Calling Apollo Online Interview

Hey all. Hope your week was good and that you are excited for this weekend. I'm kicking off the weekend with the band Calling Apollo. Here's a short interview with the boys that discuss how they formed and what they think their music sounds like: 

How did you guys meet one another? 

None of us knew each other before we became Calling Apollo. We had all been in different bands over the years but we were all after something a bit different. Kevin our guitarist placed an Ad online and and one by one we got in touch and tried out. They had already began to write as a four piece before I joined the band and when I heard the demo's they were producing I knew I had to be part this band. It was everything i was looking for. In early 2015 we parted ways with our original drummer and another ad went up online. Zak turned up and boom, it was lift off for Calling Apollo.

How was the band name created? 

Theres no real meaning behind the name other than I Love all things space and we found a good combination of words after throwing lots of suggestions into the hat.. At the end of it all the music makes the name.

How would you describe the music your band creates? 

Its always hard describing your own music but we've always said we combine catchy melodies, ambience and aggression. Past reviews have compared us to bands like Billy Talent, Coheed and Cambria and The Mars Volta.

What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs? 

I write songs about anything. It could be something ive seen in the news that day, or an encounter i've had with someone thats played on my mind. 

What are your plans for 2016? 

Our single Clone City, taken from the EP 'The Great Depression: Act I' , will be out on march 18th and then we aim to release the EP in mid July. We also be heading out on tour in August. More news on that will be announced in the next few weeks.

Where can people find you on social media? 

http://www.facebook.com/callingapollo

Twitter - @callingapollo

Also check us out on itunes and spotify. 

Thanks to Steph from Domino PR for this opportunity and the band for answering the questions. If any other bands want to be featured on this blog then please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to Steph and the band. 

Hope you enjoyed the blog post, 

Rachel. 

Endrah Online Interview

Hey guys. Hope you're all doing well this week. Nearly time for the weekend! Today we get to learn about the band ENDRAH. Thanks to Andrew from Stencil PR for the opportunity of working with this band. Read on to find out more about these guys: 

How did you guys meet one another? 

I met the band originally in Brazil upon my first trip to Sao Paulo in 2005. The first time I met original guitarist and co-founder Billy Graziadei of BIOHAZARD fame in around 1999-2000 during Biohazard shows where I went to watch them play. I auditioned for ENDRAH because Blabbermouth had a post about his new band, ENDRAH needing a vocalist. I beat out all the competition, and was chosen to become the new lead vocalist of ENDRAH in early 2005. I went there in May 2005 and met the guys. Now we have a new bassist, who I have not even met in person yet, and he has been with us for almost 6 months! This band exists because of the internet, as we only get together when touring.

How was the band name created? 

As far as the story goes that I heard, the guys made a spin on Hindu godess of war Indra. Billy told me he liked ENDRAH as like somebodies name.

How would you describe the music your band creates? 

ENDRAH mixes, blurs, and erases the lines between Hardcore, Thrash Metal, and Death Metal. We use unique arrangements, and time patterns, and the layouts are not standard issue. ENDRAH music is very complex, and it is difficult for me to write lyrics over the music is there are few obvious parts for "verses" and "choruses".
ENDRAH music is for strong people, with strong minds. The band comes across in utter aggression, the music is a range of tempos, but always brutal. There are no soft spots or love moments in ENDRAH music. This is for serious times, and serious people. Check us out!www.facebook.com/endrah

What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs? 

The majority of ENDRAH themes and messages portain to social issues, political problems, and environmental concerns. ENDRAH utilizes revenge to conquer fears, break down walls, and actually move to accomplish goals. This band is not about fantasy lands. No tales of dragons and wizards in ENDRAH. The band speaks about current events, but we tell the side that the mainstream media does not usually share to the public. I like to consider myself informed, and well-read. I suggest reading American Free Press newspaper for some real news in America. They are online as well. 

What are your plans for 2016? 

ENDRAH has gotten offers to tour all over the world in 2016 but some of the offers just don't make sense timing wise or with the logistics involved so we are negotiating in many territories. In May 2016 ENDRAH will embark on a headlining tour of Brazil which will hit many cities across Brazil. The band is in talks with promoters and agencies in USA, Europe, Canada, Russia, Colombia, Mexico, and more places around the world.
At the moment, ENDRAH is in the studio recording a E.P. with 4 brand new songs to be released likely in late April or early May 2016.

Where can people find you on social media? 

www.facebook.com/endrah
www.endrah.com for links to the rest of our social media pages. Please give us a like and share our pages to your friends. It really helps us out!

Finally, if there was only one album you could listen to for the rest of your life which one would you choose and why?

IRON MAIDEN Number of the Beast.
Why not? It is an utter classic, and I love Bruce's voice. UP THE IRONS.
Please check out ENDRAH and drop us a line, we answer all our fans. Thank you very much everyone!

Thanks again to Andrew from Stencil PR for getting in touch and thank you to the boys of ENDRAH for answering the questions. If there are any other bands who would like to be featured please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to the band and Andrew. 

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, 

Rachel. 

Seven Stories High Online Interview

Hey guys. Hope your all doing well today. Sorry if I've been slightly M.I.A recently on this blog but things at uni are getting crazy so I hope you forgive me for that. Anyway, enough of my babble. Here today we have the band Seven Stories High to tell us a little bit about themselves as well as what they've got planned for the rest of the year: 

How did you guys meet one another?

Dave and I (Rhys), have known each other since childhood and then met Matt at comp and started our first band when we're about 12. We were awful, but we didn't know that. We played in bands since then, always changing, until I decided that I had enough of sitting behind a drum kit, and wanted some of the spot light, and by then Dave had gotten very good at drums so we changed it up. We had another bassist for a while but unfortunately it didn't work out, so we found Charlie to play bass for us. It was good but we needed something extra so Charlie moved over to guitar and asked his friend Kallum to play bass for us. That was over a year ago now and since then the band has really worked well together.  

How was the band name created?  

 It was originally a lyric in our song CTRL. The song is about us reforming as a band when and the line referee to the fact, that through out the years there have been 7 different versions of a band that Matt, Dave and myself have been in. We also happened to be writing in my flat which is on the 7th floor of a tower block, so it all fit together. There was nothing else we liked more that represented us as much as that.  

How would you describe the music your band creates? 

It's pop punk. I don't think there is anything else to say. We don't pretend to be anything else. We loved that genre of music when we were growing up and when we all write together that's what comes out. It's up beat and fun, and I think that is what we like the most. There isn't a time in the band when we aren't joking around (as anyone who has seen is live will tell you) and that's what we hope the music represents.  

What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs? 

With this EP we wanted to address things that have happened before we got together. Stuff like our childhood, going out with friends, but also some more serious stuff such as anxiety, bullying, the reality of having to grow up. It's all stuff that we have dealt with in our lives, and that everyone has probably dealt with at some point, and have come out our music. 

What are your plans for 2016? 

We are writing all the time, and trying to get some new stuff put together. We will hopefully have a music video out soon which is exciting, but we really just like to play and meet new people at gigs that have listened to us, so that's what we are looking forward to most. 

Where can people find you on social media? 

Uh everywhere I think. We are very active on Twitter @7storieshigh and on face book, we have Instagram too, but most places you can find us if you search the name.  

Finally, if there was only one album you could listen to for the rest of
your life which one would you choose and why? 

Rhys - it changes a lot, but at the moment it would be 'No Closer to Heaven' by The Wonder Years. I just love the emotion that's in the album and I can't help but hurt my throat singing to it if it's on. 

Kallum- I'd say 'Only By The Night' Kings of Leon, as its the album thats really nostalgic to me and helped influence me pick up an instrument

Charlie - Album choice I'd choose, Infinity Land by Biffy Clyro, although it wasn't one of my first albums it is one I could listen to it back to front and still be left jaw dropped.  

Matt - easy one, 'Smart Casual' by Kids in Glass houses. It's all I listened to between like 16 - 21.  

Dave - 'City of Evil' Avenged Sevenfold. Although I don't love them as much as I used to in my youth but it's the album that made me want to transition from Bass to drums as the drum tracks are phenomenal and it's also what made me want to be able to write music as good as them.

Thanks to the boys from Seven Stories High and Garry from SaNPR management. If any other bands would like to be featured on this blog then please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to Seven Stories High and Garry. 

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, 

Rachel. 

KO_PLUNE'S AUDITORAY ATLAS EP REVIEW

Hey guys. Hope your all doing well and having a great weekend. Today you get to hear my thoughts on Ko_Plune's new EP Auditory Atlas which was just released. Grab a copy if this review interests you at all. I suggest you go and give it a listen in any case and support the band. I can't wait to hear what they have lined up in the future. If any other bands would like to be featured on this blog please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will get back to you ASAP. Thanks to the band Ko_Plune for getting in contact about this and the online interview. It was great working with you guys and hopefully we'll work more in the future. 

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, 

Rachel. 

Lost Focus Online Interview

Hey guys. Today we're talking to the guys from Lost Focus. Learn about how they formed and what their plans are for the future. Definitely give these guys a listen once you've read the interview: 

How did you guys meet one another?

One of the band’s guitarist’s Wes, was in two bands, one at university and one in his home town. When both bands fell apart, we took the best of both bands and created Lost Focus.

How was the band name created? 

It stemmed from word association of things that were relevant in our lives at the time and grew from that until we settled on two ideas put together: Lost Focus.

How would you describe the music your band creates?

We want to keep people moving, something they can jump and dance to and generally give them a good feeling. So there are elements of pop-rock but each member brings something different to the band.


What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs?

They are all just about experiences through our lives so far, focusing on the main themes of; relationships, discovery, maturity and just wanting to have fun that derive from our mid-teens through to where we are now in our twenties.


What are your plans for 2016? 

We’ve got a couple of gigs already booked for the next few months, including The Alex and Talking Heads, but we are always looking to book more. We’ve also been in the studio recording our debut EP which will be out soon with plans for more studio recordings to come out afterwards.


Where can people find you on social media? 

https://www.facebook.com/LostFocusBand/
www.twitter.com/lostfocus_band
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4v824EZDkiurfM1vxzTM0w


Finally, if there was only one album you could listen to for the rest of your life which one would you choose and why?

Dan: NOW 75… jokes. I don’t know! Maybe I would just listen to our album!

Steve: Foo Fighters Wasting Light, that album is a banger, Dave Grohl is a legend. The album has everything rawness, emotion and an epic story behind it. Every song is perfect. Dave's song writing is quality and so is the production that Butch Vig brings to the album. I would listen to that every day over and over... In fact I pretty much did when it was released

Wes: I can never decide on a favorite album. But there are albums that I will always come back to and never get bored of such as; Kaiser Chiefs - Employment, Catfish and the Bottlemen – Balcony, Air Traffic – Fractured Life.

Matt: I’m loving 5SOS new album, however for me it would have to be some classic Bon Jovi, maybe their greatest hits to get a wide selection.

Will: Could a make a mixed album with all the songs I want on there? I think I would have to go with Barbara by We are Scientists. Overall I think it’s a strong album with both bouncy and fun songs as well as atmospheric tunes. Although I am partial to Red by TV Snow.

Thanks to the guys of Lost Focus for getting in touch about the interview and answering the questions. If any other bands would like to be featured on this blog then please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to the guys of Lost Focus.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post,
Rachel.

CUTE CUTE DEATH Online Interview

Hey guys. Hope that you're all doing well. Today we get to learn about the guys from CUTE CUTE DEATH who have got a bright future ahead of them. If you like your music to be on the more post-hardcore then definitely check these boys out: 

How did you guys meet one another?  

Johnny and Wayne moved over from South Africa as a band but needed a new vocalist and found me (Niko) by placing an advert online... We got jamming for a bit and then things didn't work out with some of the members, so the very long search for new members started which took years of many tedious attempts, some were great though but just didn’t work out in the end. Wayne then came across Ricky and Rob who had known each other from school and it all just started to glue and come together... The rest is history!  

How was the band name created?  

The name came from a friend....long story! But while watching planet earth, where whales were circling a penguin and eventually did the inevitable and she commented "I can't watch it anymore, it's just like...Cute, Cute...Death!" I was hooked on the idea of this odd name and mentioned it a few times, and we all then thought it is odd enough to stand out and works with what we feel we sound like!  

How would you describe the music your band creates?  

A sound where we are not afraid to break the rules but the same time, deep and full of hidden meanings...we make music like flicking paint at canvases bringing our current state of mind we have at that time out within that particular song. What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs? angst, regrets, wisdom and foresight, figuring out where our place is in this world and feeling trapped and frustrated by this modern world filled with hierarchy.  

What are your plans for 2016? 

Play as many shows as we can, Release our debut album, hopefully with a distribution deal behind it (hint hint). Write new songs for album no.2, some more touring for definite and generally just try and rip up as many stages as we can while meeting awesome people/bands along the way!  

Where can people find you on social media? 

All usual online web hangs: facebook, twitter, instagram, periscope or you can go to our website www.cutecutedeath.com​ to find any info you need on us with all social links on there.  

Finally, if there was only one album you could listen to for the rest of your life which one would you choose and why? 

WOW! this is one of those questions that will get a different answer everyday it’s asked! Today i’ll answer this with an album all of us in this band love “​Alexisonfire ­ Crisis"

Thanks to the guys of CUTE CUTE DEATH and Garry from SaN Ltd. If any other bands would like to be featured on this blog please email me on rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to CUTE CUTE DEATH and Garry. 

Hope you enjoyed the blog post, 

Rachel. 

The Blueprints Online Interview

Hey guys. Hope you are all doing well and that you are going to have a great weekend. Today we get to learn about the guys of The Blueprints. Learn about how they formed, what they would describe their sound as and what their plans are for the next year. Read on to find out more: 

How did you guys meet one another? 

I went to school with Russ, and he's always been a very gifted musician. A great keys player and drummer, and he also plays guitar, bass and pretty much anything that makes a sound. We were the only two in our year to do A level music, and we have played music in various forms together ever since. It's become kind of instinctive, if I come in to rehearsal with a new idea he'll have a grasp on it straight away and will know what needs doing to make it go. 

I met Sophie through the local scene and from gigging with her previous band, who were really great. She's by far the most qualified musician among us, a great guitarist and a brilliant songwriter and singer. She joined initially on keys to replace our last keyboard player, but we swiftly decided to get her on guitar as it seemed crazy not to utilise her skills. She has a great style which gives us a much bigger sound live and on record. And she has cool guitars. Also in the meantime we got engaged and get married next year!

Mark and I met through playing in a band together called The Alpha Waves. He's a great great bass player and we're lucky to have him. His style is very melodic and always locked in with the drums, he gives us the grounding we need. We've also worked together in various music shops for years now. And we live on the same street. So it's a bit like The Beatles in 'Help!' round our way, only on a budget and with marginally lower record sales.

How was the band name created? 

A lot of thought and planning has always gone into what we do, and the name kind of came from there. All of the records we release will have a general theme running through them, and the arrangement of the songs and the artwork will reflect that. We're lucky to know some talented artists which help us to turn our ideas into tangible designs. We've worked with Milk Club Creative www.milkclubcreative.co.uk and Dog Eat Cog www.dogeatcog.co.uk and they have both done some amazing work.

How would you describe the music your band creates? 

We write pop songs, but play them with loud electric guitars. Lots of harmonies too. We're really focused on writing the best songs we can, and we've developed our own sound over the years. We once got described as 'If The Beatles had existed in the 90's' which we were very happy with. A 60s band trapped in the modern age.

What are some of the themes and messages that come across in your songs? 

It varies, it all depends on the mood of the song. We're definitely a 'music first lyrics second' band, so the melody will dictate the lyrical themes. Our first EP 'The Shipping Forecast' had maritime references throughout, the second 'The Mountaineer' mixed nature with urban imagery. And our new single 'Multiply/Circles' is more direct, discussing zero hour contracts and the realities of life in the current climate. Which all sounds very serious, but both songs are super hooky to soften the blow!

What are your plans for 2016? 

We've just released our latest single 'Multiply/Circles' on Limited Edition 7" transparent yellow vinyl, so we'll be promoting that as we'll as writing and recording the follow up. So fingers crossed we'll have another record out by the end of the year.

Where can people find you on social media? 

Facebook www.facebook.com/theblueprintsuk

Twitter @theblueprintsuk

New single - https://theblueprintsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/multiply-circles-double-a-side-single

Finally, if there was only one album you could listen to for the rest of your life which one would you choose and why? 

'Revolver' by The Beatles as it's just all there isn't it? It's 50 years old this year and is still relevant. 'Tomorrow Never Knows' sounds like it was recorded tomorrow. An incredible record.

Thanks to Stuart from The Blueprints for answering the questions. If any other bands would like to be featured on this blog please email me at rachelcolley@msn.com and I will send you the questions. Thanks again to Stuart. 

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, 

Rachel.