Interview With 'Sound Drown'
Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?
Justin: Hi, I'm Justin. I'm a guitarist/vocalist/songwriter from Saint John, NB. I'm the rhythm guitarist and a vocalist for Sound Drown.
Drew: Hey, my name is Drew. I'm the drummer for Sound Drown.
Nick: Hey, I'm Nick. I'm a guitarist/vocalist, originally from New York and I'm the lead guitarist and a vocalist for Sound Drown.
Brandon: My name is Brandon Wiseman, I'm 29, and I'm a vocalist/bassist/songwriter also from Saint John, NB - originally from Bathurst. I formed Sound Drown as a solo project, but then turned it into a full band performing covers and the odd original. After writing for the next year, the band was reinvented when Drew, Nick and Justin came on board, making 2017 our most ambitious year.
What were you all up to prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?
Justin: Right before I joined the band, I was working for an airline. However, I was in college for Audio Engineering before that. I've always planned on having a career in music.
Drew: At the time, I was working for Telegraph-Journal, but this has always been the planned path for me.
Nick: When I was asked to join Sound Drown, I was studying for a Computer Science degree and I was in my first year. Since the band has been gaining speed, I've sort-of put that degree on the backburner to focus on music, because it has always been my passion.
Brandon: I've always wanted to do music and always had ideas in my head, but didn't have the patience or backbone to do anything about it. I trained as a firefighter for a few years and had played my hand in the corporate world of business building; but I knew I wasn't getting younger, so I left all that for this. I pay my rent being a salesmen for a cellphone company and learned how to play an instrument.
Tell us about your latest album and why our readers should check it out.
It was really just about dipping our toes into the water to test what we can do. I know we wanted to throw different styles around to make sure ever song sounded different, and we are happy with our reception. I also wanted our album to physically standout. Nobody is going to release their album under 'Dino Droppings', or have a cartoon dinosaur stressing on a toilet. But we will.
Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?
Justin: When I met Jacoby Shaddix, he asked me what my name was and I almost forgot. He was super personable and somehow makes you feel like you've known him your whole life.
Brandon: I've met and Avril Lavigne, Gene Simmons. They were alright. It was Dave Mustaine from Megadeth that was really cool. I didn't even really meet him, I just bumped into him in the hallway after a show and he gave a look. Once I found out it was him, I yelled out "Are you Dave?" And he just walked away waving. He was probably written off from the show. I'm a huge Megadeth fan, and he's an inspiration to overcoming advertisy in many aspects of his life. We'll meet again.
If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?
We always pride ourselves in doing everything we can to entertain our audiences. We love to keep the crowd bouncing around with us, and want them to feed off of our energy, as we feed off of theirs. We also need to have fun, whether it's cracking jokes or poking fun at ourselves. Lastly, you'll get to hear (close to) album-quality playing.
If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?
Justin: Papa Roach. They're one of my biggest influences, and I could see us touring with them because they've toured with Sum 41 before and our sounds are similar to theirs.
Drew: I'd have to say Too Close To Touch, because they're one of my modern influences and they're pushing music in a new direction. We have similar sounds, and I think overall it'd be such a fun experience.
Nick: Billy Talent. I've always loved their style, their energy when they perform, and Ian D'Sa is a huge influence to my guitar-playing for his use of Jazz chords in a heavier genre.
Brandon: Definitely Blink 182. They are so funny and one of my biggest inspirations in music. Without them, Sound Drown probably wouldn't be a band.
You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?
Justin: Chester Bennington. He's one of my biggest influences, and his music has helped me through a lot. We'd probably end up talking about music and depression.
Drew: Chester Bennington as well. I would love to talk to him because of his musical influence on me and the rest of the world. I'd like to learn how he scuplts songs and how he does his songwriting because I'd love to pick that up.
Nick: I think sitting down to talk with Eddie Van Halen would be a dream for me. Van Halen's 5150 album was what got me into music when I was really young and he's the main reason I'm playing guitar to this day. I'd definitely talk to him about how he would practice guitar, his writing styles and what exercises to do to have that much mobility and energy on stage.
Brandon: I'd love to chill with Tom Delonge. Hes my biggest musical inspiration and I've always wanted to play guitar like him. I'd basically would basically try to write a song with him in an hour.
And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
Sound Drown unanimously decides that while Die Hard is only the 'right answer' because it's one of the greatest movies of all time, it's not a Christmas movie without Christmas spirit, as sappy as that is.
"I don't think about Christmas when I think about Die Hard. I think about how cool fighting terrorism looks." - Brandon Wiseman
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sounddrownmusic/
