Tyson Ritter Interview

Courtesy of Total Assault

Courtesy of Total Assault

Sindy:: Tell me about the new album.

Tyson: It’s called When the World Comes Down and it comes out November 18th. My favourite songs are Fallin’ Apart, Another Heart Calls—which we did as a duet with The Pierces, and I like our single, Gives You Hell.

Sindy:: Are you directing the lyrics of Gives You Hell at someone in particular?

Tyson: Yeah, it’s a dude who will never know it’s about him.

Sindy:: Do most of your lyrics come from real-life experience?

Tyson: Yeah, and I usually turn the victim into a woman ‘cause it’s a lot easier to point the finger at the girls who play with your heart.

Sindy:: Have you had a lot of heartbreak?

Tyson: I’ve had my fair share.

Sindy:: Are you still with Kim (Smith—a model who appeared in the [kwlink 133]*NSYNC Bye Bye Bye video)?

Tyson: Yeah, we’ve been together just over six years now.

Sindy:: Both videos for Give You Hell and Move Along seem like criticisms of suburban life—do you think you’ll ever do the white picket fence thing?

Tyson: I think when I’m ready to ignore the world around me I will. It’s tough to see people living the perfect life when it’s not a perfect world.

Sindy:: What are some of your influences? I read that you like Willy Wonka.

Tyson: I do, I love musicals—Rogers and Hammerstein and I like more of the flamboyant rock and roll like David Bowie, INXS and AC/DC.

Sindy:: What about tattoos, I heard you have a few, right?

Tyson: Everyone in the band got the same tattoo (AAR emblem) but everyone thought we were in a frat, so I changed mine up by adding an electrical outlet that plugs into it. Actually I only got it because I was trying to impress my girlfriend, but it ended up working out ‘cause the guy made it really surreal looking.

Sindy:: How was the tour with Fall Out Boy?

Tyson: It was cool. I’m pretty crafty so I made one of my basses into something beautiful—I put rose petals on it, I just podged em on there. Oh and we had a tour party where Fall Out Boy took us to Chuck E Cheese.

Sindy:: Nice! Did you play with that phone thing?

Tyson: No, but I tried to evoke the spirit of Chuck E Cheese in a séance.

Sindy:: Did he send you any messages?

Tyson: He did, he said “There’s a child underneath the ball pit.” (laughs)

Sindy:: What bands would you love to play with?

Tyson: I think a tour with The Killers would be fun, or My Chemical Romance — we’re pretty tight with those guys.

Sindy:: Do you have a message for your Kidzworld fans?

Tyson: If the world were run by kids, the world would be a beautiful place.

Sindy:: Awesome, thanks Tyson.

Tyson: Thanks a lot.

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