A Dirty Dozen with LEON CRAFT from LOVE THE HATE – June 2021

According to a recent press release: “Mobile, AL based Heavy Rock band LOVE THE HATE has released the dark, modern official music video for their upcoming, brutal new single, “Solid Ground.” Directed and filmed by Thomas Crane of KillDevil Films (Saliva, Todd La Torre [Queensryche], Eve to Adam), “Solid Ground” features Kristi Craft and Billy Culbertson. Love The Hate is a modern rock band based out of Mobile, Alabama. Influences include such bands as Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, 10 Years, and Deftones.” We get bassist Leon to discuss new music, 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 you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

“Solid Ground” is a track we are super excited about and can’t wait for everyone to hear. Back in October of 2020 we traveled to Derby Kansas to record this track with Chris Dawson at Aphotic Studios, and it came out beautifully, and the video that we shot for it is probably the best we have ever done. There are so many individual layers to this track that it will definitely take multiple listens to catch everything that’s there.

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

When I was 11 or 12, I joined the concert band at my school and fell in love with music and it was then I knew in some shape or form I wanted music to always be a part of my life.

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

So my taste in music goes everywhere from Michael Jackson all the way to Behemoth so I’m all over the place depending on my mood, but what got me into rock I would say would be Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory for sure. Chester is definitely one of my favorite vocalists of all time.

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

For me I would say Linkin Park, Metallica, Dream Theater, Lamb Of God, and Trivium. There are about a million others and the rest of the band all have definitely influences and tastes as well which is one of the awesome things about Love The Hate and our writing one minute we can write a song that has a Breaking Benjamin sound the next song could be thrash like Megadeth but it all still distinctly sounds like us.

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

Matt Heafy from Trivium. That man is a chameleon and his voice sounds great on damn near any track. He is also just a genuinely nice dude too.

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?

A modern rock 5 course meal with a little bit of metal seasoning haha. I’ve heard dad rock once before when describing us and it made me wanna die haha.

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?

Doc definitely cooks that man is an amazing chef, and you have to try his cheesecake! Frank and Marshall always have a beer or two on hand and Doc also is a great acoustic guitar player and a living jukebox.

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

I don’t think I’ve ever been starstruck per say, but I do recall a few years ago we opened for Lita Ford and I was nervous before that show.

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?

Man being a musician is hard work, but it’s also so fun and rewarding and when someone comes up to you and tells you your music helped them through some tough times that’s just a feeling that’s hard to put into words. Especially when that’s how it was for me when tough times came music was there so to hear my music benefits someone the same way man that’s just amazing. And other dream job I would love to own my own martial arts school. I’ve been a martial artist my entire life and also teach, but owning my own school would be awesome too.

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?

How did I myself join the band. Believe it or not I’ve never gotten that question. I was playing in a different band at the time and Frank Killian our guitarist happened to come by rehearsal one night and saw me play bass. He kept coming by to watch us rehearse and then eventually he sent me a message asking if I knew of any other bassists looking for a band and I said “yeah me” cuz I wanted out of the band I was in and that’s how I joined the band that would eventually become Love The Hate. Question I’m tired of? What does this song mean haha.

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?

I wouldn’t change a thing our decisions and actions have made us into the band and people we are today, and I wouldn’t change anything.

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?

Metallica’s St. Anger. I know I will be judged harshly for this, but I actually love that record. Now for context I was only 13 in 2003 when it came out and it was my FIRST Metallica record, I hadn’t heard the other stuff before, so I have no preconceived notions of what Metallica was “supposed to sound like” I enjoyed it for what it was and it got me into thrash metal and the rest of Metallica’s catalog. I would make sure Lars turned the snare ON though haha.

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Category: Interviews