OneRepublic: Apology Accepted
Artist:
OneRepublic
From crusty Colorado to cool California, OneRepublic’s journey is as colourful as their music. Ryan, Zach, Eddie and Brent tell Danny Walker about their assembly, love of British music and why it took a Timbaland remix to get them noticed...
The swanky surroundings, courtesy of Marble Arch’s Cumberland Hotel – have me in a good mood; plus the microscopic fact that I’m actually early for once. My frame of mind is heightened three notches when I’m ushered into the VIP suite to wait for the band. The room has a posh stench to it, soon broken by a CBS news reporter blaring Americanisms from an obviously full-price plasma. A glass of unpronounceable water later and I’m greeted by four of the five. “Drew’s ill today,” I’m told after instantly pointing out a OneRepublican is missing. Without a second to spare (or turn down the TV) we’re underway.
“We wanted a name which wasn’t just random,” co-founder Zach Filkins explains of the band’s chosen handle. “We didn’t want to call it Peaches and Cream or something weird...” Co-founder and lead vocalist Ryan Tedder jumps in. “Although that is a good name...“ The room chuckles as Zack smiles, “Yeah, that’s my side project.” The guitarist continues, “We wanted something that would represent the music. In fact I looked it up in the dictionary and it means ‘A collaboration of equals who stand together for one thing.’”
The movement initially started after the two met on a “soccer field” in high school. They stayed in contact, and later formed the band. Ryan was a songwriter who had penned hits for Lil Jon, Tupac and Jennifer Lopez, and Zach shared the same musical vision. It took a relocation, relocation to Los Angeles, and recruitment of guitarist/ keyboardist Drew Brown and Eddie Fisher to get them going. For the group’s drummer, Eddie, the new appointment was a welcome one. “I thought the guys were great when I first met them. When I was asked to try out I was like, ‘Heck yeah, why not?’” Cellist Brent Kutzle had the same reaction despite joining three years later. “It was awesome,” he says of bringing his bass playing talent to the team. “They’re good guys. It’s a good gig. I fit in cos they wanted something different to bring to the table. I give us a different sound.”
When you run through their debut LP Dreaming Out Loud, it’s not just the Timbo-made Apologize that grabs your ear. “We’re kind of influenced by everybody especially British pop/ rock,” Ryan sums up the inspirational maths that equal the 11 tracks. “The Verve, The Beatles, Oasis, Travis, Peter Gabriel...” You can see their MySpace for the full list. “That’s why people like Apologize; we’ve learned how to keep things simple, therapeutic and melodic.” Zach boldly interjects. “I don’t even think Apologize is our best track.” They all get their two cents in. “Say,” Brent almost coughs up [which is only on the US version]. “Stop and Stare, which is the next single,” Eddie adds as Ryan concurs. “We’re just trying to do the biggest songs possible. Songs meant for stadiums. If a crowd can’t sing along, what’s the point.”
And lastly we reach the man who they helped get to No.3 in the UK chart with. “He’s very smart,” Zach says of super-producer Timbaland. “He’s almost a scientist at what he does.” Just before they retire upstairs, Ryan – whose worked with Timbo since 2002 – leaves RWD with a comment to add shock value. “When he’s a good mood, he’s very funny. The stuff that comes out of his mouth is absolute craziness. If he’s in a bad mood, it’s the polar opposite... just let him make the beats and stay away.”
Dreaming Out Loud is out now.
THE ADDICTION ISSUE
Ryan, what are you addicted to? Songwriting. When I write for another artist, it’s about what they would say or what the label would say. I think people can sense bullsh*t. The lyrics for OneRepublic are a lot more personal, if I’m anything less than sincere it just won’t work.
RWD Magazine
MySpace.com/onerepublic
From crusty Colorado to cool California, OneRepublic’s journey is as colourful as their music. Ryan, Zach, Eddie and Brent tell Danny Walker about their assembly, love of British music and why it took a Timbaland remix to get them noticed...
The swanky surroundings, courtesy of Marble Arch’s Cumberland Hotel – have me in a good mood; plus the microscopic fact that I’m actually early for once. My frame of mind is heightened three notches when I’m ushered into the VIP suite to wait for the band. The room has a posh stench to it, soon broken by a CBS news reporter blaring Americanisms from an obviously full-price plasma. A glass of unpronounceable water later and I’m greeted by four of the five. “Drew’s ill today,” I’m told after instantly pointing out a OneRepublican is missing. Without a second to spare (or turn down the TV) we’re underway.
“We wanted a name which wasn’t just random,” co-founder Zach Filkins explains of the band’s chosen handle. “We didn’t want to call it Peaches and Cream or something weird...” Co-founder and lead vocalist Ryan Tedder jumps in. “Although that is a good name...“ The room chuckles as Zack smiles, “Yeah, that’s my side project.” The guitarist continues, “We wanted something that would represent the music. In fact I looked it up in the dictionary and it means ‘A collaboration of equals who stand together for one thing.’”
The movement initially started after the two met on a “soccer field” in high school. They stayed in contact, and later formed the band. Ryan was a songwriter who had penned hits for Lil Jon, Tupac and Jennifer Lopez, and Zach shared the same musical vision. It took a relocation, relocation to Los Angeles, and recruitment of guitarist/ keyboardist Drew Brown and Eddie Fisher to get them going. For the group’s drummer, Eddie, the new appointment was a welcome one. “I thought the guys were great when I first met them. When I was asked to try out I was like, ‘Heck yeah, why not?’” Cellist Brent Kutzle had the same reaction despite joining three years later. “It was awesome,” he says of bringing his bass playing talent to the team. “They’re good guys. It’s a good gig. I fit in cos they wanted something different to bring to the table. I give us a different sound.”
When you run through their debut LP Dreaming Out Loud, it’s not just the Timbo-made Apologize that grabs your ear. “We’re kind of influenced by everybody especially British pop/ rock,” Ryan sums up the inspirational maths that equal the 11 tracks. “The Verve, The Beatles, Oasis, Travis, Peter Gabriel...” You can see their MySpace for the full list. “That’s why people like Apologize; we’ve learned how to keep things simple, therapeutic and melodic.” Zach boldly interjects. “I don’t even think Apologize is our best track.” They all get their two cents in. “Say,” Brent almost coughs up [which is only on the US version]. “Stop and Stare, which is the next single,” Eddie adds as Ryan concurs. “We’re just trying to do the biggest songs possible. Songs meant for stadiums. If a crowd can’t sing along, what’s the point.”
And lastly we reach the man who they helped get to No.3 in the UK chart with. “He’s very smart,” Zach says of super-producer Timbaland. “He’s almost a scientist at what he does.” Just before they retire upstairs, Ryan – whose worked with Timbo since 2002 – leaves RWD with a comment to add shock value. “When he’s a good mood, he’s very funny. The stuff that comes out of his mouth is absolute craziness. If he’s in a bad mood, it’s the polar opposite... just let him make the beats and stay away.”
Dreaming Out Loud is out now.
THE ADDICTION ISSUE
Ryan, what are you addicted to? Songwriting. When I write for another artist, it’s about what they would say or what the label would say. I think people can sense bullsh*t. The lyrics for OneRepublic are a lot more personal, if I’m anything less than sincere it just won’t work.
RWD Magazine
MySpace.com/onerepublic
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