BURN THE SUNSET
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 12th December 2011.
Burn The Sunset is a Scottish melodic hardcore outfit with a debut EP "Home" on the way. I caught up with the guys to find out more.
Hi Guys, thanks for taking a moment to answer these questions. Hope you are well?
BTS: We're great thanks! Hope you are too!
How did Burn The Sunset start, and what’s the history behind the various members?
BTS: Burn The Sunset started in 2008. Most of the band went to school together or knew each other from around Stirling. Jonathan joined in 2010 after moving to Scotland and we met him at a show.
Who would you list as the band’s early influences?
BTS: Early influences include The Devil Wears Prada, A Day To Remember, Stick To Your Guns and more. When our drummer Callum joined the band all he listened to was AC/DC and Pantera!
Did you know what sound you wanted to make right from the start?
BTS: Not right away, it took us a while to create a sound that we feel 100% comfortable with but the wait has been worth it!
Are you pure hardcore or is there a lot more to you than that?
BTS: We'd describe ourselves as a metalcore band. Not in the Killswitch Engage sense. Imagine Bury Your Dead sharing beers with Terror, It Prevails and Azriel.
Your debut release “Home” is coming out early next year. What should people expect from the EP?
BTS: The EP has a lot to offer if you're into hardcore and metal. Beatdowns, two step parts, fast parts and loads of parts to sing along with at a show!
You’ve gone for a simple straight to the point title. What’s the meaning behind it?
BTS: We're all from different areas. Jonathan our guitarist is from Telford in England so he is a long way from home. When we play shows away or record or do anything, we always have our homes in our minds and that's what brings us together. A lot of the lyrics on the record are about situations back home be it good or bad. So we thought lets keep it simple and grounded - 'Home'.
Where do you get your lyrical inspirations from?
BTS: Lyrically, it sounds cliched but we write about what happens to us. The lyrics are about our lives within and outside of the band. We aren't the sort of band to just write songs for the sake of it, the lyrics will always have a meaning about our lives.
How do you go about writing songs? Talk us through the construction of a typical track...
BTS: Normally with writing we start with a simple riff and work some drums into it. We work quite organically starting at a small riff and watching it grow by adding in harmonies and extra parts. We aren't the sort of band that goes in with the mentality of ' we need to write something kids will mosh to' we just let it flow and see how the structure takes shape and then refine it. The lyrics are always the last thing to be added as Andy our vocalist is a bit of a perfectionist!
What are your favourite moments on the release?
BTS: We all have our favourite parts. As a group Moving On and Changing Of Times are our favourite songs to play live but we all enjoy different parts of the album.
Do you enjoy or the recording process or are you more into the live scene?
BTS: Recording is always fun but it can be a little tedious. We recorded the album in a garage in the Scottish countryside just outside Ayr so we didn't really have a lot to do. So once you had tracked your parts there was a lot of sitting around but Nathan who recorded us had an awesome pug named Tyler who we used to hang out with a lot! Overall we prefer the live scene, its more interactive and we can let it all go on stage.
What is one of your live shows like?
BTS: Active. We try to move around as much as we can, jumping around and getting the crowd into the show, letting them know that we aren't going to stand there and look blank and neither should they. We played on tour in Bolton and we didn't really expect a reaction because we were pretty low on the bill, but as soon as we started and got into the show people were moving around and getting into it which was awesome.
What have been the highlights of your musical life so far?
BTS: We played a Glasgow headline show on our tour with Never Cry Wolf and played to 120 people which was fantastic! Supporting Bury Your Dead with Matt Bruso was a big deal too. Releasing the album will also be a massive highlight.
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
BTS: We normally get asked about tour antics and we always have a few stories to tell. We played in Sheffield on tour and went to a nightclub afterwards and it ended up a complete mess. We love to be professional and enjoy a show but afterwards we like to party hard!
We also were nominated for a Scottish Alternative Music Award this year and we all went out in suits afterwards and ended up a complete wreck! Most of us didn't make it home to our designated beds that night.
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
BTS: As a band we're continuing to play shows and write new material to keep ourselves fresh and full of new ideas. After our last run of dates we've had a lot of interest to play more south of the border so we're looking to string together a load more dates in England for people to come and hang out with us!
Anything else you would like to mention?
BTS: Check us out and come down to a show! We're approachable guys and we're always looking to meet new friends on the road!
https://www.facebook.com/burnthesunsetuk
