Behind the artsy hair, torn up
tight jeans and artistic ts lies a story much
more transparent than people may at first notice
about the band Burning Tree Project. And then
there's the bullet hole scar on Enik's (lead
vocals/ryhthm guitarist) leg strongly suggesting
that, quite possibly, the 6 members of this band
have been through something much more than
rockin out on stage on a heated summers night.
So lets turn back the time to when Enik was
immersed in his old gang life and infatuated
with the love of drugs and money, whilst, Andre
(keys) spent most of his life searching for a
sense of love and care where ever he could find
it. And who can forget PRD (bass guitar, bgvs)
stuck in the city of riverside where it is said
that theres nothing to do but do drugs, and so
he did. Then something happened that would
change their lives forever and its written all
over their songs and lyrics.
So its more than a story of anger, being empty,
having nothing, feeling hurt, bleeding dry, and
swimming in the void. Its a story of a new hope
because everyone is searching for a hero but few
are lucky enough to find one.
In a world where people are shot and killed on
freeways for no apparent reason, where kids
choose to escape or deal with reality through
needles, pills, and bottles, the most solitary
of people still need something or someone to
identify with. We know because weve been there.
And throughout our deepest of struggles, though
we may not have identified with a father figure
or teacher, we identified with our music. I
consider it a blessing that through everything
that Ive been through, Im still alive enough to
get in front of that mic and sing songs that
people can relate with. Because thats what its
all about relativity. - Enik
"We play for the audience of one but for the
movement of millions"-BTP.
BURNING TREE PROJECT DEAR
VALENTINE LYRICS
Take a picture of the scars
inside
Am I alright?
Cuz youve infected every thought of mine
Dear valentine
Stop falling away
Calling my name just to say
Goodbye
The lights are shining closer
Telling me its over
Goodbye
The picture of you leaving
Complicates my breathing
Now, Im the one you left behind
And thats fine
Cuz you,
Have nowhere else to hide this time
Sweet valentine
They fell way to hard,
Broke face and hearts
Love,
Was it ever there
Was it ever theirs
Scab slow,
Thrown down the stairs,
Murdered in her tears,
Love,
Was it ever there,
Was it ever theirs,
Love,
It's the devils hand,
Pressed against my face,
With no words to say,
I'll carry you
THE INTERVIEW:: conducted
by
JiZO Jewles
JIZO:
Wassap BTP! Thanks for agreeing to answer some
questions for
JIZO-ENTERTAINMENT.COM. Can you introduce
the band's members and a story of how y'all got
together?
Enik Lin - Lead Vocals |
Guitar
Andre Harris - Keys |
Programming
Johnny Mora - Guitar
Scott Corgan - Guitar
David Kim - Bass | Vocals
Dave Briggs - Drums
Enik (BTP): Andre,
David, and myself started Burning Tree Project
back in 2002 with some other friends. We
basically started the band for one purpose, to
reach out to kids with problems through music.
Through the years, we've had some lineup
changes. We formed our most recent lineup with
the recording of our most recent album Time and
Color. Dave Briggs was played in a band that we
were friends with. As they started to play less
shows, he started to jam with us and everything
just clicked. Scott was also in the same band so
as fate would have it, he too joined the
alliance. We met Johnny around 3 years ago at
guitar center, when Andre and I saw him
shredding on a guitar. I got his number, somehow
I knew it would come in handy someday. And it
did. =)
JIZO: What were you
guys like growing up?
Enik (BTP): Andre,
David, and I all had pretty messed up
childhoods. I joined a gang at the age of 14.
Got heavily into drugs by the age of 16 and
literally didnt straighten up until i turned 22.
Burning Tree Project is the story of my life,
struggles, and my way out. Although I know about
the life struggles of my band mates, it's better
to hear it straight from them so we'll just save
their stories for another interview.
JIZO: Who were your
influences?
Enik (BTP): Everything. The
thing about our band is that even though there
may be bands that we all agree upon, we all come
from different musical backgrounds and musical
tastes. We try to incorporate those different
backgrounds into our music. Since everyone has
such different tastes, its hard to name a lot of
bands that we all like but i think its safe to
say that we're all huge fans of radiohead. haha.
JIZO: Outside of
music, what has been the main influence on your
music?
Enik (BTP): Straight
up, Jesus Christ.
JIZO: How would you
describe the style of music you play?
Enik (BTP):
Electronic hard pop rock. hahahha actually I
have no idea how to describe our music. Its just
Catchy Rock.
JIZO: What has been
the highlight(s) and lowpoint(s) of your career
to date?
Enik (BTP): The
biggest Highlight of our band to this date is
the recording of our new record Time and Color.
It was produced by Producer James Paul Wisner (Paramore,
The Academy Is, Dashboard Confessional,
Underoath). Everything that we've gone through
in the past 6 years has led up to this record.
It defines our evolution as musicians and
people. Everything it took to get here could be
considered a lowpoint but you know what they
say, sometimes bad things lead to good things.
JIZO: BURNING TREE
PROJECT... How did you come up with the band's
name? It is really cool!
Enik (BTP): In the
book of Exodus of the NIV Bible, God calls out
Moses to lead His people through a series of
miraculous signs. One of those signs being a
burning bush that is not burned by the flames.
There were many unexplained events that led to
the start of our band. The biggest one being,
the ability for me to quit drugs and make
something out of myself.
JIZO: What was the
main sacrifice you had to make just to grow as a
band?
Enik (BTP): I don't
even know where to start with that question. The
main sacrifice was letting our desire to "shine"
go. The ideal of "less is more" has made this
band more than what we've ever imagined. Also
putting our career in the hands of God and not
ourselves has been the best thing that we've
ever done. And that's hard...really hard.
JIZO: What do you
like of the current musical scene?
Enik (BTP): Not
much. A lot of bands sound like everyone else.
Everyone and their momma has a band now. Haha.
That's not to say that there aren't any good
bands out there. There are some amazingly
talented bands out there.
JIZO: What are some
of the bands that you guys in the band regularly
listen to?
Enik (BTP): Lorene
Drive, BT, Boys Like Girls, As Cities Burn,
Underoath, Minus the Bear, too many....
JIZO: When is your
new album "Time and Color" supposed to be
released?
Enik (BTP): Album
release show is actually this sat the 19th in
Buena Park CA. The official release date of the
CD is January 22, 2008.
JIZO: How would it
be different from your previous one(s)?
Enik (BTP): This one
is LEGIT. haha.
JIZO: Are you guys
planning to tour around the US?
