Interview with Jordan(vocals

UN: I'm somewhat assuming that Set Your Goals is a newer band. How did the band come together? Are any of you guys involved in any other bands or projects?

Jordan: Matt (The other vocalist) first approached me over a year ago about starting a melodic band similar to Lifetime or The Movielife. "Hell yes, Matthew! Those are two of my all time favorite bands." I had been looking to start a band that I could sing for as it was, and since this is the only style I ever felt comfortable with vocally, it ended up being a perfect opportunity. At the time, I was playing guitar for another hardcore band in Oakland called Time For Living (this is where I plug Time For Living. This band is one of the best the SF Bay Area has to offer! Listen to them and discover your new favorite hardcore band.). Sorry 'bout that. So, it was through Time For Living I met Mikey, Dan, and Israel. We finally got things rolling this year. We've been practicing pretty non-stop since January, got some studio time in April and May, and finally released this demo, which is now being released as an EP on Straight On Records ( www.straightonrecords.com ) at the end of June/start of July.

UN: Was the band started with the intention of being a melodic band along the lines of some of your favorite bands? I think this is a style that you don't hear as much as you should. With bands as good as Lifetime and Kid Dynamite it seems strange that you don't hear the influences as much as you would think.

Jordan: I would definitely say this band was started to play music that bands like H2O, Strike Anywhere, Kid Dynamite, Turning Point, New Found Glory, etc. have all sort of pioneered. There are so many bands we take influences from. We are in no way trying to create a new style of music. I think it's lame how every band bio you read nowaday says something along the lines of "Grey Bleeding Sky blends pure, emotional 'this' and 'that' to create 'something totally new and original'", when in fact it's not all. We are just having fun playing the same kind of music that the bands we've enjoyed going to see over the years have played. As for not hearing much of this style of music out there, I would have to disagree. You just gotta look around and ask. One band I can definitely vouch for is Shook Ones from the Seattle, WA area. Download their demo at www.nwhardcore.com and check it out for yourself. I, for one, am in love.

UN: Your Demo 2004 shows a band that is already firing on all pistons in terms of songwriting and performance. Would you say that things came together pretty quickly for the band? It seems like you guys know what you want, and know how to do it. You guys seem to keep your eye on the ball so to speak. You don't drift outside of your genre of choice really.

Jordan: We have a chemistry that is unmatched when I think back to other bands I have been a part of. This definitely speeds up the process of putting things together. It is in no way a speedy process, but at the same time it doesn't take forever. We know what we want, and we do our best to obtain it. Plain and simple. This is the kind of music we want to play. Should we ever choose to play another style of music, we'll start new bands. There won't be too much experimenting. In fact, I'd say none at all, really. This is Set Your Goals and this is what we sound like.

UN: Has any label interest come about from the demo as of yet? With a demo this good it seems to me like it is only a matter of time before labels come knocking on your doors. Are there any labels in particular that you'd be interested in working with?

Jordan: Thanks for the kind words. Actually, our friend Derek who runs Straight On Records is putting out the demo as an EP now. We're all excited about that. We're fans of him and his label. We've had some other offers from a lot of really great people. It's been overwhelming. We're all so grateful of the response we've gotten so far. I wish we could work with everyone who likes our band. As for other labels we'd like to work with in the future, there are a bunch. I'm not going to list any though. I don't want to seem desperate or anxious... too late.

UN:One influence that I think really rings through in the demo is Grey Area. Would you guys say that you are fans of this band at all? I'm not sure if they are even still together, but they definitely were underrated.

Jordan: Grey Area = good. I'm surprised they don't get more recognition, at least where i'm from they don't. But the recognition Warzone gets makes up for that. A lot of their music reminds me of Bouncing Souls. Can't say no to that.

UN: Even if the band is new, are there any plans for touring this summer? I'm sure even if a tour doesn't materialize, you guys will still be playing random shows through out the summer months. Is the live show what this band is all about? There are definitely a lot of sing along parts that scream to be screamed along with!

Jordan: YES! This band is all about the live show and the crowd interaction. This is why punk and hardcore have appealed to me more than any other style of music. It's about getting kids involved, and I love it to death. The only shows we have as of now are at the end of July. We are doing a weekend in Northern Cali with Crime In Stereo from New York. Another band I need to plug. They are awesome dudes and I can't wait to play with them. Last I heard, a friend was also trying to get us on Sink With Cali, an awesome hardcore fest in So Cal, so hopefully that will happen. Unfortunately we aren't going to be touring this summer as Time For Living will be on tour most of June and August. But come September, Set Your Goals will be in full effect until the end, which won't be anytime soon, I can assure you.

UN: Just out of curiostiy, would you say that the band name is a tribute to CIV? I know that you guys consider them an influence, so what better way to pay them back for the inspiration.

Jordan: It is in a way. I mean, straight up, CIV was the shit! And that record is flat out incredible. I would almost say i prefer them to Gorilla Biscuits (in spite of a lot of their songs being GB throw aways) but I won't go there. My band would kill me. So yes, in a way it is a tribute, but the name Set Your Goals just fits everything we want to and have accomplished with this band so far. To me, it means figure out what you want to do with your life and make it happen. There will be obstacles, there will be people trying as hard as they can to prevent you from doing what it is you want to do, but you've got to keep on pushing. This band is what I want to do with my life right now. I want it so bad I can taste it. People always say that, and for the first time I can relate.

UN:Being a new band, why do you think that people should take an interest in what Set Your Goals is doing? I personally think that the band plays with so much conviction that people will take notice even if they didn't expect to.

Jordan: I would hope people would check out our band for what we have to say. If for nothing else, for the message. There are so many bands out there. It's too many to keep track of. I don't expect everyone to hear our music, but we're going to try to get to as many people as we can. Unlike a lot of more melodic bands, our lyrics are about real life issues. We don't just write a bunch of songs about girls. In fact, there's not a single song on the demo that's about girls! I think it's lame when a band does that for every song. It takes away from the integrity of a band's overall image/message. Matt and I write lyrics that relate to our lives and they are very personal to us.

UN: Would you say that there is definitely some humour in Set Your Goals? Obviously you have the songs named after things from movies, which is always a plus. Just out of curosity though, Sharptooth? You are talking about Land Before Time here right?

Jordan: Correct! You are awarded 100 points, which are absolutely useless, but good job nonetheless. Yes, we like movies. I work at an art theater and I just can't seem to get enough of them. In fact, some of us have a very unhealthy obsession with movie quotes, obviously. We try and balance the humor and fun with the serious work. Otherwise, all work and no play makes us very, very boring.

UN: What do you guys want to get out of this band? Fame, fortune? Or just to play the music you guys love and sharing it with the people that know and respect the style of you music you guys all love and respect?

Jordan: You got it right the second time. I think we all just want nothing more than to be able to tour, play shows, and meet kids. Fame? No. When I think of fame, i think of being idolized, and i can't deal with that. I want people to know me, and I want to know people, but never on a celebrity level. Fortune? No, but to make enough money playing music so that I don't have to worry about my family's, my friend's, or my own well being would be great. To me there is no shame in being able to live off of what you love doing and who knows, maybe someday we will be able to do that. It would bring me tremendous pleasure to get paid to do what I love most. To all of us, this band is something we would do for free, so if we make money out of it then that's all the better. The fame wouldn't be important, but if this band gave me an in to meet Elisha Cuthbert I wouldn't complain. Or Liv Tyler in her Elf costume from Lord Of The Rings. Either one of them...or both.

Download the bands 2004 demo here!