SW FEATURE: Backstage with – letlive.

If success and popularity, in a musical context, is akin to climbing a mountain then letlive. may as well be at the summit.

Equally, when using the band as a case study, we see a direct contradiction to the notion that nice guys finish last.

It’s a warts and all approach for letlive. Painfully honest as individuals and just as sincerely transparent as musicians, the Los Angeles outfit are enjoying their “moment”.

Frontman Jason Aalon Butler is dynamic, bordering on uncontrollable on stage. Off it, he is articulate, candid and precise. The love of music and appreciation of the opportunity afforded to him and his band mates is reflected in his typically humble demeanour.

“You’re only afforded so much room to be “that” person in your life – socially, mentally and physically. That’s how this music compels me. I give into it and become a vessel as opposed to like a conductor of my own actions – I just let it happen. I know it sounds silly but that’s just how I see it,” Butler says.

It’s very much a ‘leave nothing in the tank’ type proposition. If you’re going to try something, you may as well give it everything you have.

“I go through a lot physically but also just as much emotionally and mentally, and I enjoy it. In some ironic way, the dangers and close calls, and enduring all that, it really enhances what this is for me. All of this is more than just words and more than just music,” the singer adds.

Day XVIII //Melbourne, Australia Melbourne knows ll.ove Make yourself known. #youareletlive http://t.co/3NSYRUZc4D

— letlive. (@thisisletlive) March 1, 2014

Pre-show at Melbourne’s Soundwave, Butler share insights into the world of letlive., with the musician offering tales of his time in Australia.

“I’ve been taking time off with my girlfriend. She happens to be an artist as well and she happened to be in Sydney writing for her next record.”

“She had lived in Sydney for [about] six years, so she knew places to go. I went and saw Sydney as a city as opposed to a tourist at the hotel.”

Show-wise, the confidence this time around is attributed to the validation and self-affirmation a successful main support run with Deftones on the band’s last visit to our shores created.

“That’s one of the bands that started my interest in rock music,” Butler says in reference to Deftones.

The measuring stick though was the response from Deftones fans. Much like Slayer listeners, if they aren’t feeling the support they don’t place nice. Fortunately and justifiably, letlive. enjoyed more than a healthy response. It was positive for deserved reasons.

“It’s very clear and candid how they [Deftones fans] feel about what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Those people were so gracious to us because they didn’t have to listen, they didn’t have to clap, they didn’t have to give a fuck but they did,” the singer recalls.

Peer support is of similar consideration for the group. While, Australia and Soundwave is the main topic of conversation, the current ‘Renditions’ project creates interest.

Fans have received the first taste thanks to a solid collaboration with respected fellow artist – Every Time I Die’s Keith Buckley.

“Keith and I became friends a few years back and I always looked up to him as a lyrical superior.”

“When I decided to initiate this Renditions series, he was one of the first people I thought of right off the bat.”

“I feel like I can liken our music or our vibe or our approach to Every Time I Die in a lot of fashions. Being able to share this with Keith was amazing – he just killed it. He’s so good. His nature as an artist is so grand, there’s so much to be said about it. He put his signature on it,” Butler says.

Forever modest, Butler is acutely aware that his band is now in a position to help out up and coming bands in the same ways others helped letlive.

“It’s really cool that we are now, somewhat in a position to pay it forward.”

Good things to good people.