EMQ’s with CHANGING TYMZ
EMQ’s with CHANGING TYMZ
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Pittsburgh, PA based Metal/Hard Rock band Changing Tymz. Huge thanks to all of them 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?
Tony Rossi: I Play the drums! In 2016, I wanted to work with original music and decided I’m not doing the cover/club scene. It took over 3 years to put this together. Guitarist Timmy Wysong was looking for a drummer and I was looking for musicians, we added vocalist Matt Martin to the group, Matt’s voice and unique style allowed us to dig deeper in the roots of true metal to create a mix of modern and classical metal. All the while, bass player Bryan McQuade was also looking for a change and placed an ad on Craigslist. Seeing the posting, the band reached out and asked him to submit an original bassline for the song ‘Stand Up’. Taking his chances, Bryan sat down to write, submitted a piece…and a bass player was found. To complete the band we finally welcomed Eric Fenton in November of 2019. Five talented musicians, having never met before, all from different backgrounds, cemented by desire and passion for the music is what makes this band work so well.
Matt Martin: Lead Vocals and Keys
Timmy Wysong: I play rhythm and lead guitar, and sing backup vocals. Well, it all kinda started with me looking for a drummer, for the band I had put together (Hate Remains), back in 2016, I believe. Once Tony Rossi and I started writing, everything clicked just right, and we took a different direction altogether, and here we are.
Bryan McQuade: Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals & Mixing Engineer.
Eric Fenton: Guitar. I’ve been with the band 6 months now learning, writing & recording
How did you come up with your band name?
Tony: We all picked a bunch of names and started voting to find the one we could agree on, CHANGING TIMES but thought we could try and spell (times) using letters from our names T = Tony, Y = Timmy W(Y)song, M was for Matt and the Z…that was for Zack who left shortly after we had our name.
Timmy: We each put in an X amount of name ideas out, and went through the process of elimination, by means of voting. Each time, narrowing it down to eventually one name. We also would look at the name, as to what it reflects. Obviously, we are now in some Changing Tymz!
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Tony: North East United States. Hard to get out there and a lot of bands trying…tough scene!
Bryan: Columbus, Ohio. It has a very strong metal/rock scene. Unfortunately, it is the city that Dimebag was killed in. The venue has had so many metal bands over the years that it has a very diverse history.
Eric: Pittsburgh, PA. Lots of competition.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Tony: Self-titled EP
Timmy: Digital version of our self-titled EP, “Changing Tymz”, which was released Feb. 29th this year, and we are gonna be offering up a special limited edition run, with a hard case and insert, and pre-orders will be available, as well. There will only be 1000 copies available of the limited edition EP. Although still available after that run, they will only come in a soft case. We are currently in pre-production of our full album,
‘Stand Up’ Lockdown Video
Who have been your greatest influences?
Tony: Buddy Rich, Alan White, Steve Smith, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy
Matt: Bruce Dickinson, Dio, Geoff Tate, Ozzy, Ray Alder
Timmy: I have so many, lol. Well, Carlos Santana, Boston, Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Randy Rhoads, David Gilmour, Dimebag Darrell, Shawn Lane, Dan Donegan, Paul Gilbert, George Lynch, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Dave Mustaine, Sepultura, Marty Friedman, Eric Johnson, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Andy James and even more, lol.
Bryan: I am really a child of 80’s music so it has had a great influence in my style and writing. I must say though. I am a huge fan of Steve Harris and his style among others such as Les Claypool, Billy Sheehan, Donald “Duck” Dunn and of course Geddy Lee.
Eric: Clapton, Hendrix, Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn…on and on!
What first got you into music?
Tony: My Father, he was a music teacher with his own successful music centre’s.
Matt: My good friend Gary Cogley happened to say “Dude, you should try singing for a band, shortly after I did and the rest is history…Love it!
Timmy: Pretty much my whole family. It runs in my family.
Bryan: I began playing saxophone in grade school and always loved singing. It continued from there whether it was concert band, jazz band or singing in the choir. The next step was live music in my very first rock band. Shortly after joining as the lead singer I had a bug to begin to play bass guitar so rented an amp, bought a used bass and I was off.
Eric: Broken leg from High School. Football and Listening to Beatles, Stones & Skynyrd at 14 yrs old.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Tony: Would love to do one song with Dream Theater.
Matt: I already am!
Timmy: Hmmmm, would have to say Dan Donegan.
Bryan: Myles Kennedy and well, I guess the rest of Alter Bridge. I love his vocals and it would be awesome to work with Mark Tremonti.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Tony: OZZFEST, it’s the biggest and best and I would have the chance to meet so many of the musicians i respect based on their accomplishments.
Matt: Any Metal fest…love them all!
Timmy: Monsters Of Rock, Rock On The Range and, at least once, at the Whiskey A Go Go!
Bryan: The main stage of what used to be “Rock on the Range” which is now called Sonic Temple. I have been to the festival so many times and would love the opportunity to play the main stage.
Eric: Ozzfest. Biggest Metal acts.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Tony: A blank CD…lol. He asked me to listen to it…probably meant to hand me one of his band to check out.
Matt: I got laid lol…It was out of the blue!
Timmy: Haven’t yet, but I’m sure I’ll have a story to tell in the future, lol!
Bryan: I was in an 80’s cover band and someone gave me a pair of checkered Vans that matched the ones I was wearing although they were well worn.
Eric: Acoustic guitar.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Tony: Follow your dreams, Follow God, and dont take bullshit from no-one.
Matt: Never give up no matter how much time goes by or what happens…go with the flow and ride it back to your dreams!
Timmy: There is always someone, or something, that you can turn to for love and hope, when times are tough. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams!
Bryan: Live life to the fullest and be kind to others.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Tony: John Bonham, left us too early and it would have been awesome to see where his style took him as he kept growing in his craft.
Matt: Ronnie James Dio of course!
Timmy: Tough one. I know what I want to say, but I will just say Shawn Lane.
Bryan: Ronnie James Dio. He died way too young.
Eric: Jim Morrison
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Tony: It’s great to see people smile and know I gave them my all, and having the chance to spread a little positive in a world that needs it… and Hate… that’s pretty strong… but I’ll say I’m glad there are roadies to haul and set up my gear. Lol!
Matt: Creating, writing music and melodies…lyrics are fun tool…maybe even the whole band collaboration! Hmmmm, hard to say really, music being controlled by corporate rock and money!
Timmy: I can express myself much more freely in my music and writing. A reality, within a reality. I can’t say I hate anything in that regard, but something I’m not too crazy about, is manually tabbing out riffs, lol!
Bryan: I love the writing process and especially love playing live. The old days of setting up and tearing down has never been fun.
Eric: Always something to learn…I hate nothing.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Tony: I think videos are cool for bands but when the focus becomes the video bands forget that music is an art for listening not watching. Too many bands worry about the look and not the quality of writing and music. I would make videos more about the music and performance rather than what is being seen with a lot of mainstream.
Matt: Giving more control to musicians for writing and producing their own sound and music!
Timmy: These days, I would say mandatory security should be required by the venue owners, and safety regulations strictly enforced. Not to be confused by suppression. So the masses can let loose, rock it out, and feel safe.
Bryan: The difficulty of breaking into the mainstream
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Tony: YES – “RELAYER” and RUSH – “2112”
Matt: Iron Maiden – “Piece Of Mind”
Timmy: Only way I can put it is, the first half of my life, it was Boston’s debut, self-titled album. The second half of my life (today), would be Disturbed’s album “Ten Thousand Fist’s”.
Bryan: Metallica – “Ride The Lightning”
Eric: Ozzy Osbourne – “Blizzard Of Ozz”, Metallica – “Kill ‘Em All”, Van Halen – “Van Halen II”
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Tony: Vinyl has the warmth that nothing else does, but downloads are easy access to music.
Matt: Downloads cuz CD’s warp, records scratch and tapes stretch!
Timmy: I like the sound of vinyl, but the convenience of a download.
Bryan: I still own a lot of Vinyl. The sound is like no other.
Eric: Downloads.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Tony: The benefit gig for my late brother Pete, just meant a lot.
Matt: Thunder In The Valley – Johnston, PA
Timmy: Personally, back in the day, The Battle of the Bands in Nashville, TN.
Bryan: A block party for about 3000 people for Halloween.
Eric: Ripley, Ohio.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Tony: Probably catching up on some sleep lol! I would have probably got into making instruments.
Matt: Landscaping
Timmy: I would be involved in the music industry somewhere, regardless, lol.
Bryan: I think I would still be mixing and producing. I love music way too much.
Eric: Engineering/Design.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Tony: Do they have to be alive? lol I would love to see my brother n dad again, I would also say Jesus…wow to hang at dinner with Him…but he’s not people he’s God…so out of those still with us. My Wife, Mother, Alan White, Mike Mangini and Nicko McBrain!
Matt: The band and our Manager.
Timmy: Buckethead, Paul Gilbert, Jeff Loomis, Andy James and Betty White.
Bryan: Jesus, Ronnie James Dio, Geddy Lee, Myles Kennedy & Freddie Mercury.
Eric: Myself, Timmy, Bryan, Matt & Tony.
What’s next for the band?
Tony: An endless list lol…but the big ones would be finishing the full-length album then seeing about some live shows!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Timmy: All major streaming platforms, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, our official website and stations that air us.
www.changingtymz.com/
www.facebook.com/ChangingTymz/
www.twitter.com/ChangingTymz
www.instagram.com/changingtymz/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMFiRA3mviWLulvJFstyPnA
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Tony: I’d say a cookie…not too fond of them but scrape the chocolate off cause it’s a shame to let any chocolate go to waste!
Matt: Biscuits!
Timmy: Well, I think the title says it all. I love cake, lol.
Bryan: I guess they would be more like a biscuit of course, if that is what you call a cookie.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Tony: Never give up on your dreams and talents for that’s what separates us and always strive to find the good for that brings us together.
Matt: Thanks for the opportunity to be heard, we greatly appreciate it!
Timmy: Thank you, and thanks to all our fans and supporters for everything!!!
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