Muen Magazine

June 2, 2010

THE MORNING OF

TRAGIC HERO RECORDS/LAB RECORDS

Jessica Leplon (Vocals)

Newburgh, New York

Myspace.com/themorningof

By: Shauna O’Donnell

MUEN: THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME. YOU JUST RELEASED YOUR SECOND STUDIO ALBUM TITLED THE WAY I FELL IN, CONGRATULATIONS! THE ALBUM IS GETTING RAVE REVIEWS.

Thank you so much! We’re all very proud of it. I’m so glad people are responding to it so well!

MUEN: YOU WROTE YOUR FIRST RECORD THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT WHEN YOU WERE FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. DO YOU FEEL THAT THE NEW RECORD THE WAY I FELL IN SHOWS MATURITY AS A BAND AND AS SONGWRITERS?

The Way I Fell In is definitely the “grown-up” version of our first release. Most of The World As We Know It was actually written before this line up came about. I feel our hearts were truly connected to this record because we gave birth to it together. This line up are the biological parents. The Way I Fell In is a record that represents where we’ve been and what we’ve been going through since the last record. It’s the record we’ve been dying to put out and show everyone what we’re capable of creating. So far, so good!

MUEN: WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT DID YOU DO DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME? WHAT WAS YOUR GOAL THIS TIME AROUND?

Our goal with TWIFI was to make the music we enjoy to play live, to make our music a little more honest and a little more real. If we weren’t completely in it, it wasn’t good enough for us. We didn’t want to put just any song on the record to fill it up. We had to be in love with it. I think that’s what we did differently! We’re in love.

MUEN: HOW DOES THE SONGWRITING PROCESS WORK IN THE BAND? WHO DOES WHAT?

Rob and Chris are the geniuses behind the music. The songwriting process usually takes place at Rob or Chris’ house. Someone spits out an idea and then we roll with it until we have a song we’re in love with. There are 5 of us with 5 different opinions. It can get ugly, but the end results are always a great feeling of accomplishment!

MUEN: WHAT USUALLY INFLUENCES THE LYRICS OF THE SONGS?

The lyrics are what happened to us. Our experiences, our heartaches and our good times. It’s just a musical diary. Dear TWIFI, you’ll never guess what happened to me today…

MUEN: YOU WORKED WITH JIM WIRT ON THIS ALBUM. WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING WITH HIM AND WHAT WAS HE ABLE TO BRING TO THE RECORD PRODUCTION WISE?

Jim Wirt is a musical genius. He’s from a whole other world. Working with him was a dream come true because he has produced some of our favorite records. The entire experience was definitely a “pinch me, I must be dreaming” experience. He played bass on our record which is probably the best part of the whole thing! haha. He was also a great cheerleader. We would all definitely love to work with him again. He’s something else, for sure.

MUEN: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE WRITING/RECORDING PROCESS?

My favorite part is hearing everything come together. When we write the songs and play them over and over, we imagine what it could sound like recorded. It’s always really exciting hearing songs we’ve had written in our heads being played on loud studio speakers. We had a lot of “WOOOOO!! This sounds awesome!!” moments. Those are always the best.

MUEN: ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO SUBMIT THE SONGS FOR MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS OR TV SHOWS?

Hopefully! That would be super sweet. I’d love to hear a TMO song in a movie. I would scream “THAT’S MY BAND!!” out loud in the theater and risk getting thrown out. No shame at all!

MUEN: WHICH SONG OFF THE ALBUM IS YOUR SINGLE? ARE YOU GETTING A LOT OF AIRPLAY NATIONWIDE?

My single would be “Bring Me Home.” I love when we play it live. No airplays, more like internet plays? haha. So far people are listening and loving. I couldn’t be more excited.

MUEN: WHICH OF THE SONGS IS CLOSEST TO YOUR HEART OFF THE NEW ALBUM AND WHY?

“Heaven or Hell,” without a doubt. When we finished that song we knew it was going to be a closer on the record. It’s just one of those songs people wouldn’t expect The Morning Of to write. It’s one of those songs we knew we could write. I think I speak for the rest of the band when I say Aaron Marsh of Copeland was the icing on the cupcake with this song. He’s such an inspiration to us and him being a part of the song is something we will always be grateful for.

MUEN: I SEE A COUPLE DATES ON YOUR PAGE. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AS FAR AS TOURING IN SUPPORT OF THE RELEASE?

Our plan is to tour as much as we can, to get to as many kids as we can with TWIFI. This summer we are doing a nationwide run with The Dangerous Summer. Should be a fun time! Hopefully people will know the words to some of the new songs! I would cry.

MUEN: DO YOU PLAN ON TOURING NATIONALLY AND WILL YOU ALSO BE GOING OVERSEAS?

Touring nationally this summer and hopefully overseas by the end of the year! That’s one of our greatest goals, to tour across the pond!

MUEN: WHERE HAVE YOU NOT PLAYED YET THAT YOU ARE DYING TO GO TO?

The UK, Europe, Hawaii…heck! I’ll take Alaska too! Why not!

MUEN: WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS YOU’VE PLAYED SHOWS WITH IN THE PAST?

We’ve played so many shows with so many great bands. Too many to name, but a few of my favorites are All Get Out, The New Diet, Sparks The Rescue. They’re all wonderful. Get to know them!!

MUEN: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST SHOW YOU’VE DONE SO FAR? DO YOU EVER GET STAGE FRIGHT BEFORE WALKING ON STAGE?

The biggest show we’ve ever played was Bamboozle. We were fortunate enough to play Bamboozle twice and both times were amazing! I never get stage fright really. I think of it more as adrenaline. Stage fright is just all the excitement you get that’s bottled up right before a set. I just get really pumped!

MUEN: DO YOU PREFER DOING ACOUSTIC SETS OVER ELECTRIC?

Acoustic sets are always more intense for me because it’s just so raw. It’s always fun doing acoustic sets in a small setting. I love the intimacy and hearing quiet voices singing along. That always makes my heart flutter! Electric sets are what really do it for me. I get to bust out the dance moves and do whatever I please. The louder the better!

MUEN: YOU PLAY TAMBOURINE IN THE VIDEO FOR “TELL ME I’M WRONG.” DO YOU PLAY ANY OTHER INSTRUMENTS?

I play the flute! I try to pick up a guitar once in a while, but my fingers are like jello. I’m beginning to think I just wasn’t meant to play guitar. I’ve come to terms with it and I’ve accepted it.. haha.

MUEN: YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VOICE. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SINGING AND DID YOU TAKE VOCAL LESSONS?

Thank you so much! I have been singing all my life. I was in school choruses since my grade school days. I was the kid who shushed people when they were talking during a lesson! hahaha.. I’ve take a few vocal lessons here and there. Most lessons were in high school. MUST. TAKE. MORE. LESSONS!!

MUEN: DO YOU COME FROM A MUSICAL BACKGROUND?

Yes, I do! Both of my grandmothers were singers. My aunt is an opera singer and my uncles used to be in a band with my dad.

MUEN: WHO ARE SOME OF THE BANDS YOU ARE LISTENING TO THESE DAYS?

Lately my playlist consists of All Get Out, Marina and The Diamonds, Arctic Monkeys, Copeland, The Swell Season, Sparks The Rescue, Weatherbox, Ryan Adams. Many different flavors!

MUEN: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW JESSICA. I WISH YOU AND THE BAND THE VERY BEST OF LUCK. BEFORE I LET YOU GO, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD OR SAY?

Thank you so much for the great questions and best wishes! I just want to thank everyone who bought The Way I Fell In. Thank you to anyone who loves it. My heart is overjoyed! You have no idea how much we appreciate you all. You guys are awesome. Keep helping us spread the word! …… and follow us on twitter! @THEMORNINGOF!! hahah