it’s been hectic, but i got the chance to talk to dan keyes of young love/recover fame a couple weeks ago and finally got around to posting it. he touches base on the new young love album, one of us, which is due out next week. there will most definitely be an album review, so be on the look out for that number. he also touched base on recover, including a hint towards a new album, but we’ll see how that goes.

interview is after the jump.

fyi: wwm got the chance to interview 88-keys, which will be posted sometime this week. also coming are interviews with QuESt, trophy scars, and possibly a big artist i don’t want to name yet cause it might not work out. holla.

-young grizzly

Roshan Bhatt, weworemasks.com: What’s up man? How was SXSW this year? We tried to hit up that Purevolume show but the place had some bullshit issues about the laminates and weren’t letting people in.

Dan Keyes, Young Love/Recover: Ah, that’s a shame. It was great, man. We played five shows total. Young Love played four, and it was great because a lot of people came out to see the shows. It was a blast.

WWM: You catch anyone else’s set this year?

DK: Yeah, definitely. We saw Tricky, and that was amazing. Also saw Passion Pit, too, and they were incredible.

WWM: Well let’s talk about the new Young Love album, One of Us. It’s dropping April 28th, right?

DK: Yes, indeed.

WWM: I’ve gotten a hold of the advance and I’m digging the new direction. What are the biggest differences between Too Young to Fight It and One of Us?

DK: I think Too Young to Fight It is a bit more stripped down. There’s a lot more layers going on with One of Us. A lot of them are subtle, but they’re definitely there. The production is a lot different too. There’s a bigger sound, it’s rounder and a bit more full.

WWM: Yeah, just by judging off of a first listen, it’s a more vocal record than Too Young to Fight It. There just sounds like you’re doing more with your voice this time around.

DK: Thanks, man. And yeah, the melodies and lyrics are different just because I’ve been able to learn a lot in the last few years, just by being able to work with different artists and stuff like that. It’s cliche, but it’s definitely much more mature in the songwriting aspect.

WWM: Did you approach the recording process any differently this time around?

DK: Well I recorded the demos all over the country, where as last time I just recorded it in a couple of different places. This time, I did stuff in Brooklyn and Austin. The rest of it was recorded on the back of the bus, especially while the bus was moving on the highway. That was the demos, though. Then, I recorded the album with John King from the Dust Brothers. He’s just a really amazing producer. Working with him was a pleasure.

WWM: Did King produce the whole album?

DK: Yeah, he sure did. It was great, because I was living out in LA for all of last summer. I have a lot of friends and family out there because it’s where I’m from originally.

WWM: “Black Boots” is the first single, right?

DK: “Black Boots” is most definitely the first single. I just shot a video for the song, too.

WWM: Aside from the video, what are the biggest plans for Young Love after the album drops?

DK: Well, we’re going to do a lot of touring. We have a couple of shows in New York coming real soon. Three shows at the Studio at the bottom of Webster Hall for three Fridays in a row. Then we’ll head out to LA for an album release show. Then a five-week headlining tour across the states.

WWM: Got anyone in mind for that tour?

DK: Well, we’re definitely taking Tigercity out. We’re working out the rest right now.

WWM: When you started Young Love, what’d you hope to achieve? Just because it was a huge departure from your original band.

DK: Well it was just another adventure and experiment with the creative process and creative expression. Ultimately, I just want people to love music. I just like to reach out and affect people in different ways.

WWM: Speaking of your original band, is it cool if we touch base on Recover?

DK: Oh yeah, definitely.

WWM: With Recover, was there any particular reason behind “the reunion?”

DK: I mean people keep calling it a reunion, you know? But we never really broke up! It’s been good, though. We’ve been playing shows. We played one in New York a while back and a few in Austin. We’ll be doing one in Anaheim soon. Recover is also going to be playing shows while Young Love’s on tour. We just like to get together and play.

WWM: I caught your set during Fun Fun Fun Fest, but I definitely missed the SXSW performance. How did that show go?

DK: It was pretty much the exact same as you’d expect. [Laughs]

WWM: Is there going to be another Everyone Knows Everyone party this summer?

DK: More than likely, yeah. Robert Mann puts those on. Sometimes he keeps it more low-key and sometimes he does big events. He’s going to do an Everyone Knows Everyone up here in New York pretty soon too, so I’m definitely excited about that.

WWM: I’ve always been curious, but is there any particular reason why Recover is the backing band for Young Love?

DK: Not really a reason, but those are my best friends and my favorite musicians, so I’ll always want to play music with them.

WWM: Is there anything for Recover in 2009? How about a new album?

DK: Yeah — I’ll keep it simple; we’re working on new stuff.

WWM: Hell, yes. How do you find a balance between the two bands since they are definitely polarizing?

DK: I just try to put 100% effort into anything I do. I just love writing songs. I’ve been writing songs for 12 years now and touring for 10 of those. It’s just what I am. I’m gonna do this forever and do it as well as I can.

WWM: Cool man, thanks for talking to me.

DK: Not a problem at all.

WWM: Anything you’d like to say to the readers of weworemasks?
DK: Thanks for listening and coming out to the shows. I can’t wait to see all of you guys soon.

be sure to cop one of us, out april 28. review soon.

YOUNG LOVE ON MYSPACE.

stream one of us here.

xoxo,

young grizzly.