PERFECT WORLD- BROOKLYN, NY
Brooklyn NY’s Perfect World officially got together in March of 2018 and went on to put out their 4 song demo that August. The band consists of: Chad-vocals, Jay-bass, Brian-guitar, Aaron-guitar and Jimmy-drums. To date they have played less than half a dozen shows and are currently working on their debut full length. Their sound is undeniably infused with raw NYHC influences which is probably most evident within the first minute of their demo on the track “Explaining Myself” that features one of those old-school intro busts that can get a crowd off their asses and going bananas. For this article Perfect World was kind enough to give us an exclusive “rehearsal room” look at their new song “Exchange” which can be found within this interview as well. We caught up with their frontman Chad Leddy in this March 2019 interview. Graphics by: Bas Spierings
PERFECT WORLD AT THE HIDEOUT IN BROOKLYN, NY 2018. PHOTO BY: REBECCA REED
IE: What’s up Chad? I guess the thing that is crazy to me with Perfect World is the fact that you are a new New York hardcore band playing NYHC inspired music yet no one in the band is originally from New York! Where are you guys all from and how long have you been living here now?
Chad: I moved here 10 years ago, just to get back on the East Coast, I had been living in San Diego for 6 years and wanted to change things up. The rest of us have been living here for various amounts of time, ranging from over a decade to a few years. Members are originally from New Jersey, New Orleans, Memphis, Rhode Island and Missouri.
IE: You were telling me that the band started as this low expectations and low commitment type of band but quickly grew and sort of took off on you guys. Can you talk about the earliest stages of the band... how you found each other and how the low expectations thing turned into more than that?
Chad: I've been friends with Jay since 2002 when I was living in South Carolina and he was going to art school in Savannah. Brian was always a friend of a friend, but we linked up at the Raybeez tribute and talked about starting the band up. Jay had known Jimmy for a while from going to shows here, and I actually met Aaron on the Bridge 9 board. When we first started, we talked about wanting to do a New York Hardcore band, and like previously stated, this idea for this band came together at the Raybeez tribute in the park. Once we all got together, we realized we were having a great time and that we really enjoyed the songs we were writing, and it quickly turned into a band where we would practice every week.
PERFECT WORLD AT THE HIDEOUT IN BROOKLYN, NY 2018. PHOTO BY: REBECCA REED
IE: What hardcore bands do you guys all seem to agree on that you like? Would you say that the band draws influences from outside the hardcore punk music scene as well and if so what types of music or bands?
Chad: It’s so hard to narrow it down to just a few bands. We have all been listening to punk, hardcore and metal our whole lives and have been involved in multiple scenes. It’s so easy to list the obvious NYHC bands that we love, Breakdown, Cro-Mags, etc, but the truth is, we are fans of the genre. There’s definitely some outside influence, Brian has an encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock and heavy metal bands that I can’t even wrap my head around. Jimmy is one of the most positive people I have ever met, and such a talented drummer, he comes from a metal background and I think you can hear that in our music.
IE: How do you guys feel like you have been accepted so far in New York? Your demo from last year seems like it is exactly what fans of NYHC would be into yet I don't hear or feel that much of a buzz just yet. Has it been difficult to stand out to this point in your opinion?
Chad: The few shows we have played so far have been mixed bills, and we have had positive reactions, but in the end, what matters is that we are having a great time. We have some shows lined up and what matters to us is that we are writing songs that we enjoy playing. I think as long as we keep putting in the work, more people will hear us and if they like us, great, if not, thanks for at least checking us out.
IE: Can you talk about the new recording you are working on? When is recording? How many songs? When do you think it will be out and all that fun stuff?
Chad: We have been working on our first record for a while now. We still aren’t sure exactly how many songs will be on it, that’s a topic we have been debating. Right now, we have about 8 or 9 songs ready to record. We are looking into getting in the studio in the next couple of months and releasing something in the summer and hopefully things pan out and we can sort out a vinyl release. Everything is up in the air right now, but like I said before, we are just having a great time with all of this and we feel lucky to be able to work together and create something as a band.
IE: 1-833-SICK-NYC is the bands telephone hotline which I think is a great and funny idea. Please tell me that people are calling in and leaving some hilarious messages! What other kind of info are you giving out there and how much does it even cost to run a hotline number like that?
Chad: When we first put the number out there we got a bunch of calls, and then when the Axe To Grind podcast played our song, “Breaking News”, they gave us a call while recording. We got so many messages from people giving praise to the demo. On the hotline, you can listen to the song, “Reaching Out”, from our demo, hear upcoming shows, and leave a message. I think there’s actually a way that people can call my phone directly through the hotline, too. It cost $40 to set the number up and then I pay $10 a month to keep it. The best message was the Axe To Grind shoutout, and the funniest was a prank call about Cheese Doodles and trying to contact the Cheese Doodle hotline. The worst voicemails we get, and this has only happened a couple times, are from some weird pay to play company that usually emails bands. They started with emails and now they have started leaving voicemail. Everyone who is reading this should call the hotline and leave a message, even if it has nothing to do with the demo, just call to say what’s up, tell us to check out your band, or tell us something funny.
IE: That’s all I have. Anything else you wanted to add before we wrap this up? Thanks for your time!
Chad: Check out these bands: Ekulu, Combust, Reaction, Raw Force, and catch us at an upcoming show!
AN EXCLUSIVE "REHEARSAL ROOM" LOOK AT PERFECT WORLD'S NEW SONG "EXCHANGE"
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH
CLICK BELOW TO STREAM OR DOWNLOAD PERFECT WORLD'S 4 SONG 2018 DEMO
WATCH PERFECT WORLD'S VIDEO FOR THE TRACK "BREAKING NEWS" BY CLICKING BELOW
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