FMA 020: Joe Garcia & Marius Brauner (Trader Llynch)

Joe Garcia & Marius Brauner (Trader Llynch)

As TRADER LLYNCH started rehearsing almost two years ago I intended to be the bass player.

Unfortunately, I simply sucked too much at keeping tempo and playing bass in general.

In the very moment Joe opened my eyes about that fact he also remembered that I used to shout and scream for my former band – The Cult Of Soul Catchers.

So we tried.

They liked what that heard.

Considering the long game it still did not work out for me in TRADER LLYNCH, as well. After tracking a couple of demos we decided to part ways again since the sound of my voice simply doesn’t fit the style of music. I just sound a bit too Death Metal-ish.

In my short run in TRADER LLYNCH I soon realized that Joe is still one of the best songwriters I have ever met. The second full length “Fractures” of his former band TODAY WE RISE appears pretty timeless while being filled with a ton of melodies. No wonder they supported GWEN STACY on various occasions.

Unfortunately , Marius is about to leave the band due to job reasons.

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Listen to their EP “The Darkest Landscape” here.

FMA 019: Sean Midson & Dan Fuller (Create To Inspire)

Sean Midson & Dan Fuller (Create To Inspire)

CREATE TO INSPIRE provided some rare FMA-novelties during our entire chat:

Firstly, Sean and Dan were one of the most unmatched pairings I had the chance to record. At least when we talk body size. I don’t know if it’s really visible in the video but Dan = Sean + a leprechaun.

Secondly, Sean offered a drawing. In particular, he asked if he could draw a moustache on Dan’s face during the video. As always I replied “Do whatever you please and feel as comfortable as possible. Additionally and actually, that would make this video just more individual!”

(And yes, during the video Sean really pulled out a pen of his pockets.)

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CREATE TO INSPIRE joined BasickRecords with their second EP “Home Is Where My Heart Dies” in early 2016. Currently they are recording their debut full length at the legendary Rockfield Studios and Longwave Studios in Wales.

Watch their video for "Counting Days".

FMA 018: Samis Haupthof & Sandros Haupthof (Reduction)

Samis Haupthof & Sandros Haupthof (Reduction)

When I informed a friend that I would include REDUCTION in this project we ended up in a discussion about machoism, beatdown, crew-life (RBS Crew) and unnecessary roughness.

One can doubtlessly question REDUCTION. Some may even call them ‘controversial’.

If you listen closely to the video do you notice something controversial in anything they say?

Nonetheless and although, REDUCTION had arrived late at venue due to traffic jams and rush hours they still showed no stress.
Of course, as headliner you can always chillax a bit more.

As I explained again the topic of the matter Samis named a big Australian band and its motives for being creative: broads and booze.

(Booze, broads, party… which band did he talk about? Guesses?!)

BTW:

REDUCTION were the only band which constantly asked when their video will be released and if I even would still use it at all. I was surprised every time a notification popped up in one of my messengers. I simply did not expect such a tenacity. Kudos to them!

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Watch their video for "Sands Of Time".

FMA 017: Daniël de Jongh (Textures)

Daniël de Jongh (Textures)

Since TEXTURES did not respond to my message I had sent them via Facebook I had no other option left than simply hitting the venue and ask them straight to their faces.

For Daniël being a nothing but cool dude he agreed but asked to wait after they would have set up their equipment and light show.

Frankly, I was pretty impressed how they all fitted their gear onto the tiny stage.

After they had completed their Load-In and I had improved the lighting by shuffling around one of the few lamps in the backstage room we started.

During FMA I interviewed various artist from the Netherlands or Belgium. Every time I’m pretty amazed how good they speak English. Well, in countries where they do not synchronize movies would you expect anything less…?

Later that night while I was shooting another interview in a different venue two friends of mine – Simi & Felix – actually attended the show and also reached out to TEXTURES and Daniël: they helped them to drive their van backwards out of the tiny alley in front of the venue. 
Sometimes it is just pure kindness that gets you in touch with artists.

FMA 016: Elmex Vancouver, Rocket Moralez & Buddy Ballert (tuna)

Elmex Vancouver, Rocket Moralez & Buddy Ballert (tuna)

We did the video while the headliner from Italy unloaded their gear and merchandise.

To be honest TUNA were one of these „Should I really include them?“-bands. 300-somethings Facebook-Likes… would they really draw anyone's attention…?

I decided to include them nonetheless because Likes are irrelevant.
Further, there is simply no difference between a band with 300.000 and 3000 Likes.

In the end this video turned out to be one of a kind. TUNA managed to make it pretty entertaining without forgetting about the actual content.

Plus, they simply have the best stage names I have heard in a long time:

Elmex Vancouver -- Rocket Moralez -- Buddy Ballert.

During the interview Elmex nailed one of the most catching (and true) phrases of this entire project: “Creativity is masturbation.”

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Watch their video for “Burning Fuse”.

FMA 015: Loïc LLG (DCA)

A day before I attended their show in my hometown a friend of mine, Bodo, had went out to see DCA in his hometown in East Germany where they played in front of astonishing 7 people. (It was a Saturday night, what else?)

Loïc remembered Bodo from the night before: 

Loïc LLG (DCA)

“Yeah, there was that huge guy moshing and dancing with a beer in his hand the whole time.”

Before the interview Loïc was busy editing material for a new 30-second video which portrayed the show from the night before.

After I had arrived at the venue the promoter Flo told me that no band had shown up then. It was one and a half hour after official Get-In and two before Doors.

Furthermore, there was no drum kit due to miscommunication before the event. So I called some friends to find out if they may know someone that knows someone… that could borrow a kit for that night. In the end the promoters figured something out themselves luckily.


Unpleasantly, some crowdkillers went way too far and put some holes in the walls of the venue.
I mean, sure, feel free to dance as you pleas and DCA delivered an obvious reason to dance the hell out of one’s Airmax by playing a monstrous mosh-or-be-moshed-setlist.

BUT STILL: This is no understandable reason to demolish another’s property. Never.

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Loïc also plays in a Melodic Punk-band called NO SEASON.

His own recording studio he is referring to in the video is called Studio La Main Noire.