Interview: Ace Enders

Having only just self-released his new album, 'The World We Know', Alter The Press! sat down with Ace Enders of I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business to speak about how the band originated, the new album and how it was sold for 99 cents on Amazon early, clearing up rumors about The Early November and more.

Alter The Press: What made you want to start 'I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody's Business'?'
Ace Enders: It started originally as a side project a long time ago, and now has become what I do, but, originally, it was something that I could do that didn’t have any rules. My other band, at the time, was sort of in a genre that you couldn't really get out of; this was sort of my escape from that.

ATP: You just released your second album, 'The World We Know'. How has the response been so far?
Ace: Very good, I have been really excited. Everyone has been really supportive.

ATP: You sold 1,000 copies in the first day, what was your first response when seeing the figures?
Ace: Very exciting, I don't think anyone was expecting it to do super well but it's cool.

ATP: The situation with Amazon selling the album early, for 99 cents. What exactly happened?
Ace: I have no idea; no one is really taking the blame, so it's kind of difficult. It's either the company who gives it to Amazon to put up, or them [Amazon] but no one is accepting the blame.

ATP: But this sort of thing never really happens.
Ace: This is the kind of thing that happens to me, so I was kind of expecting it, but it worked out for the best. But, this being the first album I've self-released, it sort of made it discouraging, because I have a lot riding on this right now, so it's kind of intense, but what can you do.

ATP: What made you then, go on to sell the album on the ‘pay-what-you-want’ idea?
Ace: I've always wanted to do it, but never had the opportunity. With me self-releasing it, I can do pretty much what I want, so it's great, and it's a great way for people to pay attention to it that day.

ATP: What was the highest someone paid, do you know?
Ace: The highest someone paid was $100, but half of the people paid one penny.

ATP: How would you compare the self-titled album to 'The World We Know'?
Ace: I think they are both similar in the way that it's somewhat of a flow, and they are both, for me anyway, honest. But this new one is just like a newer version of it.

ATP: With the self-titled being released in 2004, have you been sitting on a lot of these new songs for a while, or were they written recently?
Ace: They were written pretty recently; I haven't been hanging out with them for too long.

ATP: Does 'I Can Make A Mess....' have plans for any overseas shows?
Ace: Not yet, but I hope so very soon. I'd love to have plans but not yet.

ATP: Will there ever be an Early November (Ace's old band) reunion?
Ace: No.

ATP: Would you rule it out?
Ace: I'm not saying never for sure, but most likely, never. Maybe one show here or there, but not a like a reunion. There maybe be a show, like a one time thing, but I would be surprised if there was a reunion. I can't see it happening anytime soon.

ATP: Would you rule out another Early November record.
Ace: I would, because I wanted to do it, and another tour, but no one else did.

ATP: What is planned straight after the tour with Copeland?
Ace: We are going to record another album, do a headlining tour in the fall, and have another record out in the winter.

ATP: Have you already started work on the next album?
Ace: Yes, and the next one after that, so we are doing three this year, and the third one will be completely digital.

'The World We Know' is out now.

- Jon Ableson