Author: Jessica Mahn
Date: 2009-07-06


Interview:
We had a chance to chat with Nathan Leone of Madina Lake about the band, the music, and what he likes to do in his down time. Here's what he had to say!

How did Madina Lake get formed?

Nathan: We basically came from two different Chicago bands that shared a manager. Neither of us were super happy with our respective bands and we became quick friends. After a few months of partying and bonding we realized that we had what each other were lacking so we scrapped the bands, the manager and we got straight to work.

What three words would you use to describe your music?

Nathan: Honest, passionate, unapologetic

How have you guys grown musically since you started as a band?

Nathan: Between the four of us, we are fans of every different kind of music from rock, metal, industrial, reggae, dance, punk, rap, hip hip etc. So as we've played together, we've become less afraid to write from every one of those influences without really caring about what's popular, trendy or anything else. I think once you tune out all the noise you can truly create something new and honest. Our latest record has metal songs next to industrial dance songs to pop songs.

Where did you get the idea for a three album story arc, and the story that the albums tell?

Nathan: When we first starting hanging out, we all shared a disdain for pop culture and mainstream. Growing up with bands like Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, NIN lead us to believe that there was so much more to bands than haircuts, clothes and trends. So we wanted to be as creative as possible and define who we are through not only music but through creating a backdrop to represent the things we believe and have experienced. Music has always been an escape for me and creating a mystical world behind the band just seemed like a cool way to bring that to life.

Which song is the most meaningful or most personal to you? Why?
Nathan: "Criminals"...it's a perspective of the societal decay and/or criminal element of the world today. It questions which came first.. does a society create a criminal or does the criminal define a society. I think with a lot of the problems people have to deal with today there is a very thin line between moral righteousness and survival.