A Dirty Dozen with STEVEN JONES from BLEED FROM WITHIN – May 2020

According to a recent press release: “BLEED FROM WITHIN releases fifth studio album Fracture today via Century Media Records. To celebrate the Glaswegians release the official music video for the title track, which was filmed by Tom Armstrong and directed by Craig Gowans and Tom Armstrong. BLEED FROM WITHIN are putting the past behind them and positing an overhauled frame of mind on Fracture. A recent statement from the Glaswegians aimed to reshape the band’s heretofore struggles: “The doubt and fear that consumed us for years have been replaced with an insatiable hunger to grow as people. We’ve noticed this shift in energy and channeled it into our music. As a result, our new album is the strongest and most uplifting we have ever written.” BLEED FROM WITHIN embodied that statement during the writing and completion of early video single, “The End of All We Know.” For it was this very track that served as a lighthouse for the rest of Fracture. The album title may appear to have a negative connotation, but it serves a constructive purpose. The very definition of ‘fracture’ is a ‘break,’ ‘breach,’ or ‘split.’ BLEED FROM WITHIN are fracturing their relationship with “bad old days”. Fracture and the songs contained within are liberation vehicles; the album is BLEED FROM WITHIN way of opening new doors.” We get guitarist Steven 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?

Fracture is the follow up to what was essentially our ‘comeback’ album, Era, in 2018. It’s the first album we’ve made with complete assurance of who we are as people, what BFW as a band is all about, and what we want to give to the world. There are indeed hidden nuggets, and they will remain hidden! All I’ll say is, keep a keen ear during gaps!

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

My parents always listened to music as I was growing up. On the loudspeakers in the living room and in the car wherever we went. As I grew older, my Dad took notice that I was getting into heavier stuff and showed me bands like Meshuggah and Pantera. He definitely helped shape my music taste in a massive way! Thanks, Dad. The moment I realized I wanted to be a musician was actually at the first show I ever went to. This is a super odd story that I haven’t told in an interview like this before, but the first show I went to was to see Bleed From Within in Glasgow for the Empire album release show in 2010. I wasn’t a fan of the band at the time as I hadn’t listened to them, but my mates ‘dragged’ me to the show (I was more than willing) and, as I’m sure the experience for anyone would go, I was blown away. Live music is incomparable to anything else. I’m pretty sure that first time, seeing the boys doing their thing, was a massive moment for me in becoming inspired to follow this path. Never in a million years did I think that 6 or 7 years later I would be joining the band that inspired me to start in the first place. It is a particularly grounding story that I like to remind myself of in the crazier moments.

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

Linkin Park and System of a Down were pretty massive in shaping my musical taste initially. They were the bands I listened to most during my sort of transitional phase between listening to utter dogshit, and metal. I never managed to see either live, though!

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

At the moment, with the music I’m currently making for Bleed From Within and From Sorrow to Serenity, my biggest influences would be: After the Burial, Killswitch Engage, Gojira, and As I Lay Dying.

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

Daniel Bedingfield.

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?

No bullshit, big riffs and catchy choruses! Scott’s voice is always compared to Winston’s from Parkway Drive and I don’t really hear it at all.

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?

The boys can all cook well. Davie loves getting a barbecue going! Goonzi has made me more breakfasts than I can count. Ali is the heaviest drinker, without a doubt, and respectably so. No idea how he keeps it all down! I would probably be the one to whip out the acoustic and start playing Backstreet Boys or something, notoriously the most annoying of the bunch!

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

Probably when Randy from Lamb of God walked into our dressing room on the first show of our tour with them last year. Never thought I’d find myself there, in that moment! Makes it a whole lot more special that he is an incredible person to be around.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is without a doubt playing live. The connection between the crowd and the performer is just so special, especially at our shows I feel. Perhaps, that’s because I’m on the other side of the stage the rest of the time, but it really feels special to me and to everyone who smiles when I stick my tongue out at them or throw them a pick. Seeing someone lose their mind during the breakdown in “Afterlife” every single night is something that I’ll never have words for. Playing live is the best part of being a musician! If I could no longer perform I would focus more on my second job, which is being a producer and mixing engineer. I record bands at my studio in Glasgow when we aren’t on tour and mix/master bands who send me files online too. I love the technology behind music and all of the factors that make a record sound great! It’s a true passion. I love using the things I’ve learned as a musician to make better records as a producer and the things I’ve learned as a producer to make better songs as a musician.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

No-one asks about other passions outside of music, I find, which would be a nice question to answer one day. I’m a little tired of being asked about our craziest touring memory and, usually on the spot, having to filter through all the memories in my mind that I really, really should not discuss in public forum just to find a beige memory that was the first one I could think of in reasonable time to answer the question, with the interview then being appropriately underwhelmed with my response. Note to all interviewers – WE CAN’T TELL YOU OUR CRAZIEST TOUR MEMORIES, BECAUSE YOU SHOULDN’T KNOW. Haha glad that’s off the chest.

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?

Certainly, actually just last year I sent a really silly email I should never have. I remember playing over in my mind whether or not I should send it, but I never took the appropriate amount of time to assess it for it’s worth in full. It ended up biting me in the ass and I learned a tough lesson. I’m glad of it, even if I would go back and never send it. I’m better now for the lessons I learned during the aftermath. All we can do when we make mistakes, is learn to be better.

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 love to have been involved in the making of obZen by Meshuggah. That album was really the first outrageously heavy and technical album that I was a fan of, and it changed the way I saw music in a number of ways! Thanks! Great questions. Hope you enjoy the new album!

BLEED FROM WITHIN LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

Category: Interviews