All Time Low will be kicking off their Asia Tour this month and the first stop is Malaysia! Lead vocalist Alex Gaskarth, guitarist Jack Barakat, bassist/backing vocalist Zack Merrick, and drummer Rian Dawson will be making their way to our local shores where the rock band will perform in Zepp KL.
The band has been churning out irresistible pop-punk tunes since debuting in 2003. All Time Low has released 9 studio albums throughout their 20 years in the music industry and receives an impressive 7.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. We recently spoke to singer Alex Gaskarth on the band’s famous collaborations, reflecting on their longevity and new songs to come.
Q. Hey guys, congrats on your 20th anniversary. What has been the biggest growth as a band & as artists?
Alex: Probably us as individuals. When we started this band, we were a bunch of stupid kids who wanted to play loud music and say the most ridiculous things on stage to shock people and make people laugh… the music was almost secondary to the live show and the performance of it all. I think now we try to play a really technically solid live show as musicians while staying true to the energy and ethos we formed this band around.
Q. What do you attribute the secret to your longevity in this industry?
Alex: Refusing to give up when things get hard or don’t go the way we’d hoped or planned.
Q. Y’all have been touring the “Tell Me I’m Alive” record for approximately a year right? Which tracks from this record have resonated with your live audiences?
Alex: I’ve been really pleasantly surprised with how good ‘New Religion’ feels live. It’s probably my favourite to play from the new album.
Q. Fans (us included) were thrilled when “Fake As Hell” came out. Alex, many commented that your vocals and Avril’s really complemented each other really well. Have y’all known each other for a long time?
How did this special collab came about?
Alex: Thanks! Avril and I have been friends for a while now but we spent some time writing and working in the studio and just got to know each other as artists as well as homies. When she came on board with ‘Fake As Hell’, it made the song make sense. Up to that point we hadn’t been totally happy with the song- we always felt like it wasn’t finished or was missing something- and we weren’t sure if we were going to put it out, but when she wrote and sang her verse, everything clicked and the song become something truly special. Avril’s amazing!
Q. Another favourite of ours is “Monsters” with Demi Lovato and blackbear. Your voices just blend so well together. How was this collab in comparison?
Demi has one of the best voices in music and she elevated the song to new heights! Bear brought so much of a sound we hadn’t really done before to the song that I think it caught people by surprise in the best way. It’s kinda the perfect storm.
Q. We love how many of your featured artists (Tegan and Sara, Teddy Swims) on your records are not in the same music lane as you. They bring something new to the table and elevate the music. Is that a conscious decision?
Alex, we were also vibing to “pretty good for a bad day“. What was working with Lauran Hibberd like?
We spent a good chunk of 2023 touring with Lauran and I was so impressed and inspired with the energy and personality she brings to her songs and her live shows. We took a day in the studio together and came up with a sweet little tune about being ok on your worst day and it put a smile on my face from the moment it was fully realized.
Q. How many songs have y’all recorded since “Tell Me I’m Alive”? Can fans expect any new All Time Low songs this year?
We’re always up to something!
Q. If you could have a personality trait from your band members – what would it be?
I would take Rian’s composure and level-headedness, Jack’s ability to capture the room with his genuine silliness, and Zack’s work ethic and determination.
All Time Low will be performing at Zepp KL on 28th April. Concert details here.
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