EMQ’s With FIELDS OF REGRET
EMQ’s With FIELDS OF REGRET
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Belgian Horrorpunk project, Field Of Regret. Huge thanks to main man, Filip, 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 Filip. I’m the composer and instrumentalist of Fields of Regret, a band I started at the beginning of this year. In the past years, I’ve been the songwriter for Lakland, a Belgian Gothic band, but I wanted to work out some ideas that didn’t fit in Lakland, so I started Fields of Regret.
How did you come up with your band name?
I named the band after an Alice Cooper song. Not my favourite Cooper song, but it triggered my fantasy. So, I started to write about how it would feel to be in the fields of regret.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
I live in Belgium. The Belgian Metal scene is quite small. Most bands play traditional Power Metal or Death/Black Metal. So, my music is totally non-conventional for the Belgian Metal scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
My new release is the single ‘Pinky Lace and Pixie Dust’. It lands ahead of our first self-titled EP which is coming out later this year.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I love the sound of bands like Type O Negative, Korn and Slipknot. Very deep and with fast rhythms. For writing lyrics, I was much influenced by Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath.
What first got you into music?
As a student, I earned some extra money as a live PA man and I continued doing this until I had built my own recording studio. When I had the time, between working with other artists, I started to record my own compositions.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I always wanted to make a record with Klaus Schulze, unfortunately he died a few months ago. But I also wanted to do a duet with Lindsay Schoolcraft too. Who knows, maybe one day.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
First festival I think about is Graspop, because it’s the biggest Metal festival in Belgium. But I also dream about Knotfest because there are so many great bands playing on it.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I once received a human thigh bone from a fan. I have no idea who’s bone it was and honestly, I don’t wanna know either. But it still has a nice place in my living room.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Love the ones that love you the most and kick the ass of those who don’t keep their word.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Neil Peart! So Rush can start touring again.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy the freedom of speech, being able to write lyrics about the biggest assholes in the world and they can’t shut you up. What I hate the most is the lack of time to write a song about every asshole I know.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The fact that artist royalties are not divided equally. Big players earn much more a play then smaller artists. Every play should be considered equally.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
The album I’ve played endlessly is “Brutal Planet” by Alice Cooper. A totally atypical Cooper album. It was the only industrial album he made, which is unfortunate as I’m mad about the sound of it.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
I always try to listen to albums as they were originally meant to be released. Black Sabbath on vinyl, early Nightwish on CD and the new Within Temptation on Spotify.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We once made an agreement with a firework company. They programmed an entire show on our music. With arrows on every hit on the drums. It cost a fortune, but it was an amazing spectacle for an enormous crowd.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I would be dead, no doubt about that.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Jesus, Lucifer, Mohammed, Buddha and Ozzy.
What’s next for the band?
I just recorded the first EP, which will be released by the end of the year. I will promote it as much as possible. If it’s a success I will start working on a Fields of Regret live band.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
For the moment, we have a Facebook and YouTube channel:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070697956176
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC79pFhH6dW0QlDoGUtv2-Sg
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
I don’t care, as long as they taste gorgeous.
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.