INTERVIEW WITH NICK HIPA OF AS I LAY DYING

The guys in AS I LAY DYING have a good understanding of what it is to be a 'working band'; They're touring, making music, and (presumably) making a living. They're not filthy rich, they're not featured on their own reality show, and after checking out Rob's interview with guitarist Nick Hipa, they seem like pretty normal Christian guys. OK, there's the rub. They're all good Christian boys. This phenomenon happens in the rock scene every so often, and sometimes, depending on the band, it produces some quality tunes. While AILD might not be the world's most DANGEROUS band, the following interview with Nick gives a good perspective of what it is like for a regular working group of guys out on the road making music...

Paragon Rob: You guys were just picked to headline the Sounds of The Underground tour this summer. Congratulations on that. What I was wondering was if SoTU is anything like Ozzfest, where the lesser known bands, that typically play earlier in the day, have to pay to be on the tour?

Nick Hipa: My understanding is that no band on Sounds of The Underground has to “pay” to play. There may be an arrangement between the tour promoters and bands’ labels to pay for certain advertisements, but that is just a guess.

Paragon Rob: You’ve got SoTU coming up, you are currently on the Taste of Chaos tour, you just made a video for “The Darkest Nights,” it seems like things are really looking up for you guys. What does it seem to take to make it in the music industry? What has worked for you guys so far?

Nick Hipa: I go back and forth with my ideas as to what it takes to “make it.” For a while I was convinced it was hard work and touring, and then I began to think it might just be luck. As of now, I think to be in a successful band, you must first have something worthwhile to offer (great songs/live show) and then you must go out to promote yourself (touring). The cycle of writing what we feel are solid songs, and then touring, is all our band has done since the beginning. We are grateful that people are getting into us, which may have a little to do with luck and good fortune. In the end though, the only thing that matters is that you are happy with the way you are expressing your self and your music.


Photo by Paragon Rob
Paragon Rob: Your website says that your top favorite DVDs include Jesus Christ Superstar and West Side Story. I was a little surprised, to be honest. It’s not everyday that you hear about Metalheads being into those 2 movies, what about those movies got them into your top 5?

Nick Hipa: My interest in these movies began when I was a child. My Mom is very much into musicals, with West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar being some of her favorites. Talking with her about them now, she revealed her true intentions of showing me these movies were to teach me empathy. So I appreciate both films because I have childhood and maternal associations with them, and also because I seriously dig the tunes. (Holy moley, being in a band is just not as dangerous as it used to be... -SC)

Paragon Rob: Also on your website, it says if someone was to take you to dinner, one of the places they could take you to is The Cheesecake Factory. I was just there for the first time, and I didn’t see the big deal in their food, but I have to admit, their cheesecake is awesome. They have like, some 37 or so different types of cheesecake, which is your favorite?

Nick Hipa: Its not so much the Cheesecake which compels me, but the food itself. I am a big fan of the Miso Salmon entrée. The coconut crème cheesecake is also the jam, but I’m there for the food most of the time. (Yup... definitely not as dangerous. We've gone from drinking our dinner to Miso Salmon... -SC)


Photo by Paragon Rob
Paragon Rob: Back to the music, you guys are 5 Christian guys in a Metal band. I know that this doesn’t make you STRYPER, but some people immediately close their minds when they find out a Metal band is anything other than Satanic, or at the very least, Atheist. Do people ever give you a hard time for being Christians and playing this kind of music?

Nick Hipa: Although we are a metal band, our approach to touring and playing comes from the punk/hardcore background, which is ideally very opened minded. The bands and friends we have made range from straight-edge atheist to Christian, and what we all have in common is a mutual respect for each other as people. The only people who seem to criticize us are non-fans and critics, who think they know what type of band we are, and what type of people we are, based on what they “think” we believe.

Paragon Rob: On the same note, Dave Mustaine was catching a lot of shit a while ago for dropping a band from his tour because they were self-proclaimed Satanists. In all honesty, that doesn’t seem like a very Christian thing to do, either. “Turn the other cheek” and that whole thing about loving everyone equally come to mind pretty much immediately. Do you think you’d ever drop off a tour, or drop someone from your own tour, if you found out they were sacrificing goats in their spare time?

Nick Hipa: If it was as gnarly as dudes killing or sacrificing animals that would definitely be a problem and should be a problem with any band regardless of their beliefs. As for being part of a tour where we have conflicting beliefs with other bands, that is never a problem for us. It’s been said before, but to each his own, and I seriously believe that.

Paragon Rob: While we’re on the topic of sin, do any of the guys in the band support/partake in the groupie scene? If there even is one these days?

Nick Hipa: No we are not groupie dudes. Promiscuity bums me out, plus most everyone has girlfriends. (No groupies, No alcoholism...ten bucks says porno is out of the question... -SC)

Paragon Rob: The band will be re-releasing it’s older material in May of this year. I was just wondering if anyone had tossed around the idea of totally re-recording those songs, since the technology, and of course your experience and skill, have without a doubt gotten much better over the years.

Nick Hipa: No I don’t think we would ever re-record those albums. I don’t think it’s ever a good idea for bands to do such a thing; to do so would kind of be like living in the past…. It’s all about moving forward!

Paragon Rob: Speaking of making material accessible, let’s say you’re walking down the street one day and some kid comes up to you wearing a brand new pair of sneakers, and says to you “Dude! I just finished downloading your whole catalog! I love all of it! Would you sign my CD-R?” What would you say to this kid, who is obviously well off enough to NOT be ripping you off?

Nick Hipa: If any kid is into our band, I would hope he would support us in some way. While he may pirate our album, he may also pay $12 to see us live, and $15 to buy a shirt. My opinion is support the bands you really love.

Paragon Rob: As I’ve come to learn from many bands, eating healthy on the road is a hard task. What’s some of the worst food you’ve had to eat just because you were starving and there were no other options at the moment?

Nick Hipa: There is a place in El Paso, Tx called Mr. Chico’s. I was taken there after a show on August 5, 2004. My reason for knowing the exact date is because it marks my last day to ever eat meat…. the birthday of my vegetarian lifestyle. They have these rolled tacos (which are reputed to be dog meat) served in a really watery cheese sauce. After eating such a dish, I decided it would be a good idea to eat a hotdog burger, which proved to be a catastrophic mistake. Needless to say my mix tape was thoroughly wrecked on. (Ah ha! Vegetarian, No porno, and no chicks...the trifecta of boring... -SC)

Paragon Rob: Finally, I’d like to ask you if you have any last words or plugs for our readers.

Nick Hipa: Thank you for reading, come say hi to us at a show, we’re sweet dudes I promise.

Check out AS I LAY DYING on the web at asilaydying.com

The band's latest CD Shadows Are Security is on sale now!

This interview will also be featured in print in Paragon Music Magazine. To get your copy of Paragon Music Magazine, email your name and address to ParagonMM@hotmail.com and include $2 per copy by cash, money order, or Paypal (email them for payment info)