311 (Univercity)

We’re a culture spewing forth the notes and sounds of music of all shapes,
sizes, colors, flavors, images, textures, etc. We’re genre happy and proud of it! Leather and spikes. Dreads and hemp. Adidas, contact lenses, clown makeup or nipple clamps. It’s all good. We’re just a-bootie-wigglin’ upon a very nifty era on the time line of music history. We’re standing smack in the midst of that time-line notch wear anything goes.......and if I want to play my guitar with only one string tuned to the key of “Z” naked with mere banana peals to cover my privates and declare myself a rock star, so be it!

But there are the band’s that take that open invite to creativity far more serious than nakedness and banana peels. In a word (a-hem....a number) 311. Hailing from the not-quite-music -Mecca of Omaha, Nebraska, the band redefines all that is ska, raggae and metal-inspired pop rock. Comprised of lyrical mastermind, vocalizer, guitarist and programming wizard, Nick Hexum, drummer, percussionist and programmer Chad Sexton, vocals, S.A., guitarist Tim Mayhoney and bassist P-Nut, 311 has returned from their brief slumber bearing forth an LP of extreme proportions. Answering to the name of “Sound System”, the band’s latest release on Capricorn, is an exotic mesh of music of all genres laced into one colossal sound scape of positive energy. Soothing yet convulsive; wholly jump worthy.........Nick Hexum gave us a brief low down on the latest release during sound check.

UNIVERCITY: How does your latest record differ from the band's previous releases?
311: We spent more time on this record than on any other release. I think that allowed us to really focus on the material and focus on our individual performances. I think its a strong rock record but it still has a lot of melodic elements. I don’t know how its specifically different from our other albums - because I think it definitely contains elements of all our records - but it's still a step into the future for 311.

UNIVERCITY: Did the recording session for this release differ greatly from your last LP, Transistor?
311: Definitely. First of all we built our own studio - which was a huge challenge but really made the record a great experience. It did two things...first it allowed us a lot of freedom and a lot of comfort. We could work at our own pace, at our own hours, etc... It also made us jump in and really learn the recording process better. Since we were working on our own gear - it was really up to us to conquer the studio and make a great sounding record.

UNIVERCITY: All of 311’s records have had a sort of vibe to them. A message I guess. What message are you trying to purvey with this record?
311: I think this record may be a bit darker than our past two records - but the overall message is still one of positively. It's solution oriented music.

UNIVERCITY: What do you use as lyrical inspirations?
311: Life experience is the best inspiration but not all of the songs are based on my own life. I'm inspired by relationships, art, tv, movies, music, weather, etc...

UNIVERCITY: Is there a song on the record that’s particularly personal to you?
311: I think I'm really close to “Flowing” which is going to be our next single. It's the first song I wrote for this record - which tends to have some impact on my relationship with the song. “Down” was the first track I wrote for the self-titled album and I've always felt strongly about that song as well.

UNIVERCITY: Did you ever imagine 311 attaining as much success as they have?
311: I always had high hopes and aspirations for 311 - but this has definitely been a dream come true. We are really happy and appreciative. No complaints.

UNIVERCITY: What have you learned in your years of involvement in the music industry?
311: I've met some cool people in the business - but the industry itself can be a drag sometimes. It's political and it's still not tuned in the artists favor. I think technology (online downloads, etc) is going to have a huge effect on the future of the music biz.

UNIVERCITY: How do you think the general music scene has changed since the band began?
311: I think people have gotten more open minded about genre-mixing styles. The music scene is constantly evolving. There’s a lot of artist pushing the envelope - you might not hear it on mainstream radio - but it's out there. I've been listening to a lot of drum & bass music lately which is very progressive
.
UNIVERCITY: What advice can you give to someone starting a band today?
311: Come original.

UNIVERCITY: Say something to your fans..........
311: Stay positive and love your life!