The Devil Wears Prada’s Mike Hranica on Two Decades, New Album ‘Flowers,’ and a Pandemic-Fueled awakening
The enduring power of music, echoing sentiments shared by literary giants like Lewis Carroll, William Shakespeare, and Edgar Allan Poe – all of whom posited that “Life is but a dream” – is vividly embodied by The Devil Wears Prada. Frontman Mike Hranica recently joined SPOTLIGHT REPORT to discuss the band’s remarkable journey, fulfilling fan expectations, expanding their reach, and the arrival of their upcoming album, Flowers.
Reflecting on two decades in the music industry, Hranica shared a sentiment of disbelief, stating, “I still can’t believe we’re still be doing this.” The band’s recent support slot for Bullet For My valentine on “The Poison Tour” was described as an “amazing possibility” they “could absolutely not say ‘no’ to.”
The tour included a third performance at Brisbane’s Riverstage, a venue Hranica fondly remembers sharing with bands like Parkway Drive and A Day To Remember. He expressed gratitude for having played in Australia eight times throughout his career, with three performances at the iconic Riverstage. This success reflects a broader trend of increasing concert attendance worldwide.
The upcoming album, Flowers, slated for release November 14, represents a continuation of the momentum built with their previous release, color Decay. Hranica explained that the pandemic served as a pivotal moment,instilling a renewed sense of purpose. “Coming out of the pandemic really instilled something in us and,kind of,lit a fire,” he said. “It started with Color Decay,and it just developed some more momentum,coming into Flowers.” He and bandmate Jeremy DePoyster have reflected on how far they’ve come, noting they wouldn’t have imagined creating music like this when they began playing at age 16.
The band’s discography, encompassing nine studio albums and five EPs, is a testament to their commitment to artistic evolution. Recognizing the impact of earlier works like With Roots, lauded by Revolver as one of the “5 Greatest Metalcore Albums,” and the visionary Zombie EPs, Hranica emphasized the importance of continuous experimentation.
A turning point for the band, according to Hranica, was the release of Salt. “When we put that out, it achieved way more success than we anticipated at all,” he noted. This success paved the way for tours with BearTooth and August Burns Red, attracting a wider audience. The band has also seen increased positive reception with the release of their latest single, “Everybody Knows.”
Hranica attributes much of the band’s creative synergy to his collaboration with Jeremy DePoyster and Jon gering, who joined The Devil Wears Prada 13-14 years ago. He described Gering as a “genius” whose musical intuition allows the band to seamlessly blend vocal styles. “That’s what I know, and I do my best not to take it for granted,” Hranica said, hinting at the foundation for their tenth studio album.
the band’s process, whether DePoyster tracks first or Hranica leads, is fluid and collaborative. With Flowers, DePoyster features more prominently vocally, prompting Hranica to focus on complementing and adding “grit” to the tracks.
The release of Flowers is eagerly anticipated by fans, and Hranica expressed his excitement for listeners to experience the album in its entirety. He concluded by expressing gratitude for the support they’ve received and looking forward to returning to Australia soon. you can find “Where The Flowers Never Grow + Wave” out now: https://tdwp.ffm.to/flowersgrow and Flowers arriving November 14: https://tdwp.ffm.to/flowers.
