A Chat with Miss May I Lead Singer Levi Benton
We've gotta lot of tricks up our sleeves. I don't know what I can say yet, until we actually do it. But the production is pretty crazy and last year we always made the kids go a little too insane, we got in trouble a lot last year. I think that's what made us change to the main stage, 'cause we just made such an impact.
I think it's pretty crazy though, because now they're giving me even more power. Last year I was playing to 5,000 kids a day--having the biggest crowds at our stage. And this year it's 10,000 kids, so that's just more kids to make go crazy. It's the first time we've had this much power... so I'm excited to see what we can do with it. ~~ Levi Benton (Miss May I) on Headlining Vans Warped Tour 2012
As Miss May I prepares to take up residence as a headliner on the main stage at Vans Warped Tour 2012 I had a chance to chat with the band's lead singer Levi Benton. At the ripe old age of 21, Levi is already a veteran musician, he's been on the stages of most of the major American and European music festivals and Miss May I just released their much anticipated third album, At Heart, on Rise Records. Their previous album, Monument (2010), hit #10 on the Billboard music chart.
Miss May I is a melodic metal band from Troy, Ohio. From the time that their first album, Apologies Are for the Weak, claimed the #29 spot on Billboard's Heatseekers, the band has been on a meteoric rise, the culmination of which is the involvement of acclaimed music producer, Machine, on their latest album, At Heart.
Along with our discussion of Miss May I's rise to the top as a local Ohio band and their subsequent discovery by Chris Rubey of Devil Wears Prada, which led to the band getting their initial record contract, Levi also talked about why it's important for new bands to make the most of their experience on the local music scene.
Levi spoke as well about how working with a veteran producer like Machine completely changed his perspective on the music he is creating and the importance of making an impact every time he performs, whether it's in the studio or on-stage in front of a live audience.
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