"Alevela"
"Alevela"
A young teenage boy sat humbly and unabashedly hunched over, sitting on the edge of his bed, pounding away on a lonely snare drum which was given to him by a friend in their local church.
The dream started back in the mid nineties, at a time when Marilyn Manson's "The Beautiful People" was the most dangerous song people had ever heard. Meanwhile, Creed's "My Own Prison" would soon catapult them to become one of the biggest and most hated bands of all time.
"My family started attending a church a mile or so from our house in Corona, CA.", explains Jerod. He soon befriended another boy his age named Jeremiah whom he describes as "slightly pudgy with red hair and freckles”.
“He introduced me to his cousin Jeff who's parents had just started attending the church. Jeff played bass and had started a punk rock band. He was looking for a new drummer and asked me to join. The only problem was that I had never played the drums before. I guess that's what punk was all about. His vote of confidence was all I needed.”
Jeff then introduced me to his guitarist/singer Jeremy. "I remember it so vividly. We went to meet up at the mall for lunch. It was when they brought back the original 'Star Wars' to theaters again and we met up to watch 'The Empire Strikes Back'. So, I'm sitting there, looking at this kid as we're eating, and he's drumming on the table with straws, and I swear I thought he was a pro! It was a little intimidating to say the least."
So, the trio were off and running calling and they named their band 'Arpy Murfy'.
"I thought it was the most horrible name ever but I was just excited I was in a band.", says Jerod.
The boys church youth group was also looking to recruit and start a band of its own. Enlisting Jeff on bass and Jerod on drums, singer/guitarist and youth leader, Charleton Churchill, took the two under his wing and put them through what Jerod can only describe as a “…musicians boot camp. I went from never playing drums or music, to, all of a sudden, being thrusted into two bands. Both bands being on opposite sides of the spectrum. The punk band gave me good roots and grit. The worship band gave me a fundamental foundation with polish and soul. It was this combination that had absolutely shaped who I am as a songwriter and musician today. I felt so lucky and fortunate I had somebody there to tell me I was off time and that I sucked. I'm not gonna lie… I went home in tears a few times, but, I always came back stronger.”
It wasn't long until the boys were playing shows at local venues and churches. It was at one of these shows that a new face surfaced on Jerod's radar. Jeff was dating a girl in the youth group and her younger brother was always hanging around. It was a then twelve year old Justin Sprouse. The youth band was in need of a bassist. Their mentor Charleton was leaving the church and Jeff started playing guitar. Justin, a guitar player himself, was asked to join and play bass. Jerod was soon suffering from growing pains in Arpy Murfy and decided it was time to move on from the punk trio.
" The band was awful. It didn't take long to realize how much we sucked." Jerod explains.
Justin explains,"Whether we would start bands or join bands, we stayed together as a team with the ultimate goal of writing, recording and performing music we loved in hopes of one day making a living at it."
They soon found themselves back in the rehearsal room with a new and refreshed Jeremiah Paul and working on a new project called 'October'. The boys were out one night at a friends house party when Jerod overheard a conversation inside the garage. " This skinny dude was talking to a group of people and I started to eavesdrop.”,Says Jerod. “ I approached him and asked him if he played drums. He said no, he played guitar. So I gave him our October demo. I invited him into the band that night and that's how we met Chris Algarin.", Explains Jerod.
The group immediately started writing songs and rehearsing almost everyday. Still needing a singer they started scouting local shows. It wasn't long before they found a local post/hardcore-screamo singer, Anthony Herman. He was added quickly to the roster and then band wasted no time. The newly formed quintet Amber Sky started playing everywhere they could and were starting to make a buzz. It was time to cut a demo, so they headed into the studio.
Barely surviving the completion of their four song demo, the next step was to get it out to producers and labels.
"We were really only targeting one person.", says Chris.
It was front man of the seminal ska/punk band 'Goldfinger' John Feldman. Responsible for putting bands like 'The Used' and 'Story of the Year' on the map. The boys drove two hours away to a show he was at, tracked him down' and handed him their demo. Upon arriving home, they recieved a call back from Mr. Feldman. He liked the band and wanted to hear more.
The band found themselves playing bigger shows and even did a stint on 'Warped Tour'. Tension began to mount as things were slowly imploding and disagreements began to take place over musical directions.
Amber Sky held a meeting that was to be the last time that all five members were in the same room together. "It was very sad and awkward.”, describes Chris. “One of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It was by music these friendships started and by music they would end. It's never a good situation making your best friends choose sides but we couldn't agree anymore musically so we needed to go our separate ways."
With nowhere to live Jerod recounts when he called up an indie label that wanted to sign Amber Sky a month or so before they quit. “I called them up and explained the death of one band would incur the birth of another.” Which will ultimately become “ALEVELA”.
It seemed as though Jeremy found his calling to play keyboards. Jerod asked Chris if he wanted to start jamming again and ask him to join the group. Jerod soon coined the name ALEVELA and all the old friends were at it again.
Chris explains, "It wasn't like I just sat down and thought hard about a band name. Their was no trial and error. It just kind of hit me and everyone liked it. 'ALEVELA' means to rise above - To elevate yourself to a place and a mindset where you can accomplish anything."
The group chose a Phoenix insignia as a visual representation of the name.
"The Phoenix signified everything that was happening at that time. A rebirth period for us. A chance to rise above.” Chris explains. They spent the next few months writing songs for the EP.
They were also cultivating a new friendship in Nicky Alice that blossomed into their band manager, whom they had meet through mutual friends. "Nicky was always interested in what we were doing and always so supportive. It just kind of happened. He's been a great asset to the band." Says Jerod.
The band went into the studio to start work on their self-titled EP. Laying down seven songs full of raw venting emotion that can easily be heard. "It was still a very difficult time.”, explains Jerod.
“I was living in an upstairs room at Nicky's parents house I was supposed to be renting. I was fortunate enough they believed in the band and letting me slide. If it wasn't for his parents I'd be homeless again. If it wasn't for Nicky himself, we would have never been able to put out that EP."
Things seemed to be getting worse though financially and at a breaking point. Then one day, out of the blue, Jerod received a call from a friend who was a car salesmen at the time.
"A buddy called me and said he was trying to sell a car to someone he knew in the music industry. He gave this man our EP, and, next thing you know, I'm talking to the CEO at his label and he wanted to sign us immediately!"
It seemed as though the bands prayers had been answered.
They signed their first record deal and moved into a big house together to begin work on their first full-length album. "All of a sudden, we're eating three square meals a day. I even got a cell phone!” laughs Chris. “We walked into guitar center and it was like a child's 'Toys R' Us' shopping spree."
The label was confident that the band could produce their own record, but, had them meet with a producer anyway.
It was pivotal rock songwriter/Producer Marti Frederiksen. "Marti has worked with everyone from Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe to Mick Jagger and Grammy Award winner Faith Hill." Explains Chris.
“He was exactly the kind of producer we needed at the right time. The band was able to collaborate on a few songs and were enthralled about the prospect of a record.”
But bad luck had plagued the group once more and the label halted any further funds and temporarily halted their dreams as well.
"We were dumbfounded and just felt duped." Jeremy painfully describes. "It just felt as if we had a hex over us."
The label had misappropriated funds and their was nothing the band could do about it. "It took us the better part of six months to get out of our contract." Says band manager Nicky Alice.
The band was left to regroup and figure out what was next.
"Coming out of a once again disappointing experience, I could at least hold my head high with the experience I gained from working with Marti. In terms of songwriting… “I once was blind, and now I see." Jerod describes from working with Marti. "Because I love basketball so much I can only use this analogy - Imagine if you were able to take a few lessons from Micheal Jordan. Yeah… that's how I felt working with Marti."
Shortly after the band received an offer to play a show for the 10th anniversary of the opening of the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. The rock group “Lit” was slated to headline the event so the ALEVELA's expectations were high. Unfortunately, the band lacked a bass player.
"The band became this sort of revolving door.”, laughs Jerod. “I mean, we had the core members. Myself, Chris and Jeremy. We had gone through as multiple drummers/bass players and we needed to find replacement fast. Honestly, I didn't think twice about it and called Justin. He seemed very cool about the whole thing and was in. I thought he'd have some reservations because of the whole Amber Sky fallout.
Justin says, “I learned a few songs they sent me and if nothing else I just wanted to be on stage with my friends again. It was an itch I needed to scratch."
ALEVELA played the show alongside 'Lit' and got great reviews! They spent the next year gaining a following around SoCal playing with the likes of Filter, Unwritten Law, Steel Panther, Story of the Year, Burn Halo to name a few.
While playing countless shows during this period, ' ALEVELA ' was getting approached by record labels and management companies a like. Yet, they decided to continue down the path of refining their sound and building their fan base.
The band also decided it was time to go into the studio and self produce its first full length LP which is now set to be released on the bands own imprint.
"We've just become so weary of record labels now." Says front man Jerod. "It's not a great era for record labels to coexist with new artists these days.”
'ALEVELA' has decide to stay independent for as long as they can.
Leading their new path is their new single entitled "The Madness".
The Madness has a sound fit for the arena. With a Def Leopard-esque, stadium rock sonic quality layered with a gritty and grunge style vocal. “The Madness” will be sure to drive its point home.
Their follow up single entitled "Invincible" will display a slightly different side of the bands sound. Invincible is a 'throw your hands in the air' sing-a-long, showing polish and versatility. This undeniable anthem can easily come off as inspiring, uptempo , and feel good. But, it is exactly the opposite. Front man Jerod Farnes describes the meaning of the song "as sort of a downer. Haha! When your young and reckless you truly feel invincible. Then it hit me, I wasn't the person that was gonna live forever. So, it's just excepting that yes…I'm mortal and I'm going to die someday…”, Laughs Jerod. “Seems elementary, but to me, it is a hard pill to swallow."
With “Invincible” released from their upcoming debut LP and “The Madness” music video out, big things are to come from ALEVELA.
"For the first time ever, I feel so confident about this record and where the band is at mentally, right now.”, Says Jerod. “We are in the drivers seat and in control and I truly feel that anything is possible."
They are set to release the second single "Invincible" and accompanying music video by Thanksgiving 2013. Also a cover song by the legendary band U2. "We've never really been into doing covers but we felt really strong about this song. I feel we did it justice and made it our own. When I listen to it I don't even think 'U2', I think, ALEVELA”.
'ALEVELA's debut, untitled release can be expected out by Christmas 2013.
With a history together that already has spanned the better part of 15 years,
with so many ups and downs,
most would have thrown in the towel.
Vocals - Jerod
Guitar - Chris
Bass - Justin
Keys - Jeremiah
Drums - Josh
