Sometimes you get those glorious days where you actually have time to do some searching and find some good new music, and a lot of the undeveloped local bands are not the best, by undeveloped I mean they’re not at the stage they’re gracing magazine covers. But luckily, I came across this young band from Melbourne, I present, Cruel To Be Kind. Winning the Red Bull Bedroom Jam contest in 2011, they since have recorded an EP in Los Angeles and are set to release it very soon. So why not jump ahead now and get hooked onto their music, I asked Michael (Vocals), Nick (Guitar), Tim (Bass), Jon (Drums) and Dene (Guitar) for the full story.
For someone who has never heard of you, how would you describe ‘Cruel To Be Kind’?
We play rock music that simply comes from guitars, bass and drums, and maybe a dash of piano here and there. Our sound is very melodic with hooks and riffs that hopefully appeal to the listener.
What does the name ‘Cruel To Be Kind’ mean or represent?
Somewhere along our travels on a long desert road we came across a very elderly old man on the side of the road. He beckoned us over with his feeble, old hands and uttered “Heed these words, and please keep in mind, you will all form a rock band, dubbed Cruel To Be Kind”.
How did the band come together?
We all knew each other from school, apart from Dene, who knew Michael outside of school. Nick and Tim and played in a band previously and when that fell apart, they got together with Michael and Dene, originally with a different drummer, and as things turned out, we ended up with Jon on drums.
You were lucky enough to win the Red Bull bedroom jam, what were your intentions entering it in the first place?
When we first entered the competition it was really just to see how we’d go. Obviously winning was an intention, but who expects to win a competition like that? We just went for a cliché “you’ve got to be in it to win it” approach.
How did it feel when you found out you had won?
When it was announced that we had won I don’t think any of us could believe it. From that announcement everything just happened so fast and before we knew we were dining out at Docklands with the Red Bull crew and the past winners and finalists. Needless to say we partied hard that night.
One part of your prize was the opportunity to record in LA, what was that experience like?
Recording in Los Angeles was an incredible experience that I don’t think any of us are going to forget. Exploring one of the most famous cities in the world was a hell of a lot of fun and recording in a world class studio with James Musshorn, an engineer with a sterling reputation and who is a master of his craft, was very humbling.
Can you tell us much about the EP and when will it be available?
We are still in the recording process for this EP. We hit the studio again in April to lay down the last few tracks and after that it’s just a matter of mastering, and all the design, printing and publishing processes that follow. If all goes to plan we hope to release the EP sometime this winter.
What are some of the band’s musical influences and musical pieces you personally enjoy listening to?
With five band members who all listen to some similar yet some very different music, we have a wide range of influences and personal favourites. Some influences include bands such as The Maine, Go Radio, The Getaway Plan, Mayday Parade, Foo Fighters and many others, but we also draw influence and inspiration from Led Zeppelin to Adele, from The Beatles to The Amity Affliction. We are lovers of all kinds of music.
2012 must be a big year for Cruel To Be Kind, what do you have planned?
This year we plan to release our first EP, gig as much as possible, write plenty more songs and hopefully progress as musicians and as a band.
Where do you hope to see this band in 3 years?
In 3 years I hope that we are still making music, and that people are still enjoying it!
Thanking Cruel To Be Kind for having a chat, wishing them all the best for the future!
Tori Hyland
No comments:
Post a Comment