Ya, Ya, Ya: Sum 41 Adds Up
Canada’s Sum 41 have been packing concert halls worldwide for well over a decade. This month they bring their punk-rocking ways to Beijing, but before that they were kind enough to have a word with us.
What’s your secret to longevity?
It helps we’ve known each other and have been friends since high school but really, we all love to play live and tour. It’s what we’ve all always loved to do. There’s no secret, really. We are all on the same page with that. When that changes, then we will stop.
How do you stay relevant?
We don’t really think about how to stay relevant. We make music we like and we have fun playing and listening to, and if that is “relevant” music, then great and if it's not, then that won’t change what we do.
How do you think your sound has changed over the years?
From the beginning we’ve all always been into different styles of music, whether it’s punk, hard rock, metal, alternative, hip-hop, pop, etc. So from the beginning there’s always been a little of everything in our stuff. Some albums were a little poppier and some have been harder and heavier. It’s what keeps things interesting for us, the fact that we can play different styles and it still works under the Sum 41 umbrella. Makes for exciting live shows too.
Do you still enjoy it?
Ya, I’ve always loved playing live. That’s what got me into being in a band, wanting to play in front of people. Over the years I’ve actually grown to love recording too. Before it was a thing we had to do but now I look forward to it.
You must have been proud to be nominated for a Grammy. How did it feel not to win?
Ya, it was cool to be nominated. Didn’t really change anything for me not to win. Foo Fighters are a great band.
As Canadians who tour the world, do you ever get confused for Americans?
Ya that happens all the time. Doesn’t really bother me. It’s not embarrassing at all. Canadians and Americans are so much alike in so many ways it's easy to get the two confused.
Which bands do you listen to? What’s on rotation at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of ’50s and ’60s music (Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bob Dylan, etc.) right now as well as a lot of alt-country/folk/indie stuff like Ryan Adams, The Head + The Heart, The Strumbellas, The Tallest Man On Earth, etc.
If you weren’t in a hugely successful band, what would you be doing?
Probably still trying to be in a successful band or something else to do with music. Like recording engineer or a producer (which I do a little of now).
What’s your favorite Sum 41 album?
I normally gravitate towards the new one, Screaming Bloody Murder, and our second record, Does This Look Infected?
Sum 41 plays at the MasterCard Center on April 4. 7.30pm. RMB 180-1,280.
Photo: Courtesy of the organizers
