A punk Californian surfer who made a living out of writing dreamy pop songs for struggling artists is a great story for the grandkids. Add in triple and double platinum singles in The US and Canada and front man Aaron Bruno has himself a nice little story.
The story began in California, where Bruno lived and rode the waves in Los Angeles. “If the music went away, I would just be a bum at the beach surfing,” he beams, “besides music and surfing are the only things I have truly cared about in my life.”
Thankfully for AWOLNATION fans, Bruno found it easy to get signed back in 2001 and today surfing is purely a hobby. A regular on the punk / heavy scene back in the day, he speaks of his earliest memories in music: “When we first started writing songs with melody it was pretty easy to get a record deal in. This was at the time of Linkin Park. It really was pretty easy.
“I have my manager to thank for where I am today. He signed my first band, he got fired, we got dropped, then we went to another label and changed our band name and he managed us through that, then we got dropped and the band broke up and then I didn’t know what the fuck I was going to do with my life.
“I never thought that anything like double and triple platinum would ever happen. Right now we are just trying to get to that situation in the UK. Ever since I was a kid all I ever wanted was to sell 100,000 records because then you could have a decent tour. When I made the record I thought we would get to play for 100 kids maybe, and that would be great.
“Being in punk rock bands, I have been bleeding and sweating to get to this position. That struggle certainly makes it a more humbling experience.
“I just feel like I have a really good grasp on the success. I don’t take it for granted. It gives me a heavy feeling of responsibility when people pay to come and see us. We play massive festivals, then in front of thousands of people then maybe just hundreds. It doesn’t matter how many people are in the crowd.
“We think of how we felt when we were kids and we jammed and how good that felt and we try transfer that on stage.”
AWOLNATION’s success was almost immediate. Track Sail was made for “fun” and it quite literally blew up on the radio: “Stubbs in Austin Texas really stands out for us. It was our first show after our single took off. I was told the song was blowing up on the radio but I had no idea it would be so busy.
“They had to turn away hundreds of kids. When we played everyone knew every word and it was way beyond my wildest dreams. It ended up happening everywhere else too.”
Going against the grain of major record labels, the band are signed to Red Bull Records- and a strong Glasgow connection exists between the two with Twin Atlantic also signed to the label.
Bruno’s relationship with major labels in his past-band-experience has made this a flowery ride: “I couldn’t be on a major label again. They will pretty much support whatever it takes to spread the music to as many ears as possible.
“I have been part of two major labels before, and for some reason the songs maybe weren’t good enough. I think going through all the different struggles and ups and downs provided me with great life experience.”
The gem that exists within AWOLNATION can only be identified as maturity. Bruno has been there and done it and his “I don’t care what people think” attitude has really helped capture the audience. “I have learned so much from all the different bands I was in and playing across all the different genres really has helped.
“I don’t consider this to be any sort of genre at all. I am what I am and you can take it or leave it. I didn’t think anyone would hear it so I didn’t care about what anyone thought.”
With his ambiguous approach to music and life in general, Bruno doesn’t care much for material things, or negativity for that matter. Living the musical dream with cross-atlantic success, the band have sort of fell into a perfect situation with a strong following and appreciation of their “made for fun” music.
AWOLNATION are on tour early 2013, but with a welcomed two-and-a-half week break back home in March Bruno plans to dedicate some serious studio time for his growing ideas blossoming on tour: “I have a load of songs 50% done, then some ideas 50% complete and tonnes more just floating around. I never stop writing.”
Looking all around him for inspiration, Bruno is as passionate about artist Rodriguez as he is about his own music. “Rodriguez’ Cold Fact is mind-blowing. There’s a wonderful documentary called Searching For Sugar Man. He’s like an undiscovered Dylan- but better.
“One of my most favourite lyrics is on this record. I have said it in fucking fifty interviews so I better get to meet him, man. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with picking just one lyric,” he pauses.
“Yeah so maybe it’s ‘Don’t bother to buy insurance because you’ve already died.”
We leave it there.
Words: Nadine Walker
