What’s the story behind DEAR TIRED FRIENDS?
It had been 9 years since we released our third album - Everything Changes. In the early summer of 2018, I gathered the rest of the band - Bart & Jason - over to my house to listen to a batch of demos - and decide which 4 were the favorites that we could go and record in the studio for an EP. We all ended up choosing the same 4 songs and a month later we were in the studio recording the first two. That first day went so well - working with engineer Josh Rozenboom - that we decided to just go for it and book time to record a whole album. That's how it all came together. A few of the songs, had been around for years. They were either unfinished, or just didn't fit in with any of the other albums. The closing track 'Falling' was one of those. It was originally intended for 2002's Going to the Theatre, but it just wasn't meant to be on that album. Some songs need to mature and evolve and it was just meant to be on Dear Tired Friends. It's an emotional song for me and it was so fulfilling to have it on the new record.
What was the atmosphere in the studio while recording DEAR TIRED FRIENDS?
It was an incredibly positive experience. Unlike Everything Changes where we recorded it in 10 days straight. we did this one in small increments, stretched out over months. I found this to be a really great way to work. It forces you to make quick decisions and get things done quickly in 2-4 hour sessions. When you have all day, you tend to waste a lot of time knowing that you have a lot of time. We also got our friend Mike VanPortfleet from Lycia to play the guitar solo on 'Planet of Me.' What he came up with was so perfect.
How did it work for the artwork design and why the title ?
My pal Jaymz Todd designed the artwork. He also put together the covers for the 2 singles - Wish No Harm & Sliding Under Cars - and the Everything Changes album back in 2009. I sent him a couple of songs when we had finished mixes, and what he came up with fit the mood of the album perfectly. The title Dear Tired Friends comes from the opening track - hardcore Audra fans may also recognize it from somewhere else. The album deals heavily with shedding skin - so to speak. Shedding the past and moving on from tired relationships and situations. It's about closure and slamming some doors shut.
Why the name AUDRA ?
It's a beautiful name that represents a lot to me. I've been in this band for well-over half of my life and we couldn't have chosen a better name for it. Over the years, I've received countless messages from people named Audra and they're always excited to see that there is a band out there that has their name.
What are your personal musical tastes and your influences ?
We began out of the love of the first 3 Jane's Addiction records. My brother Bart, myself and our friend Robert (an original member of Audra) were huge fans. One of the first times we played together in public was a night of all Jane's Addiction covers. That was 1992. It would be great to go back in time and experience that again. The smell of incense, the glow of the Christmas lights and the feeling that anything was possible. The early 90s were a pretty magical time for music. I grew up on Frank Sinatra, U2, The Cure and Joy Division. One of my absolute favorite bands is James - I don't think there is a better group to see live. An artist that one should know - that most don't - is Shelleyan Orphan. One song of theirs transports me right back to 1990/91 and a bottle of Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. Was so sad to hear of the passing of singer Caroline Crawley. Some contemporary artists that I like are Zola Jesus, Hilary Woods, Tamaryn and Desperate Journalist. Music is my favorite subject to discuss, so we could go on and on about this. :)
