My Own Will says "We are a four piece metal/hardcore band from Michigan, ready to take the scene by storm playing what we enjoy. We are My Own Will." That said, the band discusses their history, namesake, where they are from and what the music scene is like there, to the future ahead.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
My Own Will started in November 2015. Our lineup includes myself (David Keoppen) on vocals, Kyle Cummings on guitar, Danny Cummings on drums, and Chris Konkle on bass and vocals. Kyle and Danny, who are twin brothers, have been playing music together since they were 16. They formed various projects, including Symptom of Reality and Laid in Stone. I joined LIS in its decline, as the band broke up just over a year after I began screaming for them. Kyle, Danny, and I decided to continue making music together, as those two became two of my closest friends within that time span, and we brought in Chris to play bass and sing for us. He was in many other bands, most notably Avenue Sky and Jettared. We had never met the guy before we started this band with him, so it’s fortunate that he is such a great dude.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Coming up with a band name was probably the most grueling process during the creation of this band, haha! We tried many different ones, but My Own Will lingered around on our whiteboard the longest. Danny is actually the one who came up with it, but one day it hit me: we as people are conditioned to do things in an attempt at gaining recognition, or acceptance from someone. Most commonly, this occurs when a child is trying to living up to their parents’ expectations, whether they want their child to have a successful and prestigious career, or wants them to get married and have kids. I think many of us live out the will of our parents or society. We, the members of this band, play music because we want to. We aren’t trying to prove anything to anyone, except that we can write good songs and throw down with the best of them. We live our lives via our own willpower.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
The band is based out of the small, rural town of Oxford, Michigan, which is about 45 minutes north of Detroit. The Michigan metal scene is on a bit of a decline, currently. The passion and talent is there, but the camaraderie is missing. The same bands play the same clubs, and there isn’t much of an opportunity for growth. But needless to say, we play music because we love it, and we have met some awesome people playing in our state. Some of our favorites include 31 Legions, Martyr for Madison, and Society Kills, just to name a few.4. How would you describe your style?
I would say our style is the musical offspring of The Ghost Inside and Impending Doom, with a dash of Lamb of God and Architects. The heavier the better, so long as it is tasteful.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We have one EP called Ghosts. It has three full songs and an intro, and each of the songs can be found on YouTube. Someone listening to us can expect brutality, melody, and honesty.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
We are in the process of writing and demoing our follow-up to Ghosts, and we plan on releasing it before the summer of 2017.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
We have already done one tour with our friends in The Convalescence and I, Apollo. We currently have shows booked every weekend between now and when we leave on our second tour at the end of September.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
We plan to keep making music we all enjoy, and spreading our stories to whoever will, wants to, or needs to listen. We have a passion for this music and a dislike for the state of our world. We aim to follow the “if you yell loud enough, they will have to listen” philosophy.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Our music can be found for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Music, and Bandcamp, and it can be streamed on Bandcamp, Reverbnation, YouTube, and Spotify.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
I can’t speak for the rest of the band, but for me personally I would like them to remember that the world does indeed suck. Life can be cruel, unfair, and downright unjust. But we can’t let that control our lives. Keeping your eyes opened and unclouded by pessimism or hate can help you be the change this world so desperately needs.
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