Ten Second Epic Want Fiddy Protection

Edmonton's Ten Second Epic have a new album and are ready for anything. But when they thought of all the things that could come from the release of their sophomore album, it's pretty clear this pop-punk act weren't prepared to open for some of hip-hop's heavy hitters.

Frontman Andrew Usenik can't help but laugh over the phone as he explains the band's plans for this year.

"We'll be doing some west coast stuff and then heading down to the U.S. to do a tour centred around the Bamboozle festival. That's going to be fun for us because we're opening up for 50 Cent. If there was ever a crowning achievement in our careers, that's probably going to be it.

"So us and 50 will be playing Bamboozle, and then we're going to head back up and they are putting together a full national tour of Canada for the spring. Hopefully we come back from California in one piece because hanging out with 50, some ill consequences could come of that. Hopefully we'll survive and return to tour Canada."

Usenik says he has a plan for his personal safety while with Fiddy: standing behind him.

"He's invincible. He is a pretty big guy, so I think I can narrowly fit behind him and then basically inherit his invincibleness. Whatever happens, at least it will be a good story that I can tell people.

"'I got shot at, but 50 Cent took the bullets for me. It was no big deal.'"

Ten Second Epic are used to scary situations by now. They recorded their recently released Hometown once again with producer GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Korn). But they knew that they had to change things this time.

Usenik says they knew they'd been unintentionally playing it safe, so when the band (completed by drummer Patrick Birtles, bassist Sandy MacKinnon and guitarists Daniel Carriere and Craig Spelliscy) started writing, they came out with some of their fastest and slowest stuff to date. Although they love the finished product, Usenik says it was scary stepping out of their comfort zone.

"The fastest [song] wasn't that intimidating because we all grew up on fast punk music. If anything, that made us the happiest because we knew playing that live would be fun and we would get into it.

"But when we wrote that slow song, oh man! There were people looking at each other being like, 'What the hell are we doing right now?' It was scary because we didn't know if we were good at that.

"It's a scary thing to do to try something new for the first time. We worked through it. I will admit it didn't come as naturally as some of our other songs. We kept working on it, and each step of the way I think all of us became believers.

"By the time we finished it, I think most of the people in this band will say that song is their favourite song on the record. It was scary, but I am glad that we pushed through."

You can see Ten Second Epic here:

March 13 Toronto, ON @ Kathedral w/Team Building, Madcowboys and The Fast Romantics (CMW)
March 27 Saskatoon, SK @ Odeon Events Centre
April 5 Irvine, CA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Bamboozle Left festival)
April 16 Edmonton, AB @ Kokanee Freeride
April 18 Jasper, AB @ Kokanee Freeride
April 22 Whistler, BC @ Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival