-Interview- Aviyn (2/28/12)

Aviyn
(From The Depths Entertainment)

Genre: Melodic metalcore
Interviewed on: 2/28/12
From: Hominy, OK
Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/aviynband


1. How did the band come together and form? How did the name “Aviyn” come about?

We started out just having a lot of fun and exploring music. We wanted to keep doing going with our ideas and play more shows, so we formed Aviyn. We wanted our name to be different than other bands, so we just went with it. While it has meanings throughout various languages, to us it represents a fresh start.


2. How’s the debut full length coming along? Who’s producing? When can we expect a release/album title?

Despite the tight time schedule we are on, its going well. We are doing the pre-production ourselves, but we have acquired Nick Sampson for post production/mixing/mastering of the album. He is most notable for his work with the bands; I am Abomination, In Fear and Faith, and Adestria. The album is currently untitled, but we are looking at a spring 2012 release.


3. How does the upcoming full length differ from the “Reflections” EP? Any old songs being redone?

The full length is a bigger representation of us as musicians and people. We feel like there are a lot of stronger themes and more maturity among the concepts. We hope that everyone can find something they like within the songs. None of our older songs, however we are including a cover of "Diamond Eyes"-Deftones. Ultimately, we chose Deftones to cover because we wanted to stay true to our roots. Our hopes is that our fans ,as well as, Deftones fans will get as much enjoyment out of the song as we have had redoing it.




4. Who are some of your influences?



Musically- With all of us being self-taught musicians, we have an extensive catalog of influences ranging across various genres and time periods. Unearth, Atreyu and Killswitch Engage have really helped lay the ground roots for which we have built our musical consciousness on. Socially- we are influenced by our lives, the situations that they bring.


5. What’s the music scene like there in Oklahoma? What’s your take on the whole metalcore scene in general?

We are very proud of our music scene in Oklahoma right now. Great musicians and even better people. 

 We got into the genre because its always branching out and open for new things to mix with it.


6. Any good show stories?



We have been through three vans touring and last summer coming back from a show in Tennessee our van crapped out on us. We were still about 12 hours out with no way to get back so we rented a U-Haul to pull our trailer. Only two people could sit up front so everyone else had to ride in the back you had to watch where you would lay because parts of the floor were almost scorching to the touch. Besides being hot as hell inside the U-Haul, it would also fill up with a sort of stinky gas. I think we all were getting hallucinations which made for a very memorable and tough trip.


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

It has changed the music industry forever and downloading is not going to stop anytime soon. Hopefully the industry will adapt to the flow of things and use the trend as a way to get people to more shows.



8. How would you describe your live show?



Some have described us theatrical or intense. We try to keep the energy level high when possible and incorporate lights into the show. Overall, we just try to do things that are fun and things that we would like to see.


9. What’s next for Aviyn?



Focus on getting our full length out and tour as much as we can!


10. Any shoutouts?

We would have to thank so many people. Its really about the fans more than anything. We would have nothing without their love and support. Also our friends and family play a big role. We love all of them.


-Interview- The Dissension (2/10/12)

The Dissension
(From The Depths Entertainment)

Genre: Technical metal
Interviewed on: 2/10/12
From: Harbor Springs, MI
Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/thedissension


1.Who thought of the name “The Dissension”? How would you describe your music?

Josh thought of it, just had a deadline for a name and threw that out there. No special reason for it. Our music is different and a little unpredictable. We've been described as a kind of progressive and melodic metalcore.


2. You guys released the “Gladius” single not too long ago, is there any new music coming out or being recorded soon? If so, when can we expect it?

YES! We are currently working on writing lots of new music that better describes "The Dissension Sound" We are trying to record it all along with writing. We want to get it out as soon as possible. Hopefully by mid spring we can start showing it off.


3. You guys shot a music video for “Gladius”, how did it go? Who shot it and how long did it take? Any plans on another video?

It was fun! It started out as a school project for Andrea Cronk, a Harbor Springs student and musician also. Surprisingly it took only a few hours of filming. Andrea finished the editing herself. No plans yet on another video, we got a lot of other business on the table at the moment.


4. How does the writing process within the band occur?

Originally, writing was done by serperatly bringing ideas and teaching it to the rest of the band. However, for our new music we focus on writing together. We try to collaberate and take everyones ideas and opinions into account. That way we get that "band" sound that makes us all happy.


5. What’s the music scene like there in MI? What’s your take on the whole metalcore scene in general?

The music scene is quite active in Michigan! Lots of good musicians around and many music lovers to support it. As for the metal scene, we feel lately its a little excessive with the trends and looks, and that it can somewhat limit the creative process. Not that we dont appreciate it, cause without it we couldn't do much. We tend to stray from "Scene" and "Trend" and stick to our own ideas, we feel thats the only way to be original about it.


6. You guys have had shows with For The Fallen Dreams and others. Any good show stories?

Every show is a fun unique experience. Nothing real crazy has happened yet, but we often take our mascot and friend M. Bison (a taxidermied deer head) down to shows and show him off to the city folk. We get a lot of good reactions that makes the trip fun.


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

Go for it, the more people that listen to music, the better.


8. Who are three artists you’d love to tour with?

ARBITER!!!! Bury the Creator, and for neil.... Trivium!


9. How would you describe your live show?

Live shows are our favorite thing to do! We like to keep a tight up-tempo energetic show that gets the crowd pumped!


10. What's next for The Dissension?

Hopefully A LOT! We got tons of new music on the way that we wanna get recorded for you to hear. After that we want to play as much as possible this summer!


11. Any shoutouts?

Rob and Sabrina Byron for putting up with our shit and doing all they have, without them there wouldn't be The Dissension. Randall Erno for being the man. Jay field, Josh Marr, Jason Martin, Logan Clarke, Connor Arbiter, Dan Calloway, Jeremy Tollas, Andrea Cronk, Marshalls a teddy bear, She Screams of Royalty, Bury the Creator, PAN, We could go on forever thanks everyone so much!!!


-Interview- DamNation (2/8/12)

DamNation
(From The Depths Entertainment)

Genre: Melodic metal
Interviewed on: 2/8/12
From: Chicago, IL
Facebook Page

http://www.facebook.com/damnation60623


1.You guys just recently had a show with Lions! Tigers! Bears! How did it go?

The show was really good and fun. It was our first time playing out at the venue Bada Brew. The bands we played with were awesome as well. The fans made the show what it was. We just fed off of the energy from the crowd and it was great. We are heading back out to Bada Brew in a few months looking forward to it.


2. You guys have been around since 2009, what have you learned since then that you didn’t know back then?

I think we have learned a lot, I mean when we started we were real naive and thought this was easy and as we've progressed we realized it's actually a pretty hard concept to grasp. Our drummer, who is our manager as well, has learned the inner workings of the music business as far a local music is concerned. We have also been fascinated and have gained knowledge of the field of marketing when it comes to local music and sustaining the "music dream." But we love doing it as far as our music goes we keep progressing and getting better and better.


3. Are you guys writing new music? If so, when can we expect a release date?

We are in the process of finishing up two EP's titled "Truth and Justice for None" and "I am…", that should be out at the same time in March 2012. We are also just about done writing a whole new album with an all new sound; lower tuning, different tones, new concepts, while still keeping the "DamNation" metal feel. The new album, titled "One Nation Under DamNation" will be debuting June 2012.


4. Who are some of your influences?

We all have very different influences that span across all kinds of genres. We begin the inner influences with Classical Rock, Classical, jazz, and latin genres like salsa, merengue and bachata. These would be where we get the melodic side of DamNation. Then come the more modern and usual influences like metalcore, hardcore, thrash, rap, and hip-hop, to house and techno music. We have been influenced by bands, but for the most part simple genres influence us and our music more.


5. What’s the music scene like there in Chicago? What’s your take on the whole metalcore scene in general?

The scene in Chicago is as different as the 5 different areas of New York. The city can kind of be split up by genres like the North Side Scene kids, the South Side Metal Heads, and more. Its a very diverse scene that we believe will continue to grow and evolve. I think the Metalcore has become the new "it" factor. It seems to be at its highest peak and maybe still growing. However, I believe Metalcore is loved by the young, ok with the older folks, and will influence the new generation coming up.


6. Any good show stories?

We've had a lot of good times up on stage. Its hard to pick out some but two funny stories come to mind. During one of our shows, our old keyboardist jumped on his keyboard, a 88 key keyboard, and wailing back and fourth like he was riding a bull. It got the crowd going! Another one was at the venue Reggies Rock Club, when our bassist was just about to fall off the stage to the side entrance. Luckily our friend was backstage and caught him and pushed him back on stage. The whole time he did not stop playing the song.


7. What’s your take on music downloading?

We believe the music downloading has its negatives and its positives. On the positive side, the band or artist gets exposure thought the domino effect. If a friend downloads your music, they can spread it to others. That would be one of the positives that comes from that. However, the negative would be that artists and bands do not finically benefit form the song. Something that is crucial in this business.


8. You guys have an upcoming show with Primer 55. Who are three artists you’d love to tour with?

We would love to point out that we would love to tour with anyone! We love to play our music with who ever. But off the top of our heads, three bands that we would love to tour with would be As I lay Dying, Suicide Silence, and Of Mice and Men.


9. How would you describe your live show?

I believe the best way we can describe our shows is through the word "interactive." We love to cause a ruckus at our shows and show the audience how to have fun. Sometimes i might be though joking with the audience and showing them a good time, and sometimes it might be through egging them on and kind of getting them a little fired up. One thing we can always promise is a superb stage presence that will involve a lot of chaotic movement.


10. What’s next for DamNation?

Next for DamNation would be taking us to the next level. Or plans that are coming up include new and better merchandise, equipment, and more. Band wise, we are in the beginning stages of planning a tour. We want to see if that pans out, which is very do-able. And for sure more NEW music will coming very soon. We have a problem where we continue to write new music like a big kid eats cake.


11. Any shoutouts?

We just want to give a shout out to our keyboardist that is not with us at the time. He has a side project going while we await his anticipated return. the project is called WarTank. We also want to give shout outs to the band in the local scene that we have work with and collaborated with like: Mara, Phase Extermination, Morgan Le Faye, and Sex For Less. Thanks guys for helping us one was or another. And last but not least, we have to give a shout out to the people that have helped us the most: Friends, Family, Fans, Black and White Studios, 8track Studios, P-Town Studios, and of course Rock Scarz Magazine and From the Depths Entertainment for taking interest in us and our music.