Rising from the ashes, heartbreaks, fire and lava, Fight of Your Life was born. After only forming in 2006 FOYL have toured or played shows with Papa Roach, Helmet, Seemless, The Sleeping, Warped tour, Blindside, 10 years. They just completed 3 songs produced by scrap 60(Bleeding Through, Jesse Malin, A life once lost) & FOYL . Mixed by Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach,New Found Glory, Evanescence). With a Guest Vocal by good friend Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach on the soon to be hit "The Phoenix & the Fall."


MUEN: HEY! HOW'S IT GOING? THE BAND SOUNDS GOOD! LOTS OF "RADIO FRIENDLY" SONGS, AND GREAT SOUND QUALITY! BANDS HATE THIS, AND WE KNOW THAT, BUT IF YOU HAD TO CATAGORIES IT FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC ARE YOU CALLING YOURSELVES? ROCK? POP ROCK? MODERN ROCK?

Nick: How are you thanks for having us. Why thank you! We hate genres but if you had to classify us it would be alternative modern rock, but yes it all comes from the RAWK! It's melodic rock, in your face with strong songs.

MUEN: HOW WAS THE NAME OF THE BAND CHOSEN? WAS THERE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT THAT GAVE YOU A REASON FOR THIS NAME?

Rene: We've been to hell & back . The name is like our Mantra it's pretty self explanitory....

MUEN: ARE YOU ALL ORIGINALLY FROM THE LONG ISLAND/QUEENS AREA?

Nick: Yes we are, We are Tristate- I'm originally from L.I. (I still have family there) but I moved to Jersey not to long ago. Rene is from L.I. Danny, is from L.I. Ritchie is from Queens, and Dante is from Yonkers. Our home-base or heart and soul is from NYC collectively.

MUEN: IF THINGS STARTED TO REALLY BLOW UP, WOULD YOU CONSIDER MOVING TO THE WEST COAST, OR WOULD YOU CONTINUE IN THE EAST?

Nick: Well our roots are definitely East coast but it wouldn't be to bad having another home on the West Coast. It's sort of like we do in a way, a lot of the EP was recorded produced and mixed at NRG studios in North Hollywood. That is like our home away from home sort to speak. NRG is family to us. We have a lot of connection to the West Coast and L.A. as it is through studios, bands and people that have stood behind us.

MUEN: TELL US ABOUT THE EP... WHAT IS THE TITLE AND HAS IT BEEN RELEASED? IF SO, WHAT DATE WAS IT RELEASED?

Nick: It's called "THE PHOENIX EP". . We originally released it to the fans through I-tunes and snocap a couple months before, but the print copy was released on Gig records in July 2007. We are currently working on new songs now in the studio that will be part of a full length.

MUEN: SO ARE YOU SEEKING BIGGER LABELS? ARE YOU GOING FOR THE MAJORS?

Nick: We are looking for a label that will get behind us and believe in the project just as much as we do and make us a priority to their label. Not just a number and then not having the means to promote and distribute the record because they don't have time for you. They should be behind it just as much as we are. If not then what's the point. We are seeking out smaller labels that are a part of a large label that have the same distribution. Basically, that label up-streams to a larger label. Honestly, we are looking for the right deal that will work for us keeping our vision the same. Rene: We're looking for a real shot this time around ...

MUEN: WHO IS THE LYRICIST? DOES RENE OR DANNY WRITE ALL THE SONGS? DO YOU GUYS COLLABORATE ON THE LYRICS? AND HOW DOES A SONG USUALLY BEGIN FOR YOU? HOW MUCH OF THE REHEARSALS, IS ACTUALLY A SONGWRITING PROCESS AS WELL?

Nick: Rene is mainly the lyricist but I do have a hand in writing them as well. Basically, collaborating with him. We constantly help each other come up with the best stuff we can. As for the music and structure of the song, for most of these songs the idea starts with myself and I constantly flush it out with Dante and Rene as part of the writing process till it kills and then we bring it to the rest of the band and work it out. Sometimes, we have had things develop from rehearsals just on the fly. If it is noteworthy then i usually rip it apart and work on it outside the band and hit it with Dante and Rene. We have also, had notable songwriters write with us too Ben Moody (ex guitarist of Evanesence, acclaimed songwriter for Kelly Clarkson Avril Lavigne) Also, Mitch Allan ( SR-71 and acclaimed songwriter for Bowling for Soup and Faith Hill and many other people as well) We take our songwriting very seriously. We never settle for shit. It has to move us rock and really say something. If it doesn't then what's the point. With F.O.Y.L you won't get crappy songs.

MUEN: DID ANY OF YOU COME FROM ANY NOTABLE PAST BANDS?

Nick: Well the past bands we were in, Rene, Danny and Ritchie - were in Reach 454 on Atlantic (Lava label) - did tours with Evanescence, Papa Roach, and countless others I was in a NJ (DIY) Rock Pop Emo band- darbyjones - toured extensively east coast, Midwest region. Dante was in a Progressive outfit Ouijia Pig from NYC.

MUEN: WHO IN THE BAND IS THE ONE MOST RELIED UPON FOR BUSINESS? WHO ARE THE "PROFESSIONALS" SUPPOSED TO CONTACT?

Nick: Rene, myself and Dante. We all wear different hats related to the business. We are constantly grinding it out making the band function and we always communicate with the other person before we make any moves. Is this really interesting to your readers???

MUEN: LOL WE'RE NOT REALLY A "FAN 'ZINE" SO TO SPEAK... ALOT OF BANDS, AT LEAST ON MYSPACE SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BITTER ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IN GENERAL... ALMOST LIKE BEING IGNORED WHEN THEY (AND EVERYONE ELSE) KNOWS THEY WOULD DO GOOD ON A NATIONAL SCALE... MAYBE YOU HAVE FELT THAT WAY? ... WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Nick: Well, yes it's definitely a different medium now for bands or artists being heard or selling there cd and promoting there record. The internet is literally everything but everyone knows that by now. Connecting to the fans is huge through myspace, facebook and many other sites. We are constantly talking to our loyal fans and anyone who gets in touch with us on Myspace, and the Internet. It's the information superhighway of the 21st century. What we care about the most is connecting to the fans and having real fans not just someone who adds you for the hell of it. We build a street teem that is a loyal teem we call, "Fight Of Your Life Field Staff" It's not like you are a just someone in a street teem. We make people part of our staff and they have a mission and duties that get them to be a large part of our family. Everything is regulated through key moderators that basically make sure things get done. The moderators regulate who is for real and who is not. I know I'm getting off the topic a little but it was something i wanted to point out.

As for the industry we don't feel like we are being ignored, people are paying attention to us. It just a matter of time. We know we would kill it on a national scale that is why now we have this product and we are currently getting out there and doing some regional touring. The reason why the things are the way they are many ways but one important thing is because of other forms of retail that has hurt the larger labels and Mp3.s and burning cds. The fact that Paul MCcartney has released his new record on the Starbucks label and not Capitol says something, or that retail stores are becoming the thing of the past. Labels are not looking to take chances or a risk. They want the entire package or nothing. They are too worried about their jobs and credibility. They need to embrace these new forms of technology there is no formula to it. As an artist, It's a matter of having great songs getting out there and connecting to every single fan. Something we are currently doing in a unique aspect to the music piracy world is put out our Ep with a "burn it for a friend" with Gig Records to confront the CD-burning frenzy that has become a normalcy for the once music- buying public. We realize that stopping illegal music sharing is no longer a reality, us and Gig records is now meeting the buyer halfway with a "Burn It For A Friend". By buying our EP the music fan receives a dual disc set: One official EP, and the other, a blank Cd-R with album artwork. The Ep owner now can burn "The Phoenix EP" onto the blank disc and give it to a friend to promote music. This still makes it important of buying music, while working with people that will share music regardless.

MUEN: WHAT OTHER BANDS WHO ARE SIGNED TO LABELS DO YOU HAVE THE MOST REPECT FOR, WHETHER IT BE THAT YOU ARE INSPIRED BY THEM MUSICALLY, OR JUST HOW THEY OPERATE?

Nick: Papa Roach, Jimmy Eat World, how they operate and musically, jeez lets see musically i don't know where to begin? I'll let Rene handle this one. Rene: Papa roach defanitly all I can say Jacoby & those guys are true friends .They have had my back thru dark times & great times. Jacoby writes from the heart & he wears it on his sleeve.He is also normal & good to people. There's this other band were both friends with there huge & they have great music(i'm not mentioning there name) They are so stuck up & pompous now when I see them I wanna throw up they have bodyguards & just act really different. They also didnt take a very good friends band out on tour that took them out when they were nobody bc they think there to cool & they should play with the scene bands . I've met alot of fairweather friends in this business alot of bands that that play warp tour once & think there gods gift to music I've also met a few people that were my idols growing up that are so normal & cool. Some artist & bands that have influenced & inspired me are Bruce springsteen, The Killers, Coheed & Cambria,Muse, Jimmy eat world, My Chem, U2, Silversun pickups.

MUEN: DOES "FIGHT OF YOUR LIFE" HAVE ANY VIDEOS OUT?

Nick: We have some live Youtube stuff right now. We will be having a EPK coming out that will be available on our Myspace site. A video is something we are working on putting together as well within the near future.

MUEN: ANY RADIO PLAY GOING ON AS OF NOW?

Nick: Yes, matter fact we do.Sirius Octane has had us as a top-5 requested song with Phoenix and the Fall- (featuring Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach who guest vocals on that track) you can request it at Sirius now on our myspace site www.myspace.com/fightofyourlife. We are going for adds now at radio to the rest of the country and in selective markets. Besides that we have a lot of internet radio stations and stations overseas playing us. Also, some college markets are playing us as well.

MUEN: IF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM OR GO ON TOUR IN ANOTHER COUNTRY BESIDES THE U.S., WHICH WOULD IT BE?

Nick: I think currently hands down would be Australia, we've had a lot of response from them screaming for us to tour there.

MUEN: IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE TWO SONGS OFF YOUR ALBUM FOR A "SINGLE" WHICH TWO WOULD THEY BE?

Nick: Phoenix and the Fall / Church Bells.

MUEN: ANY OTHER NEWS YOU'D LIKE TO LET US IN ON?

Nick Besides releasing this Cd we are set to do some touring for the rest of this summer into the Fall and writing and collaborating and recording new material. We always try to keep things moving.

MUEN: THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW! AND HOPE YOU HAVE LOTS OF SUCCESS, WE REALLY BELIEVE IN THE BAND!

Nick: Thanks, it was great having us.. I'm sure we'll talk to you again. thanks!

~ Interview by Shauna O' Donnell