KinStrife
How did I get started in music?
Simon (Drums)
Where to start?
I have been around music my
whole life. From an early age I would listen to records through headphones
while everyone else was watching TV. I must have only been five or six and I
had figured out how to use the home stereo and how to record onto a tape to play
in the family car. I started to take an interest in drums from early on as well
as I was around live bands a lot. I started to “have a go” on drums from being
around the live bands and picked it up pretty quickly. I took the plunge at 12
years old at secondary school when someone else was looking to form a band. I
knew I had the basics so thought, why not give it a go? I managed to fumble
through the first couple of practices and started to learn so much, even just
playing in a rubbish school boy band. From there I kept playing and I am
completely self-taught. The one thing I do regret is not taking proper lessons
earlier on, but I think jumping in feet first was a great way to either sink or
swim.
Mike (Vocals)
Classical Piano from the
age of 6.
Alan (guitar)
I was a late starter, I
have always loved the guitar, but it wasn’t until my brother bought a guitar
when I was about 20 that I started to play. I used to borrow it from his
bedroom while he was out. I had no idea what I was doing so just fingerpicked
the strings until I made it sound somewhere near musical. I couldn’t play a
chord until I went around to friends who taught me the basics and a couple of
Metallica riffs. He lent me some guitar mags and I kept learning new songs.
Inspirations and influences.
Simon
Some of my greatest
inspirations are not the professional drummers of this world, but the people
who love to play. Of course, there are lots of drummers who I admire greatly,
and I have been influenced by them and found inspiration in their playing, but
I will list those later. If someone is enjoying playing, having fun and loving
the drums, this is the greatest inspiration for me. It does not matter how good
or bad you are. If you love it and put your heart and soul into playing, that is
the greatest part of drumming. I have seen terrible drummers having the best
time, and fantastic drummers playing without emotion and I would rather spend
an evening listening to someone who is loving playing than someone there just
for the money. There is nothing better than showing a young kid a simple 4/4
rhythm and watching their face light up when they realise, they can keep a
simple beat going and are playing the drums. There are loads of parents I’m
sure, who must hate me for showing young kids something simple and then having
the kids run back to the parents insisting on a drum kit for Christmas!
When it comes to the pro’s,
of course there is John Bonham, Ginger Baker, Neil Peart, Buddy Rich and all of
those legends. Other guy’s out there who get less exposure as drummers are
people like Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawks, Dave Lombardo, Simon Phillips, Phil Rudd,
Kenny Aronoff, Chad Smith and any number of nameless faces who ply their trade
in the session world. I take bits and pieces from lots of these guys, but I try
to combine it with my own style.
Mike
Didn’t get into my own
musical style until I saw Whitesnakes Still of the night video. Influences were
David Coverdale and Gene Simmons.
Alan
At a young age my parents
had rock n roll albums so listened to that a lot, but it was when I heard Live
after Death (Iron Maiden) that I found ‘my music’ When I saw them play I knew
what I wanted to do. Be in a rock band! All the great rock/metal bands
influence me – Metallica, Maiden, Ozzy, Slayer etc but also Poison, Motley Crue
etc and newer bands like Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold.
Gigs And Albums In The Future.
Simon
We are gigging all the time
with the band and yes, we are in the process of recording our first EP / album.
It’s taken a bit of time as we all work and trying to find the time to all get
together to record is difficult. The only thing I will say is that I think it
will be pretty special when it’s done! It has taken some time to all gel
together as the band went through some pretty dramatic line-up changes over the
last 18 months or so and its really only just now that we are all getting
comfortable with each other’s styles and personalities.
With the gig’s, we are
trying to get out there as much as possible, applying for festivals, and at
local pubs. We are also getting a bit of exposure through South Wales at some
of the established rock clubs, so watch this space!
Alan
We have a couple of local
gigs next but next year is exciting with a couple of appearances at the
Dragonflii in Pontypool, The Hiraeth Fest somewhere in Wales and we are also
playing at The Dolls House (Abitillery) as part of Dementia Fest.
How do we set ourselves apart from other bands?
Simon
I think our music sets us
apart a bit at the moment as our style is different to the current modern trend
of rock. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, just lots of bands doing
this, and doing it really well. The industry is awash with this type of music
and it is massively difficult to make any one notice you doing this type of
music. We are more towards the classic heavy rock genre, possibly due to our
ages and influences. A lot of what we play is very similar to the rock and
metal bands of the late eighties and early nineties. This is what we listened
to growing up and has had a marked impact on what we like to play, so this
comes through in our music. People who grew up listening to the music of this
era like to come and listen to us. Maybe it’s the sympathy vote!!!
Alan
I like the fact that some
of the music I have brought to the band are pieces I wrote some 20 years ago
and when Mike puts his magic to them, they become new songs. So, some of our
songs are old and new at the same time! I like the fact the vocals are put to
music and not the other way around, this makes Mike sing different to the norm.
Advice to aspiring performers.
Simon
Just do it! Get out there
and play. Play anywhere and everywhere you can. Play for free if you have to.
It’s amazing how many places will book a band if they are free even if they
don’t like the music!
Write your own stuff if you
can, if not, learn some popular covers to start with.
Once you start getting some
exposure things will move on from there. If you don’t have enough of your own
material to do full gigs, find other bands with some of their own stuff and get
them to play with you or go and play with them. This will give both bands
exposure.
Another key thing is social
media. Bands need to be all over it and this can take more time than rehearsing
or writing songs, but it is obviously a massive platform to get onto.
Alan
Love
what you do, play with better musicians – they will teach you a lot! Don’t be
put off by criticism or rejection. I have almost given up so many times after
seeing all the young talent about but I saw a game of Sunday football one day,
some of the players were slow, overweight, couldn’t kick a ball straight but it
was then I realised they weren’t playing because they thought they were great,
they were playing because they love the game. I have found that other musicians
don’t judge you when you play a bad/wrong note, they applaud you for getting on
that stage.
Special thanks to them for this interview & I wish them nothing but luck in their careers. So until then I'll catch you on the flipside!
Stay Awesome & rock n roll!
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