Misery Signals

~We recently got a hold of Kyle Johnson(bassist) of Wisconsin native Progressive metalcore band Misery Signals. The band just wrapped up the recording of their upcoming album "Mirrors" which will be released on Ferret Music on August 22 this year. The band has gone through some line-up changes in recent months as well. Here's what Kyle had to say about it all 

Red Zone Publications: What is your name and what do you contribute to Misery Signals?
 
Misery Signals(Kyle): Kyle Johnson, I play bass for the band.

RZP: Can you tell us how Misery Signals started and how you got the name?

Kyle: Misery Signals was formed soon after the departure of 7 Angels 7 Plagues back in the summer of 2002. Once The drummer of 7a7p quit, forcing the break up, Myself, Ryan Morgan (guitar), and Former Vocalist Jesse Zaraska decided to start Misery Signals. We recruited Ryans' Brother Branden Morgan on drums after trying out a few drummers and soon after asked Stuart Ross to join the band after a quick departure of original second guitarist Jeff Aust. The name was developed off of the idea of Misery. It took a good portion of time for us to come up with Signals as the finishing half to the name, The name can be translated in a few different ways but i think the main meaning behind it to me deals with the struggles (miseries) that we all face throughout our every day lives and the Signals that we recieve (warnings, signs) and in turn express or project through the music we play. I dunno. I helped to come up with the name but im sure everyone in the band has their own explanation of what it means to them. 
 
RZP:  As everyone knows you guys parted ways with your former vocalist Jesse Zaraska. Shortly after the loss you hooked up with your new vocalist Karl Schubach. How did that come about?

Kyle: After trying out a few close friends we released a track off of Malice with no vocals and started taking submissions. Karls' submission caught our attention so we sent him a new demo track to see what he could do with it. After being extremely impressed with what he returned to us we decided it would be a good idea to bring him down. That was January 18th and he has been here with us ever since. 
 
RZP: How was the transition from Jesse to Karl?

Kyle: It took a little getting used to. Karl had never sang for a band previously so he had alot to learn and over the few months we had before recording he proved to be the right choice. Once we hit the studio Karls voice was the best it had ever been and continues to grow stronger every show. Kind of a natural i guess. Lucky for us. haha
 
RZP: You are currently finishing up your second full legnth "Mirrors" How was the writing process for that?

Kyle: It was so long!!! We basically set ourselves up in madison from October of 2005 until April of 2006. Stuart spend all that time away from home to write the new record. By the time Karl came down we had written the majority of the record so we had alot of time to focus on vocal/lyrical content. It worked out quite well actually. We ended up in the studio a little later than planned but for losing a vocalist we recovered about as quickly as possible. 
 
RZP: How is the recording and mastering for "Mirrors" going?

Kyle: We recently completed the recording of MIRRORS with Ben Schigel in Cleveland, OH. It was an interesting experience. We basically recorded in Bens Garage. He was in the process of moving into his brand new studio but hadnt completed putting it together so thats where we ended up. It was a lot of fun and the finished product came out great. 
 
RZP: Any interesting studio stories?

Kyle: Nothing to exciting really. I guess the only thing i can think of off hand was the last day at our hotel we made a person out of bags of bagels and left him in the hotel bed. We have friends from cleveland that work at einsteins bagels so they provided grabage bags full. I guess you had to be there. 
 
RZP: Listening to your first full legnth "Of Malace and The Magnum Heart" it was obvious that you had blended a number of diffrent styles into your sound, Can we expect that on Mirrors?

Kyle: Yeah absolutely. We are always experimenting with different things. We all have different influences and that definitely shows in our writing. Its still Heavy and Brutal but in a different sense this time. A little less metal oriented. 

RZP: When can we expect a single or video from the new album?

Kyle: Well we shot the video the day after we left the studio actually. The video track will be for track two titled "the Failsafe." Im sure it will be up on the ferretsite right around the time the record drops, August 22nd. Make sure to stop by and check it out. 
 
RZP: What are Misery Signals' plans to support "Mirrors" and for the remainder of 2006?
 
Kyle: Well we will be out on a tour across Canada with Darkest Hour when the record comes out. That tour will bring us into the states for a couple weeks as well. Then we head out with Dead to Fall and Arsis for a few weeks leading up to a tour with Norma Jean, Between the Buried and Me, and Fear before the march of flames. Beyond that im not sure but that brings us into December so i guess that takes care of 2006. 

RZP: Any big tours/festivals planned?

Kyle: We are doing two weeks of Warped tour from july 16th - 30th. Also Norma Jean this Fall. 
 
RZP: For someone who hasn't had the pleasure to see Misery Signals live how would you describe your live show?

Kyle: I would describe it as an extremely intense version of our recorded material. This is what we do with our lives so it involves lots of energy and emotion which we express live. 
 
RZP: What are your favorite songs to play live?

Kyle: Personally a couple of the new songs have become my favorites to play live. I think thats because its something new versus playing songs that we have been playing for over two years. I enjoy playing In summary of what i am most of the old material. 
 
RZP: Who have been your favorite bands to share the stage with?

Kyle: Bands like Dillinger Escape Plan, Everytime i Die, Eighteen visions, Emery and more... Mainly any band that i can learn from while watching them live. All these bands are incredible live bands and help us to strive to be as good as we can be. 
 
RZP: Are there any interesting or funny stories from the road?

Kyle: Yeah there are always stories from the road. I always have trouble thinking of any of them though because basically every day is a story and all we do is tour so it just becomes normal life. On the tour we did with Black My Heart in April We pulled off into a gas station parking lot and played a game of touch football. There were four bands involved and the gas station employee actually rewarded the winners with a stick of beef jerky! My team won of course. haha.
 
~Now all of our questions can't be serious, groundbreaking journalism type stuff so here are some off the wall questions from our staff.
 
RZP: Who has the worst/grossest habits in the band?

Kyle: Im not going to reveal what they are because its embarrasing but i would say Im probably guilty of having the grossest habits. Use your imagination!!
 
RZP: If you could switch places for one week with any famous person/musician past or present who would it be and why?

Kyle: I would probably have to go with John Lennon because he was such an influential musician and person in general.

RZP: Here is a list of the band members, next to their name could you describe them (including yourself) in a few short words?
 
Kyle:~Ryan: Practical, Intelligent, Confident.
 
~Stuart: Easy going, paranoid.
 
~Branden: Confident, Hard Working
 
~Kyle: Shy, reserved, Well mannered.
 
~Karl: Easy going, Friendly, Well mannered. 
 
RZP: What's your favorite food and drink?

Kyle: Steak and Coke
 
RZP: To wrap things up, Do you have anything to add about yourself or Misery Signals?

Kyle: Well i dont really like to talk about myself but Make sure to pick up the new record on August 22nd in stores everywhere!!! thanks

~We would like to thank Kyle, The rest of Misery Signals, Ferret Music, and Jerry from WarmFuzzy PR.

Red Zone Publications 2006