Interview: Versus The World

Photo by Casey Pinckard

Versus The World released a highly anticipated full-length, The Bastards Live Forever, a couple of months ago via SBAM Records. I spoke with Donald about the album, touring, and influences, among other things. Please note some of these questions are a bit outdated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. How have you been?

Donald: Good! Busy. People seem to really like the new record. It took forever to make so I’m glad that everyone is into it.

You guys have been together for almost 20 years. How have you decided to start this band? Can you share the origins story with our readers?

Donald: I moved out to California when I was a teenager. I was in a band and I wanted to be part of the whole “California” thing. Mike and i had already been friends for a while. I was a fan of his band The Ataris and our bands had played been playing shows together. Mike was having some internal issues and he knew that i had been writing music for a new project. We came together and helped each other out. He had some resources from already being in a big established band and I had a bunch of songs but couldn’t find the right group of people to form a band. From there Versus was born.

The Bastards Life Forever is coming out on May 26th via SBAM. Can you tell us a little bit more about your new album?

Donald: It my favorite record we’ve made. We got to take our time with it through the lockdowns of the pandemic in a way that I have never experienced. We asked Cameron Webb to be a part of the team and I feel that our dynamic made for an incredible set of songs

How has your sound evolved since the earlier releases?

Donald: I just think we’re a better band! Ha ha ha. Sorry for the shitty response but thats sort of the truth. I really just mean the first record. But I do believe that we have a sound that we’ve kind of grown into that we hadn’t really fully realized yet on our first record.

Can you walk us through your songwriting/composing process?

Donald: Kind of depends which song it is. When Tony writes a song he will do the music. He makes it really easy on me… He will send me a pretty fully realized demo… Drums, bass and guitars are usually in there. I get to just loop it and write and record the lyrics. I get spoiled. We send that to the band and everyone gets started writing their parts. When I write a song, I do it pretty much the same was that I’ve always done it. I sit with a bottle of wine, an acoustic guitar, and a pen and paper and write the words and guitar at the same time.

Your lyrics often touch on personal experiences and emotions. Where do you draw inspiration from?

Donald: This record is mainly focus on family. My divorce, my having children, and the relationship I have with my dad. My process of grieving and forgiving myself and others. Kind of a heavy theme.

How did you come to sign with SBAM records?

Donald: We were looking for people that were interested in putting it out. We reached out to some usual suspects but Stefan really liked the record. His enthusiasm was really contagious and exactly what we were looking for.

What has been your favorite memory from touring so far?

Donald: I dunno. There’s a lot. I’ll always cherish the tours and time I spent with Tony Sly and No Use. The tour we did with Lagwagon was a blast. I really think the best part of touring and traveling is the stuff in between. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing shows… thats why were out there. However…the drinks, the laughs in the van, the meals! (We love good food and drink), seeing friends in bands we haven’t seen in a while, those are the things that make touring more than just playing shows.

Who are some of your biggest influences? What bands do you usually listen to and what are the new bands/album you would like to recommend to our readers?

Donald: My favorite band is The Hold Steady. I think Craig Finn writes the best lyrics out there. I love Bayside, Interrobang is an extremely smart record. Thats kind of driving music, but when im home I really just listen to old records. Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, a lot of Sam Cooke and Willie Nelson. I am positive thats not what you want to hear but that what I listened to when I was a kid, it stuck with me.

What has been your biggest challenge as a band, and how have you overcome it?

Donald: Being a small band! Ha ha ha. I’ve got kids, a bar, a lot of people that lean on me for support and a way to make their ends meet. All of us do. So balancing how to leave that very big set of responsibilities to what really is a passion project and not a form of income is a challenge and it may always be. But thats life, and life is choices. We do this for art and love. There is no money in rock and roll… but its a lot of fucking fun

What is next for Versus The World? Any exciting plans or projects?

Donald: Next we play Pacific Northwest with Diesel Boy. Their first shows in a long time, and I am a big fan of that band!!! So its going to be a killer time. Then we head to Europe for festivals and clubs shows. Hang out in Italy for a few days drinking and eating with some of my best friends then head home and try to book some some American shows. Hopefully we see y’all out there. Cheers!

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com