Varsity Fanclub 'Varsity Fanclub' album

Thomas Fiss of Varsity Fanclub took the time to sit back and answer a couple of questions. The band is about to release their debut self-titled album and are becoming more and more popular. He tells about their album, which artists he is listening to, etc...

Varsity Fanclub interview
Jermy Leeuwis (MusicRemedy) asks a question [Q]: For people who may not have heard some music from you yet... what can someone who's never heard of you expect from your music?

Thomas Fiss of Varsity Fanclub answers [A]: A great album! Our sound is basically top 40 pop/R n' B, but this album has influences from every genre. Everyone in the group listens to a different style of music, so we wanted to showcase everyone’s style on the album Its a great album to dance to, shop to, and drive to. Throw it in and have fun!

[Q]: Your self-titled new CD is your first album release. Tell us about it.

[A]: We worked on this album for a year, during that time we recorded over 70 songs with the best production teams in the world. We narrowed it down to our favorites...Actually , we we're able to have a lot of input on this album which doesn't normally happen for a new pop group. We put a lot into this album, and it definitely shows.

[Q]: Which song on the self-titled album took the longest to complete? Why?

[A]: This song we recorded called "Used to be Lonely". Oh man, that song took a while to complete. I’m not sure why though...I think because we wouldn't start recording till the late evening every time. We wouldget a couple hours into it, then go to sleep. Haha, we ran out of coffee and red bull for that song.

[Q]: Is the meaning behind the album title "Varsity Fanclub" as simple as I think it is or am I wrong? If so, please explain.

[A]: Its our debut album, so we wanted to associate the name of our group with the album right away. This album was about us, so we wanted to keep it that way.

[Q]: When creating a track, do you have a set theme and pre-written lyrics, or do you start with an idea or the music first?

[A]: We all have a our ways to create/write a song. Personally I start with the music, then the lyrics follow. I think this way is easier since I play a couple instruments and have a background with music theory.

[Q]: Your roots are close to R'n'B/soul bands like Boyz II Men which sets you apart from so-called boy bands. In what way do we hear these roots on the album? Any specific tracks?

[A]: Oh wow, you can hear their influences on every track. Our harmonies, vocal ability and performance style definitely beat those groups out, but we areinfluenced from all types of music. From alternative to pop, you can hear it on this album. We used the bar previous groups set and strived to raise it a lot.

[Q]: As an band you guys do quite a lot (i.e., writer, dancer, etc...). In what way do you experience this as an advantage?

[A]: Our stage show is amazing! That’s definitely where we shine! All of us grew up performing, so I think we feel more comfortable on stage then off. Plus our musical ability is amazing. We can actually play instruments. Drew and myself studied music in high school, so our musical ability stems further then most would guess. That gives us a huge advantage over other groups. We take everyone by surprise, and we love that.

[Q]: Any other instruments you would like to learn to play on?

[A]: I need to tighten up my piano skills. But in all honesty I have brass instruments down, bass, drums, guitar....maybe cello? I was in a music store the other day and thought the banjo would be a fun side project...haha...i dunno, we'll see what happens with that.

[Q]: Do you think success and credibility are mutually exclusive?

[A]: No, definitely not. And one of those is definitely more powerful then the other. We want both, and deserve both. We are ready to prove that we deserve both also.

[Q]: What artists are you listening to at the moment?

[A]: The radio has been kinda weak lately...I think a lot of people would agree. Everyone’s looking for something new and we are ready to be that. But for now,Death Cab for Cutie, Kanye West, Jesse McCartney, Straylight Run, and my friends Metro Station.

[Q]: Are you living the American dream? Is it anything you hoped for?

[A]: I'm traveling the country with my friends while playing music. It doesn't get any better. Seriously.

[Q]: Recently, what is a typical day like for you?

[A]: Early wake up around 6 or 7, grab breakfast, then we wait for Drew to get in the van....haha (He like to take his time in the morning). Seriously though, we are on our promo tour, so we are busy from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep with interviews, performances and signings.

[Q]: Final words?

[A]: check us out on myspace!! Myspace.com/varsityfanclub

Also, thank you to everyone that has been supporting us! Request our single Future Love!!! Oh, and, Hi Mom... :-)

Varsity Fanclub biography
Make no mistake about it, Varsity Fanclub may look like a boy band, but their roots are closer to legendary soul label Motown and groups like Boyz II Men, Jackson 5 and New Edition than they are to anything else. Just recognize the dance-floor smash and lure of “Zero,” the intricate harmonies and soaring falsettos on “Girl Like That,” the sultry, seductive “Future Love” or the killer ballad “I Can,” all of which were co-written by the group, to sample their impressive pedigree.

With their Capitol Records debut album, the five members offer a wide variety of varying musical influences, with an emphasis on melodies, harmonies and a dynamic live show punctuated by world-class choreography. Put together after a country-wide talent search that was more comprehensive than anything on American Idol, the guys in Varsity Fanclub have been working toward this moment their entire lives.

Fans are just as excited for Varsity Fanclub to hit the mainstream as the five soon-to-be teen idols are prepared to become staples in the pop world. In March, 2008, the band re-launched their myspace page (www.myspace.com/varsityfanclub) and premiered “Zero” simultaneously on their page and Popstar Magazine’s myspace page. Kids immediately began reacting to the new look and music on the myspace page and the group began to experience rapid growth in song plays, page views and new friend requests. Within six weeks, total song plays on their page jumped an incredible 762%, nearing 2 million total plays, while page views rose 676% to over 3 million views, and their friend list increased 156% to 17,000 friends.

L.A.-born and raised Bobby, the youngest member of the group, is an accomplished actor who has appeared in Spy Kids, among others, is a fan of hip-hop like Black Eyed Peas, melodic rockers Snow Patrol and Blue October. Las Vegas resident JayK, a one-time baseball player is the “bad boy” and athlete who first got into music through the boy band craze. Louisiana-born Drew, the “quirky talker” is a big fan of The King because his father is an Elvis impersonator and a Beach Boys admirer for “their amazing harmonies.” San Diego’s Thomas, a yo-yo champion and laid-back surfer who has appeared on Broadway, is the emo fan in the group, a fan of rock bands like Dashboard Confessional and Smashing Pumpkins, while Indiana Hoosier David, a dancer who has taught around the country, prefers Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder and Madonna.

“The cool thing about us is we’re all influenced by different artists, which brings us together as a band even more,” says Thomas.

“We’re five individual guys who each bring something unique,” says Bobby, exchanging thoughts as easily as they trade vocal parts, with each participating equally in the overall sound.

“We just try to keep it as real as possible,” adds Jayk about the group, who have all relocated to Los Angeles, where they have undergone an intense boot camp regimen that has honed them into a seamless unit. “It’s crazy how well we get along.”

“The group clicked extremely well from the very beginning,” said David.

“We mesh real well, like mashed potatoes,” laughs Drew, who adds their new home “was very nice at first, but now it looks like a rundown frat house.”

“We have a mixture of R&B and hip-hop, but also pop and rock,” says Jayk. “It’s a cool sound that’s fresh and not really out there too much right now… it’s about great beats and great melodies.”

On songs like the aching “Half of You,” Varsity Fanclub’s vocals are almost interchangeable. “The leads get spread pretty evenly because we can all sing,” nods David. “It all depends on whose voice fits naturally, or sounds best while we’re recording. That’s what makes us special when it comes to bands like ours. All five of us contribute to the final product.”

Every member of Varsity Fanclub also takes part in the songwriting process. “Future Love” was initially submitted by the producer/writer Timbaland protégé, Ryan Tedder, and the group took off from there. “Girl Like That” is a song every female in the audience will think is aimed directly at them.

“That’s what it’s all about for us,” says Thomas, the self-acknowledged romantic of the group. “It’s all about relationships, giving full attention to our audience.”

Varsity Fanclub is ready for the big time… a male vocal group who can both dance and sing and write their own material. For Drew, Jayk, Thomas, Bobby and David, it’s all about entertaining their fans.

“That’s the #1 thing for us,” states Jayk. When we step on stage, we don’t want it to come off as just another performance. We want it to seem we’re putting on a show for each and every member of that audience. We’re not just going through the motions. We’re going to entertain you.”

Get ready for Varsity Fanclub. They are more than ready for you.

“We’ve always loved music and we’ve always known we wanted to perform,” says Bobby. “This is what we love to do.”

As for the possibility of fame, Drew says bring it on.

“I don’t even want to be able to go to a mall without getting bombarded,” he insists.

With their debut album, Varsity Fanclub are more than ready for their close-up. They’ve waited their whole lives for this moment.

meet the band
Drew Scott
Jayk Purdy
Thomas Fiss
Bobby Edner
David Brandt

more information
You don’t even have to look it up, it’s been true so many times: When young male bands playing fresh pop music explode, the music and concert industries as a whole do the same. Rolling Stone reports this month that the reunited New Kids on the Block is selling out arena shows in advance of a new album release and there are new groups primed to follow in their footsteps; “New Kids are back and a fresh crop of groups is on the way.”

That quaking noise you hear behind the energetic, romantic and unfailingly sunny sound of Capitol Records vocal quintet VARSITY FANCLUB is the teen underground amassing to write a new chapter of pop, in a tradition that embraces all-time great take-off moments like “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5, “Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees, “Hangin’ Tough” by New Kids on the Block, “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” by the Backstreet Boys, and “Tearin’ Up My Heart” by NSYNC.

VARSITY FANCLUB has already taken a place alongside such established teen stars as Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers on AOL Music’s Kids Pop channel, as well as on the regular Radio Disney playlist, with the suavely melodic preview single “Future Love” having drawn a thumbs-up rating in the network’s “Music Mailbag” pick-it-or-kick-it listener call-in poll. Within 3 weeks of airplay on Radio Disney, the single quickly became the #5 most requested song on the station. “Future Love” is released as a digital single on June 24th. An additional track, “Zero,” a churning electro romp that issues a veiled challenge to all the other young male bands VFC is leading into the pop mainstream, will be released digitally on July 22nd.

Audio and video streams of both songs at VFC’s MySpace.com official site pile up by the thousands daily, adding up to a 3.2 million-plus total since the page’s March 2008 launch. A previously-leaked track, “Complicated Girl,” has already exceeded a million plays alone.

The five young men of VARSITY FANCLUB (Drew Scott, Jayk Purdy, Thomas Fiss, Bobby Edner, David Brandt) survived a vetting process much tougher than even the popular publicly-voted boot camps American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and You’re the One That I Want. The result was a group of five genuine triple-threats as lead vocalists, dancers and actors, every one of them groomed to hit and kill in every studio, concert stage and TV/film endeavor. VFC has taped an upcoming episode of ABC Family Channel’s new series The Middleman airing July 21st, playing themselves and performing their song “Bad Habit.” They will make their first live television appearance on August 8th, on the NBC San Diego affiliate station’s Streetside San Diego.

Crediting as an influence “anyone who has soul,” the song “Future Love,” co-written Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic (“Apologize,” Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love”) and Evan Bogart (Rihanna’s “SOS”), was also a creative inspiration to every member of the group, providing an impetus for all of them to write songs in preparation of their debut album release, scheduled for October 28nd, 2008.

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