STRIKING OUT INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN
DEREK SANDERS INTERVIEW BY ANNETTE HANSEN
F
or 14 years, Derek Sanders has built a career as the frontman of Mayday Parade. Through the band, Sanders has been able to share his music with the world. It’s a new decade, though, and Sanders is now ready to put his musical gifts out there in a whole new way. On Feb. 14 Sanders released his debut solo EP, My Rock and Roll Heart, via Rise Records. Despite having an active and successful music career, Sanders doesn’t shy away from discussing the nerves and anticipation he has surrounding the project.
“It’s kind of weird, because it’s such a foreign concept to me at this point,� Sanders says. “Because I’ve been in Mayday Parade for 14 years, and I haven’t put out any type of music in any type of project other than Mayday Parade.
Everything in Mayday Parade is a group, you know, the five of us vote and decide on things, and it’s kind of nice to have the freedom to do whatever I want.�
called ‘But Lauren,’ and I recorded it as a Valentine’s Day gift for my wife,� Sanders explains. “I ended up showing that song to the guy who wrote it, his name is Mike Hanson.�
getting feedback. That’s been super rewarding.â€? As Sanders embarks on this new outlet in his career, there’s a lot to look forward to. With the freedom of creating and touring as a solo artist, he is ready to enjoy whatever comes next.Â
The EP consists of five stripped-down Sanders says showing Hanson the covers from bands like Saves The track was the first push towards a Day and Jimmy Eat World, all songs bigger project, that Sanders says were important tracks from his teenage years. “When I sent [the song] to him, he “I’m excited to know what people was the first one to bring up like, think of it, and excited to go play “These bands all had a huge impact ‘yo, this is great, you should release a couple of shows,â€? Sanders relays. “Part of what’s neat about this is on my life and on the music that I this, put it out somehow.’â€? that, because it is just me, whenwent on to create,â€? he says. Now that the project has come to ever there’s time when Mayday Releasing a solo EP wasn’t a spur fruition, Sanders is reveling in the Parade is off, it’s easy for me to zip around and play a few shows here of the moment decision for Sand- reality and the newness of it all. and there. Maybe fly to some placers. The project began as a single recording of a single track, meant “It’s been something I’ve thought es and play a couple of shows, and as a gift and not for wider release. about doing for so long,â€? he says. just sort of keep it simple for now, Ultimately, Sanders and others saw “Even when I recorded these songs but have fun with it. I don’t know, potential in bringing a full solo re- years back, it’s just been like ‘one it’s just an exciting thing.â€? đ&#x;’Łđ&#x;’Łđ&#x;’Ł lease to light. day this will be a real thing.’ And now we just put out this first song, “The first song that I recorded is and it’s actually real, and you’re
NEW NOISE 67
