Got a new interview down, with a british Hardcore band that is really really underrated and still unknown as well. Pretty nice guys, who play a pretty solid and recognizable Hardcore sound with Metal influences, yet they haven't created a complete new sound, their songs are pretty catchy and enjoyable!
Check out I Defy!
How did you get the band started?
It was originally Alan and Stu (Guitarists) that wanted to start a band. After writing a few songs they went over to James' (vocalist) studio to record a few tracks.
After that James decided he'd start a band with Alan and Stu which went on to be called I Defy.
What were the reasons for choosing the band name? What are you defying?
Haha! If we was to list off things that annoy us about life and the way music is turning these days we'd be talking forever!
What were the reasons for choosing the band name? What are you defying?
Haha! If we was to list off things that annoy us about life and the way music is turning these days we'd be talking forever!
We chose I Defy mainly just because we thought it sounded cool.. and also because we saw it on the back of a Machine Head album and thought it would make a cool band name.
Tell us about your sound, how do you think are sounding like?
We're just trying to play music that we enjoy..
Tell us about your sound, how do you think are sounding like?
We're just trying to play music that we enjoy..
We looked at bands like The Ghost Inside, The Acacia Strain etc etc
and thought "What if they had clean singing?"
So we set out to be more of a Metalcore alternative to bands like that really.
Are there bands that influenced your sound?
Yes! Everybody must have an influence from somewhere!
So we set out to be more of a Metalcore alternative to bands like that really.
Are there bands that influenced your sound?
Yes! Everybody must have an influence from somewhere!
With us it's anything from.. Parkway Drive/Killswitch Engage
all the way to more hardcore bands like Blood For Blood/Terror
and everything in between!
If you would define your band to a specific genre, what would it be?
Metalcore!
Do you guys spread any kind of message with your music to the listeners?
Yes! As a band.. and individually we've all gone through some very rough times and have had to make a lot of sacrifices!
If you would define your band to a specific genre, what would it be?
Metalcore!
Do you guys spread any kind of message with your music to the listeners?
Yes! As a band.. and individually we've all gone through some very rough times and have had to make a lot of sacrifices!
We've had some AWFUL luck as a band but we carry on going no matter what. So the album is all about picking yourself up when you've been knocked down, sticking with your dreams and just going for it! Believe in yourself!
What are your favorite bands?
We all have different favorites and not always metal.
James likes Killswitch Engage, The Acacia Strain, A Day To remember etc etc and even music like Boyce Avenue and Bruno Mars etc.. pretty much anything he'll listen to as long as it isn't Rebecca Black or Design the Skyline!!
Dave loves his Dream Theater/Machine Head/DevilDriver etc
Stu Loves bands like For Today/Chimaira
Alan loves Bury Your Dead/Blood For Blood etc but also a lot of Acoustic and sometimes pop music too!
Lee likes a bit of everything really he can be a bit more old school than the rest of us he's into Mudvayne/Dry Kill Logic/The Haunted
What do you guys do beside the band?
Work!
Alan Drives massive lorries
Lee works in a shop
Dave works building speakers
Stu works in a call center
and James works in the studio recording bands
Anyone of you guys playing video games ;) ?
Lee, Dave, James and Stu all have Xbox & Xbox live!
Ask us nicely and you can have our Gamertags ;-)
You guys have released one Ep, including 9 Songs, so kind of a little album already, tell us a bit about it? What should we know about it?
Wow... THAT record!
It was the first 9 songs we'd ever written as a band, we we're still trying to discover where we wanted to be and who we wanted to be as a band etc, it's not the best record ever however we're very glad we did it as we learned A LOT from doing it and we've grown a lot since then and changed the way we do things MASSIVELY.. we're almost a completely different band now, what we have on Facebook/Myspace right now and the album is FAR better!
Dave loves his Dream Theater/Machine Head/DevilDriver etc
Stu Loves bands like For Today/Chimaira
Alan loves Bury Your Dead/Blood For Blood etc but also a lot of Acoustic and sometimes pop music too!
Lee likes a bit of everything really he can be a bit more old school than the rest of us he's into Mudvayne/Dry Kill Logic/The Haunted
What do you guys do beside the band?
Work!
Alan Drives massive lorries
Lee works in a shop
Dave works building speakers
Stu works in a call center
and James works in the studio recording bands
Anyone of you guys playing video games ;) ?
Lee, Dave, James and Stu all have Xbox & Xbox live!
Ask us nicely and you can have our Gamertags ;-)
You guys have released one Ep, including 9 Songs, so kind of a little album already, tell us a bit about it? What should we know about it?
Wow... THAT record!
It was the first 9 songs we'd ever written as a band, we we're still trying to discover where we wanted to be and who we wanted to be as a band etc, it's not the best record ever however we're very glad we did it as we learned A LOT from doing it and we've grown a lot since then and changed the way we do things MASSIVELY.. we're almost a completely different band now, what we have on Facebook/Myspace right now and the album is FAR better!
But as far as the old record goes we're happy we did it.. without it we wouldn't be the band we are today! :-)
By the way ,the Artwork looks pretty evil, who made it? It reminds a bit of a Death Metal band, what is behind it, who had the ideas?
The artwork was made by Top Two Studios here in the UK They're amazing illustrators and great with coming up with ideas.
By the way ,the Artwork looks pretty evil, who made it? It reminds a bit of a Death Metal band, what is behind it, who had the ideas?
The artwork was made by Top Two Studios here in the UK They're amazing illustrators and great with coming up with ideas.
We gave them full control over the artwork and we wasn't disappointed with what we got! We'd 100% recommend them to anyone after great Illustration work!
Where do you take your inspirations, beside to other bands, especially for the lyrics?
The lyrics are inspired a lot by our past and obstacles we've had to overcome in order to be stronger/better people.. we want people to feel empowered by our music and really relate it to something that's happened in their life... and hopefully inspire them to pick themselves up and make the best of the life they have!
Anything special coming up? New songs or planning a tour?
We've got a lot going on at the moment
We've just recorded a full length album with Sky Van Hoff over in Germany, he's recorded bands like Caliban and also worked with bands like Kreator etc... he is the MAN at recording and he's really the person that has mentored us as we've grown and taught us a lot about how we should be doing things... without him we'd be nowhere! We already have a music video out now "Bridge Burner" That is from the album, head over to Youtube and check it out!
We have 3 more music videos on the way!!
2 Are songs from the album and one is a very special cover of a pop song we've done! Don't want to spoil the surprise just yet but it will be released very soon!!
We're heading off on a co-headlining tour in the UK with good friends of ours 'Deadlines' who are ex members of Bury Tomorrow! Make sure you check them out! And we are planning on coming back to Europe very soon for another tour, not sure when yet but we're very keen to come back and play for you guys again!
When can we hope for a new record of you guys?
Hopefully the Album will be out soon! We're still working out the business side of things at the moment, but hopefully we should have it out for you ASAP!
Where do you take your inspirations, beside to other bands, especially for the lyrics?
The lyrics are inspired a lot by our past and obstacles we've had to overcome in order to be stronger/better people.. we want people to feel empowered by our music and really relate it to something that's happened in their life... and hopefully inspire them to pick themselves up and make the best of the life they have!
Anything special coming up? New songs or planning a tour?
We've got a lot going on at the moment
We've just recorded a full length album with Sky Van Hoff over in Germany, he's recorded bands like Caliban and also worked with bands like Kreator etc... he is the MAN at recording and he's really the person that has mentored us as we've grown and taught us a lot about how we should be doing things... without him we'd be nowhere! We already have a music video out now "Bridge Burner" That is from the album, head over to Youtube and check it out!
We have 3 more music videos on the way!!
2 Are songs from the album and one is a very special cover of a pop song we've done! Don't want to spoil the surprise just yet but it will be released very soon!!
We're heading off on a co-headlining tour in the UK with good friends of ours 'Deadlines' who are ex members of Bury Tomorrow! Make sure you check them out! And we are planning on coming back to Europe very soon for another tour, not sure when yet but we're very keen to come back and play for you guys again!
When can we hope for a new record of you guys?
Hopefully the Album will be out soon! We're still working out the business side of things at the moment, but hopefully we should have it out for you ASAP!
Have you guys ever thought of going into hiatus for a long time or forever?
Haha!! Many times it feels like we should just stop.. we have such bad luck.. especially with breaking down on tour.. (We ALWAYS seem to breakdown in either Belgium or Germany!
Cancelled Flights/Gigs
People stealing money from us... Gear off us.. People promising us things and them never happening..
It always happens to us! And sometimes it does get us down!
HOWEVER we're never going to give up, we'll keep fighting through it all and playing non stop shows!! You wont see the last of I Defy, not by a long shot!!
Which places would be on the top list, you wishing to play a show at?
Ever since i can remember i've wanted to play at the Download Festival over in the UK.. i think the same goes for all of us!
HOWEVER we're never going to give up, we'll keep fighting through it all and playing non stop shows!! You wont see the last of I Defy, not by a long shot!!
Which places would be on the top list, you wishing to play a show at?
Ever since i can remember i've wanted to play at the Download Festival over in the UK.. i think the same goes for all of us!
Going there as a kid and then finally playing there would be a dream come true!
How would you explain your live performance?
Intense!
How would you explain your live performance?
Intense!
The songs are ALL written with the live performance in mind!
It's fast.. it's heavy.. there's always a breakdown... it's a non stop 100% workout extravaganza! If you like to move.. we will make sure that you get no chance to stop and rest throughout the entire set.
Are you listening to your music too?
Yeah i like listening to our music.. i'm very proud of what we've achieved and how hard we've worked to make the music we love to make.. listening to it just makes you remember how much all that hard work, blood, sweat and tears is worth it!
Which bands would you like to tour with and how would your favorite tour look like?
I'm sure we'd all love to tour with out individual favorite bands but i think we'd all love to tour with bands like.. Parkway Drive/The Ghost Inside/The Acacia Strain/Bury Your Dead etc!
And the Perfect tour for me (James)
Would be:
It's fast.. it's heavy.. there's always a breakdown... it's a non stop 100% workout extravaganza! If you like to move.. we will make sure that you get no chance to stop and rest throughout the entire set.
Are you listening to your music too?
Yeah i like listening to our music.. i'm very proud of what we've achieved and how hard we've worked to make the music we love to make.. listening to it just makes you remember how much all that hard work, blood, sweat and tears is worth it!
Which bands would you like to tour with and how would your favorite tour look like?
I'm sure we'd all love to tour with out individual favorite bands but i think we'd all love to tour with bands like.. Parkway Drive/The Ghost Inside/The Acacia Strain/Bury Your Dead etc!
And the Perfect tour for me (James)
Would be:
Killswitch Engage
The Acacia Strain
Bury Your Dead
The Ghost Inside
Any messages left to fans, friends or family?
We love every single one of you! You're exactly what keeps us going
Any messages left to fans, friends or family?
We love every single one of you! You're exactly what keeps us going
and every single show we play just reminds us that we want to be doing this for as long as we possibly can!
Thank you all so much for your support and to all of those that have stuck by us from day one! It means SO much to us you have no idea!
Again Thank you! And we'll see you on the road!
Thank you all so much for your support and to all of those that have stuck by us from day one! It means SO much to us you have no idea!
Again Thank you! And we'll see you on the road!
