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You know what? Interview with Marianas Trench number 3. You know we love them, and you know we love to pick their brain. I got the awesome opportunity to speak with Mike Ayley about Masterpiece Theatre, fans, and touring. So read and enjoy!

"But the crowd, when they started chanting 'Marianas Trench! Marianas Trench!' which you always daydream about, but it's the first time it sounded like that! " - Mike Ayley, Marianas Trench

Introductions! Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Michael Ayley and I am the bass player from Marianas Trench.

Last time we got to talk to you guys, it was right before the release Masterpiece Theatre, so how do you feel the the album was received by fans, and is it what you were expecting?

It seems like it's been received pretty well, actually. In fact, for me, it seems a little better. I was worried we were going o get a bit more backlash because it's not as hard as the first album. But I think those people that are willing to give the album a bit of a listen, the songs are probably better in my opinion than the first album. They're a little bit more concise, a little less... trying to get as many ideas as possible across in every song.

I quite like the difference in the sound. You guys grew up a lot between the two albums and it definitely shows.

Thank you.

So what's your favourite song or lyrics on the CD and why?

Uhhhhh.... My favourite song is Masterpiece Theatre 3, because there's so much going on, I don't think I could ever get bored of it. I love playing it live, there's so many really cool ideas in there. I really like the lyric I never needed a reason for keeping secrets from myself, but now that's just how I tell I'm wide awake. It's a really dark, dark lyrics, but we all have those things about ourselves that we don't want to face. And that lyrics definitely rings a bell sometimes.

It's definitely one of the more intense ones. So, All To Myself is currently on MuchMusic's top 30, and is currently in the top 5, so how does that feel?

It's amazing! Shake Tramp went to number 1, and Cross My Heart went to number 1, and we were like, Oh MuchMusic, they'll support us for sure! And then we gave them the video, and they put it in rotation, but didn't put it in the countdown for like, four or five weeks and we were like, 'oh my god, they're not even going to put it in the countdown!' So once they added it, I was happy. Once it got to number 10, I was like, that's probably all it will do, and anything since then has been a bonus. I think it's number 4 right now, actually. I checked today, because I was curious. So I'm very happy with that. We just shot a new video yesterday, actually. Josh is probably finishing up some of the small bits now for Beside You.

That's actually really good timing, because that was actually my next question. Do you know which song is going to be the next single, and when can we look forward to seeing a music video for it?

I don't know how long it takes for this director to to do all the editing and stuff, but probably two or three weeks if we're lucky. That's when it gets to MuchMusic, then it's sort of up to them when they start playing it. And then... it's already on the radio, and it's also starting to... people are definitely allowed to request it from radio stations!

What can we look forward to seeing, if you can tell us?

In the video?

Yeah, in the video.

It's actually not a jokey video, which is what we're used to doing, which kind of makes sense with the song. So we finally did a serious video, which is all I'm going to say. I haven't seen how it's turning so...

Okay, so we know to expect something less jokester.

Yeah. All serious. Except for what's happening behind the camera.

*Laughs* Oh yeah! Well that's a given! Are we going to get behind the scenes stuff, too? Stuff on the MySpace and YouTube?

Oh yeah, just like the last two videos, a guy came in and shot a couple of hours worth of clips. We'll be putting something together soon.

So you guys are touring again, which is awesome. I'm super stoked I get to see you when you're in Toronto next week.

Oh cool! That show sold out!

I know! I was happy I already had my tickets.

It's out biggest headlining show that we've ever sold out ever. It's very exciting.

It's The Sound Academy! When I found out you guys sold it out, I was insanely impressed! I mean, I'm not shocked in the slightest, but congratulations on that.

Thank you! Before that, the biggest was The Commodore Vancouver, which is 1000, and I think The Sound Academy is 2500, so it's a big jump up. I was a little bit nervous.

Naw, I wasn't shocked. The couple times you've been here you've sold out The Opera House, so I was waiting for the jump to a bigger venue.

Yeah, I think last time we couldn't find something in between, so we just did The Opera House again, because you don't want to do a big venue and then not fill it out, that's a little depressing.

Yeah... But in regards to tour, are there any things that you particularly look forward to with it, and is there anything you don't look forward to at all?

The only thing I don't look forward to is being away from home for 5 weeks again, because we were on the road for most of the summer. But I love being on the road, I love playing shows, and we finally get to go to the East Coast again which is the first time since Spring of 2007. So it's been 2 and a half years since we've been to the East Coast. I'm very excited because apparently they are too, because every show there is sold out. We're getting good reactions. We finally moved up a venue in Ottawa, too. We used to play Mavericks, we played this place like, 3 or 4 times and this time we played a venue that's 3 times as big and it sold out in one day. We'd been telling them for ages that we needed a bit bigger place, so finally we got it, and we were right.

Well again, congratulations.

Thank you.

So what keeps you going, when all you want to be is at home?

All the people, and the fans. Their reactions. You get on stage... In September we were playing some college shows for frosh week and we did 5 in Ontario, 1 in Brandon, and 1 in Winnipeg, and the last show was the Winnipeg one, and I remember being back stage and just thinking, 'I don't have it today', there's this sort of... it's kind of like nerves... but, you're not nervous, but it's just that edge. I love the feel before I play, it's like the fire, you know? And I'm just thinking, 'I don't have it, I don't have it,' and then went out there and the fans were wicked and I had one of my best shows of the whole mini tour, so the people keep you going. It's my job, and I love it. When people are that excited to have you and your band there, it's pretty awesome.

I can imagine that that would be an amazing feeling, yeah.

It is. It's one of the best feelings ever.

Well, I know you mentioned Masterpiece Theatre 3, but I'm still going to ask: What's your favourite song to play live, and which seems to get the best reaction from the crowd?

Okay, I'm going to take the singles out, because those are going to be the biggest reactions, because people have heard them the most. For non-singles, the best reaction is probably Celebrity Status. That song is really fun to play live too, because it's just a cool song, lots of energy, I get to sing a little bit more in that one, which I like.

Personally, that song inspires much dancing as well.

Exactly! People love to just jump around to it.

What's your personal favourite moment as a band?

Hm. That's a tough question. You know, I think the first time we sold out The Opera House in Toronto, it was like... Fall 2007, it was October, we were just finishing that album cycle. We played The Opera House, and I remember, the crowd was piling in, and I was behind the merch table, selling T-Shirts to everybody and all that stuff, and I'm just standing there. I hadn't really looked at the line-up because the line-up for T-shirts was huge which was great, because people are going to be wearing your stuff, which I like. But the crowd, when they started chanting 'Marianas Trench! Marianas Trench!' which you always daydream about, but it's the first time it sounded like that! I had to stop what I was doing, and I just stood there for a second, like I had been slapped in the face, and almost started crying because I was so happy. It was just like, Oh my god, we've done it! We achieved one of the things I always wanted to achieve. I think as a personal thing, that's one of my favourite moments. There's lots of great entire band moments, just being in the studio and hearing a song come together is pretty awesome.

I have to admit something. Obviously I'm a fan, but I was at that show, and I was actually buying a T-shirt from you when that happened. I remember the look on your face exactly I wanted to hug you and just-... I don't know! It's just, when you see that look on someone's face, you know how much it means to them, and I was just so happy to see it there, and so happy that that was happening for you guys.

That... is amazing that you were there!! That one moment I'm talking about! Thank you!

What is it that inspired you to make music?

I don't know. I don't know how much of a choice you have. It's whether you pursue it or not. For me, I think it's just kind of in you. I can't not tap it, I can't not have a song running through my head, and I don't really know what else there is to it. I don't think Josh really has a choice at all. I have other attributes that I could have gone into as a career, but it's very clear that this is Josh's natural gift. His sort of... journey with music is amazing, because some of the stuff he does, it's just like... how do you do it? It's pretty amazing.

So, at The Sound Faction, we like to end all of our interviews with just five random questions to end everything on a lighter note, are you down for that?

Sure!

So, what's your favourite midnight snack?

What's my favourite midnight snack... *laughs* Can I say red wine?

Yes you can!

Then that.

Awesome. What's the most random thought that's ever gone through your head on stage?

Ooh! Uh... wow! I think about a lot of random stuff on stage! I usually make mistakes and lose my focus! God, what have I thought about? Probably thought about-... I don't know! They're not really that random, it's like "Hm... I wonder if we're going to have time in between the last song and the encore to run to the bathroom." stuff like that. ...And then you make a mistake in the last song before the encore! ... And then you're like... 'So do I have time to go to the bathroom?'

*Laughs* If you could have lunch with any fiction character, who would it be and why?

Oh man, these are hard questions! Who would I want to hang out with... *Asks someone else in the room* Any fictional characters you want to hang out with? .... No! Not Batman, he doesn't look like a talker.

*Laughs* He would just stand there and look angsty.

Wonder woman! I want to see if those bracelets are actually bullet proof! But I'd have to have her bring a gun. Or just to go for a flight in the invisible jet! That would be pretty cool.

What is your favourite guilty pleasure band or song?

Good Charlotte!

I love Good Charlotte.

The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous album? What's it called?

The Young and the Hopeless.

Yeah! Although I know it's one of those things I would get made fun of for, like, a lot. But it's catchy and there's some really good melodies in there, so I secretly listen to it. ...Well, not so secretly anymore.

Hey, I've been listening to Good Charlotte since I was about 10, and I'm almost 21 now. It's continued over these years, and I get made fun of for it mercilessly, so don't worry about it in the slightest.

Okay, good!

And last one, if you could be the champion of anything, what would it be?

The champion of anything? The world series of Poker, main event.

Alright, and last but not least, this is your shameless self promo shot. Anything you want to say or promote, now is your time to do it!

I think you covered everything!

Bomb!

I just want people to check out our album, and I want them to- pay for it or not- I urge them to download it, listen to it a couple times, and if you like it- or don't like it, delete it, but if you like it, go buy it. I think downloading is okay if you're using it as a sampling method. If you're using it instead of paying, then it's not so good.

Totally. There's nothing worse than going out and grabbing an album you think is going to be good, only to realize that you just wasted like, $20 on it.

Yeah, $20, $25. It sucks. I used to do that. I would download songs, and then I'd give myself two weeks. At the end of two weeks, I had to delete it, and if I didn't want to, I'd go buy the CD, but if I didn't want it, then oh well. I think it's actually a really good tool for sampling music.

I agree. Thank you so much for your time, Mike!

Thank you! Have a good day!

Of course, again, I want to thank Mike from MT for taking the time to talk to us, and as always, definitely check these boys out. We can't stress enough how much we love Marianas Trench around here. Go to their MySpace to check out some songs if you haven't heard any!

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