A Dirty Dozen with TOLI WILD from WILDWAYS – October 2020

According to a recent press release: “Russian metal quintet WILDWAYS have shared the video for the new song “Event Horizon (Ближе к тебе).” The song appears on the band’s upcoming album Anna. The album arrives on October 30 via Warner Music Russia. It is the band’s first release for the label. Wildways will share the new song “Everest” on Friday, October 23. “Everest” features rapper Kurt92, who has already collaborated with Wildways on the song “Poluchai” from his 2020’s LP Ambassador Hardkora.” We get singer Toli 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The whole album is one story about my disappointment of love. There’s really a lot of hidden referrals in the album but I can’t say too much. Hopefully, our fans will notice that and put it on genius.com! [Laughs]

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

In 2007-2008 — when we had an exclusive metal TV channel on all TV screens in Russia. Before that, I only knew of rock bands like Linkin Park, System of Down, and Green Day. So that TV revolution just changed me and my music taste forever.

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

Do you know of Russian metal band Amatory? That was my first metal show ever and influenced me.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Linkin Park, Amatory, Bring Me The horizon, The Used, and the whole U.S. pop scene.

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

Oliver Sykes… but only if I knew in advance that he would say “yes.”

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?

This is always a hard question for us so I will keep it simple and just say “metalcore.”

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

Good question. Our bassist Igor — he’s a cook. But he never, NEVER cooked for us as a band!

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

We played a Russian tour with Bring Me the Horizon, and honestly, we were really nervous.

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?

I think to perform shows! And oh God, yeesh, goosebumps. You know, I would be a producer or sound-engineer.

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?

I don’t know about the first part of the question, but I’m sure that if somebody ever asks us about how the band was started, I think I will stop an interview immediately.

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?

A tons of things and situations — always. I think that helps us be better and 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?

Our first album we recorded in the U.S. Into The Wild. I think that record could be the way bigger if we went back and fixed some things.

BONUS QUESTION – Due to the current world situation with COVID-19 / quarantine / shelter in place, what have you discovered you miss the most from your life before the pandemic struck?

Tour life… so sad!

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Category: Interviews