Me Interviewing Jason from The Daylight Agency

The Daylight Agency are a Pop Punk band from Glastonbury Connecticut. I found out about them by going to local shows. Shortly after found out they were giving away their first EP/demo for free download. I've had the pleasure of seeing them a few times and really enjoyed their live sets. After seeing my interview with Handguns they suggested I interview them, and I obliged. Everyone should go to their Myspace and listen to their brand new track, "An An Unsuccessful Sequel To A Legendary Film".

Let's start off easy. Who makes up The Daylight Agency and what does everyone do?

Jason: I am Jason, and I do pretty much all the vocals that you hear, and play the guitar. Tyler does some other vocals that are usually in the background and plays the bass. Doug plays the guitar that is complicated. Cameron plays the drums and Dave plays the synthesizer!

By my standards you guys are all really young, how old is everyone?

Jason: We are pretty young still, we're still in high school, just completing our Junior years. At this point we're all 16 and 17.

When exactly did the band start, and how did it get its name?

Jason: We played our first show in 2008, it was a basement show in our hometown, so that's really where we got our start. Our band name is such a dumb story haha. We were called Age Six Racer, which I liked, but I also don't even like Dashboard Confessional that much, so I felt we needed another name. I went on Wikipedia and searched geography of Montana and there was a place called "The Crow Agency". Then I added "Daylight" in. I think it's a cool name, despite what lots of people say haha.

Who are the biggest influences for you guys as a band?

Jason: We all have certain different influences and stuff we listen to, but as a whole we all listen to Latterman and I'd definitely cite them as our biggest influence. From this point it's easiest to speak for myself, and I'm influenced by New Found Glory, The Movielife, Lifetime, and newer bands like The Wonder Years, Transit, and Polar Bear Club.

At the end of 2009 you guys released and EP titled "Worth The Fight", which got a favorable review on AP.net. How excited were you guys for that?

Jason: I was so surprised by how positive it actually was! We were all 16 when we recorded that, so to have recordings you did when you were that young get a point shy of a 70%, that just made me really stoked. Worth The Fight was an EP that I've always felt like we recorded too slow. "Fun Times" came to 5 minutes and live it's like 4, so clearly something's up haha. Overall though, I love playing those songs, and I was so happy to see that review.

Speaking of "Worth The Fight", what's with Tyler rapping on the track "Crunk 'Til Death"?

Jason: Hahaha, I don't even remember how exactly that whole part came to be! I remember at practice we somehow decided on it and it originally had references to guns and stuff that was absolutely ridiculous haha. When we went into record though, he actually just freestyled, and if you listen to the talking part before it you can hear me and Jon [Yeston, producer of the EP] laughing our asses off. Totally a joke section. In hindsight, it may have been a dumb idea to record it, but it's super fun to play so I stand by it haha.

You guys just posted your new song "An Unsuccessful Sequel To A Legendary Film", does this mean a new release soon?

Jason: Yes! We have been working on a split with our good friends in Robbing The Vatican for a couple months now, and it should be out early in the Summer. We're super excited, it's got 2 new songs by us and a new song/cover from RTV. "Unsuccessful" is a song we've been playing live since probably even last year, it was the first song I wrote for the full-length. It'll be on there too, but we wanted to get it out. This split is the first little teaser for people to hear our new-ish sound, so it's a little nerve-racking but overall I'm wicked excited to get it out. Coming soon!

Besides you guys and Robbing The Vatican, what other Connecticut bands should people be listening to?

Jason: There's lot's of awesome bands out in Connecticut actually, we have so many bands that have helped us along the way so this could be lengthy, here we go: Make Do And Mend, Deadlights, Hostage Calm, Jettison, Parking Lot Renaissance, Me The Target, Driveway Intruder, Light The City, Parkland Ave, Chalk Talk, Forget Tomorrow, Two O'Clock Courage, Acadia Falls, Too Tall Grizzly, Swear Jar, and I bet I forgot some and that sucks but all those bands rule!

Last time I saw you guys play you were talking about a possible full-length this Summer. What more can you tell me about that?

Jason: We're looking to get into the studio at least by the end of the Summer, we've got 7/11 songs written so we're getting 4 more and then we'll be ready. I'm stoked on these songs, they're very much in the vein of "Unsuccessful" in the fact that I yell a lot more, more of our influences shine through, so I'm really excited to get it out there. Late 2010 is probably when you could expect it.

Now that Summer is right around the corner and school being out does it mean more shows?

Jason: Hopefully! We've got 2 awesome ones so far in July and we're really packing July full as possible. July 14th we're playing at the Glastonbury P.O.C. with Robbing The Vatican, Deadlights, Handguns, Swear Jar and Highest Honor. I could not be more stoked on that show, I love every band there and Handguns' new album is top notch. But anyway, then July 16th we have a show with Acadia Falls out in Woodbridge. Stoked! Their new EP rules too. It's gonna be a great Summer I think. Possibly some shows in Mass. too!

One of the things I love about the CT Pop Punk scene is that almost all the shows I go to are at American Legions, VFWs, Churches and the like. What are your feelings about playing such small venues?

Jason: Yes! That's exactly what I love too, and I would much rather play those kind of shows than play large venue shows. The majority of our shows have been in halls, basements, or little clubs that I have no clue what they need the halls for but they have them haha. Playing in places like that, you're surrounded by kids who love music, it's like a family environment. It's just awesome. I'd take a home show or hall show over a show at the Webster Underground any day of the week.

So far what's your favorite show you've played?

Jason: We played this one show out in Willimantic at this place called the Franco American Club. It was a hall and it was so small and hot in there the ground was literally soaked in sweat at the end. It was my favorite because the crowd got so involved and had a great time. I like feed off of the crowds reaction so if it looks like people are having a great time out there, I will go all the more nuts. It was a great show. Some crazy Hardcore bands played that haha.

That's pretty much it, one last question. Musically, what's you guilty pleasure?

Jason: Well, I am not afraid to admit that I really like All Time Low. Those dudes are just catchy as hell and prior to their last album sounded just like some New Found Glory shit to me. I really enjoyed that. I also dig The Secret Handshake and Sing It Loud (not so much their new stuff though). Really those three I'd say I am a little embarrassed to say I enjoy, but I totally dig them all the same haha.

Thanks for letting me interview you. Before you go, any last comments to the readers?

Jason: Thanks for doing the interview! Everyone check out our new split EP with Robbing The Vatican, which will be exclusively leaked on xEASYCOREx first! Also, good work finding easily one of the best blogs out there for discovering new bands that absolutely rule. Listen to our music and stay awesome, and I love you all! - Jason.

Huge thanks to Jason for taking the time to do this interview for me. I know how difficult it is to pry someone from their 2 hour evening nap. Anyway please check out everything about this band. Like Jason said when their split with Robbing The Vatican is all done, you'll find it on our blog first.

Check out the band:
http://www.myspace.com/thedaylightagency
http://www.twitter.com/daylightagency
http://www.purevolume.com/thedaylightagency
http://www.thedaylightagency.bandcamp.com
http://www.thedaylightagency.bigcartel.com

Forgot to mention back in the summer of 2009 I put together a compilation for our blog. The intro track was from this band. Check out the second compilation from the Easycore blog here:
http://xeasycorex.net/2009/11/easycore-vol-ii-raise-your-fist-and.html