A Dirty Dozen with ANDREW HILEMAN of I AM – November 2018

According to a recent press release: “I AM, whose music is a hard-hitting blend of “Texas Death,” have teamed up with Kerrang! to premiere the video for “Burn Slow.” Singer Andrew Hileman offered a little further insight into the track, saying, “This song embodies all evil incarnate — staring into its eyes and not even knowing what’s looking back at you. What I feel is so inhumane and disgusting. The song speaks for itself. No means ‘no.'” We get guitarist Andrew to discuss new music, influences, and much 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?

I feel like this album and us as a band you either get it and fuck with it or you don’t. It’s all on the table with this album. Oh, there’s a shotgun sample in “Burn Slow” that’s pretty hidden.

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

My father and ma really got me into the best kinds of music. My father always had Sepultura, Morbid Angel, and Slayer playing all the time. My ma was always on the coolest grunge bands like Alice In Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I remember watching the Marilyn Manson video for “The Beautiful People” and I thought it was the coolest and weirdest shit I’ve seen and that really sparked everything as far as being a musician.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Pantera, Type O Negative, Black Sabbath, Twitching Tongues, and Molotov Solution.

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

Peter Steele from Type O Negative. They were just never afraid to be weird and out there. Would’ve loved to go at it writing with each other.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

High energy, big riffs, big breakdowns.  Some dude said we sounded like Five Finger Death Punch once and I didn’t know how to feel about that haha.

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

My favorite lately has been getting to meet/tour and I AM being recognized by musicians I’ve looked up to for a long time. Straight up the best feeling.

8. 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?

Ian cooks the best. Chris, Tom, and Erik got the drinks. And Ian got the acoustic.

9. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

Wouldn’t go as far to say I was star struck haha but getting to tour with The Acacia Strain and meeting them was very surreal to me. We all looked up to those guys growing up so that was sick.

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

Dream job would be to have a rescue/sanctuary and building adult furniture.

11. 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’s many of those haha. I wish I knew all that I do now when starting this band. Specifically members. You think you know somebody then they turn out to be so vile.

12. 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?

I would kill to be in that studio when Slipknot were recording Iowa. They were all fucked out of their mind. That album is so intense was really the first “heavy” band I really got into.

I AM LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Category: Interviews