I got a chance to sit down with Dave VerLee from the band Corporeal (of Halo cover fame)and talk about everything from the bands latest album to the current state of video games. We did this using a futuristic technology called AIM... maybe you've heard of it?
I again just want to say thanks to Dave for his time... Ok, here you go:
Eight: So if you will please state your name for the court we will begin the interrogation...er... interview.
Dave: Dave VerLee
Eight: ok, well i just wanted to say wow... I know a lot of people have seen the two Halo theme videos on YouTube and I’m really REALLY impressed.
Eight: you guys have a lot of talent.
Dave: thank you
Eight: so, first you're going to have to kind of explain the story behind the live performance. I had originally read that it was a High School talent show.. but thats not really the case is it?
Dave: No, it was a high school talent show. It just wasn't a competition. Libertyville High School calls it "Collage" because it is a collaboration of the different varieties of talent at our school. The story behind our performance is this: I got my Rolannd GR-33 guitar synth for Christmas our senior year, and playing around with it I found some pretty cool sounds. I am not really a halo fan, but our bassist, Robb Leu, is. We're in a lot of classes together, and eventually we came up with the idea of covering the halo theme. I arranged our piece by, including the Mario bit, and distributed the music to the band plus Hanah and the three blue sophomores. after a couple practices we performed and it was awesome!
Eight: it was most certainly awesome.
Eight: So where along the line did you think "what we need is a violin"?
Dave: Hanah was in my music theory class, and I've known her most of my life. When I think about the theme, I just think "violin solo". So all the puzzle pieces just kinda fit together.
Eight: was she actually in Corporeal at the time though? or has she just become part of the band since then?
Dave: Well, after a few practices, she impressed us so much and she made practices that much more fun, we just had to keep her in. We'll be tuning, and then we'll ask her just to double check (cuz she has perfect pitch). Or I'll give her some music that goes along with one of our old songs and she'll sight read a 32nd note run the first time through perfectly...we'll just stare at each other...
Dave: it's funny
Dave: and she loves rock
Dave: so everything works
Eight: well that’s good. You don't see too many violins in rock bands.
Eight: My sister has perfect pitch... its pretty frightening sometimes.
Dave: I know right?
Eight: So, I've probably listened to your rendition of the Halo theme a hundred times... how long did it take you to break down the parts? or were you able to get music through the power of the internet?
Dave: I did it all by ear...
Dave: It took me maybe a few weeks on and off to get all the parts. The hardest part was just the violin solo, everything else was pretty basic.
Eight: you musicians fascinate me... I'm pretty much tone deaf and you broke that down by ear.
Dave: It's okay, Robb is tone deaf and we love him for it
Eight: haha, well that’s good.
Eight: so, It was Robb's idea to do the Halo theme, as you said... does that mean he is the gamer of the bunch or do you guys get together for some multiplayer from time to time?
Dave: Robb has been giving me halo lessons. If I were to call myself a gamer, my platform would be playstation (sorry). I don't own an xbox yet, but maybe soon. I don't remember who's idea it was, but the decission was unanimous. Dave Bedell and Marty Gierczyk are also Halo players. Hanah is in the same boat as I am.
Eight: i c. Well and unanimous decision among band members is always good.
Dave: I've heard Hanah's dad is a great halo player
Eight: you could take lessons from him then...
Dave: I could
Dave: hmmm
Eight: Do you guys plan on paying tribute to other classic or contemporary games in the future? Because you kicked ass and I'd love to hear your rendition of the Zelda theme... I'm just saying...
Dave: ...I'd have to hear the music, and nintendo was never my thing (maybe a wii in the near future?). But I would rather stick to our original music. There is talk about a "Pirates of the Carribean" cover. I think to cover more video game music would be a little redundant, and that isn't what we're going for. the Halo theme fits us because it is very epic and gives room for progressive elements. Other themes may too, but like I said, we want to focus on our music. Our CD is aimed to have a release date this summer, so we'll probably release another video to stir up interest again ;P
Eight: Another video will surly do that. you seem to have caught the attention of a lot of people.
Eight: you mentioned the Wii... have you been able to play one yet?
Dave: not yet...
Dave: but Zelda looks sweet
Eight: well that’s the truth... I don’t have one yet either... but i've played it and the idea of it gets me really excited.
Eight: So this being a "console war" year... what do you think of the three systems?
Dave: ooo
Dave: Microsoft has nothing to worry about because Halo is arguably one of the biggest games of all time. The Wii just looks fun to play, but it's hard to gauge whether the controller is a revolutionary way of gaming, or a fad that will pass. I was disappointed with the PS3 in a few areas, but I think it will prove to be the most powerful console. If the game developers put enough effort into their latter games, it could be really really cool. They MUST bring back the shock controllers, though. I'm excited to see what they can do with the blue-ray discs, and I hope they use it to their advantage. I would have a tough time choosing a system, so I'd probably wait a few years to see what is still going strong. They have to stand the test of time...
Eight: ah, you're patient... something i am not.
Dave: ha
Eight: so, then are you more of a graphics guy or a game play guy?
Dave: hmm...probably a compromise. game play is important
(if you've ever played circuit breakers), but graphics (and audio) can have a huge impact on the gameplay.
Eight: fair enough.
Eight: it seems a lot of people really over look audio. Like getting a huge screen TV but not getting speakers and using the tiny ones that are built in.
Dave: yeah. I like using headphones for the "total emersion"
Eight: i c... i haven’t used headphones. But the TV i just got has a headphone port... worth considering
Dave: definitely
Eight: I know favorites can change all the time, my favorite movie changes depending on what mod i'm in... so what is your favorite game currently?
Dave: hm...lately I've fallen away from gaming. I used to enjoy tons of stuff. (remember, playstation) tony hawk, crash bandicoot, circuit breakers, the grinch, twisted metal, metal gear solid. Currently, I've moved to PC games, and I've discovered half-life 2. oh, and I plan on getting halo for my pc to get me up to speed.
Eight: Do you think you have fallen away from gaming because games have gotten to difficult and kind of lost the fun they once had.
Dave: Music has taken over more of my free time.
Dave: and college stuff
Eight: pshhh, college... don't you realize school is a waste , you just need to crank out mor videos and get an album out!
Eight: Ok maybe you shouldn’t listen to that piece of advice
Dave: I won't, don’t' worry
Dave: but college is a waist of time
Eight: are you going to school for rock? cause you should just show the video and get a diploma.
Dave: U of Illinois? maybe they have a program.
Dave: Actually, I was asked to teach at a music dealer this summer.
Dave: I will be Jack black
Eight: haha, there are certainly worse people you could have chosen to be.
Dave: awww (I love JB...and KG)
Eight: On Eight Bit Childhood i have talked about creating a game called Santa Takes Manhattan for online distribution... i have NO programming skills, and don’t even know were to start, BUT in the unlikely event that this game somehow gets started (let alone completed) will Corporeal do the music?
Dave: of course
Eight: that’s the answer i wanted to hear.
Dave: an it will rock
Dave: awesomely
Eight: fantastic.
Eight: we'll i've got nothing else for this interview... would you like to let people know your bands site and or give shout outs to anyone?
Dave: sure...
Eight: or is there anything that you want to talk about that’s bothering you in the video game world?
Eight: we can keep going...
Dave: yeah...
Dave: what's the deal with all first person shooters having the same set up?
Eight: as far as... controls? or level design?
Dave: tons of stuff:
Dave: If you wanted to be more realistic, the view they choose would be wider, if you look down you'd see feet, and it's always so smooth when they run.
Dave: there's always radar, health, and ammo
Eight: ah
Dave: and somehow the guy can carry tons of guns and break 'em out any time he wants
Eight: ah, like in Doom.
Dave: I think I want one game that is as real as possible
Dave: one shot kills all the way through
Eight: have you played any of the Tom Clancy games? like Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
Dave: unless there is armor
Dave: I have not, should I?
Eight: they are pretty realistic
Dave: sweet
Eight: and its not just a one man vs all type thing... you have your 4 man team, and you get support when you need it.
Dave: I checked out some videos of "call of duty" for the PS3 and I was a little disappointed. You'd think someone would try to change something, but it looked like the same old fps with better graphics. Maybe I'm just frustrated with the PS3's release...
Eight: no no, that’s an EA problem... they just crank out the same games every year and add another number to the end.
Dave: I see
Eight: Yeah, i got Call of Duty 2 when i got my 360 in February or March, and it was awesome... and now a year later COD3 comes out... and its not much different.
Dave: Thanks for interviewing me. I'll give a shout out to my band mates: Hanah, Dave, Robb, and Marty...you guys rock. and I'll advertise our 3 MySpace pages: myspace.com/corporealmusic, corporealmusic1, and corporealmusic2, and I'd tell you our new website address, but it's under construction. Thanks again, though, for your time and interest
Eight: thank you for your time, i hope to speak with you again some time.
Dave: bye, have a good '07
Eight: you too.
[Return To Eight Bit Childhood]
