Close Your Eyes

By Jackie Cular

Victory Records’ band, Close Your Eyes, takes some time during Baltimore’s two-day hardcore show, Ice Jam. Drummer, Tim Friesen, gives an update.

TheCuttingEdgeCulture: “You are currently touring to support your recent release, Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts. What were some inspirations to songs on the disc?”

Tim Friesan: “I guess lyrically, it’s a darker album. We Will Overcome was a lot more positive. Shane [Raymond, lead singer at the time of interview] writes all the lyrics so his explanations are usually that the lyrics are about what he’s dealt with, personally. It’s a very personal album. A lot of struggles that he’s gone through in the last few years and how he’s come through them. There are some darker elements in the album, but we always try to put an element of hope in there as well. You don’t have to be stuck in a rut all the time; there is a way out of it; you need to keep persevering to make it through.”

TCEC: “What song from the album do you feel encompasses your band’s sound and message best?”

TF: “One song on that record? I don’t really know… I guess ‘Keep the Lights On’ is a good example of that. It’s got a really powerful lyric, that is basically the title of the song… the first part goes, ‘Please keep the lights on; I’m trying to make it home.’ It’s about being lost and not knowing who you are or where your future is, but that you are trying to make it to that place.”

TCEC: “Any plans to make another music video for a song from the album?”

TF: “Yes… I’m sure there are. We’ve done [counting] three for this album already. As far as I know…. There will be more.”

TCEC: “With MTV focusing more on reality TV, teen pregnancies, and Beavis and Butthead—what’s the point of making a music video these days?”

TF: “Internet really… promotion that way. I really haven’t watched MTV in years. I guess you just made your point right there. It helps with Internet promotion and publishing. Our video, ‘Valleys’ was actually remixed to include shots of Jeff Hardy; it was for a TNA Pay-per-View wrestling event. It was weird but it was also kind of cool because the way they integrated his story.”

TCEC: “That was actually my next question! How did you link up with them? Are any of you wrestling fans? Who’s your favorite wrestler?”

TF: “I have NO idea… they must have contacted Victory [their record label]. We found out after the fact. After it was out, somebody found it and posted it on YouTube and told us, ‘this is the best thing we’ve ever seen. It is so cool.’ We didn’t know about it until it was up and running… I was into wrestling when I was a kid. My favorite? Gotta be the Undertaker, for sure. And then it was the Ultimate Warrior before that. And it was the OLD Undertaker, too—not the Harley-riding guy!”

TCEC: “You’re here at the second day of Ice Jam—a one stop, two day festival. What is the benefit of doing a show like this versus a smaller club tour?”

TF: “There’s definitely more bands. It’s a longer day but there are lots of bands the kids know… hopefully they stay and we get more fans because of that.

TCEC: “You’re from Canada and other members are from Texas, where have you toured that is farthest from home? How did it go?”

TF: “Basically just the States for right now… in May we’re going to South America, in Brazil, and that will definitely be the farthest from home I’ve traveled.”

TCEC: “On your current set list, which song gets the most crowd response? Why do you think that is?”

TF: “Usually still ‘Song for the Broken,’ that did really well… ‘Valleys’ also gets a lot of response.”

TCEC: “Some very devoted fans get a band’s lyrics or album art tattooed on them. How would you feel about this? Would you ever get your own lyrics tattooed on you, someone else’s?”

TF: “I have a mixed response… For me, being the person that helped write the song or be a part of the band whose lyrics are on them, it’s definitely flattering. But at the same time, the simple truth is, we’re not going to be around forever. Usually they are very young and they may not like the band in a few years or even a few months, so who knows? It’s flattering, but at the same time… I would never do something like that. It’s just not who I am.”

TCEC: “What’s up next for the band?”

TF: “We have some time off then we’re slated to go out with Comeback Kid through March and April. After that is Brazil.”

Go to the band’s website for more information.

Follow the band on Twitter.