10 Quick Ones with XAVI STRIFE of HOLLOW CRY – October 2018

According to a recent press release: “Spain possesses a fertile heavy metal and hard rock scene, of which the fast-rising Hollow Cry are the sonic proof – as evidenced with the arrival of their new album, From Ashes to Flames, which dropped September 28, 2018, via Into Records. Hailing from the town of Tremp and initially started as a covers band in 2007, Xavi (lead vocals) had always wanted to start a band and on meeting a friend at a Taekwondo class who suggested themselves as drummer, the early formations of Hollow Cry took form. The wheels were in motion, shortly after Xavi recruited friends Marc, on rhytmic guitar, and Aleix on lead guitar, to give the band a more solid sound. Ek- tombe had been born. In the winter of 2010. Playing metal turned out to be more demanding than expected, so after finding a replacement for the original drummer, Xavi began to focus solely on his singing and Marc picked the guitar to help Aleix with the melodies. Bass was needed, and the new drummer’s cousin Joan joined the band.”  We get singer Xavi to discuss new music, influences, and much more in our 10 Quick Ones…

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?

A lot of feelings went into the album. Each song comes from a different place, from some experience that touched us: a bad breakup, the death of a friend, a close person that let us down, and so forth. These emotions might not be that apparent on the first listen, but they’ll definitely show later on. Yes, for sure. Lots of bands put hidden nuggets in their albums; as a fan, I think it’s rewarding when you find one. For example, listen to our album and then go back to the intro, “Shades of Winter”; I’m sure you’ll find a new meaning to it.

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

I took piano and guitar lessons as a child but didn’t take an interest in music until age 10. It was then that I started listening to Spanish punk rock bands (Extremoduro, Marea) as well as American ones (Sum 41, Blink 182, Rise Against) and thought I should create something for myself. However, the ‘aha’ moment came when I discovered Linkin Park at age 14. I started my first band right after.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, and Killswitch Engage

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

I could say Metallica—they’re legends, I doubt there’s a single person in the music industry who wouldn’t kill to do a song with them—but I’ll go with Trivium; they’ve never lost their way and keep improving with each album. They are amazing musicians.

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

Metalcore with a fresh twang to it, accessible for people outside the genre.

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

It allows you to transcend physical barriers, to connect with people through music, through feelings. Music makes us all equal: no social distinctions, no races or labels, nothing; just music, feelings.

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?

I usually get to cook, Aleix gets the drinks in and Marc is the first to go and pick the guitar. You can’t predict what’s going to happen then; might be a riff, a chorus, or an entire song. That’s when the magic begins.

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

I’d be an entrepreneur; I’d like to create my own company, get to travel all around the world, meet new people, and such.

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”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

There are lots of missteps, and I mean, lots of them. But looking back and mulling over what I would have done differently accomplishes nothing. Looking forward is the only thing that keeps you going, and that’s an approach I won’t change. I like to think that all the mistakes I made in the past allowed me to be here today, that this album is the result of all the times that something went wrong; after all, they forced me to learn from them.

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?

Hybrid Theory, no doubt about it. Linkin Park was such a game changer for metal music; their debut album is sheer perfection.

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Category: Interviews