A Dirty Dozen with MICHAEL CHARLTON from OCTOBER ENDS – October 2022

According to a recent press release: “Rising Newcastle-via-Athens quintet October Ends have announced their new album PHASES. The album arrives on October 28 via UNFD. These multi-voiced genre-smashers have been somewhat of a well-kept scene secret. Though it dropped amidst the throes of the 2020 pandemic, the band’s self-recorded, self-released debut album Zodiac has racked up more than 10 million streams to date, with no touring or promotional push behind it. But now, through their global partnership with UNFD, October Ends are primed and ready to step out of the shadows and introduce themselves to the world on a larger scale! The new album PHASES is a significantly large evolution in the band’s sound, and all new material was an experimental combination with blending subjects, styles, instrumentation, and production magic than ever before. Feeling an intense freedom while writing pushed the band to indulge in a much wider array of influences in relationships, addiction, and even pop culture. For October Ends, PHASES is a much truer expression of themselves.” We get guitarist Michael 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?

PHASES is by far our strongest release so far, I think it shows how much the band have grown and matured over the years especially trying to incorporate multiple genres whilst keeping our original heavy roots. The lyrical content may be something people may not grab the first time but possibly after a few listens, 95% of the album are all from personal experience from myself, Nick and Alex. There is a slight hidden lyric in “Of Stars” that some fans might remember from a popular release from our debut album Zodiac.

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

I was brought up with music with my grandmother teaching the organ and picked it up around the age of 6, my sister massively got me into metal with the likes of Slipknot / Marilyn Manson and was the reason I wanted to pick up a guitar when I was 13. From there I just wanted to grab any instrument I could to learn.

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

Slipknot’s Vol.3 was the first metal album I listened to, it got to the point of getting an entire slipknot sleeve tattooed haha!

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

Rory Rodriguez of Dayseeker, guy is absolutely ridiculous and is changing the scene right now in such a positive way. Love his lyrical content and his voice is incredible.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I love traveling, I’m spending a lot of time down the South West at the minute, such a beautiful area. Anything that gets me out of the house and away from my day to day job is where I find comfort. Other than that, spending time with my cats is just everything.

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?

Melodic with poppy chorus’, heavy in most instances but experimental throughout this release. We get compared a lot to Bring Me The Horizon which is great but at the same time, we’re just trying to be our own sound. Of course we have influences but we’re also trying to push out of the ordinary.

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?

You’d think with having 2 Greeks in the band they’d be good chefs, complete polar opposite. The first week of us all moving in together, Nick genuinely set the oven on fire by trying to cook Salmon and nearly burned the house down. Andrew would definitely get the drinks in, Alex probably with the acoustic!

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

Dayseeker’s most recent release just blew me away. “Without Me” really hit home and it’s what I look for in a song.

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 live show, seeing fans sing back and being able to know I’ve been able to reach someone through the lyrics I write.

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’m always grateful for any opportunity for an interview as I still think this is all a dream and it doesn’t feel real at times so I’d never want a certain question to be asked, one question I’d say I’m tired of after 7 years of hearing it would be “so when October Ends, do you guys become November Starts??” Never gets old.

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?

Every band starts off in some way that probably misstep at some point, I guess member lineups would be one thing as we’ve had so many changes over the years and it’s been a tiring process but we’re finally happy with what we’ve got!

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?

Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the process to that song will always make me laugh and sounds so fun to be a part of.

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Category: Interviews