There is no doubt that Chris Conley from Saves The Day is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. His battle with deep complex emotions have been on display now for over fifteen years. The driving force behind the band talks to us in length about the importance of the recently completed trilogy of records, (2006’s Sound The Alarm, 2007’s Under The Boards and last years Daybreak ), his songwriting techniques and suggests that the band may have a surprise or two for us when they play Soundwave in February.

Daybreak was the final album in the trilogy, now that you can look back at all three albums, do you feel you’ve achieved artistically what was planned when you began the writing for the albums?

Absolutely! Originally it started out as my own personal therapy to bring me out of the dark place I was in and learn to live in peace. For me when I’m singing the songs on stage or listening to the trilogy, I get the feeling of transition out of the darkness and into the light. I’m incredibly proud of it and feel it’s a great accomplishment to write a 37 song piece and have it transition from one album to the next.

The three records come from a very personal space and it feels like you’ve used it to exorcise some demons, was that the case and can you say you’ve moved forward?

Yeah, I feel like I’m in a different place as a human. I’ve done a complete 180 from where I was when I started the trilogy. The music I write has always been a reflection of whats going on in my mind and in my heart.

In terms of moving on the next albums will be alot more positive and uplifting. I feel I’ve done all the soul searching that I needed to do. The root of all my complicated emotions, I’ve pinned them down, shined a light on them and called them out, so i feel like I’m finally comfortable to live in my own skin and in a world of complications.

I feel excited about new material and moving on in the future with the band.

I found on YouTube the documentary video you made for the release of the album. How did the idea came about?

We met a director called Stephen Penzer. It was an idea he had, letting the band tell it’s own story. Our record label thought it would be a great addition to the album as extra, added content. We thought it was a great idea to. Stephen seemed to understand the history of the band and the relevance of the band. And we felt really comfortable opening up. Letting people know what we really feel. Penzer should be given a lot of credit for that.

You’ve mentioned in other interviews about looking to record the next album this year. Was it a case where you had a new lease of life and the creative juices were still flowing or that you needed to separate yourself from what you’ve just accomplished?

I’m always writing, even when I was starting the trilogy, I was writing songs that didn’t fit the trilogy so I put them aside. While I was writing the trilogy I was aware of what songs would work and what wouldn’t. But as I’m writing songs, I’m not thinking about what type of songs I write. I just let them come to me. I might hear a melody as I’m falling asleep, I’ll sing it into the recorder. I had hundreds of ideas that didn’t work in the concept of the trilogy that are sitting around waiting for the band to flesh out.

I’m just an extremely passionate songwriter and love music so much, I’m constantly working on new music. This is why I like doing this. Working on new ideas that are constantly swirling in my mind. I just try to catch it when it comes on.

When you do sit down to write, how does it all come together for you?

Typically I just wait for those little melodies that are floating around my head and sing them in my recorder so I don’t forget it. Then later on I’ll pick up the guitar and figure out chords that complement that melody. Thats typically how it begins. I get a melody and play around with it with the chords over and over. While playing, typically another idea will branch out on it sown. As a musician you know how music has its own way of evolve and resolve. Some chords will naturally resolve with one another. I never think about where it’s going to go I just let the melody be the driving force. And then the lyrics are always last.

Another way I write songs is sometimes when playing guitar, exploring new chords or a relationship between two chords that I’ve never noticed before and then a melody will pop into my mind while playing. I find it hard to write a melody, I have to let them come to me.

Are you the kind of guy who has that book of lyrics to jot things down or do you wait until you have that finished song?

It’s a bit of both. I do keep a journal of lyrics and lyric ideas. Even if it’s two words or something funny that pops into my head like ‘Glow Sticks’, I’ll just write it down. Later on when I have a song that's in a skeleton structure, I can go to my lyrics journal and start picking things out of that.

How does it feel when a band cites Saves The Day as an influence or like Yellowcard did, names drop you in a song? Did you ever think that you would have just an impact?

It’s surreal in a beautiful way when bands come up to me and say “We wouldn’t have started without you.” I never started the band to try and do anything other than write songs. The fact that these little songs I’ve been working on over the years, inspire others to make music is a really beautiful thing. Of all the musicians I’ve met over the years that have been influenced by Saves The Day it’s become almost overwhelming. I can’t wrap my head around it. If I start to think about it too much, it’s almost as if my mind shuts down! It creates a strange butterfly effect, so I don’t think about it to much so when someone comes up to me, I feel humbled and I appreciate it.

What albums are having an impact on you at the moment?

Two album last year. Peter, Bjorn & John’s Gimme Some and Tom Waits new record Bad As Me. I love the lyrics and the weird production on the Tom Waits album. Similarity with the Peter, Bjorn & John album with its quirky production. Their songs are these tight little pop gems that sounds like a garage band playing sixties pop. So I really like that album a lot. Oh and the debut release from Wild Flag is really great to!

Your returning to Australia to play Soundwave again, what is it about this festival you love being apart of?

We love it! We did it ’09 and was supposed to be on Soundwave Revolution before it was cancelled. But the tour in ’09 was one of the best touring experiences we’ve ever had. I’ve been dying to come back ever since. Our first tour of Australia was in 2004 with The Get Up Kids and that was an incredible experience. We realised how warm the audiences are. The reception we got was just a beautiful thing. Sometimes we play shows and people don’t react much but when we come to Australia and feel that enthusiasm is just a lot of fun.

I’m also excited to be sharing the stage with so many great bands and good friends and bands I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s going to be a really great experience.

I know last year you were meant to play two sets with one covering Weezer’s "Pinkerton. Is still going to happen this year?

[pauses] I’m not exactly sure if I’m allowed to say anything. But I will tell you stay tuned!

We recently had Good Charlotte out here covering the Blue Album which I found odd. I think if one band would do Pinkerton justice it’s Saves The Day.

[laughs] Well we did do it for a festival last year and we had so much fun doing it, we wish we could take it on the road and do it every single night because it was that much fun.

We’ll see if we get to do that. We were told we sounded pretty darn good!

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http://www.soundwavefestival.com/

Also supporting Thursday at the following shows:

Monday February 27 - The Metro Theatre, Sydney - Lic/AA
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au

Wednesday February 29 - Billboard, Melbourne - 18
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au, www.oztix.com.au and www.moshtix.com.au