When I got word that The A.K.A.’s were coming, I freaked. Then when I realized that I couldn’t make their live show, I had to find a way to ask them the questions that have been on my mind for a while now. Luckily I didn’t have to rely too much on my begging skills, as they were just as stoked to talk with us as I was with them! If you haven’t yet comprehended why I am in total lust with them and you aren’t quite following the situation I’ve come into, you really should keep reading (like you’d stop now!) The A.K.A.’s are a one of a kind band on a mission. Vocalist Mike Ski, was nice enough to chat us up on that misson, the industry, and how they plan to take over your town during Warped Tour…

Shout!: Can you shed some light on the background of the band?

Mike Ski: We started The A.K.A.s in 2003 in New York City with a mission in mind to create an ongoing musical reaction that would evolve as music, culture, and society evolved around it. Music, art, and history are a series of actions and reactions. We were tired of popular music and the way underground music was heading down a similar road, so we started a band with the freedom to do and say  what we felt was missing in the world around us. However idealistic it was, we’ve been equally successful making people stoked and keeping others pissed.

We’ve since released 2 full length albums and played over 400 shows all around  the US, UK and Europe. We’re still trucking and on a mission to empower listeners and create an open forum of discussion and debate. We’re impassioned about what we do and hope to see you in a shitty club near you soon.

S!: Why the switch from Fueled By Ramen to Metropolis?

Mike Ski: We had a one record deal with FBR and after the mainstream success of some of their bands, it was evident that they were heading in a direction that didn’t make sense for us. There were never any hard feelings, in fact, we knew for almost 2 years before either of us announced different plans that we would
be looking for a new home.

I always like to say… if people who liked music knew how the music “industry” REALLY worked… they wouldn’t like music anymore. We are happy in this day and age to have found a label that believes in the band and is willing to invest in us. The direction of music is in the hands of the listeners, not record
labels. Placing importance in those people’s hands is naive. Growing up playing music in the hardcore scene where we didn’t have managers, booking agents, or major label recognition, I learned that you should focus what you do to reach listeners through your music, not trying to reach industry people and then hoping to funnel it through them. It’s a crazy time when you can make a video on YouTube for free and a million people can watch it vs. spending $500,000 on a video and having it never get played.

S!: What are the pros and cons to having a female band member in the music industry?

Mike Ski: I think there are only pros and cons if you make it an issue. I think the cons of BEING a female in the band are numerous. Number one, people often don’t treat you seriously. Josie often gets stopped backstage with comments like “band only, no girlfriends.” People tend to think she is only there to sell
merch or whatever. It’s a problem with the way people look at females…it’s normally a way to sell music in the same way they use tits to sell jeans or shoes.

I think a lot of that is the responsibility of young girls to change that bullshit by doing cool stuff. A ton of young girls are inspired by Josie because of the cool things she does in the band and beyond. It’s a great example in a time when young girls think the only way they can make a mark is by being naked on the internet of being famous for having the most friends on MySpace.

S!: Do you feel that having Josie gives the band an overall advantage?

Mike Ski: I feel like she gives us an advantage in the fact that she works really hard and brings a lot to the band’s profile and aesthetic in addition to the music. She goes out of her way to do cool things and make a cool example for people. She isn’t a foofy girly girl who’s just here to strut her tits and ass around stage to get dudes hooting and hollering.

S!: What are you hoping to achieve as a band?

Mike Ski: We hope to cause change through our music. Most of the defining moments of my life have been discovered through my experiences with bands, records, or music in general and I’d love to be a band that provides that opportunity for someone. Not everyone is born with a Crass Record and a copy of Lipstick Traces in their crib, so I enjoy and take pride in being a band that can introduce new ideas and open new paths for people that can change their lives and the lives of those around them. It’s a responsibility that I think a lot of musicians aren’t interested in because they are either too self-engrossed or understated.

S!: Do you feel you are close to accomplishing that said goal?

Mike Ski: When people ask me what we think of as “success” in this band, I think that it’s not so much a goal to get to a certain place as it is to focus and learn from the process in between and enjoying the everyday adventure of playing music. With that in mind, we’re very successful already. We’ve endured more character building experiences than most.

I’d love to be remembered down the road as someone who was fearless and who said and did the things that others were afraid to say. I think we do that, so I’m happy. Now all we need to do is sell a million records.

S!: Why do you feel your music attracts such a diverse fanbase?

Mike Ski: Something that I feel is vital in playing music or doing art is having a unique voice and being relentless in the pursuit of being an individual. It’s unfortunate in this day and age that so many bands, people, or other phenomenon are given accolades for being the same. It’s the age old 80’s movie theme… the lower middle class protagonist with a strong sense of individuality constantly tested by the rich white jocks. I feel like Molly Ringwald in a highschool filled with bad, snotty, emo, boy bands with brand new vans and trailers.

We’ve made a constant effort to remain individualized and keep doing new and interesting things. We also purposefully do a lot of eclectic touring and playing to new audiences of different genres. Although it’s rather difficult and often disheartening setting yourself up to be hated by a crowd, we’ve put faith in the hopes that over time, we would take a few kids from each crowd who would be courageous enough to love our band for the right reasons and put them together into our own army or righteous and radically cool kids. It’s an ongoing social experiment which has neither been proven or dis-proven to date, although we do have a rather cult-like attraction of die hard kids.

S!: Rumor has it you’ll be on Warped Tour this summer. What are your thoughts on achieving that?

Mike Ski: Warped Tour is a bitter sweet and crazy amazing experience. We worked VERY hard just to get ourselves the opportunity to get there and play. Warped Tour is one of those rare times when it’s up to you to make the opportunities happen for yourself. It’s an everyday hustle to get potential fans for your band. We take that very seriously and are creative and diligent in doing so. We also have a really awesome bunch of friends and fans who helped make a plea to Warped Tour organizers this year on our YouTube site to get us on the tour. We’ll be there with our farmer’s tans, handing our flyers and fishing for kids all day in the hot hot heat! Stoked!

S!: What are your thoughts on your new album Everybody Make Some Noise! compared to White Doves & Smoking Guns?

Mike Ski: The new album is a strong follow up and evidences a full on evolution of our own niche. We’re a road tested band as musicians, song writers, and people together in a band. That is priceless and it shows on the album and on stage. We put a lot of effort into writing songs that would create an album rather than a collection of songs, to combine together to be an experience worthy of a sophomore album. A second record is a dangerous one, where people decide whether you’ll be around for awhile or if you’re first record was only good accidentally. I think we proved ourselves and it seems that people are excited about the new record and think we one upped White Doves with a good old fashioned walloping.

We also put a lot of emphasis on making the new record feel live, loose, and as urgent as our live show. Our strength is out energy, so we wanted to capture that on the record. I think we did a pretty good job of balancing that with a modern sonic quality that people can hold up to almost any other record.

S!: What did you learn in the studio to help prepare yourself for your next album?

Mike Ski: Recording this record was a great test of our belief in the songs and what we are doing as a band. I think going into the next record, we’ll be a lot more confident and upright about our music, the songs, our performances and make sure to make time for all our ideas.

S!: What is one thing that no one else knows about the band?

Mike Ski: We wrote most of our record in a converted chicken coop. It was fucking gross.

S!: If you could put together your own tour with any bands alive or dead, who would be on it?

Mike Ski: The Clash, Public Enemy, Manic Street Preachers, and The A.K.A.s opening.

S!: What is in store for your fans next?

Mike Ski: We’re on a worldwide mission to take our live show everywhere, so look for us live in your town, come out, say hello, and tell us you were sent by Shout! We’re also working on a really awesome remix album of EMSN! with dance and dub remixes from a bunch of amazing and talented mashers and mixers! It also features guest appearances from some eclectic friends like Travis from Gym Class Heroes, Anthony from Bayside, Amy and Chelsea from The Start, and more! Crazy vinyl and lots of fun!

S!: Any last words to our readers out there?

Mike Ski: Be fearless, be yourself, and keep your fist up. We hope you enjoyed what we said and remember, music is for you! Check out our new album and hope to see you at a show soon!

• Official Site: http://www.theakas.com
• MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/theakas