At the press conference for the Simple Plan Foundation’s benefit event that took place last week, the members of the band were also available for interviews. One such interview has been done with David by Confront Magazine. You can now have a look at a couple of pictures from this interview and also read through the interview (or check it out at the Confront Mag’s page):
CONFRONT: What are you most proud of accomplishing with the foundation this year?
DAVID: We’ve reached a higher number than the previous year, which is always exciting; 265 000$ for a total of 1.265 million dollars [since the beginning of the foundation]. Some of the donations are going to new organizations, which is always exciting too! It’s all moving forward for us and we’re looking forward to next year to donate even more.
We are partnering with CHU Sainte-Justine to create a transition between what [the kids] go through as patients and normal life. There’s also Sick Kids in Toronto, which I’m very fond of because I made a friend through them. We’re doing stuff with War Child as always. There’s a big civil war in Syria, in the Philippines the big typhoon just happened and there is so much going on around the world!
CONFRONT: That’s true! And it’s great that you guys can react really quickly to what’s happening too. And you mentionned giving to new organizations this year, where does the final decision lie when it comes to where the money goes?
DAVID: There’s a few times in the year when we all get together with everybody that’s working with the foundation. All these people do such amazing work by helping us and steering us in the right direction. We all have our differences and we’re all attached to different causes so it’s always good to have people helping us [when it comes to those decisions].
CONFRONT: And what is a cause that you hold dear and that you think is underrated and that people aren’t aware of enough?
DAVID: I would say maybe GRIS which goes up against homophobia. I mean, why treat homosexuals differently? It’s so retarded when you think about it. It’s 2013 and people still act like this? It must be really hard for [homosexuals and bisexuals]. What they’re dealing with as far as sexuality and stuff, it’s their own business and it shouldn’t be anyone else’s. So I think GRIS is underrated and I think everyone should think about it for a second.
CONFRONT: I agree! And to be honest, this was an organization that I wasn’t familiar with before.
DAVID: Well there you go! Now you know a little about it.
CONFRONT: Where do you see the Simple Plan Foundation in four years, when it hits the decade mark?
DAVID: Hopefully, still doing great things with great people onboard. There’s some organizations that we’re partnering up with so that every year, we give them a certain amount. Like CHU Sainte-Justine, we’re giving them 150 000$ over three years so it’s like a three-year contract! And it’s our pleasure to do that; it’s fun because we can see the evolution of the help that we give them so it’s really rewarding. It’s nice.
CONFRONT: I can only imagine! Now, going away from that subject a little bit, I want to talk a little bit about the EP you guys are set to release!
DAVID: Yeah! It’s coming out at the end of November. It has seven songs and I personally think it’s amazing!
CONFRONT: I hope so! It’s your music so you’re supposed to be proud of it.
DAVID: Absolutely! And there’s one song called “Fire In My Heart” and it’s one of my favorite and I hope people like it! It’s to keep people busy listening to our music and at the same time as when we’ll be working on our next record. It’s a little “hey! don’t forget about us!”
CONFRONT: “We’re still here!”
DAVID: Yeah!
CONFRONT: And how would you compare it to your previous work?
DAVID: It’s very versatile but at the same time, it’s really rocking! There’s one track that is acoustic that is a bit different for us because the whole song is acoustic and we might play it tonight! [Note: They did, it was “Lucky One”] Then there’s “Fire In My Heart” is a really good pop nugget. All the songs are quite rocking so get ready to rock!
CONFRONT: And is that the direction that the next album is going in?
DAVID: I guess! It’s very positive, high energy pop/rock! It’s what we love.
CONFRONT: Classic Simple Plan!
DAVID: Yeah!
CONFRONT: Well that’s it for me, thank you for your time and have a great show tonight!
DAVID: Thank you, have a good night!