All Time Low Gets Down and Dirty

Talking with All Time Low lead singer/guitarist Alex Gaskarth about the band's latest album, Dirty Work.

Never ones to shy away from hard work, the guys of All Time Low have released four studio albums since forming eight years ago and have developed a reputation for having an exhausting touring schedule – and they show absolutely no signs of slowing down. Just a few days before All Time Low hit the road for another tour, Youthink caught up with lead singer/guitarist Alex Gaskarth (pictured left centre) to talk about the band’s latest album, Dirty Work, the best advice he’s ever received about the music biz and what it was like to write with Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo.

YT: Were you ever afraid that your band’s hectic touring schedule would affect the album negatively?

AG: Yeah, there were times when we’ve bitten off more than we can chew… when we were still working on the record and still finishing up songs but we had a tour looming a week later, or two weeks later. It was frustrating honestly, but we got through it and at the end of the day you can always take more time to make a record. You stress about putting it out when you want to put it out, but at the same time until you’re happy with the product you can always put it off. It’s more important to make sure that it’s great.


YT: You co-wrote with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer on the track I Feel Like Dancin’. How was that experience?

AG: It was very cool to work with Rivers… the co-writes are kind of cool for me because I am such a heavy-handed writer. The word “co-write” in our case is not what a lot of people sometimes think it is; I’m by no means having anything handed to me. I’m such an involved writer, I have to be part of the process, and a big part of the process, or I just don’t feel like it’s mine. [Co-writing] is really a way for me to kind of sit down and [tap into] the brain of someone who’s done it a lot longer than me and had more success with it.


YT: So how did it feel to wear latex body suits and high heels in the I Feel Like Dancin’ music video?

AG: I’ll be honest with you: it was pretty awkward and strange… it was kind of painful. You don’t realize quite what it takes to wear stuff like that. I have to give major props to Lady Gaga for being able to do that.


YT: Has music ever played a role in overcoming difficult experiences in your life?

AG: Absolutely, music’s always been a huge guide for me. I think I have a soundtrack for every chapter of my life. My favourite bands have always gotten me through tough times and they’ve always been the background music to all the good times as well. For every song of your favourite band, there’s a moment in your memory that you can relate it to. I think that’s kind of the cool thing about music.


YT: What’s the best advice you’ve received as an artist?

AG: Enjoy it while you can. I think the same goes for life in general, but a musician’s career is a roller coaster and we never know where we’re going to end up, what turns we’re going to take necessarily, so I think one of the major things is to just enjoy it.


YT: What words of wisdom would you give to aspiring high-school bands?

AG: Work hard, dedicate yourself to it. You can’t half-a** this thing, you really can’t, and then beyond that, I would say make as many connections as you can, use the Internet to your advantage. That’s something that was a big part of what helped us out – reaching out to other bands that were in the same boat as we were and creating shows and just making friends because it’s crazy how fast the word spreads once you start doing that.


YT: Is there an ultimate goal for All Time Low, or is it more about the journey?

AG: I think there is an ultimate goal, but there’s no definite way to get there so the journey is a really important part. But I think the ultimate goal is to just become the biggest band that we can possibly be. Our mission has always been to get our music out there to as many people as we can and to become one of those staples I guess for an era, for a generation, whatever it may be. We definitely want to leave a mark.