James LaBrie interview with Kyo, 2011-07-11

[Kyo]

Since someone asked, the interview will be published on www.prog-sphere.com in English and on www.progrock-dt.de in German. And yes, the whole thing will be filmed, so I imagine the German version will be the original video with a translated transcript added.


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Hi everyone,

I will be conducting an interview with James this Saturday. My list of topics to discuss is already pretty long, so I can't guarantee anything, but if anyone has good questions for James, please post them here - maybe I'll add one or two to my list!


All the best,
Michael  |  Bass  |  Relocator

[phentalmyst]

i wanna know if the lyric rule is gone.

[Kyo]

Don't worry, the whole thing about Myung contributing more (especially lyrics) is very high on my list.

[Zydar]

Ask him how the setlist selections are handled and structured now.

[Kyo]

That, too! 

[chrisbDTM]

yes put the 'why isnt there any MP songs in the setlist?' to rest

is it intentional like some people think, or just a coincidence

[Kyo]

Dudes, stop reading from my list and make up some questions of your own! 

[Zydar]

Will there be a concert DVD release from the tour for this album? (Either from a single show or like Chaos In Motion)

[chrisbDTM]

When will purchase information for the new CD be announced? will there be special editions, boxsets, etc.

[Kyo]

Will there be a concert DVD release from the tour for this album? (Either from a single show or like Chaos In Motion)

Yeah, I hope I'll find the time to inquire about future video releases. When will we get the first DT Blu-ray disc? Will Budokan and Score ever be released on that format? And will we ever see that extended edition of LSFNY?

I'm not sure James will be able to answer those at this point, but even if not, it won't hurt to put these ideas in his head.

When will purchase information for the new CD be announced? will there be special editions, boxsets, etc.

I could try, but I feel I'd be wasting a question - the answer is probably that we'll hear about it soon enough (i.e., when the label decides the time is right).

[TAC]

What was JP's reaction when James told him he wanted to record his vocals in Canada?

[chrisbDTM]

Does James handle all backing vocals on the album? (cause he was in canada away from JP)

[bosk1]

What would it take to make him sign up and post here just once?

[nikatapi]

Has he talked to MP since he left the band?
How many songs did he write lyrics for?
Did the music for the new album come first and then the vocal melodies, or did they write with the vocals in mind?

What would it take to make him sign up and post here just once?

That is a great question.

[phentalmyst]

Don't worry, the whole thing about Myung contributing more (especially lyrics) is very high on my list.

i guess i meant it more from the aspect of if JM's contributions are a product of rule changes, and if so, did those rule changes take place because of MP's leaving or is this all just fan speculation?

[phentalmyst]

also, will SDV make an appearance on tour? you can reference the JR gig.

[Orion1967]

Boxers, Briefs or Commando?

Enquiring minds might want to know?

[Kyo]

Don't worry, the whole thing about Myung contributing more (especially lyrics) is very high on my list.

i guess i meant it more from the aspect of if JM's contributions are a product of rule changes, and if so, did those rule changes take place because of MP's leaving or is this all just fan speculation?

Once again: Don't worry. I'd say I'm as familiar with the Myung situation as an outsider can be (lyric rule and all), so I'll try to find out as much about how and why it changed as I can.

[John94]

Ask him how he feels about singing earlier songs now. Does he feel fully comfortable with them and has he altered any of his warm up techniques or general singing techniques in order to deliver them. (eg. the F#)

[Kyo]

also, will SDV make an appearance on tour? you can reference the JR gig.

Yeah, something like that is on my list already. I'll ask about more obscure songs in general when we discuss setlists and I'll definitely bring up SDV because of this precedent.

[bosk1]

Voices and Take the Time:  Whose decision was it to edit those down on recent tours (his, the band's, or both)?  Given how incredibly difficult the full version of Take the Time is, how would he feel about trying to sing the original version?  Does he think he can pull it off?  Any plans to bring those two songs out in their entirety in the forseeable future?

[Kyo]

Voices and Take the Time:  Whose decision was it to edit those down on recent tours (his, the band's, or both)?

You forgot option 4: Mike's

[wammabe]

Boxers, Briefs or Commando?

Enquiring minds might want to know?

Indeed, this question should be presented in the interview.

Anyways, I'd like to know his thoughts on the vocals for the new album. If he finds the songs simple and easy to perform, etc.

[Elite]

Ask him why he cut his hair 

In more seriousness, ask him what his favourite and least favourite songs to play with dream Theater are.

[Gysten]

In more seriousness, ask him what his favourite and least favourite songs to play with dream Theater are.

I second this, would be fun to know.

[ReaPsTA]

Can you ask him how, since he recorded his vocals in Canada, he went about interpreting the lyrics and vocal melodies he didn't write?  Were there vocal demos for the JP and JM lyrics?  To what degree does he blend his own thoughts with the interpretation of the lyricist?  After he did his first takes of the songs, how much input did JP and/or JM have in terms of redoing certain parts?  How did he find the emotional truth of the song and how to convey that through the tonality/timbre/intensity of the singing?

Stuff like that basically.

[ReaPsTA]

BTW - A thought about the questions (Directed at the fellow posters).

Think long term a bit.  We'll know if there are JP backing vocals when the album comes out.  Why waste JLB's time asking him that?  Ask questions that will make the album more interesting when it comes out and still be interesting a year or more from now.

[Guitalguy]

Can you ask him how, since he recorded his vocals in Canada, he went about interpreting the lyrics and vocal melodies he didn't write?  Were there vocal demos for the JP and JM lyrics?  To what degree does he blend his own thoughts with the interpretation of the lyricist?  After he did his first takes of the songs, how much input did JP and/or JM have in terms of redoing certain parts?  How did he find the emotional truth of the song and how to convey that through the tonality/timbre/intensity of the singing?

Stuff like that basically.

That. I wonder why he couldn't just record them once he was in NY for the instruments recording. Must have been difficult to communicate. Having seen the Chaos in Progress-doc, I know that the others always were telling him how to do it and overloaded him with constructive comments and all.

[MykeHavoc]

I'm most curious about set-lists. Everyone here was quick to point out that their first show in, they avoided any MP lyrics. I would like to know if they have discussed if this will be an ongoing thing or if they will down the line integrate some of those songs back in. I think it's fair to say we'd all be heart-broken if say A Change of Seasons never gets played live again.
I'd also like to comment that the song choice was well mixed and I was curious if the band as a whole sat down to hash it out or if one or two specific members dictated the direction and song order. I'd also like to know if there is intent to rotate set-lists or swap songs at all or if we can expect a static set per leg/tour.  

[TheGreatPretender]

Ask him whether there are any songs on the album where he just goes crazy high with his vocal range?

Also, where will this interview be posted? And by chance, will it be a video interview? Those are questions for you, Kyo, not for him, hahah.

[robwebster]

Ask which songs he wrote. (And, if you can sneak it in, which songs John Myung wrote.)

What kind of things has he chosen to write about? Are there any subjects that he really wanted to tackle with this album? Can he see himself contributing more lyrically in the future, now that there's more space for it? What sort of discussions go on, when choosing a song to write lyrics for - are there any that he had an idea for but didn't get a chance to write?

(Oh, and does he remember the working titles to any of the songs for this album? Working titles are dead fun, typically.)

ALSO - how did they choose the setlists this tour? Was it more of a collaborative thing? Were there any songs that he really wanted to slip into the set? Are there any songs they've not played in ages that he'd like to have another go at?



There we go - loads of lyrics questions, loads of setlist questions. Not many about actual vocals - sorry about that. I'm dead interested in what the dynamic was like, recording with Rich Chycki - did he feel he had more freedom to put his own stamp on it? And how have they dealt with vocal melodies this time around; did he and Rich Chycki work them out themselves from rough guides, or have the lyricists written the melodies again? (Back to lyrics!)

(That, incidentally, could be why JM's contributing again. He doesn't really "do" vocal melodies, but if JLB's designing his own to an extent, then it doesn't matter, p'raps?)

[robwebster]

Ohhhh! And a good question - so good that someone's probably beaten me to the punch (haven't read through the suggestions, yet) - but how does John Petrucci's approach differ from Mike Portnoy's?

[Ħ]

Will DT will throw in any of the obscure b-sides into their setlists in the future?

[Kotowboy]

Ohhhh! And a good question - so good that someone's probably beaten me to the punch (haven't read through the suggestions, yet) - but how does John Petrucci's approach differ from Mike Portnoy's?

Production - wise I assume .

[IdoSC]

Well, if you feel like it - ask him if he pushes himself (in terms of vocal range etc) in the new record the way he did in Static Impulse, Trinity (of Eden's Curse) and in the recent live shows.