William Blackswan Q&A

Your name: 

Ville Ylimartimo.

Where are you from? 

Arctic world called Tampere, Finland.

Name of band: 

William Blackswan.

Who else is in your band?

Henri Soisalo.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

We are creative and determined fellows. Our music is theatrical horror metal with a pinch of metalcore sound.  Our lyrics bound all together and it is meant to keep that way. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Horror movie soundtracks, most brutal metalcore bands like Motionless In White, In This Moment and Nocturnal Bloodlust. All theatrical movie soundtracks also. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?

A chance to make more music, a chance to give people even more horrors ;) 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

This whole time has been one big highlight, but the most brightest moment so far was the recent studio journey. There is more to come just wait.

Actually this whole band was an project for 2 years and last summer we decided to put everything out big time! Past 5 months have been heck of a ride, but here we are and the best is yet to come.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

There is nothing we want to forget... yet :D

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Well we have just a few songs recorded but now it would be one called "Infected Minds" because it has all the elements we have looked for and this song was the very first complete song we have ever wrote for this band.

Where can we listen to it?

Nowhere, it’s one song from our upcoming two-song single which is going to be released early in January 2017.

Where can we find out more about your music?

https://www.facebook.com/williamblackswan/

https://twitter.com/wblackswanmusic

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBtcydyBMbXFYS_q64W2w2w

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask

Remember that we are new outcoming metal band who is going to release debut single digitally worldwide in next January. So now you can follow us in social media to keep an eye out. Music video is already under progress and lots of other stuff is coming, just wait! Feedback of our work has been so great lately that we are not slowing down!

Dark Globes to release debut album

SHOEGAZE outfit Dark Globes will release their debut album Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart in the first quarter of 2017.

To celebrate the release, the Southend-on-sea band has shared the video for their track Never Let Me Down.

Dark Globes first came together in a Victorian boozer in the Essex seaside town, evolving around main songwriters Tom Burgess and Leighton Jennings. They played their first show as a three-piece at a local folk festival with no prior rehearsals.

Soon they took on third guitarist Richard Onslow, bassist Andrew Moore (known for his output as The Tumbledryer Babies) and drummer Chris Richardson, who also makes lo-fi pop as Happy Hooves.

One rehearsal later, the band began playing shows and recorded their debut album.

Guitarist Richard told RealSoundsOK: "Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart is the culmination of all our disparate influences - indie heroes Teenage Fanclub, the reverb-drenched melancholy of Yo La Tengo and Galaxie 500 and the precise jangle of Felt – but with a distinctive voice all its own, a sound that takes inspiration from all over, but could only come from the Essex coast."

The album, which is out on March 17th 2017, is the first to be released on the recently resurrected Half Machine Records – known for the debut singles by Real Estate, Woods, Banjo or Freakout and the critically-acclaimed reissue of Roberto Cacciapaglia’s space pop classic The Ann Steel Album.

You can watch the video for Never Let Me Down below and for more on the band visit darkglobes.com

Shadowqueen Q&A

Your name: 
Alex Deegan.

Where are you from?
Melbourne, Australia.

Name of band:
SHADOWQUEEN.

Who else is in your band?
Robbi Zana - lead vocals - bass guitar
Si Hopman - guitar - backing vocals

How would you describe yourselves?
We are a three-piece rock band that plays music that is diverse, dynamic and melodic.
We love music and we have a good sense of humour.

Who are your main influences musically?
So so many, a few that come to mind are Muse, QOTSA, RATM, Bowie, Prince, Led Zep, Queen, Midnight Oil, Kate Bush, Skunk Anansie, U2, Jack White...heaps more

What do you hope to achieve in music?
A healthy fan base worldwide so that we can write, record albums and tour the world.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Getting to support Shihad (NZ). And getting to support The Butterfly Effect (AU). Why? Because we all love and respect those bands.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Wasting time, period.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
That's a tough one because our new album hasn't been released and it's quite diverse, but I'll say our latest single: 'Waiting On You' it's a good representation of where the band is currently at; powerful, melodic, funky, playful and brash.

Where can we listen to it?
https://youtu.be/iXTvkyoIdos




Where can we find out more about your music?
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/sha...
Merch: http://shadowqueenmusic.bandcamp.com/...
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B009M56H4W
Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/2J1DmV...
Subscribe to SHADOWQUEEN's channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Shadowqu...
Like on Facebook: https://facebook.com/shadowqueenmusic
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHADOWQUEENband
Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/SHADOWQUEEN_
Official site: http://www.shadowqueen.com.au

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
Our new single and video 'Waiting On You' is out via all good digital distributors, and the video is on our YouTube page, check it out we hope you like it! Our sophomore album is due for release in early 2017! We hope to see you at a show!

The Ruckus Q&A

Your name: 

Tomi Gray (frontman).

Where are you from? 

Sydney, Australia.

Name of band: 

The Ruckus.

Who else is in your band? 

Paul Mason (guitar/icing) Froggy (bass/cake).

How would you describe yourselves? 

We are a socially, politically and spiritually charged group on our own separate life journeys meeting in the middle with our individual experience, influence and knowledge to create music that makes us inspired. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Kendric Lamar, Gill Scott-heron, Pearl Jam, Sting, Jeff Beck, NWA, Limp Bizkit.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

To create a vast body of work that reaches out and moves a vast network of people. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

When on tour we hear unfamiliar faces singing along to songs we have created together. That's an indescribable vibe. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Every 'bad' experience leaves room to learn and improve. There are a few things that we would probably have done differently now, but unless we'd have messed up in the first place may still not know. A lot of the worst decisions turn out to be the best songs. 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Each new piece of work we create we feel as though it's the best thing we've done. I think that's a common trend with musicians/ artists etc. the last thing you've made is the benchmark of where your head is at, even if the next thing sounds completely different, and with us it does tend to. We pool our influences from very wide reach so often when we land in the middle it can be pretty out there. That is why it is important to us to be releasing as much material as we possibly can to paint as detailed a picture of the scope of what we are trying to represent. The latest thing we have put down on record is a song called Fever.

Where can we listen to it?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ft1uA_oW7c

Where can we find out more about your music?

The best place to get the instant full intention of what we are about is at a live performance. The next best thing to that is the Internet. 

www.theruckusband.com 

www.facebook.com/bandtheruckus

Instagram.com/theruckusband 

YouTube.com/bonezmusictv

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

Hopefully we can provide something through our efforts with our music that moves somebody who might get turned onto us through reading this interview. If so then we can close the gap a little. That would be a worthwhile thing.

Vukovar Q&A

Your names.

Rick. Dan. Buddy.

Where are you from?

We are from a decaying industrial town in the North West of England.

Name of band:

Vukovar.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

We've been described as 'bleak-pop' and 'dark post-punk' amongst other things, but we like these two.

Who are your main influences musically?

We don't have main influences. Influences are mostly visual or from literature. But musically we take from lots of things and appropriate it. Whether that's from Leonard Cohen to Suicide, Kylie Minogue to Godflesh, D.A.F to The Last Poets, whatever. As a group we like to listen to as many things as possible, always trying to discover new music; nothing beats finding a gem of an acid house track or pop song for example that you've never heard before and playing it to death, absorbing all you can before moving onto the next. 

The guys who produce our records, Phil Reynolds and Dan Ankers, are the same. They put us onto a lot of interesting music too.The stuff they do for our music is phenomenal.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We want to be able to keep making records. We want everybody in the world to listen to our music and find something in it. We want to be able to live off our art. We want the world... We want to achieve lots of things. Everything.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Supporting Brix & The Extricated and meeting her was great. We all got along v well, a lot in common. We're big on The Fall, so to see the Hanley brothers, one of the all-time great post-punk rhythm section, whilst being involved with the show, was something else. We supported Blue Orchids recently too which was fantastic. Our friends in Glasgow, Spinning Coin and Breakfast Muff (you should really give them a listen, hint hint hint...), invited us to perform there at the Old Hairdresser's which was a great DIY show. DIY shows tend to be the best anyway, but it was lovely of them to ask us. Also, meeting and recording with Graham Duff for our next record, PURITAN, was one of those experiences whereby it still hasn't really been taken in as everything was perfect. Meeting up with our favourite artist, Andrzej Klimowski, was one of those moments too.

As you can tell, we enjoy what we do and the opportunities that come out of the work that we put in. We enjoy every slight, innocuous detail that comes out of it.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Any show we've played for so-called 'professional promoters'. Awful. Being on stage and working together, we'll keep those memories. But the events themselves, the audience (or lack thereof) etc etc etc...

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

At the moment, it would be The Blood Garden. It has the pop melody, it has the beauty in its depth + production, it has the dark Badalamenti synths, it has the delicacy and the noise simultaneously and has the shifting dynamics and most importantly, has the influence of the transcendent moment from JG Ballard's High Rise.  

Where can we listen to it?

 There is a video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alf6t0Su_AY 

 A single... https://vukovarsmallbear.bandcamp.com/album/the-blood-garden-single

 And as part of our second LP 'VOYEURISM' which is the best way... https://vukovarsmallbear.bandcamp.com/album/voyeurism

Where can we find out more about your music?

We are on itunes and Spotify but have neither programme so no links. But we can give you social media and places to listen and download and purchase the beautifully produced CD's, which is really the best way to listen... 

Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/VukovarUK/

Twitter... https://twitter.com/vukovaruk 

Bandcamp... https://vukovarsmallbear.bandcamp.com/album/voyeurism

CDs... https://vukovarsmallbear.bandcamp.com/merch 

Jon Ross Q&A

Your name: 

Jon Ross.

Where are you from? 

Originally from Chicago, IL, USA. Currently living in Nashville, TN, USA.

How would you describe yourselves and your music? 

My music is mainly singer-songwriter style in the pop/rock genre. Many of the songs have a positive vibe to them and there's usually a message of positivity, encouragement, or something along that line.

Who are your main influences musically? 

My influences range greatly, from Beethoven to the Beatles to Billy Joel. I'm also heavily influenced by progressive rock groups of the 70s like Genesis and Rush, as well as 80s rock and pop, which is the music I grew up with.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

My purpose as an artist is to infuse the world with art and uplift this civilization through that. I want to be well known, well thought of, and well exchanged with in the world as a result. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

I got to perform on a cruise ship in front of dozens of people and the performance was very well received.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

I performed at an open mic night about 7 years ago, and I forgot the opening lyrics to one of my songs. I had to then stop and start over. That was really embarrassing!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

I would choose the song entitled Everything Happens For A Reason. I had adopted that philosophy many years ago, and there have been countless times in my life where that mindset has proven to be true time and time again.

Where can we listen to it?

My music is on https://soundcloud.com/jonrossmusic

Where can we find out more about your music?

You can go to www.reverbnation.com/jonrossmusician and that would probably be the best place to hear more of my songs. My website is currently under construction :).

I'm on Twitter at twitter.com/jonrossmusician and my Facebook page is at www.facebook.com/jonrossmusician/. People may also email me directly at jonrossmusician@gmail.com. I would welcome any opportunity to interact directly with the people who love what I create.

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask? 

I would simply like to say thank you for taking the time to interview me, and thank you to anyone who takes time out of their busy lives to listen to my songs!

Corner Pilots Q&A

Your name: 
Jake France.

Where are you from?

Surrey, England.

Name of band: 

Corner Pilots.

Who else is in your band?

Dan Stafford - Vocals
Josh Bennett - Guitar
Ben Mawdsley - Bass
Reece O'Brien - Drums

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

We are an young alternative guitar band who's music is built on bluesy fuzz driven riffs, thundering drums and catchy lyrics. 

Who are your main influences musically?

Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

We would like to see ourselves making a living within the music industry. We want to be playing the best venues with as big a crowd as possible.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Playing Barfly was special. It is such a prestigious venue and somewhere we have watched many a great band.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

To be honest there aren't really any. Being in a band is such a fun experience, as long as you are playing shows and writing new tunes there isn't anything to complain about. Maybe a couple of the early tunes can be forgotten. I wont tell you what they are just in case they are lingering on the internet somewhere.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Our latest single "Jump" represents us really well. It's a slow but upbeat song with a huge chorus. It's one that the crowds love when we play live and has had quite a good reception from people in general so far. It's out on iTunes and Spotify at the moment.

Where can we listen to it?

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Z5xHf1zl9Sau2b2PnwqR0

Where can we find out more about your music? 
www.cornerpilots.com

www.facebook.com/cornerpilots

www.soundcloud.com/corner-pilots

Nick Ryan Q&A

Your name: 

Nick Ryan

Where are you from? 

Virginia, USA.

How would you describe yourselves and your music? 

I am an alternative pop/rock singer-songwriter. I like to blend different genres and have also dabbled in folk, country, Celtic, and R&B with my songs.

Who are your main influences musically? 

Sheryl Crow, The Corrs, and Alanis Morissette would probably be my top three. Well, add Fleetwood Mac and Lissie to that list. Probably also Garbage and Liz Phair. I love a great song, great musicians, and an honest female vocalist. I also grew up listening to Amy Grant, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, and James Taylor.  For the album, I also tapped into Michael Jackson, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Halestorm, Seal, Paramore, Matchbox Twenty, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I'm all over the place! I've opened up my ears as I have gotten older, which isn't usually the case for most people.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

I hope that I can be an artist that can live off of being an artist. It's harder now with all of the competition, but it's also made it easier for people to get their careers started. Anyone can do it now. I want to tour and be able to afford to create new music regularly and work with honest musicians.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

Probably my performances this past weekend (Ed's note - this was written in June)! It was great hearing people resonate with my original music. Even better than being played on SiriusXM!

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

The recording process was a nightmare. I was working with people that were trying to change my artistic vision. And I was paying for it. I was being used. Consequently, we aren't speaking.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Probably You Are Not My Friend. I think it encapsulates all of my influences in on song. It was also one of the first songs I wrote for the record. King of Excuses is a close second.  The chorus is my favorite lyric.

Where can we listen to it? 

https://itunes.apple.com/lu/album/lone-wolf/id1069040589

Where can we find out more about your music?

Facebook.com/NickRyanOfficial
twitter.com/nickryanmusic
instagram.com/nickryanofficial
Youtube.com/nickryanofficial
soundcloud.com/nickryanofficial
Reverbnation.com/nickryanproject

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?

I write songs from personal experiences. I don't write hits, but I think I have songs that can become hits. I believe in being true to yourself and the success with follow after.

SOAD, Biffy and Aerosmith to headline Download 2017

DOWNLOAD Festival has announced its 2017 headliners - with System Of A Down, Biffy Clyro and Aerosmith topping the bill at Donington next summer. 

Photo credit:

 

Ross Silcocks

System Of A Down described the Download atmosphere as "electric", while Aerosmith's Joe Perry said: "Donington is like home to us. I have some great memories playing there and I can't wait to make some more."

Other bands joining the bill across the weekend of June 9-11 include Prophets of Rage, Five Finger Death Punch, AFI, Of Mice & Men, Fozzy, Rob Zombie and Slayer, among others.

You can look back at this year's festival with the RealSoundsOK reviews of Day One, Day Two and Day Three.

But for updates on the 2017 event, visit downloadfestival.co.uk