Gene Ross Talks of Current Releases, Time in the Studio and Growth with Promoting Themselves!

Post-hardcore/metalcore band GENE ROSS have gone on to release two single's and released an EP! And the band are currently in the studio hard at work on all new material! They have also been playing some shows, and want to hopefully tour too. The band talks about promoting themselves, grow as a band, and release more music!

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

So the band name came from a character I had created in high school. I would write scripts for my film class, and this character in particular was a blend of my name with a noir detective spin on it. This band started off as a solo project/continuation of my previous band and when it was time to come up with a name I decided to adopt that character and now here we are.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

This genre (post hardcore/metalcore specifically) has been a huge influence on my life since I was in middle school. It was something I grew up with, resented, and later learned to love and appreciate it to the point that I wanted to play it.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

So technically yes, I knew both of our current members before this became a full band thing. I knew Jack (Drummer) from my previous band, which he had joined right before the rebrand into Gene Ross. We had rekindled our relationship last year and he’s been a part of the band ever since. Before the band became a real band, Jacob (Lead Guitarist) was a hired gun for me when I started playing shows in 2022. When I wanted this to be a real band, he was the first person I recruited and now he plays a crucial part to our sound.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Considering we all live in different cities, it’s safe to say we’re based out of the Dallas/Ft Worth area in Texas. The scene here is huge! There’s a lot of little pocket communities amongst each major city in the area so there are so many bands over here. Some bands to recommend in this scene would be Itiswhatitis, Waiting 4 April and Somebody Else. Each band is so diverse as far as sound goes which accurately represents how diverse the DFW scene is, they’re also our homies so we had to show some love in this interview!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Speaking for myself only, I take a lot of inspiration from all sorts of media from, video games, film and music of course. I write very personal songs so what I do outside of music heavily reflects what I do when I write. Music is like a diary to me and I feel like I have a lot to say so I’m always writing new tunes.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

I feel like most of our songs are about personal struggles from relationships, mental health and the state of the world around us. Most of our songs are “sad songs” but it’s not because we want the listener to be sad, but rather we hope they can find something they can relate to and feel seen. 

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, we do write our own songs. The process honestly varies between songs but usually it starts with guitar. I write the parts in my head and by the time I record a demo the entire instrumental is conceived and sent out to the rest of the boys to see if they like it or not. I write the lyrics around the title of the song I give during the demo process which acts like a writing prompt for me. 

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

As a full band, we’ve released two singles and one EP last year. You can expect a modern spin on MySpace era post hardcore/metalcore.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! We are currently in the studio but that’s all I will say now. 

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We’re always playing shows in our area but would love to do a Texas tour once we grow our following a bit more. 

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We are trying to promote promote promote so we can grow our following and get as many eyes on us as possible. We plan on releasing an album within the next couple of years so by the time it releases we hope to have a good following behind us and the right people scouting us to take this thing to the next level.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

We are anywhere you can stream music from! Currently we have merch exclusively at shows but are working to put our stuff online in the near future, so definitely keep an eye out on our Instagram!

Glass Lotus' Discussion on Music, Formation, and What Lays Ahead!

 

Metalcore band GLASS LOTUS have an EP with some all new music expected to be released soon! The band has a discussion about how they came together, the musical approach they take on, and what other plans lay ahead for them, check it out all below.

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

We wanted something that didn't pin us down to just metal, that would let the sound evolve and still make sense. Eventually we came up with ‘Black Lotus’ from the MTG card… but there were already so many bands with that name. We're big fans of Glass Cloud and Glass Casket, so we just stole the glass!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Metalcore seems very open, we can kind of do all the things we want within the genre without it seeming weird. There's a really high ceiling for heaviness, bands like Knocked Loose, with an open door for soft and experimental sounds like Sleep Token. You kind of get a little of everything.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Mostly yeah! I (Tyler - Guitar) had played in a band with Taylor (Vocals) called Fiera for a while. That band ran it's course and we started writing some new songs. I'd known Jake (Guitar/Vocals) since high-school, and knew he'd be a great fit. Jesse (Drums) is the newest member, he plays guitar in a really sick band, Ever Eden. We had played some shows with them before, and I always kept Jesse as a super knowledgeable contact. I'd go to him for help with random things like backing tracks, in-ears, lights. We needed a drummer and I hit him up, asking if he knew anyone who would be interested. I was shocked when he replied back, “Yeah, me!”

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We're from Springfield, MO and we really do have a great little scene here! There's some really helpful promoters like Seth Keene who do a great job bringing shows together and looking out for the local bands. There's a great metalcore band, SSX. I think we've played with them more than anyone. They're always killer, really good guys and great music. Chemical Sun is a newer Alt/Indie band, but really excited for them, they put on a great live show.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I really don't know, but I am always writing, I love it. I think there's this place in my subconscious that is always scanning for little things to hold on to for writing. Movies are always great, I don't think I can watch one without thinking about music and writing. Video games, books, it really is just anything and everything. Sometimes I'll like, learn a new word? And that will just get my brain going on something.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

We've really ran the gambit on life in general. I'll say for sure, none of our songs are about anything specific or literal. Everything is some sort of metaphor, maybe for something we've gone through, and maybe not. I really like the idea of the listener finding their own meaning. I have mine. I think we all have ours, what each song means to us.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

We don't really write by committee, but I'd also say its always changing. I'm always writing, constantly uploading demos. Some grab me, or the whole group and we all go “yeah, this is definitely a Glass Lotus song”. But it's always going to start with a demo from myself or Jake.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Honestly I think for how small we are, we have quite a big discography. I definitely think we've come a long way. Some of those old songs are, to be honest, pretty unlistenable for me. But, I think it shows a really cool growth for us. There's some more prog-ish “djent” stuff, there's some straight up deathcore, there's some very electronic driven songs. We've definitely gone through quite a bit to get to where we are now.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! So we just released SANCTUARY pt.1, we'll have part 2 coming very soon. We really just have a few little things to clean up and it's ready. I'm really so excited for these songs. They're heavy, they're catchy, and chaotic. I think they'll really bring a new sound for us.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Nothing to announce right now, we wanted a little breathing room to finish up these songs and get them ready to play live. Hopefully we can be hitting the road soon!

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

I think really more of the same honestly. I think we've hit a really good stride with where we're at right now. This lineup is so sick, and couldn't be happier with everyone in the band. The new songs are sounding great, and we're super excited to be able to release them and a music video, and then hopefully some great shows in the future!

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

It's all out there on all the things! Spotify, Apple, YouTube.

We do have a little merch store that we'll be adding some new items to soon at: http://glass-lotus.square.site/.

Josh McKelvie Talks of Himself, the Music He Creates and the Plans Ahead for Him!

 

Solo artist JOSH MCKELVIE spans multiple types of genres, but would likely resolve around pop punk! Since being fairly new, he has released two singles, with a third on the way out this summer! A couple of shows have been done, with much more planned for the future. The man himself goes into talks with us about himself, his music, and more below!

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

Well, there is no band name, it's just my name, so I guess you could say my parents came up with it haha.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

My solo project spans multiple genres, but I would classify the music primarily as pop-punk. Pop-punk was the first genre I ever fell in love with and it set me on the path to the person I am today. So no matter how much I experiment and genre-bend, it's always my north star.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

I am solo artist.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I live in Central Massachusetts. My local scene is in nearby Worcester, MA and I also gig a lot in Boston. The local scene is great, full of supportive and friendly bands lifting each other up, and we've been very lucky in being able to retain many of our small venues. I would strongly encourage readers to check out my friends in Day Glow Foxes, Indoor Friends, Another One Down!, Never Gonna Make It, Craiwell, PWRUP, and of course my brother Jake McKelvie.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

My songs largely just tend to come to me. Oftentimes I'm not even sure what I'm writing about until I've written a few lines and gotten a sense of what I'm trying to say. More than anything, I'm inspired when I hear a great piece of music and feel driven to create something of my own.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

The topic I tend to cover most often is the frustration and discouragement I've experienced during my 20+ year music career. The music industry is tough and unforgiving, and I've experienced a great deal of failure and disappointment, which makes for a rich well of songwriting material. I'm also inspired a lot by the current state of society and our world and my feeling that things are rapidly deteriorating.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, I write everything I release under my own name. All my songs start with me and an acoustic guitar, sometimes a line or two I've written to get me started. I hash out a "sketch" of the song, just acoustic guitar and vocals. Once I am happy with the outline, I book time with my producer Marcus, and we spend a day together doing pre-production and translating my sketch into a full-fledged demo with all the instruments. When we are happy with it, we record it all for real.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

At the time of writing, I have two singles, the latest one is called (I Think I Lost It!).

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! I'm always writing, unfortunately must faster than I can record. I have a third single recorded and ready for release sometime this summer, and an entire set's worth of additional material that I hope to record as time and budget allows.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I played my first show as a solo artist in Boston just a couple weeks ago, and I am slated to return to the same venue in June. Nothing else has been confirmed as of now, but I am always hustling and networking trying to book more shows. I expect that my calendar for late summer and fall will begin filling out soon. Touring is probably still a bit down the line, but I have every intention of doing so asap.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Anything and everything! The plan, in essence, is to take it as far as I can. Keep writing and releasing music, gig as often as possible, and market, market, market. I'm just getting started.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Everywhere! My music is available on every streaming service, as well as YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@joshmckelvie, Bandcamp - https://joshmckelvie.bandcamp.com/track/drop-of-water, and Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/josh-mckelvie-521422880. I don't currently have any merch available, but that's something I intend to do as my profile rises.

Eyes Of A Killer Discusses EP, Show, and Touring Plans!

 

Deathcore band EYES OF A KILLER have known one another for sometime now, getting their own name from their own single, the first debut "Left to Rot". The next plans are set for them to record and later release an EP, since the band has released a handful of single's thus far. Some shows and hope to tour may be happening soon enough as well. The band discusses all of this right below.

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

We loosely based the name off of our first single, “Left To Rot” which lyrically is based on going
through the motions of a person’s first murder. The lyrics are all through their perspective, so
through the eyes of a killer.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It’s our favorite genre and it’s what most of us are the best at writing.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Logan and Chris are cousins. The rest of the band we met throughout our time playing in the
local scene. So we’ve all known each other for a while.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local
bands you could recommend?

We are based out of Farmington, NM. The scene here is very diverse. There aren’t many metal
bands out here making the same sound. Some of the local bands we’d recommend are Heart
Museum, Under Exile, Red Lotus, Leviathan Axe, Lilith, Shu, and Morbid Justice.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

What inspires us the most is good music. We all love music and love creating and playing music
with our friends.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Our songs are about murder and reflecting back on the disturbed state of ones mind. Some of
them are based off of actual serial killers.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes we do. The band will bounce riff ideas back and forth until we have an agreement on them.
Then we’ll put them into guitar pro to work as a rough draft and to make adding our synths,
orchestra, and other ear candy easy. The other purpose is so we have a record of how we play
the songs when it’s time to record or in case we have to teach someone. After that we go to the
studio with our rough draft and lay down the tracks, then Logan and Chris work to add the extra
bits.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We have released seven singles and a cover so far. We plan on recording an EP this year.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

We currently have six songs nearly finished with the writing process so we can start recording
our EP.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We have some shows coming up but we can’t release any info about them yet. We’re working
on branching out to other states and hopefully getting a small tour run worked out soon.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

The plan is to keep gaining traction and play out more often leading into becoming a touring
band.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Our music is on all major streaming services. You can find our merch at
eyesofakillerband.bigcartel.com and our other links at https://linktr.ee/eyesofakillerband.

Too Short Pants Chats of New EP in the Works, Shows To Happen Soon and More!

 

 

Pop punks TOO SHORT PANTS has released 2 albums and 3 EP's, along with several single's all available on all streaming platforms and services. Some newer material is in the works, with them set to record an EP sometime soon. No show plans yet but hopefully soon, with some merch being made soon and them wanting to tour sooner or later too! The band chats with us about all of this below.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

Honestly it was almost random. In 2019, when I was still in high school, I told one of my friends I wanted to start a pop punk band. I asked him if he had any ideas for band names and he sent me a list of about 50. There were two that stuck out to me, Too Short Pants and Scratched Disk. I decided that I liked Too Short Pants better because of the irony and the potential for show costumes. Most of our music that's been released on streaming has "Skratched Disk Records" in the label line, so I still ended up using both names.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Well like I said before it started out as a pop punk project, inspired by bands like Blink-182 and Green Day; It didn't stay that way for long though. I've always felt like I was born in the wrong generation, I feel more connected to the 90's, specifically the music, than the present day. I've been very inspired by 90's and early 2000's alt rock, indie rock, emo, and power pop, and once I got over the pop punk phase I realized I wanted my music to sound like those genres instead. I was really into Weezer when I first started writing full songs and I think it definitely showed.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Short answer: no. Long answer: I (Jean) have been writing and releasing music as Too Short Pants since 2020. I'm from West Texas, specifically Midland, and there isn't really a prominent rock scene in that area. I spent 4 years trying over and over to form a band but there just wasn't enough interest. I just moved out to Los Angeles last July (2024) and I started looking for band mates almost immediately. It took a while but we figured out a temporary lineup a couple months ago. I say temporary because our current drummer is a singer and guitarist, we've just been struggling to find a permanent drummer.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We're based out of Los Angeles, and the scene is very diverse and expansive. By that I mean you could probably find a show to go to within our genre every single day of the week. As far as local bands a few come to mind: Sanglorians, Unicorns at Heart, Sofa City Sweetheart, Quazar & the Bamboozled, Humbug. Honestly there are so many great bands, it's impossible to list them all. Los Angeles has so many hidden gems when it comes to great rock bands.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I'm going to answer this in two sections, first "who" inspires me. Well, I would say I'm inspired by Rivers Cuomo, Weezer, Green Day, and Ozma when it comes to style and formatting. As far as who inspires my lyrics, I'd say it generally ends up being a love interest of mine, or an ex. I've written a lot of songs about love and heartbreak. That brings me to the "what" part of my answer. I mentioned love and heartbreak, but another common theme in songs that aren't about specific people is just how I deal with my depression or unhealthy habits. Writing music is how I process every emotion that I have, whether it's good or it's bad, and I tend to be pretty straightforward with my lyrics. 

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

To kind of piggyback off of my previous answer, love and heartbreak are the big two but I do get into pretty serious themes in some other songs. I've covered self harm, eating disorders, sex addiction, suicide, loneliness, self sabotage, and most recently hookup culture (that song is aptly named "Hookup Culture").

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, I like to experiment with different processes but I do have one that I mainly use. Typically when I have a particularly strong feeling about something I pick up my acoustic guitar and I play around with different chords until I find a chord progression that feels like what I'm feeling. Next, I play it over and over and sing different melodies over it until I find one that sounds right. Finally, I start spitting out different phrases to see what fits.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Too Short Pants has 2 albums and 3 EP's, as well as several other singles, available on all streaming platforms. I've mentioned them a few times so I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that you can expect us to sound like Weezer. We've been compared to a lot of other 90's and early 2000's alt rock and emo.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Since forming our current lineup we have been working on several new songs, and we hope to record an EP sometime within the next couple months.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

None currently, but we're always looking for new places to play if any venues want to book us or if any bands would like to play with us.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Immediate plans are to try to keep playing shows and record that EP, we're in the process of getting some merch made, and we want to eventually tour.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can find us on all streaming platforms, and you can buy our albums digitally on bandcamp. Like I said before, we're working on getting some merch made (T-shirts, CD's, stickers, and possibly cassettes) and once we have that in stock we'll be selling it on bandcamp. This link has our socials, streaming, and bandcamp: https://linktr.ee/tooshortpants.

Atypical Heroes Discusses Debut Album is a Work in Process and Shows Coming Soon!

 

Ska punk band ATYPICAL HEROES has released a 4 song demo, with an expected debut album to be out this year! Some shows are lined up, but no touring set yet. The band does have plans to continue as a band, that is a promise according to them. The band discusses all of these matters below.

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

The name came when I wrote our song atypical heroes which is a song about the people who are there for you when you need someone.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I've been listening to punk ska since high school. I love how upbeat it is and how it's all about unity.  

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

I knew Matt (Trumpet) and Bethea (Trombone)  and they knew Brandon (sax)and Adam (drummer)
Ryan (bass) knew our old drummer and was introduced to us that way. 

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based out of Salt Lake City UT. Ska scene is pretty small but we have awesome bands like the make ways, fancy lady, the Anchorage and others. The music scene is pretty big here and we all try to support each other. We have bands like folk hogan, american humor, murphy and the giant, mel soul, and many others.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I write music to let my feelings out. Music saved my life when I was younger and I hope my music does the same for anyone that needs it. 

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

I really just write what I'm feeling. Could be about my heartaches, friends, hope, love, political commentary. 

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yeah I write our songs. I start with a guitar riff and build the lyrics around a word or phrase of how I feel. I then bring it to the band and everyone writes their parts. I sometimes have a melody foe the horn section to build from. 

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works? 

So far we release a 4 song demo which you can find for free on all streaming platforms. We are waiting to hear back from a venue for our new album release show towards the end of July or August.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes our first LP will be released this year and I already have 8 songs for the next album to work on.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We have a few shows lined up but no touring set up. You can find out shows on social media.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We all have day jobs but the future of the band is up in the air. We will continue to make music and play though. That's a promise.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

We are on all streaming platforms. Other than that just live. And as of now you can only buy our merch at our shows but we will be setting up a bandcamp store soon.

Oathbound Talks of Debut Album Coming Soon, New Singles Expected Soon and Much Else!

 

Metalcore band OATHBOUND have released their debut EP, and are in the process of recording and mixing, for their debut full-length, with single's expected to come off it this summer! The band talks with us about their music process, writing, lyrics, and plans to hit the road with playing some shows and perhaps a tour!

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Oathbound wasn’t actually our original name. We started out calling ourselves Signal from Io, which was inspired by a book series called Red Rising by Pierce Brown that I really like. I highly recommend it! We tossed around literally dozens of ideas and almost settled on something else before our former bassist, John Padgett, offered up the name Oathbound. We liked the name instantly because it embodies our ethos as a group of always keeping our word and being true to ourselves and the ones we love.    

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

All of us grew up listening to all the different variations of heavy metal, from death metal to thrash to slam, etc. I wasn’t really aware that there were even genres in metal until after I got a little older. I just listened to what I thought sounded cool, and it wasn’t just metal. I love post-punk and my not-so-guilty pleasure is actually movie soundtracks. Anything in the vein of Hans Zimmer or James Horner. I think there are elements of our music that the discerning listener can pick out as being inspired by cinematic overtures. I think the reason why we gravitate toward metalcore is because we write in a way that our songs are riff-driven and heavy on melody. A lot of modern metal is rhythmic, which is really cool, but doesn’t have the same emotion as a great melody. Mixing the aggression of screams with the emotional clean vocals is where I think we’ll always gravitate toward.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Viktor (or other guitarist) and I knew each other for a little while before we officially “formed” as a band. We had jammed a few times and neither one of us had any real intention of being in a band at the time. But one thing led to another and I ended up finding our vocalist Kalyan through a local Facebook musician group. Similarly, we found Rishab the same way and things quickly snowballed into a real thing. We rounded everything out with our (former) bassist John and pretty quickly started recording our debut EP Until it’s Gone.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based out of Seattle, Washington and we’re part of a pretty strong heavy music scene. I feel like the most popular genre of music up here in this scene is deathcore or slam. There are at least 6 or 7 venues between Seattle and Tacoma that cater to the heavy music scene. The support we get from people up here is amazing and we’re really lucky to have such passionate fans. I highly recommend people check out “What’s Wrong” or “Tragedy by Design”. Both of those bands absolutely crush it and are my favorite metalcore bands in our scene right now!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

That’s a hard question to answer. I think music is hardwired into my DNA. I’ve played various instruments since a very young age and music was always a source of emotional expression for me. I’m not very good about showing or conveying my emotions and have always turned to music because it makes me feel like I can be myself. I don’t have to keep a mask on because of societal pressures or expectations. I can just “be” and enjoy the comfort that it brings me.
 
6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

The songs on our EP gravitate around some emotionally complicated topics, ranging from toxic relationships to mental illness and addiction. We also delve into losing a loved one and the emotions that come with that experience. Really though, we just write what we feel. Like I said earlier, I have a lot of trouble talking about how I feel, but I can write about it without a problem. When I was a kid, I’d write notes to my mom telling her how I felt because I didn’t know how to convey it verbally. I’m sure there’s a goldmine for a therapist between my ears, but it’s how I adapted to my situation and it works okay for me.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Our writing process typically starts with me being inspired by something I hear and writing a melody. Sometimes I’ll stumble across a cool riff when I’m just messing around with my guitar, but either way, it always starts with a riff. I try to find the balance between being formulaic and being too repetitive with the structure of a song. I feel like a song needs to have verses and choruses, but I try to be creative with bridges, breakdowns and refrains. I’ll program drums as I write the guitar parts of each song so our drummer can get the general vibe and vision of the song. After drums are programmed I program bass parts. I like to add a lot of synth and orchestral elements in our music so I’ll usually finish a song with those parts and then add things like risers, bass drops and other effects last. I wait until I have a well-developed demo before I share it with the other guys, but once I do send it out to the group, we refine parts and try to work out any alternate ideas they may have. With the music portion done, our vocalist gets to work mapping out a vocal cadence for the scream sections and a melody for the clean sections. Kalyan and I work together a lot to refine the vocals and lyrics for each song and record the parts as we go at his studio. Before we actually record final tracks, our drummer Rishab will rework the drum parts to be more “his”. He writes them in a program that he uses and we drop the file into the demo session to make sure that it vibes. A similar thing happens with the bass lines. Once everyone is happy with the composition of a song, we will record it for real. We have produced all our music ourselves up to this point, but would definitely like to work with a fresh set of ears with different ideas in the future!

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We released our debut EP, Until it’s Gone in September of 2024 and it has far surpassed even our wildest dreams as far as streaming numbers. As I’ve kinda discussed, our music is heavy on melody but we keep the aggression that metal fans love. We mix up the clean vocal with screams and the guitar chugs with melodic cleans. It’s what we do and probably will continue doing!

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

We are in the late stages of recording and mixing our first full length album and plan to start releasing singles this summer. People that are familiar with Oathbound can expect more of what we did on our EP, but with a more refined production and more technical aspect to the music. We all continue to learn our craft as the years go by and like to push ourselves to the limit of what we think we can reasonably play live. I am excited to start playing some of the new stuff live, but nervous at the same time!

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, we will have announced our next tour! We’re pretty excited to play almost exclusively places that we’ve never played before. We’ll have stops throughout Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and, of course, Washington! Aside from that, we are working on a fall tour but don’t have anything to announce for that one just yet!

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Honestly, 2 years ago I’d have called you insane if you told me where we’d be in two years. We went from being an idea to selling out a Seattle show and having more streams than I thought was even remotely possible. The plan is to keep the foot on the gas and just keep grinding and working harder than any other band, playing as many shows in as many different cities (and countries!) as we can and just have an absolute blast doing it! Our immediate goal is to get this album out so people can hear the evolution of Oathbound. We have worked incredibly hard on this record and are really excited to share it with everyone!

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can find Oathbound music on pretty much every streaming platform and see all the behind the scenes nonsense and show announcements on our socials (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Youtube). If you want to check out our merch, head over to Oathboundstore.com!

EDITH's Evan Talks of Touring Plans, New Album Ready to Go and Much Else In-Store!

 

Emo punks EDITH has their guitarist/vocalist talk to us about what the band has released, what plans they got set for upcoming tours, and an all new album recorded and set to be released soon! He goes all out with this talk just to us and find it all below!

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

EDITH is actually an acronym for "Everybody Does It To Him." It is inspired by an experience I had with an old roommate of mine who struggled with a lot of different issues. Despite most of his support system reaching out with positive solutions and guidance, he would always turn things around to say everyone was out to get him. In his eyes the whole world was conspiring against him and I could see how detrimental this was to his well-being. I found a lot of empathy for the situation as I have had my own issues, but after many attempts to reach out and assist him I too was burned. It showed me the toxic side of those types of relationships. Although we don't have any songs/lyrics referring to this, we felt it was a fitting name as our lyrics often deal with mental health, substance abuse and dysfunctional relationships.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Initially I was starting to write (what would become) EDITH songs as a response to learning Midwest Emo and Math Rock guitar riffs from bands like Tiny Moving Parts and Covet. I was enamored by their techniques. The open tunings and tapping seemed to produce guitar sounds that really set these acts apart. The initial EDITH songs like "When We're Gone" and "Vanguard" are very much a response to learning and embracing these techniques. The other ingredient that was obvious in the very beginning was a shared love of Melodic Hardcore. Myself and one of the other founding members, Gunther Hochholdinger (vocals), had gone out to see A Wilhelm Scream and decided on the way home we were going to start a project that had big vocal stacks with thick harmonies. Our songs "Same Team" and "Strongsville" had this focus in mind.

As the other members of the band started to come into play this added far more eclectic and original influence. Our other vocalist, Tyler Berrett, comes from a background made primarily of Rap, Pop and theatre. His shared love for Emo and Punk bridged the gap and let some of these outliers find their way into EDITH's sound. Our bass player Brian Crowley brings Funk and Progressive influences with his love for Primus and everything Victor Wooten. Our newest members Ricky Weathers (drums) and Ed Polanco (guitar) bring complicated time signatures and tempo changes with them. All of us are incredibly dedicated to performing tightly live. It is probably the most important part of what we do, so if you like our recordings we always HIGHLY encourage you to come out and see us if we come through a place nearby.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yes and no. Brian (bass) and I go back about 15 years and we have been supporting each other's musical endeavors and gigging alongside each other most of that time. Gunther, Tyler (our two vocalists) and I all actually met working in a hibachi restaurant. This was the original inception of the band. We were a 4 piece and would gig that way for a few months. As things progressed we added Ed (guitar) and Ricky (drums). They were in a band that opened for EDITH at one of our first shows. Now we are a sextet and confident that our sound, both live and in the studio, is unlike any other band out right now.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based out of Denver, Colorado and have a budding Emo scene. Here's some of our absolute favorite Denver groups:

Years Down, Creek, Spitting Image, Florissant, Origami Summer, Capture This and No Fauna.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We tend to make the music we make and music in general because we are the types of artists who have to create. It is a serious matter and literally life or death, we don't have a choice. We see the quality of life go down in ourselves when we do not have this creative outlet. This is because music saved us from the dysfunctional parts of our lives (addiction, depression, suicide, grief, loss) and without the catharsis of writing and consuming music we simply would not have made it. The music community is unlike any other and with this kind of art we feel free to express ourselves and fight off that darkness. This is a bit of a mission statement for EDITH and I definitely speak for the whole band here.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

We tend to cover a lot of subject matter in our lyrics but the threads that tie everything together are tragedy and dysfunction. In some of our older material we covered true crime cases ("Strongsville"), gun violence ("Not Running"), drug addiction ("Vanguard"), and hopelessness ("Among The Spiders"). I guess that we feel a certain authenticity needs to come through on our end and for that to happen we have to always write about what's taking over our hearts and minds. We have been working on our debut album and are exploring our takes on both healthy and toxic relationships. It looks like this whole album is going to be a story about the ups and downs of modern love and how we have experienced and dealt with it.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, we play primarily original music. Typically we will have either a set of lyrics, guitar riff or song idea that starts us off. I will flesh out a mock song order and record a simple demo to bring to the guys. I usually end up writing simple drum, bass and 2nd/3rd guitar parts that will get rewritten later. This helps us get the vibe going right out of the gate though. We then go in and write/track our vocals on the demo. Since there are 3 of us singing in the band we will often try different parts out and see where we are most comfortable and what sounds best. Once we are comfortable with the takes and song order on the demo we bring it to the entire band for them to write their parts. We rehearse and usually gig the song a few times before we take it into the studio after that. This is also to say that at any point in this process we can abandon or "shelve" a song for whatever reason. It actually happens to roughly 50% of the stuff we write.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We have a handful of singles and our first studio EP that came out in December (2024). It is called "I'm Drowning But I Know I Dreamt It" and is the first time we feel like we have honed in on the "EDITH sound." We recommend anyone who is curious about us check out that EP. It showcases the different sides of our project and captures the energy and dynamic of our live show. FFO: Title Fight, Brand New, Hot Mulligan, Tiny Moving Parts, Free Throw, Thursday, The Story So Far, Knuckle Puck.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

As mentioned we are in the middle of recording our first LP. The demos are all fully tracked and we are about halfway through recording. These songs are about love, heartbreak and toxicity within a relationship. They are leaning into the Post-Hardcore aspect of our sound a lot more (not unlike Thursday and Armor For Sleep). These songs all have a much moodier vibe and are a slight departure from the "Midwest Emo/Punk Infusion" that defined our early releases. That all being said, we are very excited to get it out to everyone and it is safe to expect new music from EDITH in the second half of 2025.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We have a big show in Denver on 4-26 at Black Buzzard.  Otherwise we have some small festivals and a tour lined up this summer while we finish recording. Keep an eye out for July tour dates soon.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We want to continue to grow our following, grow as musicians and grow as a group. We are already so much further than we thought we would ever get with this band so it feels like we already won. Everything else that happens from here on out is just a bonus. That being said, we want to continue to share our music with more and more people and continue to build a safe community where music can help those the same way it helped all of us.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

tiktok.com/ediththeband
instagram.com/ediththeband
youtube.com/ediththeband
facebook.com/ediththeband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2c8k167LlRJpLln3Fpzhr0
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/edith/1684102658

The Hoodoo Tones Chats of Getting the Music to the People on Every Platform Possible!

 

Rockers THE HOODOO TONES have released five albums thus far into their music careers! They are also writing all new material right now! Shows are booked for this year, with the band just wanting to get their music out on every platform, having people come out to the shows and buy stuff! The band chats with us about themselves and their music!

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

The name of the band comes from the blues: " Hoodoo " is now to mean « bad luck » and we liked this sense. It’s also some thin rocks we can find in the wilderness in the States. All this made us choose this name.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We love old fashion rock n’ roll because it is linked with liberty: it is powerful because it’s rock but this genre can also include influences from a lot of musics around like blues, country, surf, and even flamenco music.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

No, we joined ourselves to play then we became friends.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based in the North of France where a lot of vintage rock n’ roll bands are also based like Jake Calypso and the Spunyboys.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Every music we listen but also everything we can hear about!

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

We essentially play songs we wrote ourself and the themes of these songs are various. Usually, songs we play are inspired by our daily life but also by the society around because it makes no sense to copy the themes from the 50s. We also search for inspiration in the history of our family or in human behaviors.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Songs come and go pretty naturally without any rule or any logic. Our job is just to catch it and try to play it the best way.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We released 5 albums on Rhythm Bomb Records (Germany) and two 7 inches. The last one, "Black Land Dust" was released on El Dandy Records (Spain) in 2024.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

We are currently writing new materials!

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Some shows are already booked for 2025 even if the Covid period made our schedule skinny and that we are also looking to play for some great events.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

On every platform but also in buying ads and vinyls at our shows or on every great music dealer.

The Almas' Discussion of an Old EP, New EP, and the Growth as a Band of Misfits!

 

Hard rockers THE ALMAS are the souls of rock, creating music, releasing said music, and as they say they have matured and grown with each release. Even going forth to play shows, with a tour set for this early summer time! The band's discussion with us, takes us behind the minds of this band, how they create music, how they play it, and what else is planned for them!

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

The name The Almas is Spanish for ‘souls’. Frank, the founder of the band, was in another project and was struggling with his alcohol addiction. He left that band to sober up and re-find his “soul” in music, hence The Almas.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Hard Rock is what suited the group best when it came to all our influences and felt like the most natural and fulfilling way for us to express ourselves creatively and best connect with an audience on an honest and energetic level.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Our music careers have been crossing paths for many years. Many of us have either played gigs with each other or have been interviewed by each other at some point or another.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

The Almas are from a small town called New Munster in Wisconsin. To be completely honest, we aren’t too familiar with our “local scene” these days, we spend most of our time on the road, and with currently not having a local drummer behind the kit, it takes a lot more planning to play a hometown/local show. However, if you’re looking for bands in our area to check out, I do recommend: Left of Reason, Lines Of Loyalty, Embers Rise, Would You Kindly, and Saint Tragedy.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We draw inspiration from a variety of artists and rock sub-genres for our "hard rock with a modern twist" sound. But even more often than not, our lyrical inspiration comes from our own life situations or that of those surrounding us (heartbreak, exhaustion, anxiety, etc).

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Lately, we have been writing songs that often explore themes of relationships, inner turmoil, and personal struggles. We try to write universally so even though we are writing on a specific topic, it can still be interpreted in many different ways and the listener can apply it how it best suits their current situation.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

As of recent times, we work very closely with our producer, Kile Odell. On the latest EP release and our upcoming EP we wrote all the songs in the studio from scratch. We have never done this type of writing in the past but it’s become the standard for us now. The pressure really forces the band to be creative in the moment and not overthink the writing process.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We just released a 5-track EP in March, and I personally think that with each new release, you can see a progression and growth in the band’s music and writing style. It’s all still The Almas, but there’s a new maturity in it.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

We have plans to release a few singles coming soon, as well as another EP before the end of the year.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

This band is best known for its intense touring schedule, and this year is no different. We have plans to cover the US coast-to-coast, as well as make a return to the UK at the end of the year!

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We hope to continue our extensive touring schedule and keep up with a consistent cycle of releasing music. We would love to see more doors open up for us to grow and hopefully the members can be self-sustained by the band. Ultimately, I hope that we are still happy doing what we love. It’s going to take a lot more time on the road, getting in front of people and meeting them (not just through social media), and a solid, sustainable business model.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Our music can be found on all streaming platforms, so you can follow/subscribe and listen to us on any of your favorite platforms! You can keep up-to-date with us everywhere at (@almastheband), or simply on our website (www.almastheband.com) where you can find our online merch store and live show calendar!

Velatine's Loki Lockwood Talks of the Change of Direction, Pace, and Creating Music!

 

VELATINE is a project not a band according to the main person behind it all Loki Lockwood. He goes into great detail about this element revolving around music, how it got it's start, where it is going, what has been released, what hopes are set in stone for this gothic yet dark waved dementor, in the talk we had below. Also be sure to check out their latest single for "Till Death We Do Art" HERE.

 

Hi, is this Natalie's World? - It’s Loki Lockwood from Velatine—thanks for inviting me to chat. Shall we get into it?

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name—was it planned or spontaneous?

It was all part of what I wanted Velatine to look and feel like. The name was just embedded in the project—and I refer to Velatine as a project, not a band. I’d been thinking about doing what I do for years, so the name came early. I was just combining different words, half-words, and vibes to represent the music’s aesthetic. It’s derived from “red velvet” mixed with “codeine.” It conjures up a warm, opulent kind of feel for me—inviting. Some of the early Velatine compositions sound like that, so I guess those words stuck.
The name was probably in my mind two years before the first instrumental album, which I put together in four weeks at the start of lockdown. I needed a name and checked if the .com was still available—I had looked when I first came up with it, and it was still free. That felt like a sign that Velatine was the right choice, and I’ve gotta say, I’m really happy with the name.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It’s in my blood—the records I listened to when I first started understanding the music I wanted to hear, the bands I saw live… that whole post-punk explosion out of the UK. I loved it, and it definitely had an echo here in Melbourne. I just create what I want, and it happens to fall into the Gothic/Darkwave space because those bands had such a huge influence on me. This scene feels like home. I’m starting to find people who are excited about what Velatine does, and that’s thrilling. I want to keep making music that resonates. Another big part of it is the kind of people in this community—they’re tolerant, supportive, and kind. I really connect with that sensibility because of who I am and where I come from.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

No—Nocturna isn’t the only singer I’ve worked with. There are another four vocalists whose recordings you can hear. I swap around, working with different singers, and I expect that to continue. Since I write both the music and the lyrics, I can tailor the songs to different vocalists and their styles, which is really exciting to me. I’ve always wanted the sound to be flexible. That said, maybe I’ll settle on one singer eventually—if they’re as passionate about the project as I am. But for now, Velatine is like this entity I interact with, and it can go anywhere musically. I trust it’ll figure out what it wants to be.

4. Where is the band based, and what’s your local scene like? Any local bands you’d recommend?

I'm based in Melbourne, Australia, close to the city. I have a home studio called Creepy Hollow, and everything for Velatine is created there. Melbourne’s always been a strong, vibrant music town—arguably the biggest in the world, unofficially for a long time, and maybe even officially now. There’s always something happening. But these days, I don’t really go out much because I’m focused on my own work. Velatine is my job, and I do side hustles like mastering and recording to fund it. I’m currently recording an album for someone else. As for current local bands—honestly, I feel out of the loop. My life revolves around the studio and Velatine. The Undertaker (who I live with) is in and out and offers valuable feedback and support, so it’s hard to leave when I have everything I need at home.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I’ve written songs since school—it’s just something that’s always been in me. I didn’t write consistently over the years, but now I’ve got the life and time to do it regularly. Inspiration comes from everywhere. I jot down lyrical ideas—digitally mostly—and those fragments become part of songs like Till Death We Do Art. I write emotional songs, so I tend to think about the feel of a track—what color it is, whether it’s made of concrete or velvet. I seem to live in the idea of a song before it’s written, always staying open to concepts and revisiting fragments when they fit into the current project.

6. What are your songs about? (What themes do they cover?)

Working backwards from our most recent release, Till Death We Do Art is about creativity—the high of finishing something, the inevitable comedown, and the pressure to top yourself. I don’t even know why I do it sometimes. I just want to write songs that resonate and make people feel something.

Granulated Sky is inspired by the English literature I read as a teen. It’s more imagined and open-ended, like a season finale cliffhanger. I’ve already started dreaming up where the story of Bridget could go next.
Orange to Black is about death. I was deeply shaken by the loss of a friend, and the song wrestles with ideas about the afterlife. I have doubts, but I believe we keep people alive through memory—that’s our form of life after death.

Fuck You All is about creating from a place of bloody-minded determination. When you get little feedback, especially early on, you can feel like you’re working in a void. This track became a mantra for resilience.

Nothing to Do With You is about empowerment and is inspired by my partner, The Undertaker. It's rooted in her—some fiction, some real. I want to see more women being commanding without being torn down. She’s incredibly self-assured and influences me in many ways. That song’s for her.

7. Can you discuss the songwriting process in detail?

I try to write all the time—lyrics, music, both. I’ve got piles of each. Sometimes a song starts with a title, sometimes a beat or a riff on bass, guitar, or piano. Once something gels, the real experimentation begins.
I’ll write six or more parts and pare them back to what works. Lyrics often emerge as I shape the music. These days I’m more focused on refining lyrics—fixing the little things that bug me. Songwriting is a chance to say something or change something. Why waste that?

8. What have you released so far, and what can people expect?

Around 50 tracks in five years. The first album came together quickly in April 2020, followed by another instrumental one during lock down. In 2022 I released a few 7-inches with Maggie Alley, then an album in 2023. More recently, I’ve worked with Inga Liljeström, Barb Dwyer, Sasha Tyler, and Nocturna.

9. Any new music in the works?

Always. But I don’t usually announce things in advance—I like the freedom to change direction. I’ll upload, set a release date, and suddenly it’s out. If you pay attention, I sometimes hint at releases by changing profile pictures a few days beforehand. I’ve also done a side project with a friend—song’s finished, video’s shot and ready to edit. It’s quite different from Velatine. Plus, there are some remixes I’ve done that’ll surface when things go quiet on the Velatine front.
I’m determined to step up the output this year.

10. What about shows or touring—any plans?

Playing live is definitely something I want to do, but it has to happen organically and it needs to entertain. I want a strong visual element—something immersive that takes the audience on an emotional ride.
It’s why I started experimenting with visuals for social media, then music videos. Some of those ideas will become part of the live experience when the time is right.

11. What are your future plans?

Again, not a band—a flux music-making project. The future depends on where the music wants to go. If people in Europe or the USA want to see us live—where we seem to connect most—that’s the direction we’ll take. But it’s got to be done right. I feel a duty to give back to the fans because they’re giving so much to us. The more they want, the bigger things will get.

12. Where can we listen to your music and buy your stuff?

You can stream us—that’s the biggest help right now. Follow, save, and play our stuff, and convince your friends too. After this promo run, I want to explore print-on-demand. Our Spotify numbers are climbing, so maybe it’s time to do at least a T-shirt. It’s about balancing costs. Will something like Shopify cover itself in sales? We also have a Bandcamp - https://velatine.bandcamp.com/track/till-death-we-do-art. You can find vinyl copies of I Won’t Be Civilised and a few 7-inches from the Maggie Alley era. They’re not cheap, coming from Australia with high postage, but they’re slowly selling—and once they’re gone, they’re gone. If you want to support us, buying a download from Bandcamp helps a lot. Albums are about $5 USD. The instrumental records Store Atmospherics and The Trap might make great background music for your next gothic dinner party. Tempted?

Cheers For Nothing Discusses EP, Single Collab, and New Music AND Shows Coming Soon!

 

Pop punk rockers CHEERS FOR NOTHING have been writing, recording and releasing music for a little while, releasing an EP and number of single's, with them set to release all new tracks this year! If not at least one, the band will be playing their first show since the pandemic had happened way back when. Many more shows are in the works, music, and them just keep on doing what they are doing all this time! The band discusses all of this below.

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

In high-school while we were performing, we noticed the crowd was cheering for literally nothing. Even when someone was walking across the stage, they would be cheering. So we just thought 'Cheers For Nothing' would be a good band name!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Some of our biggest influences include All Time Low, Mayday Parade, Real Friends, and Neck Deep. There was a time when we listened to pop punk almost religiously, but as our music tastes diverged, we drew inspiration from other genres. While our roots are firmly in pop punk, we want to carve out our own sound by blending all these influences. It’s too early to typecast ourselves into a single genre, we want our music to grow and evolve naturally.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Half of us (Justin & Ricky) knew each other since we were 12 years old and we've been jamming together ever since. We formed this band in high-school but disbanded/had a hiatus when we went off for college. We met our bassist Leon and our drummer Devon within the last few years after we got back together during the pandemic. The pandemic was an unexpected reset for us. With so much free time, we naturally gravitated back to making music. It started as jamming for fun, but before we knew it, we had enough material for an EP! Coming back after the hiatus, we noticed how much our music tastes had evolved. The time apart brought in different influences, which gave us the opportunity to experiment with our sound. It’s been an exciting process, and we’re still discovering what our 'color' is as a band.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

'The Story So Far' was another big influence, not just for their music but because they showed us it’s possible for a local band to make it. They recorded their early albums at Panda Studios in Fremont, where we grew up. Inspired by them, we recorded our first two singles there, right after high school in 2015. While we initially focused more on building a social media presence online, we realized we missed out on fully connecting with the local scene. Now that we have enough songs to play live, we want to make it a priority to engage with our local scene and represent where we’re from.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I would say 'All Time Low' was one of our biggest influences. They inspired us to start a band in high-school. Their band dynamic is great since they're all good friends even outside of music.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

‘High Beams’- This song was revived from a phone recording demo that we never finished writing in high school. It reflects the bittersweet transition from the familiar to the unknown, capturing the emotional weight of leaving behind what’s comfortable and facing the uncertainty of starting anew. The song delves into the process of losing yourself in order to rebuild and grow, embracing the idea that starting over isn’t a failure but a necessary step toward self-discovery.

‘Vantage Point’- This song reflects the emotional highs and lows we experienced while writing this EP, as well as the weight of daily pressures. It explores those overwhelming moments when life feels like it's moving too fast and emphasises the need to step back and gain perspective. The song serves as a reminder to slow down, zoom out, and recognize that many of our worries are fleeting and insignificant. By taking a moment to breathe, it suggests we can find clarity and reassure ourselves that everything will be alright. Ultimately, it’s a message of self-compassion and letting go of perfection.

‘Kings & Queens’- This song reflects our realisation that chasing dreams can sometimes make us lose sight of what truly matters. The 'Kings & Queens' symbolise our parents, the foundational figures who shaped us into who we are. As we grew older and became more absorbed in our own lives, we noticed an emotional distance growing between us and the people who mean the most. This song serves as a moment of self-reflection, reminding us to pause and recognize that while ambition is important, it’s the love and support of those closest to us that truly defines our lives.

‘All Season’- This song reflects the experience of realising something important too late. It captures the regret of not acting sooner and the feeling of losing yourself in the process. The lyrics convey how, despite the passage of time and changing seasons, some emotions remain constant, lingering beneath the surface. It’s not just about a specific person but about how unresolved feelings can stay with us, subtly influencing the way we think and act.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Since the pandemic, our vocalist/guitarist built out his own home studio, which is where we recorded the entire EP. Once we finished tracking, we had our songs mixed and mastered by Joey Burcham (Roo Studios). A lot of the arrangements came together during our jam sessions, so the songs were written with live performance in mind. Since we all work 9-5, we had to do a lot of remote collaboration. Recording ideas at home, sharing tracks with each other, and giving feedback. It was pretty difficult, but it worked out in the end and helped us create something we’re really proud of.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We released one collaborative single (WONDER with RAX) and a 4-track EP this January! We hope fans see themselves in our songs and feel a sense of connection. Life’s struggles are something we all experience, but the way we navigate them is unique to each of us. Tracks like 'All Season' capture those relatable moments, like regret and self-discovery, and show that it’s okay to feel lost sometimes. We want listeners to feel seen and know that they’re not alone in their journey.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes, we are working on a few new tracks this year. Hoping to release at least one single this year!

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We plan on playing our first gig since the pandemic this July 12th at Tamper Room, Fremont! And we want to continue to play more local shows in the future.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We're just going to keep doing what we've been doing. We have a lot of ideas for new songs, we want to film more music videos and we also want to play more shows.

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

People can support us by buying our music on bandcamp - https://cheersfornothing.bandcamp.com/album/new-highs-same-lows! And here's our link for streaming platforms!

Joe Normal's Discusses New Music, Videos, and Being Normal?

 

Alternative indie artist JOE NORMAL has released an array of album's, single's, videos, and played live as well. No plans to play live anytime soon, but has released a new album! Joe himself discusses the album, his music making process, and what plans are ahead.

 

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Back in the early 80’s everybody was coming up with punk rock stage names. We were all trying to outdo each other to find the most offensive or rude names, but none of that seemed to fit my true personality. I was really just kind of a normal guy, so that’s when it struck me, I’m Joe NORMAL. (My real name is Joseph). Did you know I actually had the name trademarked, too?

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Well I might have started out playing Ramones or Gen X style rock, but my roots were in The Beatles, Queen, and The Who. I loved powerpop too, but it was the melody and songwriting that led the way for me. I was evolving and wanted less and less to be the lead guitar player, and more and more to be the singer and the songwriter. I knew I had words in my soul to express my thoughts and feelings in a direct way that regular people could relate, so I leaned more into the folk-pop, singer songwriter / rocker storyteller mode, which was really who I was underneath all along.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

My first band was with my brother and an older neighborhood rocker friend in our hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey. We played for 10 years together as The Zeros (American Glam Band) before my brother and I left to start our own thing. Eventually we parted ways, too and I’ve since gone on to form my own bands with the best rocker musicians on the L.A. scene, always with me at the songwriting / singer / guitarist helm.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I’m based out of Los Angeles, California and there is not a real scene here for the kind of music I play, so I don’t really do gigs anymore. It’s kind of a time-sucker when I could be recording and releasing and making permanent work like videos, records, and even Tik Tok videos. It’s more fun for me really, because my fans are scattered across the States, they’re in the industrial towns, the old rust belt cities and middle America. I’ve got fans in Australia, Germany, and England as well, so there’s no point playing locally anymore. Been there, done that.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

My life experiences. Other people I meet and observe. When I see injustice in the world. When I see things that others don’t. When I have my emotions triggered in any way, both good and bad, and of course love, relationships, friendship and all that happy kind of stuff.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

My songs often lean into work life and everyday people and our problems, joys, and challenges. Working Class themes. Workers Rights. The human experience. Often rooting for the underdog, always trying to leave the listener with a sense of hope, that they are understood, and often with a sense of humor.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, I write my own songs. Mainly on acoustic guitar or piano, with a notebook and pen. I almost always come up with the song’s main riff and chords and melody first. I will hit on a few chord changes that trigger a strong emotion in me and I’ll keep playing that and see where it is leading me until some words start to come. I often mumble out gibberish and syllables and will get a phrase that sticks and maybe it kicks off the chorus or topic of the song, and once I get that bit, I’ve got it. From there it’s kind of like reverse engineering or putting together the rest of the jigsaw puzzle. I start pulling ideas and lines out of the air that fit and help to fully tell the story or relay the theme. Also I oftentimes have a listener or audience in my mind that I think the song is meant for.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

As JOE NORMAL I’ve been releasing singles, EP’s and albums since 2020. It’s all on streaming, however, I add many unreleased tracks and demos to my JoeNormal.BandCamp page for my fans. My discography goes back to the mid 80’s with various bands, so any hardcore JOE NORMAL fans can go backwards to find some of that work.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes, I just released an album called “I’M NORMAL PEOPLE.” The streaming version only has 9 songs. The CD & BandCamp version has 4 bonus tracks that don’t appear on the streaming version. I’m currently working on another album that will have a more jangle-pop / indie rock vibe… and it will be all love and heartbreak songs.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

No. I don’t plan to play live anytime soon unless something really monumental comes along that I can’t pass up. There are many, many younger bands out there playing for free and in the clubs that younger people would rather see. I’ve done too much of that in one lifetime to keep going back to that. I’ve paid my dues time and time again, and am happy to continue creating my art and putting my work into the world. Write. Record. Release. Repeat. That’s my plan.

11. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Maybe a documentary film, some videos, and onscreen stuff. Also I need to bone down on recording my ever growing catalog of songs. I’ve got literally albums of unrecorded songs and I’m always writing and creating. I’m worried I’ll never catch up!!

12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

If you truly love indie music makers, then please purchase CDs, downloads, and merch. My stuff is at https://JoeNormal.BandCamp.com.

If you like to stream, please remember to hit Follow and Save on SPOTIFY at https://open.spotify.com/artist/1X4euPJpNXzlyaddgVD3k2. Thank you for listening.

Vesper Bloom Talks of Music and the Plans for the Future!

 

Dark, synth, synth pop artist, VESPER BLOOM has been creating haunting melodies and pulse pounding rhythms for all to hear; has taken some time to discuss themselves, as an artist, talking about what it's like creating music, and the future plans ahead. Check it out below!

It Kills You Releases New Video Single "Absence"

 

It Kills You have released a new video single of the song called "Absence". Check it HERE.

Our Frankenstein Announces New Album Magnum Spire Hotel, Out April 25, 2025 via Reclamation Records

 

Gothic industrial metal band Our Frankenstein will release their haunting new full-length album, Magnum Spire Hotel , on April 25, 2025 , through Reclamation Records , with support from Moon Coil Media.

Formed in Orange County, California in 2013, Our Frankenstein merges cinematic visuals with the rich textures of gothic and industrial metal. Now based in Los Angeles, CA, the band has evolved into a force of immersive storytelling through music—delivering experiences that are as theatrical as they are intense.

Magnum Spire Hotel is a dark journey through an ominous hostelry seemingly lost in time and space. Within the walls of this surreal hotel, guests may uncover reasons to celebrate—or descend into horrors beyond comprehension. Each floor takes listeners deeper into levels of psychological depravity, all building toward a grand ball at the top—where YOU are the guest of honor.

Behind the heavy conceptual theme of a haunted hotel, the album delves into real-world struggles such as addiction and mental illness —two forces that often intertwine. Magnum Spire Hotel brings these issues to light by immersing the listener in a twisted realm where one must confront their inner demons.

The album is drenched in the melancholic essence of 1980s gothic influence while maintaining the originality and signature identity that defines an Our Frankenstein release. This time, the band has teamed up with Nero Bellum (Psyclon Nine, Skold, Not My God) as producer, bringing a new level of sonic refinement and social reach to the project.

The record will be available on all major digital platforms and is distributed via Reclamation Records .

Our Frankenstein is a gothic metal band originally founded in Orange County, California in 2013. With a sound shaped by the gothic and industrial underground, they are known for weaving mythic and psychological themes into sonic experiences. Now based in Los Angeles, the band continues to push the boundaries of genre, atmosphere, and theatrical performance.

Storm King Comics to bring John Carpenter to Midsummer Scream

Storm King Comics, the award-winning graphic novel publisher founded by film producer Sandy King, will headline Midsummer Scream's 2025 "Horror Comic Books" theme when the world's largest Halloween and horror convention returns to the Long Beach Convention Center from August 15-17, 2025.

Highlighting Storm King's major presence, legendary director, composer, and Storm King collaborator John Carpenter (Halloween, They Live, The Thing, Escape from New York) will make a highly anticipated appearance. Carpenter will be in attendance on Saturday, August 16th only, signing autographs for fans. Each autograph fee will include a copy of John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, an all-new graphic novel based on the unique film, from Storm King Comics and the George A. Romero Foundation.

John Carpenter will be joined by Sandy King, founder and editor of Storm King Comics. King, a renowned producer with credits including Vampires, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, They Live, Body Bags, Ghosts of Mars and the TV limited series Suburban Screams, heads the publishing company, which brings together top-tier talent from film, novels, and comics.

“We’re thrilled to welcome horror legend John Carpenter, Sandy King and Storm King Comics to Midsummer Scream for the first time,” said David Markland, co-founder and executive director of Midsummer Scream. “Their presence, especially with this year’s theme focused on horror comic books, is a dream pairing. John Carpenter’s appearance in support of Storm King Comics as it launches its latest graphic novel makes this an unforgettable addition to our celebration of horror in all its many forms.”

In addition to Carpenter, Storm King Comics will bring additional artists and creators to their show floor booth throughout Midsummer Scream, where Sandy King will be available during the weekend to meet with fans.

The theme “Horror Comic Books” will be seen throughout the event’s programming, partnerships, and key art. Inspired by vintage horror comic book covers by Bernie Wrightson, this year’s official poster is designed by D.W. Frydendal (White Wolf Games’ The World of Darkness series, The Haunted Mansion (comic) from Slave Labor Graphics, Satan’s 3-Ring Circus of Evil, and Creepy from Dark Horse Comics) and represents everything Midsummer Scream is about – haunted houses, a creepy creature, and trick or treating!

Joining the comic celebration, local favorite "Revenge Of" (comic shop and horror pinball arcade) will host horror comic creator signings all weekend and provide pinball machines for attendees to play.
 
Midsummer Scream welcomes over 50,000 fans and features 300+ exhibitors. The show will include many of its popular features such as the expansive "Hall of Shadows" haunt zone, live entertainment, and numerous panels covering horror films, TV, and major attractions like Halloween Horror Nights, Paramount Scares, and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.

Passes for Midsummer Scream now on sale at midsummerscream.com. Follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook at @midsummerscream for regular updates on guests, presentations, and other special activations.