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Interview and Photos by Tonja Merryweather

Late Night Alumni (Becky Jean Williams, Finn Bjarnson, John Hancock and Ryan Raddon) attracted a lot of attention with the 2005 dance classic, Empty Streets. With their atmospheric and immaculately-crafted style, and with the angelic crooning from front- woman, Becky Jean Williams, the buzz quickly spread, resulting in a strong underground following. Empty Streets soon became a mainstay in clubs and on radios around the world.

It’s been four years since Late Night Alumni’s last album, and I had a few questions for the elusive band. I caught up with them in Park City, Utah to discuss everything from their favorite fan mail to their upcoming album, Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc., and then, to party at a Kaskade show that night.

I made my way to Park City as the sun was setting and met up with the band. I quickly noticed one member of the band was missing… Ryan.

Where’s Ryan?

John: He’s a Superstar DJ who doesn’t own a watch (laughing).

Finn: Flight delay. He’ll catch up with us later.

Three out of four had to do for the moment. We decided to walk up the historic Park City Main Street to our dinner reservation at 350 Main. I took the opportunity to ask a few questions…

Four years since your last album… what happened?

Becky: I wish there was a good story… Nothing exciting, except for Ryan becoming a huge success with Kaskade, Finn’s chronic illnesses, my love life, and John’s obsession with keeping his pool clean.

How are your new songs and album different from your previous work?

Becky: I wrote more of the lyrics.

John: It’s definitely more collaborative. What we all do overlaps in a way. All of us have added to the melodies, the singing, the lyrics, and especially to the chord changes.

Finn: I think what John is saying is that “Finn” didn’t write all the songs this time… (laughing).

Tell me about the songwriting process for you guys…

Finn: So, I’m sitting in the studio with Ryan. Ryan’s on the phone, and I’m strumming away on the guitar. Ryan gets off the phone and says, “What is that? I like that.” We start stumbling through some chords. He says, “Cool. Let’s record it.” And then we have a little back and forth creating a melody. The next day, I play with it a little bit more and maybe write a few lyrics or something, and then I send it to Becky. Becky messes with it for a day or so and then sends it back to me with completely different lyrics - better lyrics. Next, she comes down to the studio and records the vocal, after which I send it to John. At this point, it’s still a complete skeleton; the sky’s the limit.John goes to town on it. He puts in strings, keyboards, weird stuff, and then he sends it back to me.I send it to Ryan. He adds some clicky sounds and drums, or some keys, and maybe flips the arrangement. He sends it back to me. I add some final touches to it. So far, it’s been in three different studios, and we were never in the same room all together.

John: That’s generally how it happens. One of us starts an idea, and we pass it around and see were it leads us.

Tell me about the lyrics…

Becky: A lot of the lyrics, I think, have a hopeful sound to them. Yea, there’s some angst and frustration to them, but there’s also an element of hope in the songs - things are bad, but they’ll be better.

Like What’s in a Name - that one is basically about how every experience you have with another person is shaping your life and how, even though it didn’t work out or it wasn’t right, you benefit in some way - even if it was a negative experience. In the end of the song, it says, “If I could have seen to this end, I’d do it all over again.” So it’s kind of like, even though it ended badly or didn’t end the way either of us would have hoped, I still wouldn’t have changed the fact that I experienced it.

Small Things draws an analogy between falling leaves and cycles in life, and suggests that when the leaves change color, die, and fall, it’s a beautiful thing. So, too, with our own changes and challenges – they can be painfully difficult, but in the end it’s all good, beautiful, and part of the cycle.

The title song, Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc. almost makes me laugh when I hear it. That song sounds so like a 70’s love song. It’s that whole twitter-pated stage.

Finn: Becky did an amazing job on this album - she really did. On the song, Golden, she took this little melody and simple lyric I wrote and expounded on it in such a beautiful way that when I heard it, it literally brought tears to my eyes. Writing songs is about seeing something in your head or feeling something in your heart and learning how to express that - being able to display it so others can understand it and participate in it. So when someone hears the song, they can say, “I know that feeling,” or “I know this place.”

We arrived at the restaurant and sat down to eat and continued talking.

The best advice you ever got...

Becky: I think all the little pieces of advice add up. I think, in general, encouragement was more important than advice. My family never worried about me being successful, or, at least, I never got that feeling. I think that gave me the courage to try.

John: My dad told me not to go to college for music.

If you could have a super power, what would it be?

Becky: That is so hard... I know I wouldn’t want to read minds. I think that would get really exasperating after a while. But, I think Mystique has a pretty awesome power. To be able to change the way you look whenever you want. What? I just want a new color of hair today.

John: I like the healing one... but if you could heal other people too.

Becky interjects: that would be more beneficial, more benevolent…

Best fan mail you ever received

Becky: Oh yea! There was that one guy. He was, like, “I’m looking for three things in a girl: looks, music, and personality. I can see that you have two of those three things, so I would be interested in getting to know you better…” (John and Finn cannot keep a straight face as she was telling the story)

John: Which two?

Tell us something interesting about yourself...

Finn: I admit it, I’m a little eccentric. I get a massage once a week, foot reflexology every two weeks, and light and sound therapy once a month. Don’t even ask…

Becky Interrupts: That means he goes clubbing.

John finishes: Yeah, that’s all code for clubbing.

We finished dinner and headed to the club to meet up with Ryan. Outside the club was chaos. Crazy, costumed Kaskade fans lined the street, trying to get in. One hour before Ryan went on, I finally get to ask him a question or two.

How do you see yourself in the band?

Ryan: Contrary to what some bloggers and fans think, Late Night Alumni is not Kaskade. But don’t get me wrong… this is my band. But it’s also Becky’s band, and John’s band, and Finn’s band. I love it, because I can take a back seat at times and just go along for the ride. I’ll take the wheel sometimes, but I’m happy to let my fellow band mates take it from me. To be even more honest, Becky is the band. Her voice is the reason we do what we do. Her style and character make Late Night Alumni possible.

What are your thoughts on the new album?

Ryan: Well… I love it of course. I don’t put out music I don’t love. This album has some moments that are truly powerful. Have you heard it?

Me: No.

Ryan: You really haven't heard it? I'll get you a copy. You gotta hear it.

With that, Ryan was ushered on stage. He did what he does best, and the fans reacted. As the night came to a close, Ryan announced a special guest vocalist. The familiar chords of Empty Streets filled the room. Becky stepped up to the mic...

Late Night Alumni’s new album, Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc. ~ available November 10th.