EMQs with Filmspeed

EMQ’s with FILMSPEED

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with California based Rock band Filmspeed. Huge thanks to bassist/backing vocalist Nick Stout for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

‘My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.’ Always wanted to do that!

(This has gone down extremely well at Ever Metal Headquarters as ‘The Princess Bride’ is one of Beth’s favourite films!!)

My name is Nick Stout, and I play the bass/back-up vox for the band Filmspeed. Filmspeed is: Two parts Motown, one part Tinseltown, all parts moving. The power trio of Filmspeed is comprised of two lifelong friends and a born music machine. From humble beginnings in 2004 outside Detroit, MI and thru the gamut of the independent music industry, unyielding passion always precedes the sound. Combining blood pumping anthems, melodic hooks, and soulful grooves, Filmspeed thrives on the live music experience. Every minute of every album is written, recorded, and produced by the band themselves.

How did you come up with your band name?

The concept of the band names comes from your memories. While recollecting on things that have happened to you throughout your life, you tend to only remember fragments of the whole event. Kind of like how a film only has time to show you key parts of the narrative. You rarely remember what mug you used for your coffee this morning or the number of cups, but you do remember that you had coffee. These fragmented memories feel like you are living life at the speed of film, hence, FILMSPEED!

What country are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We hail from Murrica’. As far as the Rock scene out here…………that’s a tricky question. The shows are booming, with tons of availability to play with other killer acts. BUT that doesn’t mean that anyone is going to show up. We live in tricky times where kids much rather sit at home, on their iPad, and watch tiny desk concerts of their favourite bands rather than go see them live. So like I said shows are boooooming. Attendance is not. You could always say well you aren’t doing enough, yada yada yada, but I haven’t been to a sold out local show in years.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single or Video)

Our latest single release was ‘Need A Rush’ and came out late October. You can find that on any and all platforms. If we aren’t on your favorite platform, send us a DM, and we will get it there. The upcoming release, slated for January 24th, is “Braindead”. You can currently pre-save it on Spotify / Apple Music / Deezer/ TuneIn and/or add it to your playlist right now depending on when this interview comes out.

Who have been your greatest influences?

I think we can all collectively say our parents and significant others. My parents have always pushed me to follow my dreams since I was a child. Whether it be listening to me practicing flute in my basement as a talentless child or calling me while listening to one of our songs at 100 and yelling “I love this track”. They have and always will be my support group.

What first got you into music?

My parents! Since a young age my dad would play guitar while a record was playing or hear a song on a radio and explain to me what the song meant. I remember being 10ish in my dad’s truck and ‘Centerfold’ by The J. Geils Band came on. After listening my dad explained to me what it meant. I had no clue what a nudie mag was, but looking back on that memory all I can do is chuckle. That was so my dad, informational, yet inappropriate.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

I usually go with Butch Walker. He to me is the gold standard for producers and continually produces songs that I can listen all the way through, even if they aren’t my taste. But if I had to pick someone else I would go with “The Black Crowes”. Anytime their songs come on I feel like putting on headphones, jumping in a giant water fountain, and kicking water at the bystanders.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Easy for me………Glastonbury! I want a giant crowd of music loving fans waving flags in front of me. Plus I feel like you could be a no name band in front of that crowd and as long as you put on a killer performance they would be a part of it. America has too many arm crossing weirdos writing blogs while you play in front of them.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I think the weirdest gift we have ever received from a fan was a hamster. It was an earlier iteration of Filmspeed but I’m pretty sure some fan just gave us this overweight, half blind, huge testicled hamster. Captain Sergeant Brandon America was his name.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Support your local musicians. Add them to your playlists. Come to shows. Pre-save their links. Like their posts. Forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr fucks sake. People scroll social media endlessly consuming useless memes but can’t like a bands photo or show post.

If you could bring one Metal/Rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Stevie Ray Vaughn. The man could set a fret board on fire with his hands back then, just imagine what he would be doing today? Maybe setting your fret board on fire while playing his own guitar.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I love the music part and hate all the side jobs that come along with being a DIY band. There are probably 7 full time jobs in our band and only 3 of us. For example: We just shot a music video last night. It took us hours to get set up because we are the director, lighting guy, set designer, producer, dp, mp, rp, lp, kp, etc etc. We’d much rather just show up, kill the performance, and leave.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Nepotism! I can’t tell you how many shitty musicians get signed just because their cousin is some executive.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

The Rolling Stones – “Sticky Fingers”

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Overall Vinyl sounds the best but it really depends on how the music is recorded. You are going to have a really hard time making something sound great on vinyl if it isn’t recorded for vinyl. But if you record for vinyl it’s going to have a warmth and power that is irreplaceable on any other media.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I would probably be the president or something less important than being a musician.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

That one’s kind of easy for me Craig, Oliver, Megan, Nickii, and Norman. Those are my ride or dies.

What’s next for the band?

Releasing our latest single “Braindead” January 24th!! Pre-save/add it/buy it/put it in your earsssssssss.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

http://www.filmspeedband.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/74yONhOvOpeKFJXALWRL6k
https://soundcloud.com/filmspeedmusic
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/filmspeed/305162258
https://www.youtube.com/user/FILMSPEEDMUSIC
https://twitter.com/FilmspeedMusic
https://www.instagram.com/filmspeedmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/Filmspeed/

Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?

This is easy, it is a Cake. The name is “Jaffa Cakes!”, therefore if it was a biscuit it would be called “Jaffa Biscuits”! If you think otherwise…you’re just like…..wrong…..man!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Life rips, gang gang!

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.