EMQ’s With We Do Not Belong Here
EMQ’s With We Do Not Belong Here
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Blackened Post-Rock/Screamo band, We Do Not Belong Here. Huge thanks to their Vocalist/ Bassist, Nat, 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 Nat, and I am the lead vocalist and bass player for We Do Not Belong Here. We started this band around the summer of 2022. All of us play in other projects with clearly defined aesthetics. Troy and AJ play in the death metal band Faustian and I play in the emo band Wonder Kid, so the idea was to start something a little less boxed in that pulls from a wide range of influences. With us all playing in other serious projects, we did not have the pressure to immediately start playing shows, which gave us a lot of time to dial in the first EP, “Strange to Cope in Today’s World”, and record with James Whitten in the late winter and early spring of 2023.
How did you come up with your band name?
We were really trying to capture how it feels to be living in the Deep South, a region where it always seems like the next climate catastrophe is just a week or two away, and repressive legislation is the norm.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from the United States, Louisiana to be specific. Louisiana has always had a strong metal scene, and there’s a wide variety of talented bands active right now.
What is your latest release?
Our debut EP, “Strange to Cope in Today’s World” releases on all platforms on September 8th. The single, which is also the first track we wrote as a band, ‘A Life, Explained’ is available now on Bandcamp.
Who have been your greatest influences?
If you asked all three members, you would get three very different answers, so I can only speak for myself. For this band, I’m pulling from some obvious places like some of my favorite screamo bands, such as Portrayal of Guilt, Envy, Respire, City of Caterpillar, Ostraca, etc., but also from less obvious sources like Karate and Sunny Day Real Estate.
What first got you into music?
I was a band kid, so I started with wind instruments when I was maybe 10 years old. My brother did not play, but he loved music and was very involved in the New Orleans indie rock scene in the early 2000s. I looked up to all of these people, and I started learning bass when I was about 12. I started playing shows with original bands when I was 15 and have been ever since.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
That’s a tough question! One of my all-time favorite vocalists is Jerry Jones from Trophy Scars and Super Snake. It would be rad to play bass in a band that he fronted.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Oblivion Access Festival in Austin, Texas. The line-up is always stellar and we would fit in well.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Baked goods. Didn’t expect that at a sweaty DIY show.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Find catharsis where you can. For me, it’s my music.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Ian Curtis.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The most rewarding part for me, by far, is performing live. If I was unable to do so, I do not think I would play music at all. I love the anxiety performing gives me.
The marketing component is definitely my least favorite part. I have no problem with promoting shows, but the obsession with social media feels like a waste of creative energy.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
We’ll never go back, but I wish purchasing and listening to physical media was the norm.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
I’ll go with something pretty recent. “Christfucker” by Portrayal of Guilt is probably my favorite record of the last five years.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I have a pretty sizable vinyl collection, but I think I prefer cassettes. They’re cheaper, more durable, and there’s a certain graininess that I enjoy.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I think that’s hard to say objectively, so I’ll go with the most memorable. All three members of We Do Not Belong Here just played a packed show at a public library. It was a blast, and you just can’t beat twelve-year olds in corpse paint headbanging to Faustian.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Professionally, I am a librarian. In terms of creative output, I would write creative non-fiction if I wasn’t pouring my energies into music.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Easy. My partner and my best friends.
What’s next for the band?
This band has been writing music rapidly. We’re planning to go back in the studio in early 2024 to record either another EP or an LP. We’d like to keep the releases steady.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Currently, our music is on bandcamp, https://wedonotbelonghere.bandcamp.com/album/strange-to-cope-in-todays-world
and you can find us on Instagram, @wedonotbelonghereband.
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Oh no. I have no idea. A muffin?
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
No! Thank you for speaking with me!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
