The Dark Romantics
Words: Steven Hobbs
Photos: Chris Russick & Michael Spadoni


Hailing from Lakeland— home of Publix headquarters, methamphetamines and mega-churches — The Dark Romantics have created a sound that it is, like their moniker suggests, dark and intriguing.  

Eric Collins and Dean Paul are the band’s primary songwriters.  Eric’s wife, Carla, plays the bass while Dean’s wife, Amanda, commands the keys.  Drumming duties are forever rotating, passing from members of Band Marino to friends from California.

As evidence that this band is destined for greatness, Jason Martin, elder statesman and mastermind behind Starflyer 59, has taken a strong interest in The Dark Romantics.  He has recorded and produced the band’s upcoming album, serving as mentor and friend.  Having listened to Starflyer 59 since ninth grade, learned to play the guitar from their albums, plastered their posters in my room, and seen the band perform multiple times —most notably at the Refuge — I, for one, am both mightily impressed and extremely envious of the collaboration.

The band, when not on the road, can often be seen playing and hanging out at Lillian’s Music Store.  The venue, in the heart of downtown Lakeland, has become a meeting place for bands in the greater Orlando/Tampa music scene.  Bands like Summerbirds in the Cellar, The Heathens and Band Marino frequent the club and outsiders are beginning to find their way — despite incorrect directions from Google Maps — to Lakeland to see some of the most important bands in the region perform.  Lillian’s promoter/muse, Sarah, is one of the nicest, most genuine people I have met.  She reminds me of one of those “greeters” at the front of a church on Sunday mornings —except she’s actually sincere.

For Eric, his Christian faith is an important part of his life.  Having previously played in bands that existed in the Christian music realm, he has seen the obvious abuses and hypocrisy that goes with that territory.  For The Dark Romantics, he desires to distance himself from that scene, play venues such a Lillian’s and better hone in his craft.

Making our way to the upstairs bar, Eric and I sat down to discuss the impetus of The Dark Romantics, the connection to Starflyer 59, what it means to be a Christian in a band and what the future holds for the quintet.

REAX:  You have been in many different, influential bands in the past six or seven years (Divine Child, Dennison Marrs, The Party People).  How did The Dark Romantics come to life?
Eric Collins:  Dean was the second and final drummer for Dennison Marrs.  When that band broke up, he and I started The Party People.  We didn’t really like how the band was going.  We just weren’t having very much fun with it anymore.  So we decided to take a break for a while.  Then Jason Martin (of Starflyer 59) contacted me and wanted to hear all our demos.  He liked the songs but he wanted to rework them.  He invited us out to his studio to record us in addition to producing and mixing it.

I mean Starflyer 59 has been one of mine and Dean’s collective favorite bands for years.  We grew with his music.  So to have him be into what we were doing was like the same for me as if Thom Yorke were to call and say that he liked our music and wanted to help us out.

With Jason’s touch on the songs things became a lot cooler and lot darker.  I was over The Party People name, so I tried to come up with a name that kind of matched the much darker sound we were creating.

REAX:  You actually played bass for a few shows with Starflyer 59 if I’m not mistaken.
EC:  Yeah and Dean played guitar.  We also did a little 10-day tour with them.

REAX:  Does everyone in the band have creative input or do you bring all the songs to the table completed?
EC:  Right now The Dark Romantics is just Dean and I.  We write the songs.  With the Dark Romantics the ideas that I have in my head turn out a lot better because Dean is a such a good musician and he’s s always able to make it sound way better than what I was thinking.  Some of the songs on the album he wrote himself.  It’s funny on the album coming out; one of my favorite songs is one that he wrote.

REAX:  Recently it seems that a lot of attention has been given to bands being vocal about their Christian faith.  In your previous bands you placed an emphasis on that.  How do you feel now being a Christian and playing in a band?
EC:  I stopped doing the talking thing from stage back with Divine Child because I just wasn’t any good at it.  I would start repeating myself, feeling like an idiot up there.  The one thing that I hate about Christianity mixed in with music is when people do that.  I mean I respect you for what you believe, but when you get up there and you’re not saying anything relevant or important, you start sounding like a little kid that doesn’t understand what he believes.  

I put so much time and effort into writing lyrics and music that I prefer not to do it off the cuff on stage.  And from watching other guys talk I was always like “shut up and play another song.”  I really wanted to get away from the Christian market because I feel like it’s a crutch for what I’m doing.  I think it’s necessary or relevant for bands that are more evangelical.  But I don’t think that should be the criteria for every Christian that is in a band.  I just don’t think it’s something that should be focused on.  It’s lazy and corny.  The only people that get bent out of shape about it are kids who just believe what their parents believe or the real fanatical, snake-charmer types.  Whatever your faith is, if you’re living correctly to your beliefs it will come across.

I’m not going out to play in churches.  That whole thing just doesn’t agree with me right now.

REAX:  You mentioned Jason Martin from Starflyer 59 was involved with the upcoming album.  Other than his music as influence, could you explain what it was like working with him?
EC:  Jason is just the coolest, most generous, most giving person all at once.  He thinks too many bands get away with calling what they do art.  To him it’s clearly product.  He says what he does is his craft.  He’s so fast and good at everything.  It’ll take him five seconds to dial in an amazing guitar tone where it would take me three hours.  Unless something insane happens we will definitely be going back to work with him as much as possible.

REAX:  You all have a pretty long stretch of tour dates coming up.  What’s it like juggling being in a band that places an emphasis on going out on the road with having a family?
EC:  It’s tiring.  We’re going all the way to Seattle on this next tour.  We get back and have about two weeks off and then we go out with Unwed Sailor.  We’ll be back just in time for Christmas.

REAX:  Your upcoming album is set for release on Feb. 13, 2007.   What can we expect from the new album and what does the next year hold for The Dark Romantics?
EC:  We’re gonna tour pretty crazy and just go for it.  We’ll do a two-week tour with Discover America when the record comes out.  The festivals start in May and we’ll tour in between them.  So I don’t think we’ll be home very much.  

For more information, check out: www.thedarkromantics.com.