Mixer-uppers FAMOUS STRANGERS like to declare that their music is a wide range of material and sounds from various influences and even emotional tones. With that, they have released three single's, with them excited to release even all newer material soon enough! The band talks about playing live, what is lined up for shows, touring possibly, and much more.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Famous Strangers began its journey many years ago. The roots go back to a previous project called This Is War, which ran from around 2010 to 2012. That band featured myself, Jeff Kittlitz on guitar, and Beej, our drummer. Even after that group dissolved, the creative bond between us was undeniable. We just knew we had to keep playing music together. There wasn’t a master plan or any sort of branding strategy behind it at first. We simply knew we had a fire, and we wanted to keep it alive.
For about a decade, we jammed. We played with other musicians, dabbled in cover songs, and experimented with various styles. Somewhere along the way, we linked up with Braden Sustrik on bass. That changed everything. His energy, musicianship, and vibe locked in perfectly with what we were building. Personally, I had always dreamed of being in a band with Beej and Braden. The chemistry was natural and undeniable.
The final missing piece came when Amanda Kiernan joined the fold. I had been trying to collaborate with her musically for what felt like a lifetime. When she finally agreed to come by for a casual jam session, it was supposed to be just some fun cover material. But then we showed her an original tune, and something electric happened in that room. She connected with the song instantly, and suddenly we all felt that something much bigger was taking shape. That was the moment Famous Strangers truly came to life.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
This one’s on me (Jeff). I was driving through the city one day, listening to Deep Purple’s Perfect Strangers on the radio, just kind of lost in thought and letting my mind drift through riffs and band ideas. As I turned a corner, I passed a donair shop called “Famous Donair,” and something clicked in my brain. The words “Famous” and “Strangers” slammed together in a weird, perfect way. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. We had been tossing around names for a while, and nothing felt quite right. But this one stuck. It felt poetic and powerful, like it held meaning even though it came out of nowhere. I brought it to the band, and everyone immediately saw the fit. It was bold and mysterious, and it reflected who we were becoming. The name might have started as a happy accident, but it ended up capturing our identity better than anything else ever could.
3. 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 proud to call Edmonton, Alberta our home. The music scene here is unlike anything we’ve experienced elsewhere. There’s a fierce loyalty among musicians, venues, and fans, and the creative energy is always buzzing. It’s not just a scene, it’s a community. The local talent is off the charts. Some bands we absolutely admire and recommend include Quietus, Dead Jesus, Death Toll Rising, Sin is in, Animal Elliptic, Brian Knoobs, Black Friday, The Devil’s Sons, Bogue Brigade, and The Pressure Point, Compromise. And of course, we need to acknowledge some of the pioneers who helped shape Edmonton’s heavy legacy like SNFU, The Smalls, and Disciples of Power. Musicians here tend to play in multiple projects, so there’s a lot of crossover and shared history, which makes for a really dynamic environment. Whether you’re at a gritty bar show or a festival stage, you feel the love. There’s a level of support and camaraderie that we don’t take for granted. It’s truly a special place to make music.
4. How would you describe your style?
Our sound is hard to pin down, and we like it that way. At its core, we’re a heavy rock and metal band. But that’s just the surface. Underneath, there’s a wide range of influences and emotional tones. We’ve got moments that channel classic metal energy, with riff-driven anthems and aggressive rhythms, but we’re not afraid to get atmospheric and introspective too. You’ll hear hints of Deftones, Judas Priest, Dio, and Devin Townsend’s Ocean Machine in our music. Sometimes it leans toward hardcore, sometimes it’s groovy and soulful. Our song “I’ll see you in the Stars” showed a softer, more emotional side, and people really connected with that. It gave us the confidence to lean into our diversity. We don’t want to repeat ourselves. Every song is driven by what we’re feeling at that moment. We write with our guts and our hearts, not with a checklist. If a track wants to be slow, heavy, and haunting, we let it be that. If it wants to crush skulls, we lean into that too. At the end of the day, if you love music that moves you, you’ll find something to love in what we do.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
So far, we’ve released three singles that represent very different corners of who we are:
• “Deep Star” delivers raw, no-nonsense rock and roll. It’s gritty, loud, and full of old-school attitude. You can hear the classic influences loud and clear.
• “George” brings a more modern stomp. It’s heavy in a different way—rhythmic, thick, and aggressive, with a nod to the new wave of metal.
• “I’ll See You in the Stars” is the wildcard. It’s slow, melodic, and haunting. This one caught people off guard in the best way. There’s a deep emotional core to it, and it’s been resonating powerfully with our listeners.
That last song especially feels like a true reflection of where we are creatively right now. It opened up a whole new chapter for us in terms of songwriting and emotional reach and shows the true nature of us.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
We do, and we’re really excited about it. We just wrapped up a brand-new single called “LSC”, recorded at The Audio Department in Edmonton with the incredible Phil Anderson. Phil brought a ton of knowledge and energy to the process, and his assistant Dan was right there with him, helping bring it all together. The track was mixed by Joel Wanasek, known for his work with artists like Machine Head and Monuments. It was then mastered by Maor Appelbaum, who’s worked with some of the biggest names in heavy music. Needless to say, we’re incredibly proud of how this one turned out. “LSC” drops at the end of May, and it’s just the beginning. We’ve got more singles lined up and a full-length release coming on the horizon. The creative fire is burning hot right now.
7. How about playing shows and touring? Have anything planned out?
We’re ready to take this music everywhere. Playing live is in our blood. The connection with the crowd, the sweat, the noise, the energy—it’s everything. We’ve got our first headline show coming up at The Starlite Room in Edmonton on May 10th, and we’re treating that like a celebration. After that, we’re hitting Decimate Metal Fest in Millet, Alberta, which has been going strong for years and we’re stoked to be part of it. Then we’ll be doing a run through Red Deer, Calgary, and beyond, playing alongside our friends in Grave Mass. We’re also thrilled to be hitting Armstrong Metal Fest in July and Loud as Hell Festival in Drumheller later this summer. Looking ahead, we’ve got our sights set on California in the fall. The goal is to get down to the U.S. before winter and bring the fire to new ears. The Whiskey in L.A. is definitely on our radar.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
The plan is simple: we want to tour the world, make powerful music, and connect with people on a deep level. We’re all aligned in the vision. We want to build something that lasts. Something that reaches people where they are and lifts them up. Music is a powerful thing—it brings people together, heals wounds, lights fires. Concerts are sacred to us. When a room full of strangers connects over a song, that’s real magic. We want to take that magic on the road and spread it as far and wide as we can. From the smallest clubs to the biggest stages, we want to be there, giving people a reason to believe in something real.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can find everything at www.famousstrangersband.com. That’s your one-stop shop for streaming platforms, social media, and our official merch store. If you’re coming to a show, you can also grab merchandise there and support us directly. We’re always around to say hi, sign stuff, or just hang out and talk music. Your support means the world to us.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
More than anything, we want people to feel something. We make the music but It’s not about us. It’s about what it brings out in you. We want you to go on a journey. We want the songs to pull something out of you, to fire you up, to crack you open in the best way possible. If you come to a show and leave feeling more alive, more seen, more fired up about life, that’s the goal. That’s the win. We want to remind people of their power. Their worth. Their ability to feel deeply and live boldly. And if our music can be the spark that lights that up in someone, we’ve done our job.
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