Exclusive Interview: Between the Trees

Some bands struggle for years and years to make it, but in just four short years, Between the Trees has taken root. The critically acclaimed pop/rock band recently released their sophomore CD, Spain, which promptly debuted as itunes’ #29 top selling album, and #6 top selling rock album; and on the Billboard 200, #4 on Billboard’s Heatseeker chart.

The band will bring their alt-rock songs of love and heartbreak on the road as part of their national Absolute Punk.Net “Next Favorite Band” tour.

Singer Ryan Kirkland is joined musically by brothers Jeremy Butler on bass and Josh Butler on drums after recently bidding farewell to keyboardist Wes Anderson, who left for family life, and guitarist Brad Kriebel. Kirkland and the Butler brothers were the founding members and now it’s come back to the beginning. For Kirkland, it will always come back to the music.

“(Our name) was probably a little too deep for our britches, but one tree represents beginning of everything and the other the end. We’re given a certain amount of time on earth and this is what we’re doing between the trees,” said explained Kirkland.

Time spent on the road promoting their first album, “The Story and The Song” inspired much of the second.

“I’d say the road definitely was probably the greatest motivation to this next record. The journey we’ve been on trying to sell the first and a lot of the triumphs on the way, plus missing home and missing loved ones, (inspired ‘Spain’),” said Kirkland. During that time way, the group has performed in front of thousands, with 400 live performances nationwide – on the Warped Tour for three consecutive years, and with such bands as Switchfoot, O.A.R., Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Flyleaf and Mae.

The second album moves away from the emo roots of their debut – the first single “We Can Try” is more a longing pop anthem, “Scarecrow” kicks off with melancholy piano and the beats drives through a song of regret and uncertainty while “Move” heads toward a splashy rock sound.

All of the songs, however, seem to touch on the big question of life and youth – love and loss – and that’s no coincidence.

“I think there’s a lot of love songs because we’re really in love. Our bass player married this past year and our drummer recently told us he thinks he’s going to marry his girlfriend. I’ve been in a relationship for four years and that’s funded every love song I’ve written with Between the Trees. We’re very much in love and care very deeply for the women in our lives,” said Kirkland.

Love and music blossoms throughout the Kirkland family. “Changed by You,” the final track on “Spain” was written mostly by Kirkland’s brother, Justin, when he proposed to his wife.

“He’d never written a love song for his now-wife, so it was really a huge deal. … I loved the opportunity to work with him to produce and reshape a little and it’s been cool to give it a little bit more of a lifeline to the rest of the world. If it hadn’t been on our record, it wouldn’t be more than something just between them,” said Kirkland.

For himself, Kirkland counts “Spain” as one of his favorites.

“I feel like from a musician’s standpoint and vocalist standpoint that stretches me and it’s cool to have that recorded, have that down, have proof of that,” Kirkland said.

Between the Trees has roamed near and far, but for Kirkland the best experience came in their hometown of Orlando, Fla.

“We had a big homecoming show and I think we were about to play to a sold out House of Blues and I just thought, ‘wow this is incredible.’ … We had an interview right before that show and someone asked us what it’s been like and looking back, the past three years was a blur and when we actually got questioned about it, I realized we’d done sold out tours, toured nationally with bands we’ve looked up to, made a record, a second record, shot a video. It’s been incredible, to have the dream and how quickly it’s happened,” said Kirkland.

To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com. To hear “We Can Try” or find out more about the band, visit www.betweenthetrees.net.