Taking Back Sunday recently released their fourth studio album, New Again. Matt Rubano graciously let Revolt’s Evelyn Miska pelt him with questions surrounding the new album, the band’s adjustment to the departure of Fred Mascherino and more.

Revolt: New Again came out on June 2nd. What are your hopes for the album and do those desires change as you get further along in your career?

MR: For us, New Again is a very important and symbolic record. I feel like we have taken a big step forward in not only developing the sound of the band, but developing as songwriters as well. We became very empowered by the idea that Taking Back Sunday is what we say it is… meaning we will always be trying to redefine what it means to sound like TBS. We are a living thing and we always want to be growing. That’s what is exciting to us- the possibilities of what we can do now, and in the future.

Revolt: What kinds of approaches did you take into recording New Again that really worked well? Is there anything you already plan to do differently on the next album?

MR: Each record we make comes with loads of lessons and seeds for new ideas on how to improve or change the next [record]. We did a lot of rehearsing and preproduction for New Again and while we wanted to try to record as much of it as possible live, it turns out that can be in direct conflict with getting the sounds just right. We were very particular in making sure things were the way we wanted them to be and really tried to treat each song as its own little world.

Revolt: Since the release of Louder Now, Taking Back Sunday has gone through some lineup changes. How has the band adjusted to the departure of Fred Mascherino? Has the addition of Matt Fazzi brought some new ideas to the band?

MR: The symbolism behind New Again is as much musical as it is personal for us. We’ve gone through many changes as a band and as individuals. When Matt Fazzi joined the band, he brought with him fearless inventiveness and an open mind and that really spread to everyone else and became the fuel we were using the make the album. We erased all the boundaries and just stayed focused on writing a great song and making it sound original. New Again was the most fun and organically written and recorded album to-date.

Revolt: You have very extensive touring plans for the summer, including some time in the U.K and Europe. What are your thoughts on touring? Is there any particular place that you are especially looking forward to playing?

MR: TBS has always been a band that spends a lot of time on the road so touring is a very natural environment for us. One thing that is very important to us this time around is to try to get to all of the countries we have not yet visited. I’m anxious to go back to Australia, and go to Sweden, Norway, Finland, South America, Hawaii, and Indonesia all for the first time.

Revolt: The band has announced that there will be some shows in the late summer with Blink-182. How did this partnership come about? What are your thoughts on Blink-182’s “reunion” tour?

MR: We’ve toured with Blink-182 before and have always had a good relationship with the guys. They took us on what was our first tour in really big venues. Tom [DeLonge] also directed the video for “This Photograph Is Proof” so over the years we’ve become close friends… and if you ask Tom, he might even say lovers. We are really looking forward to that tour.

Revolt: What is the best part of being part of Taking Back Sunday at this moment? What is the most difficult aspect?

MR: The best part of being in TBS right now is that playing shows has never been more fun and I don’t think we’ve ever sounded better. This entire tour has been a string of great shows for us. Anberlin and Envy On The Coast are with us too and they are both great bands filled with great people. I don’t usually focus on the difficult aspects, to be honest. A lot of the difficult aspects are no longer a problem. Don’t get me wrong- there are bad days, but nothing that makes playing or being in the band less enjoyable. The highs are high and the lows go by quickly.

Revolt: While most bands want to be known for doing something original, every musician has likely been influenced by another band or artist. Who has been your biggest influence or what band/musician do you most admire?

MR: That, for me, is always the hardest question to answer. I feel like influence is like light going through a prism – kind of like, what goes in comes out on the other side very differently. I listen to so much music and take so many different things from it that while I’m influenced by Miles Davis and Fugazi, it’s not like you’d be able to find where that sits in TBS. These days, I really like what Queens Of The Stone Age is doing, Envy On The Coast, Muse, Mos Def, lots of things… also, I miss Jeff Buckley. I look up to bands and musicians that have taken their careers to the point where they don’t need radio, or MTV, or mainstream support to do what they do. That’s one of my goals for TBS, to exist by ourselves with a direct relationship to our fans.

Revolt: Do you have any thoughts on some of the latest music trends? Is there any particular band or musician whose recent work you’ve gotten excited about? Are there any forthcoming albums you’re particularly psyched to hear?

MR: I think we are approaching a great era where people have heard so many different things, that the possibilities for musicians and songwriters are really endless. Every genre has been crossed with every other genre, people have explored noise, pop, rock, hip hop, everything. I feel like there will be a return to (hopefully) playing instruments and a refocus on the soul behind something, rather than how safe and clean it is or if its “boobs” are hanging out. The one person that I have encountered that I’m very excited about is a guy named Gavin Castleton. For lack of a better description, he is kind of like a young Brian Wilson. He is an incredible composer with a full knowledge of seemingly all music around the world. I like him because he is conceptual without being aloof or boring and his music is just simply awesome. He’s definitely worth checking out.

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