
ShockYa: When did you start writing for that album? How was the songwriting process different/similar to previous Blood On The Dance Floor albums?
Dahvie Vanity: Let’s see here, haha I don’t think it’s really changed it’s still the same just trying to put our vocals to match perfectly with the music. Just not try to end up in a slump where we repeat ourselves I think a lot of it is experimenting and discovering. Like a car is going further and further traveling away we’re trying to outdo our last record and evolving.
Jayy Von Monroe: Yeah pretty much.
ShockYa: Did you feel any pressure to follow it up?
Dahvie Vanity: Nope we were very confident.
Jayy Von Monroe: Nope I think we naturally progress as people and evolved. So the people who actually keep doing the same thing are actually the insane ones. Like if anyone is gona make a record one year and then make another one a year later it’s going to sound completely different because the person’s changed over that year. You don’t really have to try hard it just happens that way.
Dahvie Vanity: Amen that’s the truth.
ShockYa: Have you ever been fed up with playing music or with band members, if so why?
Dahvie Vanity: Never. As long as we’re saving kids and making them happy we’re always be there for our family because family’s everything and our fans our are our family.
Jayy Von Monroe: Nope never.
ShockYa: What was your first concert experience? Do you remember how you felt once the concert was over?
Dahvie Vanity: First show was April 2008 it was at the Orlando Social in Florida. It was our first show ever and there were 300 kids and it was great. I knew from then on that our band was destined for greatness. The kids were really getting into it and it made sense so it’s been a movement and we don’t even look at ourselves as a band we look at ourselves as this movement.
ShockYa: Did you grow up wanting to play music, or when did the whole making albums thing come about and how?
Dahvie Vanity: I was a kid at a playground and I wanted to be an architect like Indiana Jones. Like go exploring and discovering. I never thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now. I always wanted to be an explorer and being in a band you get to do that. When I was born I knew I was going to be something and be able to make people happy and it just came naturally.
ShockYa: Do you have a favorite song you have ever written? Why?
Dahvie Vanity: Favorite song I’ve ever written and why I think the best song in my personal opinion that I’ve written would have to be “Bewitched” because to me I was at a point in my life where I didn’t want to live anymore I was really depressed the whole month was like a curse. I couldn’t eat or sleep right and I had just broken up with my ex-girlfriend at the time and we were going to get engaged on New Years and it was suppose to be my fairytale and to lose her was one of the hardest things I had to go through in my life and “Bewitched” helped me get through and it helped me get through it all and saved me and got me to overcome that relationship. Music is therapy is helps remove whatever suppress’ or bother’s you.
Jayy Von Monroe: As of right now that’s been released it’d probably be I don’t know “Untouchables”. I think it captures what we see from our point of view. But the outsiders don’t really see what we do so it gives them a look into that aspect.
Dahvie Vanity: Yeah the “Untouchables” is about growing up and understanding history looking back in time and with that the untouchables were the types of people that were treated like crap but in reality they were the most caring and loving people around. We want to be able to give people of today that power and confidence and our music gives that hope and that strength and I think we’re just doing it right kid.
ShockYa: If you could re-record, or re-write any song of yours what would that song be?
Dahvie Vanity: I don’t know I don’t it’s about going back in time the songs happened in a certain time period and it shows how you can reflect back on your life. I think you should move forward and write new music.
Jayy Von Monroe: It’s always better to go forward than back.
Dahvie Vanity: The Beatles said it best “let it be”.
ShockYa: Have you ever cried while listening to music? If so what were you listening too?
Dahvie Vanity: Yeah I have cried this new song called “All My Love” on the Drive soundtrack I think a scene where the guy passed away that was pretty depressing. I don’t know what else Titanic always does it.
Jayy Von Monroe: I do cry, I went to go see one of my favorite bands The Used and they closed with an acoustic version of “On My Own” it’s a very heartfelt song and it’s about being on the road and stuff like that. I shed a tear or two it was a pretty emotional time for me. Nowadays its meaning has progressed into something I can relate too but back in the day of middle school I would cry more often but now I’ve bypassed that.
Dahvie Vanity: Yeah we’re HUGE fans of The Used!
ShockYa: How about the upcoming holidays do you plan on celebrating?
Dahvie Vanity: Yeah I’m going to be going back to my mom and dad’s place and then maybe head out to Petro Rico and then go to Orlando. But we’re doing a tour up until Christmas so we’re going to be spending time with our mommy’s and daddy’s and friends and family. It’s always a time of year where you meet up with your loved ones and tell them stories about how your life is going.
ShockYa: What do you hope to get for Christmas this year?
Dahvie Vanity: Oh my god I want a lightsaber.
Jayy Von Monroe: Rose McGowan under my Christmas tree.
Dahvie Vanity: Oh my god that’s my dream Rose McGowan what a hottie.
ShockYa: Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?
Dahvie Vanity: Oh wow New Year’s resolutions…. Uh I want to get pregnant this year!
Jayy Von Monroe: I want to go to Disneyworld I guess that’s what happens when a guy gets pregnant.
Dahvie Vanity: Yeah a tons of crazy stuff.
ShockYa: If you had your life to live over again, what one thing would you change?
Dahvie Vanity: I’d let it be I would have no regrets whatsoever. Everything happened in my life for a reason and it taught me something and I would just keep it the way it is.
Jayy Von Monroe: Yeah I totally agree you learn from your mistakes.
Dahvie Vanity: You don’t make mistakes you make discoveries.
ShockYa: Thanks for doing the interview is there anything else you’d like to say?
Dahvie Vanity: uh yes everyone is going to get laid tonight.
Jayy Von Monroe: I couldn’t agree more.
by: Natalie Perez
