Senses Fail’s debut album “Let It Enfold You” turned twenty this year and vocalist Buddy Nielsen is here to walk us through the record. Check it out below!
The band will be playing the album front to back on their upcoming tour.
First of all, how does it feel knowing Let It Enfold You turns 20 this year?
It is all pretty strange considering that it feels like it wasn't that long ago but in hindsight it was actually a long time ago.
How did you feel when the album came out?
I was pretty nervous. I remember being very uncertain about what the future of the band was but also uncertain how people would take it. I was pretty scared of having success at that stage in our career because it was a different time and when "punk" bands succeed, it leads to a lot of local insults and inter-scene conflict.
Where do you think the album fits in the band's legacy?
I would say it is really the record that put us on the map. It was the first real true success we had on a world wide level and it remains an entry point for anyone who has found us since.
How did the band approach writing? What inspired the lyrics?
We wrote it like a bunch of teenagers. There was no approach other than following what we thought was cool and what we wanted to do. Lyrically, I was just trying to sort out and understand who I was as a person. I was starting to realize I had a lot of unprocessed issues and struggled with depression. This was before I ever started having anxiety, so it was a precursor to that.
Do any of the themes touched on the album still hold relevant for you?
I think the idea of getting old and losing your passion. That is what ‘Rum is For Drinking’ is about. I always loathed the idea of getting older and getting comfortable and uninterested in the experience of life. I'm happy to say I feel like I am still heavily invested in everything I do.
What were your hopes and expectations for the record during the writing and recording process?
We wanted it to be the biggest record in the world. Did that happen? No, but that was the goal.
What do you remember most about making the album?
It was all over the place. We recorded at 5 or 6 different places over a pretty long period. It was almost as if we did it in the way a lot of artists do it now.
Were there any bands in particular you enjoyed playing with while touring for the record?
North Star, My Chemical Romance, Moneen, Boys Night Out.
How did things change for the band after the album came out?
It was sort of like a rocket ship taking off. We went from playing to a couple hundred people to a couple thousand and ultimately ended up on Warped Tour and Taste Of Chaos, so literally going from small clubs to arenas.
Do you remember what you were listening to at the time?
Lots of Cursive, Appleseed Cast, AFI, Alkaline Trio, Bright Eyes
Do you think of the album any differently now than you did when you recorded it?
Not really. I tend to let go of a record as soon as it is released because I don't own it anymore.
Did you ever expect the album to have the influence it did?
No, not at all. I think that is the most surprising thing about it. When it came out, it was panned by critics and a lot of peers found it juvenile. It really has stood the test of time.