UTG INTERVIEW: Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail

When Senses Fail’s first effort dropped through Drive-Thru Records in 2002, apart from a few select other bands such as Underoath, Thursday, and DTR labelmates, Finch, it was a bit ahead of the screamo game and completely fresh in the ears of listeners. Now 11 years later, Senses Fail have reached their sixth effort (fifth full-length), Renacer, and show an impressive evolution and progression as they’ve aged and matured.

We had the opportunity to speak briefly with the New Jersey outfit’s founder and vocalist, Buddy Nielsen, as we discussed the aforementioned growth the band has shown and a little about the underlying details of Renacer. Read through this exclusive interview and get caught up with long time favorites, Senses Fail!

As a writer, how would you describe where you were when Senses Fail began compared to where you see yourself now? Would you say you’ve changed, or that you’ve grown to better understand and focus the voice you had from the start?
I was 18 when we started and I am 29 now. So I would say I have changed. This is a hard question to answer because that amount I have changed since I was in high school is too large to answer in a concise sentence. I have changed fully and in all ways.

What specifically was the inspiration behind the themes of the new album? Based on the title, is this album a rebirth of you personally? In your past works, you’ve mentioned a lot about your failures and such, so do you think you’re in a new, or more stable place, mentally and emotionally at this point in your life?
The inspiration was to inspire and to invite people to change and to grow. I have found a lot of peace in the last couple years and I wanted to reflect on that and urge people to search for the same thing within themselves.

Senses Fail is a band a lot of people would say write angsty music. While the new album still has a sense of that angst, looking at the world as a 29-year old, do you find it as easy to tap into that rage as before? Is the motivation behind it the same?
People say angsty as a bad thing. I don’t think you should ever let go of your youth, your fight to uphold values that you have. I think the focus of the angst should change. It should change from a personal, selfish angst of one’s life, to a social angst. The older you get, the more connected you should feel to the world and your community. Without angst, there is no urge to change. I hope our music is always perceived as having angst, regardless of whether that is critically accepted.

Is Renacer your strongest effort to date?
Absolutely, one hundred percent.

You’ve been getting more and more ingrained in the business side of the music industry over the last few years. Do you see yourself reaching a point where touring is not a priority for you?
Touring isn’t really a priority right now. It hasn’t really been for a couple years. We are going to do a tour or two on this record and then call it a day. We can’t really be out there 9 months a year like we once were.

And with that, are you still involved with Mightier Than Sword? What state is the label in at this point?
Nope, no idea what is going on there.

What does touring feel like to you these day compared to FTDOD and Let It Enfold You days?
Much more relaxing, focused and tiring. It is truly about playing and enjoying the show. All the other noise is just that.

In the past decade plus of Senses Fail, what would you say has been the biggest blessing or achievement in the band’s career?
Still being around after so many of our peers have either bowed out or bowed and and come back.

Do you have any 10-year anniversary plans for Let It Enfold You?
No, at this point we have no desire to live in the past and celebrate that record. We are focused on the future of the band. Maybe at a point in time in the future we will do something to celebrate that record but as for right now, no. I can say that we will 100% not be doing a tour around it. If we ever did anything it would be a show or two. It would be very hard to get up there every night and play 13 songs that we just aren’t that passionate about. It would be dishonest to the people who paid to come.

If you were to quit it all tomorrow, what would you regret that you never accomplished as an artist?
Continuing to write music that I loved. I feel like we just finally started doing something cool and I want to build on it.

How much life does Senses Fail have left in it?
I would say it it pretty safe to say the band will never break up. We have made it this far and we are writing the best music of our career. Regardless of how successful it is, it is about the joy of making, creating and sharing music. If our goals remain those three things, then I see no reason why we would ever call it quits.

Written and conducted by: Brian Lion – Follow him on Twitter


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