10 Quick Ones with FEAR IS DEAD – December 2017

According to a recent press release: “New York based Heavy Rock / Metal band Fear Is Dead has released the Official Music Video for their single “Dirtnap” off of their August released EP, What Remains. Originally premiered on Tattoo.com, “Dirtnap” was directed and edited by Skila of Fear Is Dead.”  We get members of the band to answer our 10 Quick Ones about new music, their influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Skila: Our latest project is What Remains, it’s Fear Is Dead’s 4th EP. This is our second EP with this lineup. We were more in our zone on this project, more familiar with each other. On the first project together, eleutherophobia, we were still learning each others inspirations and ideas, still experimenting. On what remains we knew what we wanted from ourselves. The music is more fluid, the eP itself is more dynamic musically and vocally. You can find the music at www.Fearisdead.com, actually you can find the music anywhere just google us. We are on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, we are not hard to find. You want to purchase it go to CD Baby, we appreciate the support. There are lots of hidden gems in the lyrics, I love playing with words, so it might take 2-3 listens to catch everything I say.

Carlos: I try to keep things moving in my songs. 2nd verse. Even if it’s identical, i try to change the nuances and fills to make them just slightly more intense. Make sure it flows with the song, building up towards the end.

David: What Remains is the 2nd EP for the new F.I.D line-up. If you listen to our 1st EP Eleuthrophobia, you can definitely hear how we’ve grown as musicians on this project both individually and collectively.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

​​​​​​​Skila: I feel like I always knew I would make music, even as a child I was always singing along to whatever my mom played. As a teenager I started writing poetry, which lead to rapping, which lead to music production and eventually experimenting with the different genres of music. I had always wanted to do Hardrock and Metal, and in 2012 I got my chance.

Carlos: Definitly got into it in high school. There was a rehearsal studio two blocks away and I hung out/followed all the older kids in bands. Then I heard “eyekess” by slipknot. The fills are pretty sporatic and made them really pop and stand out to me. That’s when I wanted to become a drummer.

David: Since I was a young kid I was always fascinated by the energy in the music and live performances of my favorite bands. I’d often play along with my air guitar until I learned how to play the real thing. I’m pretty much doing the adult version of what I’ve wanted to do since I was a young kid.

Matt: My sister, who is now an audio engineer, used to play guitar when I was little. We used to rock out to Nirvana, RHCP,  and all the best rock of the 90s. I didn’t play at the time but she looked like she really enjoyed playing and that left an impression on me. Fast forward to 2006, I played Alto Sax in my high school band. I loved it and put in the time to hone my skills. In the summer of ‘07, I joined my first rock band and got a bass guitar: in that order. Flea from RHCP made me fall in love with the instrument, and I wanted to rock, so the choice was obvious for me.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Skila: I have alot of Hip Hop, Classic Rock, Punk, and Grunge influences. If I had to name 5 artists that have had an impact on my song writing and vocal style I’d have to say: Chris Cornell, Marilyn Manson, Scott Weiland, Nas, and Jay-Z.

Carlos: Martin Axenrot (Opeth, Bloodbath), Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Megadeth), Gene Hoglan (Strapping young lad, Dethklock, Testament, plus a ridiculous amount of other acts), Thomas Pridgen (The mars Volta, and various other projects), Daniel Liljekvist (Katatonia).

David: My main five musical influences would be Korn, Staind, Stone Sour, Slipknot, and Alter Bridge.

Matt: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Necro, Disturbed, Primus, Rishloo.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Skila: Vocalist – Marilyn Manson and Guitarist – my first guitarist Jacqueline Burns

Carlos: Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth) 

David: I’d love to be able to collaborate with one of my favorite guitarists. Mark Tremonti and Mike Mushok would be at the top of the list.

Matt: It would have to be Les Claypool of Primus. His music is so far out there and he seems to be a very humble guy. I would love to rock out on the harmonica while Claypool does his thing. I’m convinced that he has 7 thumbs.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Skila: Heavy, Groovy, Aggressive, introspective lyrics. Mix of Grunge, Hardrock and Nu metal.

Carlos: Nu metal, Punk, Grunge, WhatEverTheFuckWeFeelLike-Core

David: I’d describe our music as pleasantly aggressive. Or, obnoxiously brilliant.

Matt: Metal with hardcore punk/hip-hop elements.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Skila: Having the ability to express, and connect with others through your art.

Carlos: I can’t exactly explain it. When I’m behind a drum kit its like the whole world around it gets fogged out. I just let loose and let go of everything.

David: It’s tough to pick just one thing as the best thing about being a musician. One of the top reasons for me is how therapeutic it can be, not just for the artist that creates, but also for the fans that listen.

Matt: Music is my therapy, it helps keep me sane. Between the satisfaction I get from writing something new, and then getting on stage and sharing it with our fans, it keeps me coming back for more.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Skila: I usually do the cooking, Matt usually brings the drinks, and David is the one that starts playing.

Carlos: Skila cooks, Matt and I get drinks, David has guitar Tourettes and will just break out a korn or stone sour song outta left field.

David: Skila is the head chef. Matt occasionally throws some delicious dead meat on the grill for us.

Matt: Skila is the cook, due to his highly restricted diet. His chicken is absolute heaven. Me and Carlos are the drinkers. David is the one who cracks out the electric burrito and plays “Free Bird”.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Skila: Forensic Psychology

Carlos: Definitely something that involved travel, animals, or both. I’ve thought about marine biology in the past.

David: My dream job is to be a musician.  So, if I weren’t a musician, I’d become a musician. (Duh)

Matt: My next dream job would be Orthopedic surgeon. Its all the perks of a regular doctor, but you also get to play with power tools.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Skila: I think about this sometimes, I’m sure most of us do. Honestly the only thing I could think of is I wish I started learning to play instruments a lot sooner. So if I had did that, it might have caused a whole different outcome and maybe Fear Is Dead would have never existed. There’s nothing that could have been done differently. Everything that lead up to this moment, whether good or bad had to happen how and when it happened in order to create Fear Is Dead.

Carlos: Definitely turning down filling in for a paid tour to go to that one semester of college that I flunked out of haha.

David: Perhaps not getting Skila a hearing aid for Christmas would be considered a misstep. Next time.

Matt: I don’t look back.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Skila: Soundgarden – BadMotorFinger. To me that was one of the albums that defined the Grunge era. That album is tough, beginning to end. It’s one of the album’s that made me want to do what I do.

Carlos: I wouldn’t. Any record that I’m absolutely in love with. I just wouldn’t do it justice, or I love it the way it is and wouldn’t change it for the world.

David: Just one record? I’ll go with Staind – Break The Cycle. That record was a huge deal to me growing up. Although it didn’t deliver any solos, the guitar work and tone on that record is pretty damn awesome. One of my all time favorites. It also gave us a few popular hits which I’m sure brought on a big chunk of fortune and fame for the cherry on top.

Matt: Californication by The Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was the first album I ever had, given to me by my sister. It has an uplifting mood and is extremely groovy. That album made my day better many times.

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Category: Interviews