We’re extremely thankful over here at PropertyOfZack for how great some bands treat us, and the lovely dudes in Transit are certainly one of those bands. We couldn’t be more proud of how far they have come in the last year and of how incredible their new mini-LP, Something Left Behind, is. Tim Landers was kind enough to have a detailed conversation with me a few weeks ago to discuss the release, signing to Rise Records, touring, a new 7” for Record Store Day, and hitting the studio for the band’s next LP in June, among other topics. Please read up on it; Transit certainly deserves any and all press that comes their way!

For the record, could you state your name and role in Transit?
My name is Tim. I play guitar and sing in Transit.
 
It’s been a hectic few months for the band, to say the least. In December along it was announced that you along with Man Overboard had signed to Rise and then went on a big European tour with those guys as well. How was that run of dates?
It was really, really awesome. It was a blast. First off, it was with our best friends in Man Overboard, so that made everything really cool. We got to see parts of the world that I never thought I’d see. We got to play a bunch of really, really cool shows. It was just a mind-blowing experience.
 
2010 as a whole was such a fantastic year for Transit with major touring and the release of a critically acclaimed and fan favorite record in Keep This To Yourself. How would you describe the last year?
It was a good year. It was very, very busy for us. We were on the road for months at a time and we got the record out. We worked real hard putting the record together and recording it. It was really exciting to get that out. It was really cool to tour as much as we did. I think I got to see the entire United States like three or four times in 2010 alone. It was a big changing year for us. We finally all quit our jobs and stopped going to school and started doing Transit full time. It was nice to be able to do what we wanted. We made a lot of new friends, did a lot of cool things, and had a good time.
 
The band went into the studio in November with your producer Jesse Cannon to record Something Left Behind, which comes out on February 22^nd. Can you talk about how the idea came together to rerecord acoustic versions of full-band tracks and release a few new ones as well?
It was something we wanted to do for a while. We were going to maybe try to do it before Keep This To Yourself came out, but we just didn’t have time or the means of doing it. We always liked the idea of taking a few of the old songs and doing an acoustic version of it as a reminder and a look back at what we had done before. It came together when we finally had some time to do a more mellow and acoustic release. We decided to take one song from each release and remake it into an acoustic version with three new acoustic songs and one extra bonus track. I’m really, really happy with how it came out.
 
How was your time in the studio with Jesse this go-around?
It was awesome; he moved his studio out into a different room and that was the first time we got to record in that room with him. It was awesome. I can’t say enough good words about how much I am content with the production on this release and how well he did on it. It was a great time. We love working with Jesse.
 
I’ve had the chance to listen to the EP already and all four of the new songs are just fantastic. Was the writing process for them any different than for the songs on Keep This To Yourself?
It was definitely different. A lot of songs didn’t even come together until we were at the studio in pre-production. The songs really just existed in Garageband format originally, so I’m really happy with how it came together.
 
The last song,“1978,” features the full-band and is not an acoustic track. Was it originally going to be acoustic?
Well, we kind of wanted to do a bonus track for the release. It was an idea that Jesse had. We wanted to throw something with a newer vibe to it. That song is funny because we wrote it while we were on tour and it was a completely different song. Then two days before we went into the studio I just didn’t like the way the music sounded. So we took it and completely rewrote everything underneath the vocal track. The vocals stayed exactly the same, but all the music was completely rewritten. It just turned into a completely different song. It’s my favorite song that we’ve ever recorded so far. I’m happy with how that came out.
 
Is there a possibility for the acoustic tracks to eventually be turned into full-band tracks?
We’ll see what happens. As of right now, they’re just going to stay like that. We thought about playing a couple of them live so we’d have to transform it into an electric version. As of right now, they’re going to stay there.
 
The band released “Just Go, Just Leave” a day or two ago. How has the reaction to that been so far?
I think it’s been good [Laughs]. I didn’t see anyone be like, “Wow, this sucks.” I think that’s one of my favorite songs.
 
Something Left Behind is being released on Mightier Than Sword Records. How did that deal come about? Why isn’t it being released on Run For Cover or even Rise?
It was in our transitional period between signing to Rise and just getting out record out on Run For Cover. Jeff had a lot of things going on over at Run For Cover and RJ, the dude who runs Mightier Than Sword, is just a dude that we’ve wanted to work with for a while. We love that label. Such Gold are some of our best friends. We’re really into all of things that he’s done. It was a cool opportunity to do the release with him and he was passionate about doing it. It came together like that.
 
The band has also started releasing weekly covers on Transit Thursdays. Will you guys do that as long as you have songs to cover?
Yeah, we just thought it would be cool. Whenever we listen to music we’re like, “We should cover this song,” but we never ended up doing that. We were stuck in a snowstorm last week and we were sitting around and me and Joe B were sitting around and playing some songs and we wanted to post a video of it. Them the idea of just posting a video once a week came about. We’re just going to keep doing it once a week and see how long we can keep it going for.
 
Transit just recently finished up some dates on two separate tours with Daytrader and Less Than Jake. Can you talk about each tour?
It was very, very awesome. The first leg of the tour with Daytrader and Into It. Over It. was a blast. Both those bands are awesome people; well, both those bands and one dude are awesome people. That was really cool. We got to meet the Daytrader dudes for the first time. They’re going to be a great band. They’re already doing awesome things. Evan from Into It. Over It. is just amazing. He’s just so awesome. The dates with Less Than Jake were different for us. We were playing on big stages with sound systems to a thousand people. It was a different thing for us. It was really cool. It was a Less Than Jake show, so half the kids only like ska music, so we’re opening up the show and everyone’s just staring at us like, “What the fuck?” [Laughs]. In a way, that’s weird, but in a way, we love that. It was cool to turn heads like that. I know that never in a million years would that person go out of their way to listen to Transit. At least they got to see it and judge for themselves.
POZ: Was it eye opening to play to that many people? It’ll be a good warm-up for Senses Fail.
Tim: It was cool to warm-up with a few shows like that. It was definitely eye opening. It’s a cool feeling. I felt myself feeling more comfortable on a stage with a thousand people than I do playing in a room to fifty people. I felt less awkward for some reason. We got some room too. It was nice.
 
The band will be heading out with their partners in crime, Man Overboard, as well as Senses Fail on a monstrous spring tour. How stoked are you for that one?
It’s going to be really, really cool. It’s probably like the biggest tour we’ve ever done. We’re happy to be doing it with Man Overboard. It’s going to be cool. We’re psyched to play more big venues and cool stages. It’s going to be a blast.
 
Could any of the new songs be worked into the set like you mentioned before?
Maybe. I don’t know. Don’t quote me on that [Laughs].
 
You confirmed just a few days ago that the band would indeed be playing at Bamboozle this year among a crazy lineup. Will you guys be out on the road before and after that as well, or is it a one-off?
We’re not sure yet, to be honest with you. We’re deciding whether or not if we’re going to do a tour into that. In June, we’re going to start recording our new record. We just want to make sure that we have as much time as possible in May to perfect things and make sure we can write the best record that we can. Hopefully we’ll be doing some dates. Knowing us, we probably will be.
 
Can you walk us through the process of signing with Rise? I know the deal came together for Man Overboard when Transit’s tour with Fireworks hit Portland. Was it the same for you guys?
No, it was not the same for us. We were still on that tour and we got an anonymous email asking what we were doing for future releases, so I ended up talking to that person and it turned out they worked at Rise. We were kind of like, “Why are you talking to us? We don’t sound anything like any of your bands.” We got to sit down with them and really just talk about things and find out that they’re into a lot of things that we are and just have this monstrous trend, which is awesome for them. They did a great job blowing that kind of music up. The fact that they’re into us and Man Overboard and a band like Sharks was eye opening to us. So after a while of thinking about it, we decided to work with them. It was a cool process. They’re really cool people. We’re happy to be a part of the label.
 
I’ve spoken to Craig and he was overwhelmingly assuring that he is making a good home for you and Man Overboard on the label in terms of sound, but I assume you guys had some fears with signing at first, right?
We had some fears. Not fears about the label and how they would support and take care of us, but about the way our fans would react to it. When we finally did announce it, there were obviously people not psyched on it, but I don’t know, I don’t think that what label you’re on matters as much as it did in the past. We just want to be with people that are going to be able to support us and really just help us do what we want to do. We have a lot to thank for our fans that support us, but at the same time, it is what it is.
 
That being said, how is the relationship so far?
Yeah, it’s been great. We haven’t put a release out yet, but we’ve got something in the works now. We’re going to be putting out a 7” on Rise within the next couple months for Record Store Day. We’re going to start recording that next week. I don’t know if I’m supposed to be talking about this. Then we’re recording in June for our full-length that’s going to come out in the fall. They’ve been great to us.
POZ: Where’s the 7” being recorded?
Tim: We’re doing it at a studio up here.
POZ: Is that just one or two songs?
Tim: Yeah, it’s two new songs.
POZ: So those are all written?
Tim: We wrote them in the past couple weeks. They’re cool.
POZ: Would you say the sound is similar to “1978”?
Tim: Yes. More “1978” than Keep This To Yourself.
 
Was it tough to leave Run For Cover?
No, not really. Jeff has been a close friend for a long time. He gets us whether or not he 100% supported the decision. It was okay. We were free to do what we wanted. We put out Stay Home and Keep This To Yourself on Run For Cover. I’d like to think he was okay with it. I think we’re still friends [Laughs].
 
Jesse has told me that it was an odd sort of feeling for him to pick a producer for your next full-length just because of his prior work with the band. Was it odd for the band to go a different route as well?
Yeah, it was. We’ve worked with Jesse for the past couple things we’ve done. He gets us, he knows how we work, he knows how to get us to work. We still plan on working with Jesse in the future whenever we can. It’s just that going in a different direction is better for different releases. We’re trying to take it one step of a time and figure out where the best home for each song is.
 
A September/Octoberrelease looks good for the record?
Yeah, we’re shooting for September right now.
POZ: When would you guys like to get out of the studio by?
Tim: Uh, we’re going to be in there for all of June. Hopefully we’ll be out of there by the first couple weeks of July.
POZ: How far along is the writing process?
Tim: It’s coming along. We’ve got a handful of songs already together. We’re working on some new ones as well. The writing process is going well. I think they’re the coolest songs we’ve ever written. We’re psyched on getting the album together.
POZ: Twelve tracks is the plan?
Tim: We’re shooting for in between eleven and twelve. Keep This To Yourself is a little bit longer, so we’re going to try to make this one a little bit shorter.
POZ: Can you reveal the producer?
Tim: I don’t think I’m allowed too. I’ve already talked about too many stupid things I haven’t told anyone.
 
Should we expect touring once you guys are out of the studio?
Absolutely. We will be getting back on the road as soon as we come. We’re going to try to wait until we get the record out for out of the country touring as well.

It was announced back in early November that Misser, your side-project, would be releasing a tape via Lost Tape Collective. A release date was set for January 18^th and pre-orders were taken. Was this scrapped? What’s the situation with that release right now?
[Laughs] No, no it wasn’t scrapped. It’s coming. I actually talked to Justin, from Lost Tape, last night about it and he has the tapes and books all done. They’ll probably be shipping out in the next week or so.
POZ: So nothing with those songs have changes once it was announced that Brad joined in?
Tim Landers: Nothing has changed with those songs. About a month or so ago when Transit were on tour in California, I met up with Brad and we did some more songs. We recorded three more tracks. A couple of them are songs from the first recording session that I did on my own. We redid two of those and did another one. It’s both me and Brad singing over them. That should be coming out sometime in the next few months as well. That came out really cool too. It’s really awesome to have him be a part of it.
POZ: Were there plans to work more on that Daytrader tour?
 
Tim: No, we didn’t have any set plans. The songs are done, they’re just getting mixed and mastered. We’re both caught up in our other bands. Obviously This Time Next Year is first priority for him and Transit is first priority for me. We’re just trying to do it when we have some time.
 
Will the new songs share vocals from the both of you?
Yeah, definitely. We both sing about the same amount.

Will the new tracks be released on Lost Tape as well?
I have no idea to be honest with you.
 
How do you differentiate what material goes to Misser or Transit?
Those songs were just kind of written in a different way. The song and vocals came together all at the same time. It didn’t really have anything to do with Transit from the start.
 
And the plan is to work together whenever you both have some spare time?
Yeah, we try to send demos back and forth online and stuff because we literally live 3,000 miles from each other. Any time he’s over here or I’m over there we’re going to get together to work on stuff.
 
Thanks so much for your time, is there anything else you’d like to add or that we should be on the lookout for?
No, just that the new EP is coming out on February 22^nd and we’re going on tour in March. That’s about it.