IndieHQ / Article Detail

April 13th, 2007

Interview with Chris Farren of Fake Problems

I am excited to bring you this interview from Naples, Florida’s Fake Problems. Fake Problems are a band that you may yet to hear, but trust me that this will change in the near future as the band is set to release a brand new album, “How Far Our Bodies Go”(Sabot Productions); they just got off of a tour with Against Me and Riverboat Gamblers, and they have no plans to stop touring. When you listen to Fake Problems, you hear a rocking combination of Honky Tonk and Punk Rock and it would not be a far stretch to compare them to Against Me. They are currently doing dates with the Draft and will have a full U.S. tour coming soon with Gaslight Anthem.

Chris Farren of Fake Problems discusses what records he is currently listening to; how they hooked up Sabot Productions; what they look for in a label; and facetiously what bands have influenced their songwriting, I think.

Thanks Chris for taking the time to do this interview. I highly recommend everyone check this band out and also be sure to check out their label, Sabot Productions.

IndieHQ: When did your band start? Where is your band based? What label is your band on? Do you do the band full time? What don’t most people know about you/your band?
FakeProblems: The band started about 4 years ago with a few different members, and around 2 years ago with the current line-up. We’re based out of Naples, FL and we’re on Sabot Productions, which is based out of Gainesville. We’re definitely full time. We just got off of a 7 week tour, and we’re leaving in a week for a 2 week tour, followed by a 4 week tour. After that we might get a month or so off. We’re very rarely home, and at this point I’d say we’re gone 70-80% of the time.
IndieHQ: Where can people sample your music? Myspace url? Website? What is your latest album? What is your best selling release? How many has it sold?
FakeProblems: We’ve got a lot of music on our myspace account, and some mp3’s on our official website. I guess our Sabot debut EP “Spurs & Spokes” is our best selling release - we got rid of a lot of those at the merch table this past tour. Lots of re-stocking!

IndieHQ: What do you look for in a label? How did you hook up with your label? Would you ever consider signing to a major label? What advice do you have for bands attempting to get a label’s attention?
FakeProblems: I look for what the label can do that we can’t do ourselves. I’d say press, distribution and touring support are the most important things we seek in a label. We got with Sabot through booking a show for Against Me! in our hometown of Naples, FL. We met Jordan (MR. SABOT) through them and he enjoyed our music enough to invest millions and millions of dollars and cell phone minutes on us. The best thing a band can do to get a label’s attention is be awesome and tour so much it hurts.

IndieHQ: I run a label and attempting to sell music in the post-file-sharing, post-Tower Records retail landscape is more difficult than ever. Do you feel that file-sharing/copying has helped or hurt your band? How??
FakeProblems: I’d say file sharing has helped us. Since we’re on a smaller level, any kind of promotion we can get is good. We just got to the point where we’re even ‘relevant’ enough for people to even care to search for us on download sites, and I’m glad they’re spreading it around. The kids that want to support the artist will buy the album, or a shirt, or button, or a ticket to a show.

IndieHQ: Do you have a booking agent? Who? Do you have a manager? Who? How important is it to your band that you have a booking agent and manager on your team?
FakeProblems: We’re talking to a booking agent now about working together- it’s something we’re definitely apprehensive about but we feel it necessary.

IndieHQ: As music sales continue to decrease and music distribution changes, there has been lots of talk about a new label business model where labels will need to start taking a share of the band’s merchandise, publishing, and ticket sales. How do you feel about this idea?
FakeProblems: I guess that depends on how much of a role the label played in the success of a band. If a label is paying for press and promotion, then I’d say it’s fair for the label to see some monetary result of that.

IndieHQ: If you were forced to describe your band to someone by mentioning the 3 bands that most influenced your songwriting, which bands would you mention?
FakeProblems: Blink 182, Blink 182 and Blink 182.

IndieHQ: What do you see as the future of music sales?
FakeProblems: I honestly don’t think that much is going to change from where we are right now. There are obviously still terrible (and a few good) bands getting ultra-famous and making ridiculous amounts of money somehow. There was a big uproar when people started copying tapes and claims it would be the end of the music industry all together. I don’t really see the difference.

IndieHQ: What 5 albums are you currently listening to most?
Mika - Life in Cartoon Motion
Bright Eyes - Cassadega
The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun
Look Mexico - This is Animal Music
Riverboat Gamblers - To The Confusion of our Enemies

IndieHQ: If you could get everyone in the world to listen to one song by your band, which one would it be? Why? Is it on your Myspace page?
FakeProblems: Hmm . I guess it’d be the first song on our Myspace page “Maestro..” cuz that song rules.

Written by Virgil Dickerson