An Interview With The Pop Rock Group NIGHT ARGENT All About Their Recently Released Sophomore EP ‘The Fear’!

Posted On 25 Jul 2017

Tag: All Access, All Access Music Group, Artist Interview, Chase Manhattan, Dreamcatcher, John Feldmann, Night Argent, Outerloop Records, The Fear

On July 14th, the Washington alternative pop rock outfit Night Argent released their highly anticipated sophomore EP, The Fear via Outerloop Records.

The Fear EP was written and produced by Night Argent (Rainmaker Studios), co-written and produced in part by John Feldmann (Neon Trees, Biffy Clyro, 5 Seconds of Summer) and Steven Solomon, and mixed/mastered by Brook Floyd (Rainmaker Studios). The dynamic sophomore release contains 6 infectious tracks that showcase the band’s diverse, powerful, and anthemic sound which will appeal to fans of arena-friendly alternative rock.With this announcement, the band partnered with Paste Magazine to unveil the the EP’s lead single, “Dreamcatcher,” which was co-written by Night Argent and John Feldmann.

On the track and the forthcoming EP, front-man Chase Manhattan states:

“‘Dreamcatcher’ was the first song we knew without a doubt would be on this record. The message behind the song set the tone for everything we recorded from that point on. It definitely echoes the intensity and energy we felt in the studio while working with Feldy and his team. This record is our war cry. It’s a call to the battered, the broken, and the tired, to rise up and set fire to the fear..” – Chase Manhattan

Night Argent’s music combines infectious melodies with the high-energy live performance of an anthemic rock powerhouse. Praised for their energetic songwriting, pop-driven lyrics and multi-layered rock instrumentation, Night Argent have been making waves since the debut of their self-titled EP, released in Spring 2016. Comprised of four talented multi-instrumentalists, Chase Manhattan (lead vocals, guitar), Shane Santanna (keys, guitar, drums), Evan Taylor (bass), and Zac Burrell (drums), Night Argent pulls from a variety of genres to create a dynamic, breakthrough sound.

In 2015 Night Argent won the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands landing them a stint on the Vans Warped Tour and a writing/recording deal with John Feldmann (Blink 182, Panic! At The Disco, 5 Seconds of Summer). The band shortly after penned a management deal with Outerloop Management and released their debut self-titled EP in April 2016, which premiered in partnership with FUSE. This dynamic do-it-yourself band has focused the majority of their time in their hometown studio and performance venue on Argent Road (The Scarlet Room at Rainmaker Studios) creating music that not only bridges the gap between artist and fan, but provides them the musical freedom on stage to give audiences an experience they’ll never forget. Off the stage, Night Argent is best known for their brilliant creativity, as shown in their cinematic self-produced music videos for tracks such as “Nothing More Beautiful,” “Widowmaker,” and their take on a holiday classic, “Cold (Carol of the Bells).” Night Argent has played at festivals such as Warped Tour (2015, 2016), SXSW (2015, 2016) and Gentlemen of the Road (2016), and shared the stage with bands such as Imagine Dragons, Andy Grammar, X Ambassadors, and more.

To Keep Up With Night Argent Online:

Learn more about Night Argent in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Where does this interview find the band today?

We’re in our hometown, Pasco, WA. at our studio and rehearsal space, getting ready for our upcoming EP release!

What are some words you would use to describe 2016 for this band and your music? What were some of the highlights? What has been the most exciting part about this year?

The best words to describe 2016 for us would be growth and evolution. We spent 2016 writing, recording, and growing into our sound, with the end result being our Sophomore EP, The Fear. The highlight would have to be writing and recording with John Feldmann and his team. He’s an incredibly talented songwriter/producer, and it was definitely a new experience for us working with someone with his background. The most exciting part about this year so far has been the release of the two singles off the upcoming record, and the response we’ve been getting from it.

Growing up, did you all always want to be musicians? Can you recall the moment you realized that you could really make music together and be a band? How did you all first meet each other?

We all grew up loving and playing music, but in various different capacities. All four of us grew up in the same home town, and had been in separate music projects prior to Night Argent, but when we started playing and working together, we just clicked, and we realized that each of us looked at this as a career, and not just a hobby. Once we realized that, we knew we had something special. We all met each other one way or another through music, but we had known of each other for a long time prior to creating the band.

How did you come up with your band name? What other names were you considering?

We get asked a lot by fans about the “Argent” in the name Night Argent, and why we chose that for our name, and it goes back to our roots as a band. Our very first rehearsal and recording space was on Argent Rd in our hometown, and we felt it was unique and wanted to incorporate that somehow, the rest just fell into place. We had a list of at least 50 names, but none that I can really remember.

You just released your sophomore EP, “The Fear” via Outerloop Records. What was it like putting this collection together? Did you approach it any different then you did your debut EP?

This EP is the first time we worked with outside producers, and it definitely made the process a bit different for us this time around. We co-produced tracks with some really talented guys, and they brought a unique perspective on our writing and sound that was exciting to play around with.

What was it like working with John Feldmann (Neon Trees, Biffy Clyro, 5 Seconds of Summer)? How did this relationship come about?

It was an eye opening experience for us, especially working with someone at John Feldmann’s level. We were really nervous going into it, but he made us feel right at home, and we went straight into studio mode and started writing. Once we got started it felt like any other session. We all wanted to create something true to who we are as a band, and John helped us do that.

How does your previously released single, “Dreamcatcher” compare to the rest of your EP? I understand that it was the first song you knew would be on your EP, right? Why exactly is that?

It’s definitely the song that has the most “Feldmann” influence on the record, it’s the first song we wrote with him that we said “this one is going on the record.” It’s hard to explain why things hit you in the ways they do, but we all felt very solid about what that song had to say lyrically, and how it could pave the way for the rest of the EP.

Do you have plans to tour a lot this summer in support of “The Fear”? What have been some favorite shows of yours in the past? What do you think makes for a great show for Night Argent?

We’re working with our booking agency AGI on planning out tour dates in support of the release. We all have different favorite shows for different reasons, but the one show we all still agree is in our top 5 is playing with Devil Wears Prada for the Ernie Ball Battle of the bands. The best part about any show for us is the crowd, regardless of the size. If we have an enthusiastic crowd that gives us a chance to connect with them, that’s all we need.

Who are some of your favorite artists? Who would you all to work with in the future? What would be a dream collaboration for this band?

We all have very different tastes in music, from country, rap, electronic, alternative to 90’s pop. We all have our dream artists we’d like to collaborate with in the future, but there are a few producers we’d love a chance to work with. One of the big ones that comes to mind is Brian Eno. He’s sculpted, shaped, and helped create some of the most influential rock records of the past couple decades.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

The message behind this EP as a whole is the idea of overcoming the fear that holds you back from becoming greater than you are. We as individuals on this planet have so much more potential than we know, and a lot of times that potential is never reached due to the fear of failure. The biggest thing we want people to take away from our songs is an emotional connection. We want them to feel something, and be moved in a way that’s memorable.

What advice would you give to someone just getting started on this music path? Or even to someone young that is thinking of becoming a musician one day?

Do it because you love it. If your motivation is money or fame, you’ll always be chasing satisfaction and happiness. If you do it because you need music, and you love the way creating it makes you feel. It wont matter how far it takes you, or how successful you are in other peoples eyes. You’ll be happy just having the opportunity to create something that can move someone you’ve never even met.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

We just encourage anyone and everyone to come join us at a show. We love that we can put our recordings out for everyone to hear, but it’s the connections we make in person at our shows that keeps us moving forward. We love making new friends and meeting new fans, and sharing with them a love for music.

About the Author

Leah Brungardt joined All Access Music Group in August 2011 and has been enjoying getting to know a new side of the music industry ever since. Having worked to promote radio stations in the past, seeing what makes a successful radio hit has been a thrill. As a lover of all genres of music, working at All Access Music Group is a perfect fit for Leah, and she loves learning about up and coming musicians as well. Most of her friends have come to rely on her for new music.

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