When Trevor Wall went to CI Records, asking for an internship, he had no idea he'd soon be asking some of his favorite bands about their tour injuries or guilty pleasures.
Wall, a self-professed music lover, approached CI Records owner Jeremy Weiss about an internship in the store earlier this year.
From there, he got the idea to create an Internet-based series that would give other music fans an intimate look at their favorite bands.
"After working at CI, I realized how many people of note in the music industry come and go through that place," Wall says. "I thought, Why don't we interview these people and give back to the fans?"
Wall had the perfect spot to do the interviews: on the comfy couch in the back room of CI Records, which happens to be directly next door to the Chameleon Club, in downtown Lancaster.
In May, the first "On the Couch" interview debuted on YouTube, featuring the band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. (To view the videos, search "CI on the Couch" at
www.youtube.com.)
"I thought the couch was a great place for the interviews, because I want to keep an impromptu feeling," says Wall, 22, a student at Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster. "I want to keep a conversational feel."
Wall, who is majoring in marketing and communications, admits he had little interview experience when he began the series.
"It's an ongoing learning process," he says.
He researches the band as much as possible beforehand — and tries to calm his jitters.
"I was very nervous about interviewing Hatebreed," Wall says, recalling one of his first interviews. "They are probably the biggest band I've done. They headlined Ozzfest. The lead singer hosted the 'Headbangers Ball' on MTV. He's interviewed Metallica and been all over the world."
Wall says he might write down one or two ideas to discuss with a band, but in general, he likes to let the conversation develop organically.
"I want to ask them questions they wouldn't normally be asked," he says. "I go out of my way to say, 'Have fun with this.' You don't have to be serious. I think it's more interesting from a viewer's standpoint if you're having fun and joking around."
Weiss says Wall's formula works well and benefits both the bands and the fans; the groups get exposure, and the fans learn more about a band they might have caught live in Lancaster.
"The uniqueness of the series is that it all takes place in the same office, on the same couch, but there is a variety of artists, in varying degrees of success," Weiss says, noting that the series has featured August Burns Red, Innerpartysystem, We the Kings and Texas in July, among other groups.
"It's a chance for people to see how cool Lancaster is, and to see the level of talent who pass through Lancaster regularly."
Wall and Weiss choose the bands to feature based on groups they feel are up-and-coming or will get a good response from online viewers.
"August Burns Red had over 5,000 views in the first week of their interview being posted," Weiss says.
They have close to 30 interviews finished, but only six are posted already.
"My goal is to put one up every two weeks or so, so it's more like a television series," Weiss says. "I like to give each interview its own time. I want to make sure each of these bands has a chance to shine individually."
For the interviews, Wall and Weiss might shoot up to 30 minutes of video, but only a fraction of that gets posted.
"I want to keep them about five to seven minutes, tops," Weiss says. "They're a quick, fun interview."
Editing is done by Millersville University student Ryan Mast, who runs a production company called Unitheo.
"Ryan does a terrific job with the visual end," Weiss says. "He knows how to shoot music and interviews."
What makes the final cut? Anything Wall and Weiss think will resonate with fans.
"We're focused on fun," Weiss says. "We're not trying to mirror MTV News. We're not trying to be Rolling Stone. We want the bands to get as loose as they want to and have fun."
No matter what's covered in the interview, Weiss says, it's always entertaining and interesting.
"Sometimes it's valuable news," he says. "Other times, it's purely absurd entertainment. I frankly prefer the latter.
"The goal is not to be too serious but to have a unique perspective on the band and to have a good time."
CONTACT TEEN: cmolitoris@LNPnews.com 