August 2nd, 2008 
James Shotwell Today, James spent a few minutes on the phone with Jake from Norma Jean and the contents of that conversation can be found below. Be sure to check out the band’s new album, The Anti-Mother in stores August 5th [our review will be up soon!]
J: Hey Jake, how are you doing thus far today?
NJ: I’m doing good. We played at 3pm today and it went really well.
J: Today you are at the Chicago stop of Warped Tour. How has been doing this now classic tour for an entire summer been [other than hot]?
NJ: It’s been awesome. We did it for like 5 days last year, but that was due to us taking a break. Then they offered us a whole slew of dates this year and we jumped on it This year on Warped has had such an array of bands and genres that is just awesome to see it all in one place.
J: With Warped wrapping up and your new album coming out soon, it’s obvious you guys are going to be going back out again. What plans do you guys have for this fall and into the winter – that you can reveal at this time?
NJ: We finish Warped and then have a month off. Then we’re doing a Solid State tour for about 6 weeks. Haste The Day, The Showdown, Mychildren Mybride, Children 18:3, and Oh Sleeper will be on that tour as well. It’s in the US.
J: Norma Jean has always been a band that has always presented amazing stage shows. You don’t simply perform, but you add visual and additional audio to create a very surreal experience. Can we expect something similar this fall? Do you have any ideas for what you’re going to do as of now?
NJ: We like to put on a show rather than just perform. This fall tour will be the same thing. There will be projection for sure and some other things. This is going to be a party.
J: So on to the record, it comes out August 5th and is entitled, The Anti-Mother, or Norma Jean Vs. The Anti-Mother. Could you tell me what or who the Anti-Mother is?
NJ: The Anti-Mother is a fictional character we created. It’s a sub personality everybody has. A mother is nurturing, caring, and comfortable. We feel everyone has an opposite side to that and sometimes we don’t make all the best choices and touch on that. That’s just because we are human and we wrote this album about ourselves and what we’ve went through. we wanted to teach people because we have the ability to talk to people with our job, The lyrics are more direct, but there are still a lot of metaphors.
J: The album artwork, from what I’ve seen, seems to be more of the incredible designs you guys have been known to present. Is there any message you’re trying to convey or symbolize? Or is this just some really cool looking artwork?
NJ: We like people to interpret things in their own way at times. Steve Hash did the artwork and based it off how we explained the anti-mother to him. We let him interpret what we told him and he developed the heart/bee hive. Nice looking on the outside, but inside it is just a wreck. There’s even more inside and we let Steve do his thing with it.
J: There are three guest appearances on the album, but they aren’t simple guest vocals, you guys have said you didn’t want a simple spot and instead wrote songs with these guests. Who is on the album and why did you choose to do things this way?
NJ: We’ve been friends with Page Hamilton [Helmet] for awhile now and we’ve always been close. We had talked about doing songs together and so we finally did it. He flew to Atlanta and we did it. Same thing with Chino [Deftones]. We actually wrote 2 with him, but only used one. Cove from Saosin came in as well and helped Corey compile lyrics for a song. We wanted them to be more involved than just an appearance.
J: Well, I have heard the new album and let me say, it’s really stunning. The sound seems to have progressed even more since Redeemer. What influences played a part in crafting this new sound for Norma Jean?
NJ: We still have the same influences we’ve always had, but we try to continue to build on what we’ve created. We’re growing and so is the music. Helmet, The Deftones, Nirvana, Tool, and Corey loves Slayer.
J: Corey does a lot more singing on this album. In fact, there’s been a lot of comparisons to older Thrice with this new material. Was this a natural change, or something you did knowingly to venture into some new territory? Did you worry how the fans would take it?
NJ: It was totally naturally. His instrument is his voice. As we’ve progressed, so has he and he’s learned how to better utilize his voice. We’ve always encouraged him to branch out and he has. We were really careful with it, so that it didn’t come off to clean or out of context in the music, So, like, when eh sings, it’s still rough and dirty sounding, it’s still us.
J: Now that the musical monster that is Norma Jean has been around for a few years now, you guys are becoming more and more influential on the scene and those who listen to it. Who would you like to see get more attention/signed in the near future?
NJ: One band, The Bronx, are nothing like us, but you need to check them out. Another band that’s super heavy is Advent. Those dudes are awesome and some of the dudes were in Beloved.
J: Instead of a final question, we prefer to let you make a closing statement. The podium i yours, any last remarks?
NJ: Choose your music carefully. Find what moves you and stick with it. So many bands are here for a summer and then disappear. Find what you believe in and follow it. If you believe in the Anti-Mother, then buy it [laughs].
J: On behalf of Under The Gun Review I just want to thank you and Bari at MSO PR for taking the time to work with us and I can’t wait to see what you guys do next.
NJ: Yea dude, no problem.
J: Sounds awesome, thank you so much.
NJ: Thank you.
*Written By: James Shotwell*
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