I Prevail: Steve Menoian (guitar), Lee Runestad (drums), Eric Vanlerberghe (harsh Vocals), Brian Burkheiser (clean vocals)
The Detroit-based rock band I Prevail has not been in existence for very long with its inception a mere two years ago in 2014, but they have been able to break out of the local ranks quite quickly, ascending more with every city they visit. The band’s first taste of success came with the release of their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Black Space”, which has gained nearly 29 million YouTube views.
After touring extensively off their debut EP Heart Vs. Mind, who’s sound touches on that of both metalcore and post-hardcore, I Prevail released their full-length debut album Lifelines earlier this year. I was able to chat with vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe about how the band got started and the making of Lifelines.
I Prevail has only been a band since 2014. How did this band come together? What were you guys doing before the band?
I was going to college and we working at a restaurant/bar and doing music, local bands in my spare time. Brian [Burkheiser] actually found me from a friend of a friend playing in a different band, then he found Steve [Menoian] on some e-Harmony kind of page for musicians. Then we found Lee [Runestad], our drummer, on YouTube videos, then our guitarist from Grand Rapids on the west side of the state, our producer was friends with him. We all just came together like that.
Only being a band for a couple years, how were you able to make so much headway in that short period of time to break out of your own locale?
It was difficult. It was a bit of a challenge knowing that there was so many other good local bands, not only just in Michigan, but if you’re trying to break out of your small little location, the Internet is a big thing, but with how many kids have their own recording materials and equipment to put out music, trying to be that needle in a haystack. Putting out that cover of “Blank Space” really helped reach a whole new audience. Since Taylor Swift’s original version blew up and our’s came out shortly after, I think we just rode that wave and had our name thrown out there with that.
What do you think sets yourselves apart from other bands?
I think we’re just normal people. We’re not trying to act like we’re all too cool, school dropout like wearing all black or something like that. We’re just normal dudes and connecting to people on a much realer level than someone they look up to or see on a TV or in a magazine. We’re just normal average people you could hang out with, just like your best friend kind of thing. I think that’s what makes us look different than the other bands.
I was at the show earlier this year at Saint Andrews in Detroit and you guys packed the house. How much touring did you guys do off the Heart Vs. Mind EP?
Just off the EP alone, we did about 200 or some shows. A full two years of touring all off of that EP.
Going into the new album Lifelines, what was the general mood of the band when figuring what you wanted to do with it?
We were all feeling like this is awesome, success came and we’re still riding that wave up. We were enjoying it all the way up, then we started seeing all the negative things or the things that were hard to deal with, like being on the road going from being at home with your family then getting an awesome tour opportunity and then you realize you missed weddings, funerals, and you miss your family and friends. So it was this whole general idea for the album was Lifelines was that your life can go into two different directions, whether it’s good or bad, you make the best of it. Your life is what you make of it.
How did you guys tackle the writing and recording process of Lifelines?
A few of us got into a room together and just busted it out, flew up to LA to demo a few tracks, and came back and recorded with our man that did the EP Heart Vs. Mind. We did it with him in Riley, Michigan, small little town, not many people out there, so we all just hunkered down in his basement and got to it.
What’s been your best memories so far with this band, even though it’s still a fairly new band?
That’s tough. Some of my greatest memories are just going around the country and seeing things for the first time. I didn’t really travel much growing up, a little bit here and there. Getting to see the Grand Canyon or going out to the west coast and seeing the ocean from that side or getting to go up through Canada. The traveling and experiences I’ve had are probably the greatest memories just seeing things for the first time, seeing the country.
How do you feel like your music affects your listeners?
I hope in a very positive way. So far, seeing our fans with all of these tattoos and fan art that they make of our lyrics, our more positive lyrics, especially a song like “Crossroads”, I think it’s doing what we wanted, to put a positive impact in people’s lives.
I Prevail is currently closing out the final dates of their Rebel Without a Claus Tour 2016 with special guests Sleepwave, Hotel Books, and Bad Seed Rising and will be hitting Headliners in Toledo, Ohio on December 16th, The Loft in Lansing, Michigan on December 17th, and The Crofoot in Pontiac, Michigan on December 18th. Their debut full length album “Lifelines” is available now. For more information, visit iprevailband.com.