Exclusive Interview with HelloGoodbye’s Forrest Kline
by Michelle Oberg
RUKUS MAGAZINE: What is the origin of HelloGoodbye? Because I immediately think of The Beatles.
FORREST KLINE: [laughs] Yeah, but it wasn’t a specific reference. It’s more abstract about how things that are constantly coming and going. But yes, The Beatles reference is there.
RM: Congrats on the release of the album Would It Kill You and it making its way to #12 of the Billboard Alt rock charts. How long did it take for you to complete the record?
FK: It was a funny process. We came out of our last record and had a situation with our record label and we got stuck in a legal battle for two years. We were touring between then but couldn’t put anything out. So for two or three years we were stuck but during that time I was writing and demo-ing at the studio. Just about a year before the record came out we finally broke free from that record label. Overall, it was a creative process but it wasn’t ready until now.
RM: What’s your favorite track on the record?
FK: Honestly, it’s really hard for me to say. I like to just create new things and let them stew but I’m really happy with everything. Some songs come together easier than others but others are more difficult. I really just like the entire album as a whole.
RM: You left Drive Thru Records and created your own label Wasted Summer. What sparked your interest in starting your own label?
FK: It just seemed to make sense. We had come so far in the process of recording, mixing, mashing, touring, selling our own merch, so it was the best decision to take control of our work. We can pretty much do whatever we want now. We don’t have to worry about anything.
RM: You just finished touring in November and now you’re starting a full US tour again in January. What’s the hardest part about touring months on end?
FK: It’s hard just being away from home. I like home and I like hanging out. I just got married and I like that a lot. Its tough not having control over your schedule and not being able to do what you want at any given moment. More than half the time there’s nothing to do but you’re stuck in situations. Once you accept that that’s the way it is it can be really enjoyable.
RM: Being a newlywed, is it hard to maintain a relationship as a musician and constantly being away?
FK: No, it’s pretty easy. I mean, I don’t do anything weird [laughs] and she’s known me for 6 years and through that whole time I’ve been touring, so she’s pretty used to it.
RM: Do you have any surprises in store for the tour?
FK: We’ve been practicing for a couple weeks now and we haven’t been touring on this record specifically yet, so we’ve been rehearsing a lot of the new songs but we will be playing old songs too. Some songs we have planned to do have never been played live before. It’s really exciting. We have a few little tricks up our sleeve.
RM: Do you have a strict set list that you follow?
FK: No. I mean, this one is especially tough because we wrote a list in order but once we started rehearsing we realized we had like 16 songs and we can’t play for that long; it’s just too much. Sets aren’t meant to be that long. So there are a lot of songs that we want to play but there are so many.
RM: When you are playing shows and you have your set list, does it ever get redundant or boring for you guys?
FK: There’s a lot of solidity to our show. It’s different every night; it’s a completely different experience. It’s never boring.
RM: What’s your most memorable on-road experience?
FK: That’s tough. I don’t know, we’ve had some good karaoke nights in North Carolina.
We have some bad ones too. There’s just magical moments you can’t ever capture again so they’re all memorable in their own way.
RM: Do you have any crazy fan stories?
FK: People ask that a lot and I don’t really. But I also wouldn’t want to brag about it either because it’s more creepy than anything. Most kids are pretty cool.
RM: You started the band in 2001; you are also the longest remaining member. Are you happy with your current status with Mike, Travis, Joe and Andrew?
FK: Oh yeah! Obviously I was able to pick everyone I wanted, so it was perfect.
RM: How did you guys get hooked up together?
FK: I kind of already knew everybody. I met Travis in school, Andy is from England and he sold merch for us at Warped Tour, Joe I met on Warped Tour as well who was in another band called Thursday and we were on the same record label, and Mike was in a bunch of local bands that I’d go and see so we’ve known each other for a couple years.
RM: Mike is your newest member, was he involved in your songwriting process for Would It Kill You?
FK: No, he came in just after that.
RM: How long does your songwriting process usually take?
FK: It’s so different how long it could take. Especially since for so long we weren’t able to do anything and then we didn’t want to do anything. But I can work on a song and get most of a song done in a couple days, then let it sit and come back to it in a month and start changing things with re-writes and then I can go back 6 months later. Some are just always a work in progress. On the other hand, some songs are start to finish in a day.
RM: What was the 1st record you bought with your own money?
FK: Weezer “Blue” on cassette. I think was 10 or 12. It was the budget way to go buying cassettes.
RM: You’ve come along way from playing high school. Do people ever hit you up trying to act like your old friends?
FK: A couple times but I think it’s no more than what anyone gets from Facebook. I get the message like “Hey” and I always have the same reaction of, “Wow, I did not ever even speak to you in school, we have nothing to catch up on we were never even friends.”
RM: Do you have any advice for new bands?
FK: No, not really. I never had any advice from anyone. I don’t even know what I’m doing. I think people over think things and they want advice. I think bands should do what they like and if other people like it too, then go from there.
RM: Do you have any stage rituals before performing?
FK: No, but we have to think of some because people always want to know. I would say that I do always make sure I pee, and if you poop, I mean, that’s really next level. I feel great if I poop before, that means were going to have an A+ show. You feel like a million bucks.
RM: Do you drink on stage?
FK: I’ve drank a glass of wine on stage because on Halloween I was dressed up like a lady. So it was classy.
RM: How old were you when you starting playing guitar and ukulele?
FK: I started playing ukulele when I was 25 but I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was 12.
RM: Was ukulele easy to pick up from playing guitar for so many years?
FK: Pretty much. The formation of fingers – and a ukulele is basically just a smaller guitar.
RM: What are rehearsals generally like for the band? Do you have a standard practice schedule?
FK: Usually noon to five – keep it simple. We just kind of go in, play for a couple hours, take a break for lunch, and play for a couple more hours. We don’t play everyday though. We practice a lot more before going on tour.
RM: After you’re done with this tour, what’s your next plan?
FK: We are going overseas later this year and doing Warped Tour. We only did Warped Tour once before but this time we are doing 2 weeks. We aren’t really a Warped Tour band, but we have a ton of fun doing it.
RM: What market are you doing on The Warped Tour?
FK: We’re doing the first two weeks, which is Cali up to Texas and stuff. Like
mid-west, west coast.
RM: Sounds like a great year! Thanks so much for catching up with me and we wish you the best of luck on your tour.
FK: Thank you!