June 4th, 2009 
James Shotwell 
UTG: Hey Casey, how are you today?
TDH: I’m pretty good. I actually just pulled over for pizza.
UTG: Now, since we’re going to talk about the record a lot here, why don’t you go ahead and plug the record now so that it’s out of the way:
TDH: Act III: Life and Death. Out the 23rd of June. It’s our second full length, third record total. I’m excited and so is the rest of the band.
UTG: So, let’s start simple, what’s changed in the world of The Dear Hunter between acts II and III?
TDH: There was a lot of time spent on the road together and being around each other. Act I was just me and my friends and Act II was kind of the same thing, but then three touring members left and it was just Eric and I, so we had to figure out what to do. We were never about recording because that’s kind of what I did, but then we met some guys who really worked out and this album is us working together to create a piece of art. It’s much more organic recording than anything we’ve done previously.
UTG: I think the first thing that really jumped at me when I listened to the record is how much bigger it sounds. I’m not talking like some epic Zeppelin track, but just a large, very intricate sound that seems to follow every song. I felt the same way about part II when compared to the first record. Is this a conscience idea, or would you say it’s just the band growing together?
TDH: I think it’s a good mix of the new guys and what I’ve wanted. I always wanted it to be grand or epic. I like to use as many instruments as possible and trying to make everything work. This specific group of people and I working on the record had a common thought process on it that we were able to capture more intensity without as many instruments, but it sounds bigger. We’ve learned to make it work on different levels. Act II had a lot of non complimentary sounds, but this gels really well. Everything is bigger when in sync.
UTG: There’s obviously a story to be followed between the records. Would you care to share a bit of the outline of it with us and maybe where we are in it? I know there’s so suppose to be 6 acts, so is this is the rising climax to what will be the climax in Act IV?
TDH: Between Act III and IV is going to be the climax. It’s all about a fictional character’s life from beginning to end. This particular Act is centered around war and how the decisions this character makes can make him better or worse. So, with those elements, it makes it a more intense records we’ve made or will make.
UTG: There’s one song I’d like to talk a bit more in depth about and that’s “In Clauda Venenum.” Could you maybe give a bit of a background here because it’s sounds so different than anything else we’ve heard from TDH as of yet. In fact, some of our staff compared it to a soundtrack to a fiesta?
TDH: I think I wrote the first track on the record like 4 times. First it was epic, then latin, then more latin, and I think in my head I just got this idea with accents and such that I needed to use. Basically, I heard it and I said to the guys that I needed to work something out. I went into the studio and started tracking. It was suppose to be fast pace and not exactly dancey, but energetic.
UTG: Outside of that song, it generally feels like though it all flows, each song is suppose to fit a different occasion due to the tremendous changes in sound from track to track. Was this an intentional way of writing and structuring, or once again, just something that came about while writing the album?
TDH: I think it’s a little of both. Form the very beginning I wanted to have the mindset that there were no boundaries to writing a song. Write what you want to write, not what you feel you should write. I think a lot of bands get stuck in their “genre” and I didn’t want TDH to do that. I’ve always written how I feel it should be written. That’s been the goal from day one and so when something comes out, that’s how it’s done. We don’t make it fit, we run with it and allow the song to dictate itself instead of forcing it one way or another.
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Great interview! I love how in the TDH last statement it says, “I think a lot of bands get stuck in their “genre” and I didn’t want TDH to do that.” This is the reason I love TDH! TDH is original and is always evolving. They are creative and don’t care if they fit the “mainstream” mold because it’s all about the music. Rock on TDH!!!
This is just making me 100 times more excited. I’m dying waiting for this!
and i thought act II was the most emotionally fueled inspiring album, i can’t wait to hear act III.
I’m so stoked for Act III!
I am sooooooo excited for the release of ActIII on June 23rd! I have already listened to “In Cauda Venenum” and am also amazed at hoe the group’s sound seems to have gotten “bigger”- I particularly love the medieval choir sounds added to the piece.
Soo excited to get the new album!
Awesome Interview, I think the band’s done alot of maturing from Act II to Act III. I can’t wait.
When casey mentions the climax with act iii…AND act iv. i cried a little
i can’t wait for act 4:)
TDH FOR LIFE!
Man, I cant wait to hear the new record. You better do vinyl soon. Seriously. See you June 20th. and maybe the 21st.
Great interview. I really like the fact that Casey allows his music to evolve itself. Great music can’t be created by force, it has to flow naturally from the writer. Anyway, I’m sure this will be one of the best, if not THE best albums I’ve heard in a long, long time and I can’t think of many releases I’ve been this excited for.
Wow, this was a great insight for Act III! I can’t wait till June.
This is awesome. It’s great to hear TDH is yet again one-uping themselves. Go Casey!
This record is going to be one of my top albums if not my top album of the year. So much love for Casey.
Great interview Casey! Can’t wait for Act 3!!
Act III is gonna be epic! Can’t wait to hear it all.
Love the interview! Can’t wait for Act III – studio version of He Said “He said he had a Story” is going to be particularly awesome :D
Act III is going to be amazing. I’m so excited!! :D
woohoo!!!
Bomb Interview. I cant wait till the Act III comes out and till I see you guys at the glass house!
Its great to hear what Casey has to say about his music, these interviews just get me more and more excited about Act III. Everyone be sure to see them on their tour with mewithoutYou!
Super excited for the new release. From all of the interviews and pieces I’ve read about the album, it sounds as though it will be quite a ride.
Casey likes pizza. What more needed to be said?
Act III >>>>>>>>>
I really like the interview and I cannot wait for the new album to be released. I am equally excited to see them play live though I wish it was a headlining show.
this is just so suspenseful the act must come the acts must come.!!!!
Wow Casey, Its so nice to read an interview from your favorite band with real questions and answers. Its so refreshing because there is a meeting of the minds between you and your fans through the music, so when fans get to read real interviews it lets us know how amazing you really are.
I love Casey’s writing style, and I can’t wait to hear the new album! The storyline throughout all the albums so far has been so great and unique.
This will definitely be album of the year!
Casey truly is one of the greatest artists of our time. I look forward to this CD and any other project that comes from this man’s head.
so stoked for this record. act I to act II was already a big difference so i can’t imagine how great act III will be, especially considering the fact that it’s supposed to be part of the climax of the storyline as casey said. i love this band.
Interesting to hear the background for “In Cauda”. Highly anticipating the new album!
The last bit at the end where Casey talks about songwriting and staying true to the song is very inspiring. If only more modern artists could embrace such ideals!
as always I am excited to hear what The Dear Hunter will bestow upon the world; there’s not another band like them.
the new album seems to be shaping into something fantastic. keep it coming.
The Dear Hunter is a truly amazing band, and pretty much the only one, besides my own, that I’m willing to put the time in to make sure their music is heard and appreciated.
Such an interesting and insightful interview.
Thanks for posting, and I hope to see more!
Every time I read an interview I get more and more excited about the release of Act III. If I read another, I might just possibly burst.
Great interview. So excited for the album.
The Dear Hunter are like musical mad scientists that have discovered THE perfect formula for phenomenal music!!
The album is going to be amazing. TDH is insanely talented!
“this album is us working together to create a piece of art.”
amen.
i dont think anything could better summarize how epic act III will be.
I’ve been looking forward to this album for entirely too long. I can’t wait to see what amazing things Casey has done this time.
I think TDH have given music a real breath of fresh air, to say that they write what the want to write, not what they feel they should is a freedom that a lot of bands unfortunately don’t have any more!
Gotta give big respect to triple crown records for having the faith to give TDH such freedom to write and create such brilliant music!
Keep it up guys, thanks for the great interview!
MrCampy
These guys continue to kick ass on a symphonic scale. It takes guts to go for the epic, and guts TDH has.
Epic is for sure the right word choice for this band. This sound is unbelievably huge, especially on the new album. Great interview…it’s always nice to see inside the head of an artist, especially one as talented as Casey.
Awesome interview! Even better record! Can’t wait to see TDH on tour!
This band definitely knows how to make amazing songs and they keep making them better and better. The C.D. is amazing i haven’t stopped listening to it since i got it. I’m looking forward to seeing them on tour.
Cannot stop listening to this album.
It’s so amazing.
The Dear Hunter is one of the most original bands I’ve ever listened to. I really love bands who really enjoy writing like TDH. You know that they’ll never get lazy or sell out because they love what they do, and they do it for more than just the recognition and fame.