SOURCE – Looking back on the album Fallen Star that you will release, how do you feel about it now compared to when you first started the production process? Did you achieve everything you had hoped to musically and creatively?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – This is a great question, because it really takes some digging into my memory as it’s been a lengthy process. The gap between this album and our last is, by far, the longest we’ve had between records, and a lot has changed in that time. I can say wholeheartedly that we are tremendously proud of Fallen Star. It’s served as a positive outlet for a lot of negative energy that has been around since we put out Conquering, and for me, it’s clearly the best thing we’ve ever done musically!
SOURCE – Do you have any specific expectations for the album?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – I hope people understand our vision as a band a bit more clearly. We’ve always evolved as a band, but the jump between Eternal Forward Motion and Conquering was definitely the biggest change for us sonically. I feel Fallen Star is a better representation of where we’ve been and how far we can go as a band.
SOURCE – How do you manage fan expectations in the digital age, where instant access to music can sometimes diminish the excitement around an album release?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – I think fan excitement is still there. Don’t get me wrong, there’s definitely a touch of option paralysis with the amount of music readily available from all of these streaming services, but the demand for heavy music is at an all-time high right now, and it’s so exciting to see!
SOURCE – You’ve opened up to a lot of collaboration on this album. How did it feel to share creative control with so many musicians, and did it change your relationship with the music?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – It feels exciting in a totally different way when collaborating outside of the band. You never know quite what to expect and are interested to hear what the guest musician is going to bring to the table. Like with all featured artists, we give them a brief but always encourage them to get creative. For example, when we sent Will Ramos Atonement, we only suggested that he could do his guttural/screamed vocals in the verses, but when we got his part back, he had sung the last chorus too. We were like, “holy shit, this is amazing.”
SOURCE – You recently filmed videos for the tracks Fallen Star and Atonement. Could you tell us a little bit about them?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – It was an absolute blast shooting the videos for these two singles! We had the pleasure of working with Dave and Alli from My Good Eye Visuals out in Scranton, USA, and they just absolutely nailed it. We flew out for about a week, but the videos were shot in two and a half days. We were jet-lagged and tired, but it was one hell of an experience! I can’t speak for everyone in the band, but I personally like shooting videos, particularly if I get to do some amateur dramatics, like in the Atonement video.
SOURCE – Do you feel that music videos still hold the same cultural weight in today’s industry, or has their significance shifted due to the rise of streaming platforms and the prevalence of short-form content?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – I think they still hold significant importance, but maybe in a different way compared to how it was, say, twenty years ago. I think it’s easier for bands to make videos now, which means there’s a lot of them out there. I think having a video today is just one more tool to break through the noise of everything else going on on the internet. It also gives your fans a chance to see you and get to know the band better.
SOURCE – Streaming platforms like Spotify have dramatically changed how music is consumed. How has your relationship with streaming platforms evolved over the years, and do you feel they’ve had a positive impact on your career?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – I can’t say it’s had a large effect either way, really. Since the band started, Spotify and other streaming services have been around, so we don’t really know anything else. I think as time goes on, there’s more outside pressure to be concerned about how many monthly listens you have at any given time, but that’s some bullshit, really. If you’re too focused on that, you’ll never be happy. We’ve always found that getting out and touring has built us the fan base we have today.
SOURCE – Anything else you would like to add?
Sammy Urwin (Guitar, Vocals) – Many thanks for the interview! I hope people enjoy the new record and to see you on the road!
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