The Los Angeles based band, The Exies has unleashed their third CD "A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth" on Eleven Seven Music. It is an exciting time for The Exies, as they have found the perfect label to let their creativity flow, as the band takes on a bold, new heavier sound.
 
There also have been some major changes in the line-up of The Exies. The Exies now features Scott Stevens on vocals and guitar, Chris Skane on guitar, Freddy Herrera on bass, and Hoss on drums.
 
"A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth" features a heavier Exies with more profound lyrics. Produced by Sixx A.M. singer James Michael, "The Modern Way Of Living With The Truth" features a very slick, modern sound. The first single,” Different Than You", has an infectious groove and hard driving melody.
 
The Exies have been on tour most of the year, and will join The Bad Boys Of Rock Summer Tour, also featuring Buckcherry, Hinder, and Papa Roach on July 10th. 
 
I recently had the opportunity to speak to The Exies singer Scott Stevens, from his cell phone at a sound check in Oregon, as we discussed the new line-up, the new album, and the upcoming Bad Boys Of Summer Tour. 
 
Scott, Great to hear form you. It has been a while since our last interview in Cambridge at The Middle East Club. There have been some major line-up changes. Tell us about the new members of the band.
STEVENS: Yes, our guitarist David Walsh, and our drummer Dennis Wolf left. I got my original guitar player Chris Skane in the band and a guy named Hoss joined the band in January.
 
How does the sound differ from the original line-up? Would you say it is heavier?
STEVENS: It is a lot heavier. It has got a lot more meat to it. It is a little bit thicker.
 
Scott, Let's talk a little bit about the new release,” A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth" on Eleven Seven Music. What kind of time frame was it recorded in? 
STEVENS: It was recorded over last summer. It took about four months to do. We spent the six months prior to recording it, writing the record at the band house. That is pretty much how it came together. 
 
Scott, I really like the title,” A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth". Would you say it is a reflection of how you are looking at the band these days, or on your life as well?
STEVENS: I think so. It is more about the life reflection. It is how to justify about what is happening. It is also like the state of the world. It is a world that doesn't have much belief, or we are searching for belief. We are searching for hope. We are searching for what is real. That is what it is. We are all in search of the truth. This has kind of become the modern way of doing that through media I guess. 
 
I noticed too when I had the opportunity to see you perform in 2005 too, the connection that you made with the audience. The band is definitely a people's band. How is the tour going so far? I know you are currently out on the road promoting your new release. 
STEVENS: Yes, we have been out for about three and a half months. It has been going great. We have been out since January. We toured with Three Days Grace and Buckcherry. We are out with Smile Empty Soul, and then we go out with Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry for the summer.
 
Are you looking forward to the Bad Boys of Summer Tour? That will really push you into a good market too with the fans, I think.
STEVENS: Yes, absolutely we are all excited for it.
 
How would you say that this album differs from your previous releases "Inertia", and "Head For The Door"? Do you have any favorite tunes off of this CD? 
STEVENS:  I can't really pick. I like them all. It is just different; it is a more honest record than the last one. We didn't have anything to lose, making this record. We wrote what we felt. That is why I think it is more of an honest record. It hits on more emotional things that we all identify with. Everybody can share and find a situation in their life that can relate to this record. 
 
That is awesome. The cool thing too is, "A Modern" Way Of Living With The Truth" was produced by Sixx A.M. singer James Michael. What was it like working with James? I know he is working with Nikki Sixx and DJ Ashba these days on their new project Sixx A.M.
STEVENS: Yes, James is awesome. He is a songwriter. He really listens and he knows how to make a song get to the point. He knows the high points and low points. He exenterates certain things. He knows how to make it really congeal and make it do what it has to do. He can take rough idea help hash it out to what it is supposed to be. He was my pick for producer, because I wanted to try and make a record with someone that was a songwriter because I have done it the other way.
 
On your first album,” Inertia", you worked with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters) producer. What was the difference in working with James Michael? 
STEVENS: Like I just said, I have done it before when I wasn't with a producer that was necessarily a songwriter. I went with the song-writing approach this time. He is a singer too. Nick is awesome. He has got his certain strengths, I would definitely make another record with him but it was just a different experience, ya know?
 
Yes, I noticed the production is very slick, and there is a certain kick to the songs that make them stand out this time. They are very FM radio friendly. The band sounds really tight too. How is your stage show going to differ, when you go on the main tour with Hinder, Buckcherry, and Papa Roach? Will you be playing a 30-minute set? 
STEVENS: Yes, we are going to get to play 15 minutes less than we are now. So that leaves more time for drinking and hanging out with girls, ya know? 
 
That is always cool. Now getting back to the new release for a moment, I noticed the cool thing in music these days is to cover an 80's song. This time The Exies covered the Talking Heads tune,” Once In A Lifetime". Why did you choose that song, and what special meaning does it have to you?
STEVENS: I just think it is a kind of honest, kind of look at life. We all find ourselves someplace. I suppose the lyrics made me make it the way it is. I slowed it down, and made it a little more sad and mournful. Because I think about that stuff a lot. It just became something that I never thought it would. It was just a project for me to work on. It was never intended for the band or a record. It just kind of happened. There it is.
 What kind of influences as a singer growing up inspired you to pursue a musical career?
STEVENS: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains influenced me. All the grunge stuff. I love Carly Simon, and Elton John.
 
What is your favorite part about being on the road?
STEVENS: Being onstage and performing. Just doing the shows. When it is a good audience. Sometimes you don’t always get the best audience and it kind of sucks, but you make the best of it.
 
Where are you originally from?
STEVENS: Yes, I am from Colorado.
 
Are the band members from different parts of the country, or are they from Los Angeles?
Chris and Freddy are from LA, and Hoss is from Virginia. 
 
How has the music industry changed since you first started in 1997?
STEVENS: I don't know. You tell me. (Laugher) It has gotten different that is for sure.
 
I think it is coming around again. Before, we had the 80's and MTV. Now bands are using The Internet to promote themselves and develop a following. Nowadays, I think The Internet is taking control. Would you agree?
STEVENS: Absolutely. It is definitely a way to kick stuff off. A lot of people do a lot of research on The Internet to find stuff. Whether it is music or porn or history or whatever. It seems like it all kind of starts there.
 
I noticed that too. You have your my space page, which is really cool at www.myspce.com/theexies that must help with the band's career?
STEVENS: I don't know how much it really helps with record sales and things like that. I think it more a place where people can find out what is going on with the band. They kind of hang out and maybe meet other people through the site. I suppose it can help, it doesn't hurt.
 
The Exies have been on some great major tours. Actually you got to tour with Motley Crue in 2005. What was it like touring with the Crue? Any highlights that you would like to share with us?
STEVENS: That was amazing. That is where I got to meet Nikki, and Tommy and those guys. It was a lot of fun. It was a well-maintained tour. Nobody starved and everybody got rest, which was good.
 
Actually you toured with Breaking Benjamin too. Now that was a different kind of tour for you.
STEVENS: They were great. I love them. It was a better tour for us. People that are in to Motley Crue have already discovered their music. They already found our music. People who are into Breaking Benjamin are usually kids in their teens and early twenties. The are finding music.
 
Where do you see yourself in the next five years of your career with The Exies?
STEVENS: Five years older. (Laughter) I don't have any idea. I take it a day at a time, I guess.
 
Scott, Is their anything else that you would like to say about your new album,” A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth"?  
STEVENS: Go out and buy it and rock it. Tune it up really loud. The new single is called,” Different Than You". It is the fourth song on the record.
 
Scott, I have one more quick question for you. Well it seems that Paris Hilton has taken up a lot of the news the past week. I noticed on your my space page, you have a big add up about Leave Paris in Jail. What is that all about?
STEVENS: Well we started the petition to get her to do the full sentence. Ya know, whether she does it or not, we definitely helped. We got almost a 100,000 signatures. She went back to jail. She gets to do the time that any one of us would do. It is definitely right, and it is only fair. 
 
Scott, Thank you for taking time out of your Sound check to the interview for Glammetal.com. Best of Luck with the new release, and The Bad Boys of Rock Summer Tour.
Thanks Debby and GlamMetal.com for the support.  www.myspace.com/theexies  www.the-exies.com