BlissfulViolet of Beyond The Dark Horizon recently conducted an interview with DREAM THEATER vocalist James LaBrie. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: Is there been a certain process or routine that DREAM THEATER follows to prepare before a tour? How do you prepare vocally to keep your voice in tact?
James LaBrie: Everyone has their own way of preparing for tours and shows aside from rehearsal. I jog every day, take a lot of vitamins get plenty of sleep. I warm up before the show and cool down after. I drink a lot of liquids, don't drink or smoke. All these things help me keep my voice in top shape.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: And what's amazing is the fact that you have been singing since childhood.
James LaBrie: My family always found a way to get me involved with music. I was listening to music since the age of three and singing since the age of five-that's for sure. According to my parents, I would always sit next to a radio and one day just started singing the lyrics to the songs that I knew. I remember putting on albums and I mean "albums," LPs [laughs] and singing songs because I loved it. I fell in love with it from the very beginning.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: What was it like growing up in Canada and coming from a family with a great musical background?
James LaBrie: My father used to sing and dance at a small local theater, my mother played piano, she still does, a little guitar as well. Her whole family and sisters would all sing. But my dad also sang in barbershop quartet, was in the church choir, so he'd even bring me there to sing with him. He also brought me along to the barbershop quartets, which were pretty cool because you were really able to focus on the sound of your voice compared to others, and really get a good feel from where you're coming from as a vocalist.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: Are your children musically inclined as well?
James LaBrie: Absolutely. My son plays guitar and my daughter sings and studies; she's doing fantastic and has a lovely voice. They're both extremely involved with music and listen to it all the time — whether they're in their bedrooms or walking around with an iPod, music is a huge part of their lives.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: DREAM THEATER has always been a band that never repeats itself. Where does your latest release, "Black Clouds and Silver Linings", take you?
Jame LaBrie: With that being said, we always want to challenge ourselves and strive to take us in a direction that's expressing ourselves musically but differently. I think with this album, it was really cool because it was kind of like a toss back with some of our musical roots. There are songs on there that sound like they might be from the "A Change of Seasons" and the "Awake" era. Even off the "Scenes of a Memory" with the song, "The Count of Tuscany". I think it was a really cool, very contemporary sounding album but still remaining true and maintaining our identity.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: Aside from DREAM THEATER, you recently announced the release of your new solo album, any details on that?
James LaBrie: It's going to be called "Static Pulse" and there will be 12 songs, on the album. It's very heavy and I'm really excited. I don't want to say too much about it at this point but were in the mixing stages and all the artwork is being done. It's a great band and we have fantastic players. It should be out by mid/late September.
Beyond the Dark Horizon: Do you plan to tour in support?
James LaBrie: I'm planning on touring in support but not too much since I'm always touring with DREAM THEATER. I would like everyone to know that this is a band, a unit and everyone involved is very passionate and serious about this and I think it would be exceptionally cool to get out on the road and do stuff on our own, but at the same time it would be a great idea to open up for a bigger band. We would basically do an in-your-face balls-to-the-wall-and-see-you-later deal.
Beyond The Dark Horizon: Being DREAM THEATER's frontman for 20 years, at the end of the day, what does the band and your work as a vocalist mean to you?
James LaBrie: It's kind of weird. You wake up, speak to people like I'm speaking to you and realize that it's the very thing that has given me the life that I have and it's who I am. It's bizarre in a way. You do fall into a groove and it's like anything that you've done for awhile — it just becomes the norm. But every now and then, I am jarred by the whole situation; I'm like, "Hey, I sing for a living. I'm doing want many people dream of doing, I'm living it." I think it really hits you when you go out on tour and perform before thousands of people. The energy and receptiveness of the crowd makes you realize what you do for people, it's just incredible and I'm much honored to be part of something that I always aspired to be.
