https://www.facebook.com/withinarelapse
From: Arizona
Sounds like: Metal
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound?
Adam: I started out as a singer/dancer in the late 80’s up ‘til the early 90’s. I discovered metal right around the early 90’s and didn't pick up an instrument ‘til I was in my mid to late teens. Which I developed my sound by taking pieces of all my influences.
Nate: Music is bred into my blood. My father, a pro drummer, harmonica player, and singer always had my mom and I in tow. Some of my earliest memories are in concert halls and night clubs tagging along with mom, watching my dad play. He put me behind my first set of drums at age 6, taught me a couple straight forward rock beats and I took off from there. Taught myself guitar and bass in my early teens, as I was discovering heavy metal. I have drawn influences from all types of music. I love many genres, but metal has been the pulse of my existence since I was introduced to it as a kid.
Andrew: My father had an interest in guitar as a casual player. Use to strum basic songs of his favorite bands such as E.L.O or Dire Straits. After suffering a knee injury at 14 years old, and realizing there was no future in baseball for me, my focus had turned to guitar. 2 major events happened for me in my freshman year of high school. 1st was taking guitar class. A gentleman named Mr. Arizola was the teacher and was in his final year of teaching. He was an old school flamenco guitarist. While he didn't like the metal that me and my friends listened to, he did teach us the general skills and knowledge to pursue music. He "unlocked" our hands. The 2nd was my step father taking me to my first concert to watch Sevendust. From that moment on, I knew performing music was what I wanted to do.
Johnny B: I originally was a bass guitarist (starting at the age of 9) and after just playing the drums for fun, I was drawn more to the heartbeat of the music with percussion over time. Not playing full time on the drums until I was about 20 years old and have toured and played numerous shows over my adolescent/adulthood years. The first CD I ever bought was ‘Issues’ by KoRn.. A huge influential piece of my upbringing in the metal scene. Over the years I have drawn much more influence from the Hardcore/Metalcore Genres.
Jaysin: I was in band in school. That became a shit show, I wasn’t allowed to explore (the director wouldn’t let me start playing in the drum section). So, I bounced out of the school music programs and started playing with bands out and about. Through that experience I got to play a little bit of guitar, drums and sing. When I decided to try out the bass though, it was like discovering fire. I cut my teeth on Zeppelin, Maiden, and Metallica tunes. I was into hard rock and metal early on and had a voracious appetite for learning and playing the stuff that I was listening to. I only really found a deep appreciation for different genres later. Now I try to incorporate it all.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
Adam: Anything they can, especially whatever they can relate to. Pain, anger, sadness.. whatever lets them know they're not alone.
Nate: In the insanely divided world we are living in, music is the one thing that tears down all those divisions and boundaries. It reminds us that we all have a lot more in common than we choose to recognize. I hope that we can contribute to that unity, and help to bring some people together.
Andrew: Would like people to get our music stuck in their heads!
Johnny B: Feel the passion in the playing. Hopefully inspire others to have a vessel like the instruments we perform with to let out whatever it is they want to let out. I find it as a healthier way to rid anger, frustration, and really any emotion than other ways.
Jaysin: I hope that it can make people have a visceral reaction. In the end, that is really the best art, the stuff that makes you feel something.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
Adam: A blend of many styles from melodic metal to death core, and everything in between.
Johnny B: Slamming puss groove metal.
Andrew: It is a blending of old school & new school metal with progressive elements.
Nate: A unique blend of modern groove, melodic death, metal core brutality, that is all wrapped up in a tight little package that stimulates the medulla oblongata. Coaxing listeners into an uncontrollable state of mosh!
Jaysin: I try not to. I’d rather have them listen to it, and then tell me what it is.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
Adam: Slipknot, Light the Torch, Paleface Swiss
Johnny B: Bodysnatcher, Bleeding Through, Gojira
Andrew: Revocation, Fit for An Autopsy, Devil Driver
Nate: Lamb Of God, Slipknot, Fear Factory
Jaysin: Machine Head, Whitechapel, Fit for An Autopsy
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
Adam: It's a cool idea, but has no humanity to it. No heart, no soul.
Johnny B: Nope.
Andrew: It's a slippery slope. At most can see benefits for adding ambiance to the music you create. But to use it entirely to compose music is wrong.
Nate: It's a novelty. Mostly entertaining, but the part of music that I gravitate to is the raw human emotions that are expressed. AI will never be able to capture real pain, anguish, love, grief etc that humans feel and portray through poetry and song.
Jaysin: It pisses me off. Replacing musicians with AI is a cheap, lazy way to make noise and the fact that it has gained any traction at all means there are those who actually listen to it.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Metal?
Adam: It is and always has been a rough style to create especially in America. But I feel it's slowly gaining more popularity. I honestly believe games like guitar hero and rock band, open up metal to a wider music fan base.
Johnny B: I feel metal is gaining more traction and seeing it in real-time by going to smaller shows for up-and-coming touring performers that really have draw unlike years past.
Andrew: It's alive and well. It will never be the most popular but, that is also part of its charm. Metal will live on forever.
Nate: Metal has always had an ebb and flow in the greater music industry. Short bursts of amazing ground breaking bands followed by stagnant generic copy cats and producer-built nonsense. But the heartbeat of metal beats strong. I also feel that heavy music is gaining more ground in the mainstream world these days. Even hip-hop artists are making heavy tracks to rap over.
Jaysin: It is now and always has been a niche genre. It is, however, one of the most exciting genres with new bands all over the place. Even when it isn’t the industry darling, it is resilient and that is why it will always have a place at the table.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in Arizona?
Adam: definitely not like it was just 10 years ago. Seems to have gravitated to more punk music these days. But, it's still alive.
Johnny B: The scene is strong but I feel like cliqueiness can kill the generation of new potential venues that can be played and allow it to grow more organically.
Andrew: The scene is very solid with a few really awesome bands.
Nate: The local metal scene in Phoenix has become pretty fragmented. With many iconic venues closing over the last 5-10 years along with some of the strongest heavy hitting bands in the scene calling it quits. Only a small handful of decent promoters left, and the pool of bands seems to be on repeat. However, it kinda feels like it is going through a reset. Some Phoenix Metal Alumni are bringing some amazing new projects out, and I feel that we are about to enter the next great era of Phoenix rock and metal, and W.A.R. is here to help bring that energy back!
Jaysin: I know there is one. It’s pretty hard for me to judge. Art is too subjective.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
Adam: Definitely not all it’s cracked up to be. Putting your heart and soul into something that pays pennies. But hey, we play metal.. we're not in it to get rich.
Johnny B: ^^^ ‘What He Said’ ^^^
Nate: It's almost criminal. But, if used properly, it can raise awareness of your band/product increasing organic revenue via merch and ticket sales.
Jaysin: Royalties?!
9. What’s next for Within A Relapse?
Adam: with the new lineup, I can see our style and sound growing and shaping into something Brutalful. We will keep writing, and experimenting with tunings, and see what shakes up.
Johnny B: We will be turning heads. One show at a time. People will want to hear more.
Nate: We will be dropping a couple new singles in the new year, and playing some amazing shows! Chronic Eargasms for all!
Jaysin: More writing, recording, goofing off, surprising people.
10. Any shoutouts?
Adam: A shout out to fans and friends for loving what we do. And to family that always supported me throughout the years, even if they don't understand why I do what I do.
Johnny B: No.
Nate: My biggest supporter and cheerleader, my wife, Kortney, and our tribe of 5 incredibly talented children, Tristan, Layla, Kaiden, Korbin, and Ivan. Past band mates, for helping to shape me into the musician I have become. And all the friends, family, and fans that have supported me through all of my endeavors. I wouldn't be half of what I am without you all!
Jaysin: To those who support me, thanks for always being there. For those who don’t, thanks for the divergent coping skills.
