INTERVIEW: Vinnie Caruana of The Movielife (October 23, 2001)
When was the first time you picked up a musical instrument and realized that’s what you want to do with the rest of your life?
It wasn’t when I picked up a musical instrument. It was when I saw a band, ‘Sick of it All’, I just saw how much fun they were having on stage. This was I guess in 1994, and I just wanted people to sing my words, and I wanted people to watch my band, I wanted to make people smile, you know what I mean? So, I wanted to be a singer. But, I never really followed up on it until one day I said, "it’s about time I do it".
So how did you meet the band members, and get everything together?
I just heard that Alex and Evan wanted to do a band. I went down there and I was like "uhhh.. I’ll be a singer" and they asked if I ever sung and I was like "no". You know how you sing to your CD’s in your car and stuff? Well, I mean, I sucked. But we started in like 1996, and we got rid of the members that were kind of holding us down as far as music is going. We sucked for a little while, but then we got good like 2 years ago. Then we got Brandon who is an amazing guitar player, and Phil who is an awesome bass player. Now we’re confident, and we feel like we’re ready to go tour the world and play for people.
Movielife is a band straight from New York. Did New York and it’s environment effect the music you guys make? Explain.
Totally. I grew up in the hardcore New York scene - going to shows, you know? We’re totally not a hardcore band, but that’s where my roots are, because that was my surroundings. I was also listening to west coast pop punk at the same time. I was open-minded as far as music went, I wasn’t just listening to hardcore. But, um, yeah New York definitely... The Movielife isn’t your average band that sounds like this band, or sounds like that band. We definitely have flavor and if you pay close attention you can hear the thing going on. The east coast bands that play music and have their little east coast thing... We have the New York flavor.
How did Drive-Thru discover The Movielife?
Basically, New Found Glory loved us. They were like "You got to sign these guys. You got to sign these guys. You got to sign these guys." And Midtown, good friends of ours, they were all like "Movielife! Movielife!" Once Drive-Thru heard us, they were like "Oh my God" - so, it took awhile but we finally got signed.
"Movielife has a Gambling Problem EP" - Who came up with the title name, and how did you choose which 5 songs would be on the EP?
Movielife has a Gambling Problem is a true story. Movielife gambles a lot, and I specifically gamble a lot. I usually go to Fox woods or when we’re on tour in Vegas - all over the place. I mean, back to the 5 songs.. we wanted to make a great record. We wanted to put out an EP that told kids what was going to happen when we put our full-length album out.
When does the full-length album come out?
The full-length album will come out late spring 2002. The EP is out already.
How did the Good Charlotte/Mest tour come about?
Good Charlotte dug the Movielife, and Mest are like best friends with Good Charlotte. So, that’s it. I mean, actually, I think the way it came about was Good Charlotte liked us, and they did a thing on their website where they asked kids who they thought should tour with them. A lot of kids voted for us, so that gave them an idea.
Out of all the bands you toured with in the past year, which band would you say is the most inspirational?
I couldn’t pick one band, I really couldn’t. We toured with New Found Glory, and that’s a band that I look up to, and that I think did it the right way. They worked really hard, they toured just like we did for a long time until they got noticed. It’s not like they just popped out of nowhere. I think that’s the way to do it. Those guys are not going to disappear, because they have loyal fans and that’s pretty much the same path we’re following. We can go have a hit single on the radio, and we can get new fans that think, "Wow this band is cool" but then go away, as the life-long fan will love you because of the constant touring you do. Do you still keep in touch with them?
The Fans - How have they helped Movielife?
Movielife fans are open-minded people. We’re not your average pop-punk band. Movielife fans are open minded, because we are not like open bands who we tour with. No one is really the same. Movielife fans just want to come up and have fun. It’s all just fun.
Out of all the things you can wish for, what’s the one thing you wish to succeed in the future?
I want to play music forever. I don’t want to go to school. I don’t want to go to college no more. I went to college for two years and SUNY Farmingdale. I don’t want to go to college because it sucks. It’s not because I don’t believe in education. I think education is good. College is awesome; it’s just not for me. My dream is to do this forever.
What would you like to say to fellow kids about dreams and expectations?
As far as dreams. For me, my dream was to have fun, play in a band, jump around, have a good time and make a difference. My goal was to have fun and to just have fun with the crowed and have kids dig the band, and that’s already happened, so everything else is a bonus. This isn’t a freakin’ hard to attain dream, just work hard you just need to persevere. A lot of bad things happened to our band, there’s been a lot of draw backs, but we devoted our entire lives to it, and that’s what you should do.
And last but not least.. In 3 words only, tell people why they should go out and support Movielife?
Fun, sweat - sweat just because I am looking at CBGB’s right now and picturing myself sweating disgustingly tonight because it’s going to be packed. And, yeah fun, sweat, and good music. But put good-music together and make it one word.
