Artist Friendly with Joel Madden - Sam Carter of Architects - Part 2 (Rerun)

Episode Date: August 6, 2025

On this week's encore episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Sam Carter of Architects. After a busy couple of years opening for Metallica and headlining festival stages, Architects recently returned with their new album . Produced by former Bring Me the Horizon member Jordan Fish, the band set out to capture that raw energy, melding their live intensity with melodic depth. In a conversation with Madden, the Architects vocalist opens up about stories from his serendipitous relationship with Good Charlotte, his gratitude for a life of music, and the band’s latest album. ------- Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠ ------- Follow Artist Friendly! IG: @artist.friendly TikTok: @artist.friendly YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly ------- Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And here is part two. It's also funny as well because, like, I think, obviously not just for me, for a lot of people, like, actually Good Charlotte was like a gateway into heavy music. Like, you and your brother were wearing, like, cradle of filth shirts. We were. You were wearing, like, aggressive bands shirts.

And you know what it was like when it was, but when you're a kid and you're getting a record and you look in a record, you look at the thanks list and you look at the shirts at the shirts that the people are wearing. So like, I would listen to bands that you guys would wear because I'd be like, who's suicidal tendencies? Who's cradle of filth? Who's, who's Danzig?

I didn't know. I was just a kid, right? I'm like, I'm hearing this. Who's the misfits? Who's this? You know, and you're like, you were a darker band. Dark in our aesthetic and kind of like the way it looked. It was like, oh no, this is cool.

I always said it's like the Morrissey lyric. I wear black on the inside. Yeah. This black's how I feel. Yeah. On the outside. You know, I felt, always felt down. Yeah.

I always felt a bit angry, but not at anyone. Yeah. It was very hard for me in the upswing and the peak of that, all that kind of good Charlotte stuff in the, in the first iteration, whatever I want to say that, whatever you call that part of our career. Yeah. To express how I was feeling all the way. Yeah.

We tried in the music. Definitely how we dressed. We were always trying to, like, push the limit of, like, what bands we'd take on tour or like what we wore because i don't know that we wanted to be a part of the mainstream in the sense of like i don't know it was hard to explain but but our music was so fucking poppy it was like because we just love fucking catchy shit yeah but it just didn't seem i think for for for kids and for when we were listening to it i'd say kids like when i was starting listening to music it didn't seem like mainstream to me it was it was a it was dudes

that were playing instruments and it was, you know, you had, yeah, it was like, it was punk. Yeah. It was my, that was my entrance to it. And I think, yeah, it's crazy. Like, you know, how I say, like, weird things come together. Like, you know, obviously, now we're with you guys and Joey and the links between, like, me being a kid and coming to see you and then singing with you and being friends. And it's all so weird to me.

But it also all makes complete sense. Okay. So I definitely want to tell the story about you coming. to Brixton. Yeah. Because it's a crazy story. Probably my favorite story of one of my favorite stories. Yeah. Just because you're such a legend and I like listen to your music so much

to think you were a kid. How old were you? When I came to see, it was probably I want to say 04. Did you do the first time you did Brickson? Probably 04, yeah. We were talking about the line up. Yeah, it was Brickston. It was you Mest and Sugarcult. Yeah. We were saying. And I remember

I was there, I was got dropped off for my friend's dad. We both came together, me and two girls that were you. I was, I was in school young, so I must have been like 13. Middle school? Yeah. Yeah. Me and my friends, Helen and Hannah, we were big GC fans. We got dropped off at

10 a.m. I waited by the bus, waited by the side door. No way. Yeah, to try and hang out. And I didn't know any better. I was just like, I want to be at the barrier, I want to do it. Like, I was that kid. I see those kids come to our shows now, right? Did you see us? Get her on the bus? No. I didn't see anything. Because I was probably like round the front and you guys were like getting around or whatever.

But like the show was just amazing. It was like my first big show like in London. High energy. Yeah, I was from like I was from a smaller village. So like going to London for the first time in like Brickson Academy venue that I'd heard about for years. Being there and then seeing this show. It was just so amazing. I was right at the front singing every lyric, every song.

Crazy. And then you come back. I think it was like I don't know how many years after. 2018 we're best we're like pals we're like you're like do you want to come and sing with me i'm like yes i do and then that many years later i'm on that stage with you guys singing a song which is crazy and one of my favorite parts about any ukashore now is if you're actually if you're in the country and you can't and then i sang on your record like yeah and then we came and did and then i sang on you record like yeah what the fuck and one of my favorite moments on on generation r x

which I think is a fully underrated GC album that one day will be more appreciated than it was. I just think it's a special album for us. Leach, which is a very deeply meaningful, emotional song about me and Benj coming to the realization of like how deeply wounded we were from our childhood

and this song that no one could come on. No one could sing on that song. That song was a precious, to us just because it was a message that we both needed to get out and it was like therapeutic for us coming to the realization that like the childhood trauma that we suffered that we never really came to terms with and never really talked about we kind of put it into a poetic message on this song and it meant a lot to us and so for you to come and do the chorus was more meaningful than just you being on a song yeah it was like there was light

there was something about you that, the fact that you did it, first of all, which I was like, I was scared to ask you. That's so crazy. Because I was like, I'd have ran here. I don't want him to feel like,

you know, you don't want anyone to feel obligated. Yeah, yeah. Because that's not, because it's not even about that. Yeah, you know,

like, so you don't want someone to feel like they can't say no. Yeah. And I know you would have if you didn't want to do it, but like, but we're,

we're not the guys to ask anyone for anything if we feel like it's going to be, yeah, like them doing something they don't want to do. For me, it was an amazing song. And it was, it was, it's the best part. It's one of my favorite moments on the record. Yeah, and it kind of opened up a part of my voice that I hadn't used, like, sort of tonally.

I think I remember me and Dan were talking about it. We were like kind of opened up and I, like, a few ideas for the album, for those that wish to exist, kind of singing in that sort of style. But yeah, I just, I tracked it with Dan as well, which was super, super cool. Yeah. And so cool. Yeah, I was just so honored. But, like, it's so funny because, you know, it's not like in our. relationship, I spend the whole time sat around going like, oh my God, this Joel from Good

Charlotte, like fucking out. But there is part of me that is, like I'm saying with that like 13 year old kid that is like, this is like, this is so crazy. Like my, my, I went to go and see a band. I was inspired by it. Then I'm in a band. I'm now like in a fucking conversation with you all the time where we're trying to big each other up and encourage each other. Rolling texting. We're saying these things to each other and support each other. I'm on your record. It's an amazing, it's an amazing thing. But do you know what's even weirder is how it kind of all came together. And I think we've spoken about this, Dean Robotham, who's, who was a guitar tech for Benj. Yeah. He'd just been out with you for a while. And I remember he came to my house and we

were having like, we were just sat outside having drinks and it was like me and my girlfriend at the time and a bunch of our bandmates. And we were all around. And he'd just come back from being with you guys in L.A. And he'd come back and he was like, oh, just been out with good. Charlotte and like they're the best people like I love them and I was like be honest with me I was like be really real with me I love that band what they like and he was like I'm being completely honest with you when I say they're the realest nicest people they've gone out of their way to take care of me on above and beyond nice he's great I love him next day without any link or no knowledge that Dean had been at my house Joey calls me and he's like I've got this Joey our manager for people

that don't Joey simmer who's now the president of MDDN for many years but has been your guys as manager for forever. Yeah. He called me and he was like, I want to run something past you. I've got a proposition to go and work MDDN. What do you think? And I was like,

do it. Great. I was like, I just had a conversation last night with somebody that would never lie to me, says they're the best people, says it's an like amazing company. Go.

And Joe was like, cool, done. We need it. And he was like, okay, that's it. I spoke to the guys and was like,

because obviously they had been at my house as well. they'd had the conversation with dean and it was so funny like how it was like at that moment around that time we'd been through so much like shit yeah and trauma been through a lot lost tom i remember dean that dean had come down and it was still around that time and it was just like you're all still processing yeah yeah but it was like oh that's funny like this is all sort of some it felt like something was happening there was someone was looking over and going like oh here's a little bit of light. It's obviously not fixing everything that we've been through, but it was like, here's just something to make you go, huh, that's odd. I was just talking about them yesterday, and you've

called me asking about this. It was, it was really strange. We're all weaved in a cloth. We're all weaved in a, and the thing that I think people don't, what I believe anyways, that people don't realize is that we're all connected. Like we all are. I just, I just believe that we're like a big colony of ants that we're not even conscious of the dance that we're doing together. Oh, you know who else was at the Brixton show, Adele. She told me that too. You're like, I was just spying everyone. I went to her.

So, no, by the way, I fucking love Adele. Yeah. She's the realist. Yeah. You want to meet somebody that will not disappoint you. If you love her music, meet Adele. Yeah. She's the best.

And I've only become friends with her because she's very close with Nicole. And so I've gotten to become friends with her. And I count her as a just. just dear friend because she'll give you, she's a lot like you. She's our national treasure. We love her. She is a national treasure. And that's the thing.

Because not only is she talented, she's sort of everything that's amazing about England. She's so. In Britain, it's like she just encompasses this like cockney legend. She's so British? She's just insanely talented. The talent is like, that's the thing everybody knows. Yeah. Or what are you?

Like, that's just like, you just know Adele is Adele. It's agreed upon. But the thing that I think people don't always know is at the heart of a person when you sit with them. Yeah. Are they a person? Can, like, we all be in the room and can Adele be here and you be here and they're there and we're all here together as people and that everyone in the room like matters? That's kind of how the experience I always look for.

And can she sing the chorus to little things? And did she own a mate? Did she own a maid t-shirt when she was in the crowd? I don't know. But what I'm constantly impressed with by artists that I admire, like, what they've done is when I meet the person. Yeah. And they're real. Yeah.

And they're also aware. They're aware that they are who they are. So if someone comes in the situation that's a little excited or whatever, they're kind. Yeah. But she's not going to be beholden to someone that is full of shit. Yeah. Yeah. She's not got time for it.

You know what I mean? because she's real. Yeah. Because so she had to, just like you and me too, we weren't blessed with, like, we didn't come into the world and we were like the shit.

In fact, we were the opposite. We had to find our self-esteem. We had to find our talent. We had to work our asses off. Yeah. And we had to try and make it. But we had to believe in ourselves before anyone else.

Yeah. And that goes for Adele. That goes for you. That goes for me. Yeah. And we still doubt ourselves. Yeah, yeah. We still that kid.

It's what keeps pushing you, I think. And it also is what makes you kind. Yeah, yeah. What makes you have empathy. Yeah. And, but it's funny because Adele was there, you were there, and you're two of my favorite people. Yeah. And you're both English.

Yeah, yeah. Well, we're in London, so. Yeah. But, like, two of my favorite, like, English people. Yeah, yeah. Because my experience of England is my friends. Yeah. And I love the UK.

I, you know, good Charlotte, we have a great relationship with the UK. Yeah, you definitely do. It's like one of our favorite places. Yeah. But it's the people. There's a personality there that is very you. It's very Adel. It's very like, there's an honesty,

and there's something about it that I think we could use a little more of. But it's funny, the two of you were there, and you're two of my favorite singers. Yeah. And two of my favorite friends. The whole thing is just so crazy to me to just be like, that was kind of, I was there. Those records were just so inspiring.

Well, thank you. To then be like, okay, now we're mate. And we talk all the time. And we work together. We work together. Joey's here. I've been on your record. I was on that stage where I first saw you doing it.

I've now done Brickston myself. Yeah. Like, it's an amazing, things like that where you just take his step back and you're like, wow, it's been a... Did you do Alley Pally? Yeah, I did. I did Leachia High Palli, yeah. Which was amazing. Yeah, an amazing.

I love Alley Pally. I do, yeah. What a great venue. Yeah. It's amazing. All flat. But yeah, there's moments. Those moments in your career where you go, wow.

You think like Little Sam where I'm just like, it's amazing, it's been an amazing life. So my theory, when this all proves it, in my opinion, is we only become what we actually truly see ourselves becoming. So if you in your very core belief do not believe that you could do that, whatever that 13 year old looked at and saw on that stage, he somehow, some way, thought, I think I can do that. If you don't have the, I think I can on anything, you will not have it. You will not possess it. And my belief system is vision first, dream first, imagine first. And then don't worry about how. Yeah. And I think what you guys do really well is you let how happen.

you lean into how you feel. And if we think too much about how we want the thing we're imagining to come, we're caught up on the how and not the thing. So if we don't imagine what we want and just go to bed dreaming about that every night and we let Howe happen every day and lean into how we feel. So, oh yeah, I think that's a good idea. Let's go. It comes to you if you're looking at the vision.

And I think we attract what we want. And we attract what we want. we don't want if we think, you know, the law of attraction, all that stuff. It's all the, the principles of like, we will get, we will find what we look for. So if I'm looking for enemies, I'll find them. If I'm looking for friends, I'll find him. And I think that we are, like somehow you manifested the connection that we have and I manifested it as well. Because when I heard your records before, Joey. Yeah. Joey. Yeah, because I remember you were both, you and Benj were talking about us before we even started working with you. I was like, wow.

Architects. I was like, good Charlotte like us. God damn. That's a turn up for the books. Yeah. Who saw that come in? Because it was, it's never stopped impressing me.

I appreciate it. You know what I mean? The music has always impressed me. But somehow we manifested, and I say this in the bigger picture for anyone listening, it's like we absolutely manifest everything in our life.

Yeah. If I get up today and I'm looking for problems, I'll manifest them, I'll find them. There are plenty of problems to find. We go through the woods looking for the bears or we go through the woods looking for the berries. We'll find both.

They're all there. But I think the thing you and me probably continually have to work on, which is probably slowing down and maybe even slowing. I always think is it slowing down my progress is how am I talking to myself? Yes. And am I encouraging myself as much as I encourage everyone else? Because I love to encourage people. Yeah.

I think it's, I've had it actually with Stephanie from Bruce. they just supported us in the US. This is amazing. Amazing band. Getting some love at home too in their home country. Yeah. We taught with them and I love them. They're one of my favorite bands.

But Stephanie is very similar to me. She's so hard on herself as a vocalist and she's so like brutal to herself, right? So we would watch her like, you know, our dressing room would empty every night. We'd all go watch. Then we'd go back and speak to them. I remember speaking to her one night and her, she was upset with her vocal performance. And I was like, that was one of the best vocal performance. performances I've ever seen in my entire life. And she was sat there like in tears being like,

I've let you down, like you guys, like you brought us out and we've done this. And I was like, no, no, no, no, no. And we spoke, spoke, I spoke to her. And she was like, you know, you know that if I spoke to you like this, you wouldn't listen. And I was like, yeah, that's true. She was like, you need to speak to yourself like this. And I was like, whoa, like left the room and went on stage and was like, yeah, yeah, this is, this is, that's right. Like if I could see myself as not my How would I speak to myself? How would I engage? How would I encourage myself? Because I'm like you, like, I'll talk to you. I'll talk to her. I'll talk to other bands and other frontmen and other people. I'm like, you're good. Don't worry about your voice. Just do this warm up. You're going to be good. You sound amazing. No one can sound like you. You are the only person in these 20,000 people that can go and do you. So go do you. But me, I'll be going walking on stage being like, you're about to let every single person in this room down. That's crazy. Everybody is here to laugh at you. you know like that's just the way my brain goes and it's it's rewiring that of like everybody is here because they want to see you succeed so just have fun because no one has bought a ticket to this

concert to come and watch you laugh like that's so insane to to think that but it was a it was a really interesting moment and and like i say like when we have conversations where i'm like this is great you should do this this this new song's great try this like you know we're bouncing ideas of each cover even yesterday. It's so funny because yeah, if you're doing it to me, I'm like, yeah, I need to take it on board. That actually take it on board. Like, just try and be nice to yourself. And then think about every area of your life because this is where I get it from you when you don't even know you're, when you don't even know you're there is I struggle in other places. Like, I don't actually have, I have a little bit of stage fright. Yeah, same. It's brutal. But then I get out

there and I'm fine. Yeah. And I don't think about how I sung after the show. I don't fucking care. Yeah. Like, I'll be honest with you. It's done, yeah. It's done. And I don't think about it during the show. Yeah. I'll lose my voice during that song, whatever. And I'm like, whatever.

I just have a drink afterwards and I'm like, whatever. Yeah. Now, that might be some self-esteem stuff. I might just be like, yeah, we're not that good anyways or whatever. But at the end of the day... Definitely is. Yeah.

So I'm like, maybe I should take it more seriously or whatever. But I think I'm going to go try my best in the live show. Getting on stage is the hardest part. Absolutely. I'm anxious. I'm a little edgy. I'm a little uncomfortable. Yeah.

I might be a little unpleasant to the people who are closest to me. Yeah. And, and, I'm freaking out. I'm just, yeah, you're not breathing properly.

You're just like, yep, nap, that you know, get it done. I'm exactly the same way. I get a song in and I'm like, okay, I can do this.

Yeah. Then we're flying. Yeah. You've ridden this bike before. You know where you're going. But places like, to be honest with you, like the gym,

where I like, am like, it's taking me years to get comfortable with like working out. It sounds whatever, but like it's just real. It's like some self-esteem thing.

and your music is one of the soundtracks I put on to like get ready to do things that I'm scared to do. Yeah. And I don't know why working out would be something someone's scared to do. Yeah. But I'm being honest. Everyone has different things that they're uncomfortable to do. It's hard for me.

Like to show up every day and like commit to something like that because I don't feel like maybe I don't feel like I deserve it or maybe I don't feel like I'm that kind of guy. Like I'm not a fit guy or I'm not a whatever. And I've never like pushed myself to see what's possible in that. Yeah. category of my life. I think anything that's like, anything that intimidates you and you do, you learn a lot more about yourself after it. You feel better because you go through it, you know.

Yeah, on the other side. And I'm on the other side now. Like, it's no problem. Yeah. But my soundtrack in the last three years when it's been like this start, stop, start, stop, try this, try that. Maybe even more, maybe like five years. My soundtrack has been architects. Crazy. And it like gets me there. Like gets me ready. It gets me. And, you know, I don't think we live in like a culture where being vulnerable and sharing something like that is like, I don't know, sometimes I hold back because people are mean. But it's the truth. And, you know, I think about anyone out there that's struggling to get to start something that they're scared to do. Because for you, it's like, I got to get on stage. For some people, it's like, I'm really nervous to apply for this job. Yeah, yeah. Or I'm really nervous to move houses.

or to ask this person out. I think it's anxiety and fear and depression is something that I've dealt with for a long time. Yeah. And I think if people just think that me getting on stage is just normal and that's just what I do, then that actually shows how far I've come as a person because it's hard work. Life can be real hard. It doesn't matter what position you're in or what you have or what you do. Mental health is very real and a real struggle.

I think I've just tried to be like really honest about that throughout my entire life. Yeah, you've been good about that. Just conversations of like, I'm not the finished article. I don't, I certainly don't believe in, you know, like, oh, I'm fixed now. I'm fine. I've been through this bout of depression and I've come out the other side and I'm like, I'm all good. I think it's an ongoing, an ongoing thing that you have to work at to just keep your head above water. Not that like I'm always drowning, but I am, you know, I'm swimming.

And you have to work at it. You have to be open. You have to be honest. You have to be honest for people around you. my wife is a absolutely saint within my life so is mine the rock of of me everything i do i try and do do to impress her and make her think i'm i'm a good guy so i uh yeah i just try and be honest and work you know i go to therapy every week i i take antidepressants now again and i've had bouts of being on them and being off them and it's just what works for me i'm not on a lot of them i'd have

enough that help me put my shoes on in the morning and some people say you shouldn't do shouldn't be on antidepressant. Some people say you should. I really care. It's just what works for you. And I think they came to me at a couple of points in my life that I really needed them. And I'm so grateful to have been in a position to have that. But I think, yeah, just being honest, I think that's the real core of like what makes me, me is just not not hiding behind anything. I just want to be open and honest and show vulnerability because I think that's important. I think especially for young people and young musicians everywhere. I think just being able to be like open and honest is key because I think it's times where I've needed to hear people

talking about it they have and you and you had that in that you you had that back in the day on on um young and hopeless you had that hold on it was like an amazing i remember the video it was massive and straight up about suicide yeah because we got so many letters from people that either didn't kill themselves or lost someone and somehow in their two years we were touring on the first record We got so many letters. And in 2000, 2001, and we went and made that record. We were like, we have to make a song. Yeah.

Because we can't write all these people back. Yeah. And it was always about suicide. Yeah. It was really crazy how many kids back then were. It's not. But I think it's just, it's just such a big thing that everyone's going through. I think, like, the conversation needs to keep happening and people need to be talking about it because it's...

Papa Roach just did something really great. It did. Yeah. Amazing song. I love those guys. He's like, I mean, they're all amazing. Yeah. Great people.

He's just got like the maddest energy. I love it so much. I just can't imagine what he was like when he used to drink. Oh my God. That guy comes in with the best energy straight over the bat. And he's so supportive. He's a great guy. He's such a nice guy.

He's like that band has always been a band that we've loved and liked as well. And, you know, he's always made time for us. and been so supportive and I've got to sing with them on a couple of occasions and he's come and sang with us as well and yeah again just like another sort of mad moment

where like people that you grew up idolizing and listening to you're just like texting and like shooting the shit with and what a guy supporting each other with his heart's really in the right place he's a good guy yeah he's got a big

big heart what other bands would you say you guys have become really good friends with over the years besides good Charlotte and paparote We have got so many You toured with Knocked Loose, right? We haven't told we're not loose Oh, I thought you did.

We were not loose. We were friends with Not Loose. Okay. Are you friends with them? Yeah, Brian and Isaac we've, you know, had a lot of chats with it. Great guys, great heavy bands. They're actually the funny thing

about that band and I've told them this was it was the last band that Tom showed me. Oh, wow. Yeah. I remember Tom showing me the first song that they kind of put out of their first, like, big record, like the second record, I think it was. I remember him showing me in his house when we were doing some writing.

He was like, I think you're really like this. You know when like your friends and you just show each other stuff. Yeah. It was the last band that Tom showed me. I was like, wow, this is really, really good. And he just again, like a sign that Tom had his finger on the pulse for a long time. Really good friends are straight from the path. We've known them for a long time.

Yeah. We've known them for a long, long time. Like our first ever show in America, they were on. Right. Like however many years ago in the middle of the number of, And, you know, a parkway drive, a really good mates of ours. Oh, they're cool. Yeah.

We've got so many friends because we've been doing it for so long. You guys have just been in every fucking festival, every tour. You guys, I would say. We're chatty. So when you know us, when we're in, we're in. We're kind of like my rescue dog, Sophia. We're like, once she knows you, she absolutely loves you and you're in. And before it's just kind of like, who's this guy?

Who's coming into our like compound area? They're quiet. Are you going to hurt me? They're quiet. Yeah. And you're like, no, they're not. And then when you're in, they're like, no, well, they think they're too cool. It's like, no, we definitely don't.

No, we definitely don't. No, just shy dogs. Yeah, I think we'd be doing it for so long. That's one of the best things about touring. It was one of the things that I really was looking forward to getting back over to the US when we hadn't toured it for a couple of years and actually getting over and seeing those people that I just hadn't seen in ages. Yeah.

You know, where you see them around the world. And that's one of the best things about touring. It's like going to a place and being like, this person. is coming tonight. This person's coming there and you know, it's like a, like a little, yeah, just a hang around the world. Did you have a favorite metal festival this year? Favorite metal festival? Of the ones you played, like, was there one that just stood out to you as your favorite? I really enjoyed bloodstock head-dye and bloodstock in the UK was awesome. I didn't really know what to expect because it's quite a like heavy, heavy metal festival.

I didn't know how we do. I figured you guys would do really well. We just don't have the confidence to me. Oh, yeah. And then it was amazing. The promoter and the people that put on the show were like, this is the most people we've ever had. Yeah, if I was in fucking architects, I'd just walk into any fucking show. Yeah. Just be like, put me on anywhere. Yeah. Yeah, I need to try and, again, I'm trying to be more confident.

Yeah. But we do. Yeah, we absolutely, we had a great show. The promoter was like, this is the most people we've ever had through the door of the main arena on a Saturday night. Amazing. And they were so stoked on that. With Full Force was amazing in Germany. It was just a year of like crazy.

What about America? Aftershock was awesome. Aftershock is always good. Aftershock was awesome. Welcome to Rockville. Yeah. Which you guys are doing right? We're doing this year. Yeah. And that's awesome. All those Zimmer festivals are amazing. Yeah. It's amazing to see actually now America has its own festival season. Yeah. Europe is like, oh, are you doing festival season in Europe. Are you doing this and putting yourself around it? Now America is like, like the US is like, yeah, it's got it. And it's like and your lineups are insane. Yeah. Your lineups are like, your line up to like, you're like, you're line up to like. You're line up to like. You're like. Like a day, just one day is like, oh, like Friday, Saturday, Sunday. You're like looking at the lineups. You're like, America. Yeah. Bigger and better. Bigger and better. I love it.

And I just think, I love it. I love it. I love the opportunity of going out to people that maybe haven't heard of us. And they're like, we're in front of them and showing what we do best. And I think because we've been doing it so long and we've smashed festival seasons in Europe so many times we know how to, we know how to work a big crowd. Yeah, it does help. It helps. Yeah. when you've played thousands of shows and you know how to do a live show whether something

fucking goes out or something isn't working a good band. There's something about being over in America where I'm like, I feel like I can be a little bit like more lairy as well. I like to sort of like attack the crowd and then sort of give them a little bit of love in between the songs and then rile them up a little bit more and call them pricks and have a go at them and get them rolled up. And I think they see the sort of sense of humor in it. I'm not up there trying to be cool.

I'm just sort of winding them up. I've loved it. I love this stage of our band and this sort of time that we're in. I actually love being out here at the moment. I think there's something happening in the US for us. Yeah. There's an energy around it that hasn't been there up until recently. It's not for lack of trying, but it just feels like something's shifted.

I'm telling you right now, I think it's where the culture's at with rock music, where it's rock music is having a real like across the board yeah it's not just nostalgia rock it's not it's rock across the board if you're a good band if you're good live if you have good songs new or old doesn't matter there's like a rock thing happening where people are listening to rock music and they want to go to rock shows yeah and i think you guys are are great rock band and i do think that like things are shared faster now yeah even five years ago it was different yeah like things get shared so fast now and I think you guys have an amazing catalog of songs. When I turn people onto architects, they come back to me and go, oh my God, I don't know which songs my favorite because there's

just so many good, like by the way, if you don't start playing Gravedigger. Yeah, we have, we, we did on the, on the Euro shows. In the set, because it's one of my favorites. But you have so many good songs. Yeah. And that's what it's all about. Yeah. It doesn't matter how, if I'm just discovering this band. That's where I think rock and the rock festivals, there's a real culture now, like a little bit more like Europe used to be. And it still is. But I remember we would do America in the 2000s or in the, you know, 2010 or whatever. And it was like, if you didn't have a hit in America, no one gave a fuck. Yeah. But you go to Europe and they listen to every record. And you're playing an arena and they're singing the album cuts on the third record that no one else than in America.

Those shows are the best shows. And it's crazy. So that's kind of happened in America now, I think. It's like this culture of live. And I feel like we've just got to a point where we're just like trying to be the best we can possibly be and put on the best show. And in those situations, we're just like, we know how to do this. And we want to be the band that you go away and go, they were great.

And you go and listen to the record? Yeah, that was a great show. This was my favorite band of the weekend. This was this. I want to be that. I don't want to be ashamed of that. I don't want to waste my time and turn up and just be like, okay. But also you guys.

If I'm leaving my wife and my dogs, it's come and play over here. You best believe every single person in that room has got to go home going, they were awesome. They were fucking good. Yeah. And to do what you do on the record live. Yeah.

Because also, if you listen to a record with complications, it's like a watch. Yeah. You hear little things. that are choices that aren't necessarily easy or, you know, it's interesting when I listen to an architect's record, I don't just love it for the songwriting. There's complications in the music. Yeah, tell me about it. And you go, oh my God. Yeah. Like that little guitar part right there or that little thing. And that to me is, and then you see the band live and you go, fuck, they did it live too. Yeah.

That's a good band. I'm very lucky to be in a band with some amazing musicians. Yeah. And I say every night. I'm like, I'm so, I don't have to worry. I don't have to look around. I don't have to turn round. I don't have to think about it. It's just, it just happens perfectly every night. It's very rare that any of them will make a mistake. And I'm very, yeah, very fortunate to down at the front and I think the best thing I can do is be as good as I possibly can for them. You know, and I think we just, we're all in that mindset of. So I think in America, people are discovering you. Yes. Yeah. I think you have a good core audience here. of like,

of, like, heavy music fans. Yeah. But I actually think there's, like, this very big new wave

over the last few years of rock fans who are discovering music, like rock music truly for, for the first time. Yeah. Or expanding their rock music taste. Yeah.

Um, because of these, all these new festivals that have popped up in the last decade. And I think that you guys are experiencing, like, a wave of like new, yeah,

fans. I think also, in the US. Yeah. I think also we're very, very, I was going to say lucky, we're very thankful for the team that we have around us.

Yeah. We're very grateful for it. I think label, agents, management, everything around us is just, it just feels like a no-brainer. It's like our mates. Our mates that work for us. Like sometimes we see people and be like, oh, we're not really talks about

word, but it doesn't really matter because I know what you're doing. I trust you. We're just hanging out. I think it's important to surround yourself for people that, like, you can be yourself around and it's not just like, it's not, you're not just having to, to be nice,

you know, I've had people that, I've had so many people that work for us that were at my wedding. Yeah. You know, and I know loads of people in bands

that'd be like, what? They're like, yeah, they're my mates. Yeah. Also going to be there. You know,

it's, it's, it's, we're very, we're very thankful for the team that we have around us because it, it does just feel like,

it's not, if architects does, does, does well, and something happens or we have a moment. And I think it, with our fans as well actually,

it feels like it's a win for everybody. Big time. Because it's not like, we're not like, look at us. We're like, look at this. Look what we've done like together.

Because we, we, I understand the importance of our, of our fan base and the people that are around us because we're not rock stars. We're not. I walk,

my best part of, of being, being alive is walking my dogs. I'm picking up their shit. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. I'm not picking up their shit,

but I love walking my dogs in the countryside. Yeah. I love being, being live and doing that, but I'm not a rock star. I'm not walking around carrying myself with any sort of energy, right? I feel the same way. So when we do well, I think people are like,

that's awesome. That someone like me has done well. You know, it's like, I can do that. And if they can do well, then I can do well. And that's what I was inspired by when I was a kid. A good winner. I'm gonna, and igual that my music, my hair changed with me

and has been able to continue my rhythm. For so, Potion Nine, of Sebastian Professional, has all what my Cable Neutrition Profunda Protection Contraised. 99% less of rotura and Puntas Abirte, Bucon 9

of Sebastian Professional, the secreto professional of who don't seein Tendenties, but of who are kind. Yeah. Someone who's kind and doesn't chop someone's head off when they win. What we've got to do?

You don't just stand there and be like, look how amazing I'm. I'm like, what's next? Let's go. Yeah, it's like when you see an athlete win and they go, man, my team was so, good they fucking blah blah blah and you go like you know that that guy is a fucking baller yeah he won the game but he's never going to give you the satisfaction of saying yeah i fucking did it because he knows there's a lot of time left in my life where i can look back and think and pat myself on the

back for what i've done totally like i don't need to now you know what i mean like i was poor and now i'm not good enough for me but one day maybe i'll look back on on how hard it was to to get out of that poverty. Yeah. And I'll celebrate it. And every now and then me and Ben do celebrate it because we have moments where we're like, wow. Yeah.

Can you believe this is our life? Yeah, yeah. Even last night. It's important to have those moments where you're just like, I'm so grateful for this. Gratitude. Yeah.

And just having a conversation. I'm like, wow, this is insane. And like, look who we get to work with. Look who we get to hang out with. It's truly joyful experience to be backstage at one of your shows. It's amazing.

I think, I think especially with architects, Now, I mean, I used to have quite a few drinks. Thank God. I don't have quite a few now. But you come off stage and it's like, cool, we just go play FIFA, go bed. Yeah. Like we have a thing now. This is so lame.

This is so lame. We have a thing now where before we go on stage, you see a few of us get our stuff ready to like get our pajamas and get ready for bed. Yes. And it's like, you get off stage and it's like, who's going to get in the shelf first? Who's going to be the fastest person to be in their bunk? You're getting your bunk and you're like, I've won. I've done it. like get cozy in the lounge.

You're just sat in the bus. I wouldn't want to be used out of dressing room. I'm just, I'm sat just looking at pictures I've taken throughout the day on light room. Like, see you later. Yeah.

You know, it's, uh, I'm lucky. I'm, we're all the same people. You know, I'm so blessed to have them in our lives. And I was talking about it to, to someone the other day

about like how, how much we hang out and talk to each other. We talk to each other every day. I love those guys so much. Like, we're just such a team. And if the band stop

tomorrow we still talk to each other every day yeah still best mates it's it's it's you can't you can't fuck with us well i think you guys have a very long way to go yeah i think you have a long road ahead of you yeah uh a really good one i think you're in the the fun part i think you guys have done a ton of work um you've been through a lot as a band and every fucking way you could go through something you could write the book on how to run a business in my opinion we always say it we're like what would architects do, they would just make a decision. So what do we think, guys? Okay, that's what we should do. Okay, let's do it. We say that all the time. Yeah. Because it feels that, whatever your process is, and it sounds like I'm not far off. But it feels like that's it. Yeah. It's not like, how big is that

gonna be? Or blah, blah, blah, blah. No, it's just like, I feel like that's it. And then we just do it. And then we, what's the result? Okay, cool. Now let's go. Like, we're not all hung up on the result of every fucking thing we do. Yeah. Let's just keep going forward. forward. Make another record. Drop or another record. We have a thing where it's like if the four of us, if one of us is outvoted, we're still kind of like, well, why is that one? What's wrong? What is it that's not right here? We're like, we'll put it through if it's, if it, you know, it's for the greater good.

And normally I'll come around and be like, yeah, actually it was right. But it's always like we respect each other. It's like, okay, if you actually don't think this is right, I trust you and love you enough to know that there's something in this. So let's dig in. Yeah. And let's figure out what that is. But for the most part, it's like we're all just, we know what we need to do.

We're on the same page. We have the same kind of gut where it's like, yep, this is what we've got to do. And I think that's what's gotten you to this, what I think is going to be and is becoming as I think you're feeling it. Because this record is being really well received. Yeah. And celebrated, I think people really fucking love your band. What I think you're seeing is two decades of instinct work. feel it do it yeah keep moving forward and i think you guys are coming into the fun part of

being an architect's where you actually get to probably enjoy it a little bit more than maybe you have in the past yeah i think that's it that's now it's like just time for fun yeah time to enjoy it done the hard work we're still going to keep working hard but you can loosen up your shoulders a little bit and have to smile you can smile doing these big ass shows it's fun yeah you know bring and bring that little kid with me and just a little kid in my heart and you can lose up heart and be like. Yeah, the 13 year old who was in line at Brickson at 10 a.m. Yeah. Now you're doing this. And now he's on stage and you got to show him what he's done. Yeah. Sometimes. Let him take the wheel sometimes because I think really like that's what

everyone's sort of actual talent is is born from that era era of like being that the formative years of like, I got it. I'll take the wheel. I'm good. You know, you looked after you grow up, you get to that point. You're like, actually, I think I know better. That's the kid who dreams. Yeah. So let them carry on. And I really do believe that the dream starts everything. So if we, anyone listening, take it for what you want.

If we don't start with a dream around everything, our marriage, our ban, our life, our health. If we don't start with a dream, then we're just letting any other thought come in and rule what this becomes. Yeah. So it's usually fear-based. Yeah. Right? So, or we're wrestling between good and evil. But if we start with just a dream, my dream is this.

So I always tell people, have a dream and a vision around every part of your life. Give yourself that. Because you don't get to be anyone else. I don't get to be Sam from Architects. I have to be me. And you get to be you. And that's kind of like the journey for me is like, what's my dream around everything? What's the dream for MDDN?

It's to work with really fucking great bands and be in an environment where everyone like enjoys it. And everyone, like, knows where they're at. Yeah. You know? And so I think you guys do that. But yeah, it's that 13-year-old kid who's at Brickston who goes, I'm going to do that. I want to give it a shot. Yeah.

And I think more of us need to, like, remember that that we all. But hopefully the people out there listening, maybe they haven't accomplished what they want to yet. And I always want to encourage people that are listening to our music, that are getting something from it to find their band, to find their dream, to find their hit record, whatever that is. Yeah. It is some way. If you want it. Some way. Make it.

Some way shape or form. I think now, like you say, like I've got to this point in my life where I'm so inspired by bands and music that they were doing stuff before anybody else. Like going into a studio and recording to tape. Like people don't understand until you look under the hood of what music is now. So much music is just recorded into a laptop. And if it's wrong, you just delete it and start again. Yeah. These bands, like the Beatles were going in and recording.

Sergeant Pepper on a four track. Yeah. Four tracks. That means there's four different things. They would record four instruments at the same time, but three, then play that back. So it was being played back on one and record three more layers. It's insane. It's insane.

Yeah. So bands like them and the Stones and Led Zeppelin and Credence and, I mean, Crosby stills, Nash and Young, Oasis. Like, I'm fully going back, Tom Petty. Yeah. It's like, I love. all that music it's just it's just amazing it makes me feel happy and smile and it reminds like my dad was always playing the Beatles and the stones and zeppelin in my house you know it's it's

been what made me love music and when i was a kid you know i started getting into my own music and i was like i don't want to listen to this i want to do that and you know you go back and you go back and you start listening to songs and you're like i know every single word to this and i've not not listen to it in 10 years. Now I want to listen to it on vinyl. Yeah, yeah. And then you start buying it and I'm very lucky to share that relationship with my dad musically where I'll come over to the US and call him in a record shop and be like, oh, I found this Beatles record. Like, should I grab it? Like he'll be like, oh yeah, they printed this on this and Paul had done this. And like, you should grab it. And, you know, it's cool to mine and my dad's record collections are

almost identical now, I think. So it's, yeah, it's cool to have that. Sam, love you, man. It's been a joy. Thanks for coming. Let's just carry on hanging out out there. Yeah, we'll go out there and hang out. Thanks, bro. Thanks for having me. Congrats on the record. Thank you. Appreciate it. And the tour. Thanks for being the best. Man, you're the best. Thank you for listening to Artist Friendly. We really appreciate it. If you like the show, you can also follow us on Spotify. You can follow us on Instagram at artist.friendly. And you can watch us on YouTube and Veeps. Leave comments.

I always read them. See you next time.