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10 Questions with ... Leigh Kakaty of Pop Evil
June 9, 2020
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Leigh Kakaty – lead vocals (2001–present)
Dave Grahs – rhythm guitar (2001–present)
Matt DiRito – bass (2007–present)
Nick Fuelling – lead guitar (2012–present)
Hayley Cramer – drums (2016-Present)
1. Where does this interview find the band right now?
Right now, I am quarantined in my home state of Michigan.
2. Let’s start at the beginning. I know the band has been around since 2001. Give us the scoop on where and how the band formed?
3. I founded the band in Western Michigan in 2001. We have had various lineup changes over the years. In the early years, we constantly toured all over Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana showcasing our original music and even played covers to make extra money to focus on recording our debut album. This took some time to build but eventually in ’06, we had enough funds to start making what would be our debut album, “Lipstick On The Mirror.”
3. Who came up with the name Pop Evil and what is the significance of the name
I came up with the name when Dave and I met. The name really is this simple. We were making music and noticed quickly that we weren’t your typical rock band. We were writing music that had many influences. We had a heavier side of our writing and a lighter side, which has become more extreme over the years. This duality is Pop Evil.
4. What bands have inspired you and you’d list as major influences?
There have been a lot of bands over the years that have influenced us. Everyone from Rage Against the Machine to Pearl Jam have inspired us over the years. However, the Great State of Michigan has played a huge role in inspiring us musically. So many talented musicians have come from our state and it was hard to grow up in the Great Lakes without being influenced by all these artists, such as Bob Segar, Kid Rock, and Eminem to name a few.
5. Now let’s talk about your new single “Work.” What can you tell us about the meaning behind that song?
“Work” can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. You can be working a job or you can be stuck in a mental rut like I was, just needing to catch my breath from the daily grind of being a touring musician. Life in general is work. I felt like there were more people like me who needed a song that could help motivate them during their struggles of staying mentally strong through daily life. Never once did I think we would be in the situation we are all in with this pandemic. The song is still very new, but we are seeing a lot of inspiring social posts about how the song is motivating fans to work on themselves and think positively during these tough times.
6. You also released “Let The Chaos Reign” from the new upcoming lp. When is the new album coming out and what can you tell us about it?
We really wanted to show what Pop Evil is all about with the release of these two songs. It was always the plan to release two songs at once to show how versatile the band really is. We worked with multiple producers this time around to really focus on each song and make sure every song gets the proper love. We feel like this is a statement album for us because of these moves we made. This is our sixth studio album and it’s crazy to think about what we have done musically thus far. We feel this album will be a fan favorite, and it will strike a chord for anyone that has listened to Pop Evil music before and will bring in new fans. With this pandemic still rolling on, it is tough to say exactly when our new album will be released. Right now, we are doing final touch-ups, mixing the songs remotely, and taking our time so we have no regrets. The process is taking a bit longer because we can’t all be together working on the final touches like we are used to, but it is really coming along. We hope to release another song or two before the end of the year with an announcement of the LP release date.
7. Pop Evil has had great success at Rock radio for many years. What’s your take on Rock Radio?
Radio has been monumental to our career and we are extremely grateful for all of our Radio family and friends that we have made over the years. We are honored to be a part of the communities they represent. We can’t wait to get back on the road and see all the familiar faces we have met over the years.
8. With the state of the world now during the Coronavirus pandemic, tours have been put on the back burner for the time being. What are your future tour plans in support of the new album at this point?
9. Safety for our fans and band family is the most important. As soon as it is deemed safe enough to tour, we will. It’s how we make our living. But of course, safety and health come first. It’s very scary to think about the future on how shows will be, but I’m being very positive about it. The show will go on, I know it. The touring industry will survive this. When its back and running, man it is going to get LOUD!
9. I’ve asked this question many times to Rock artists. There’s a definite difference between making a record and going out and playing it live in front of an audience. Many feel that the real work is making the record, and the fun part is playing it live. What’s your take on both of these processes?
I can relate to that. Making a new album is challenging, but when you see your fans singing the new songs back to you, there’s nothing like it. To me, playing the songs live is what making music is about, period. More than ever, I appreciate being able to play in front of an audience that is singing and chanting our songs. It will be almost six months since we have played a show which is crazy to think about. The connection we make with the fans on the road is something special. The songs are no longer ours, but rather they’re a part of the rock ethos that makes our genre so great. You can’t have one without the other. Over the years, we have learned to embrace both making a record and playing it live, and respect how challenging they both can be. It’s important to enjoy it all.
10. Finally, what do you and other members of your band like to do for fun (hobbies etc.) when you’re not in “Rock Band” mode?
11. We are all very different and enjoy doing different things. When we are on tour, we try to hang out as a group on days off and bond. It becomes Groundhog Day sometimes so those days off are what really builds the comradery on the bus. Lately, we have all enjoyed going to sporting events together. We also enjoy some barbecue time together on days off. It’s all about being creative with our off time.
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