EMQ’s With Those Once Loyal
EMQ’s With Those Once Loyal
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK based Melodic Hardcore band, Those Once Loyal. Huge thanks to their rhythm guitarist/ backing vocalist, Oscar Gutkowski, 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?
Hey guys, my name Oscar Gutkowski and I’m the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for “Those Once Loyal!”
The band officially started in around 2019, after a trillion failed attempts to get things off the ground (Thank you very much Join My Band) prior to this. We’ve played a good number of shows in our time, with some amazing names like Attila, High On Fire and even one of our biggest idols Atreyu! And would you believe after all the time we’ve been a band, we’ve only just recently officially gained a full line-up? Who said being in a band was easy, eh?
How did you come up with your band name?
In our earliest incarnation, one of our members was brainstorming ideals for a good, recognisable band name, to which we had some music in the background to help the old brain cogs turn.
We then heard a band called “Bolt Thrower” come on and immediately loved the name of the album “Those Once Loyal” and absolutely had to use it for ourselves!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re all from Nottingham, UK; which has an astounding Rock/Metal scene. You’ve got amazing bars like the Tap N Tumbler that host free live music every weekend, as well as places like The Salutation Inn, The Pit and Pendulum and even the prestigious Rock City! The scene here is very welcoming and immensely diverse, with more bands than you could shake a stick at!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our latest release is our new single “Glass Hands” which came out on Apil 11th followed by a show with Notts kings, Hacktivist where we will be debuting it live!
Who have been your greatest influences?
I can say for us, it’s absolutely the likes of Trivium, Hatebreed, Machine Head, Stray From the Path, Still Remains and Thrown.
What first got you into music?
For myself it has to the beauty that is Guitar Hero 2! The minute I was gifted that on Christmas for the PS2 when I was a nipper, it changed everything about me.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
It would absolutely have to be Matt Heafy from Trivium, the talent and flexibility of that man’s musicianship would make anything insanely good!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
It would have to be Hellfest, it’s absolutely massive and there’s yet to be a year that disappoints!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Openly, we’ve not received anything weird, unless you count strange DM’s, but I won’t disclose hahaha!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you, so very much for staying with us all this time, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything we have already if not for the support all our friends and fans give us, so be ready for what’s coming, as we really cannot wait to share the new era of TOL!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Chuck Schuldiner for sure, one of, if not THE pioneer of his genre, and an immense musician that to this day inspires so many.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
What I enjoy the most has to be getting to turn song ideas into reality, having something that starts as a few notes, and eventually becomes a full band’s song as well as sharing it with people of all ilk’s is such a lovely feeling as a musician.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
That’s a hard one, but I’d say the pay to play mentality that some industry reps, venues and promoters advertise, artists deserve to be paid for their show every time, and getting to perform should not be something you need savings as a band to do.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Completely left field but Bloc Party’s “Four” album, front to back indie/rock beauty.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
CD’s, easy to store, clean, and play, and generally most affordable.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
It would have to be main support for Atreyu at Nottingham’s Rock City! The sheer size of the crowd, getting to meet and chat with one of our biggest influences and meeting so many brand new fans (well we hope they liked us) will forever be one of if not our favourite show.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Loaded question, I’d probably like to have gone down the route of a sushi chef! It’s a hobby I’ve had for donkeys now but turning it from a kitchen work top pass time to an actual job would be quite fun, I think!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Matt Heafy of Trivium (can you tell I like Trivium)
Matt Bellamy of Muse
Rob Flynn of Machine Head
David Attenborough
Darren Shan
What’s next for the band?
We’ve got our brand new single ‘Glass Hands’ with a release show supporting the mighty Hacktivist, as well as some more new music and gigs coming up we’re excited to share with everyone!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thoseonceloyal/glass-hands Linktree to all our socials/music and merch: https://linktr.ee/thoseonceloyal
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. And we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!
Bloody hell…it’s in the biscuit aisle so despite all science and reason it must be a biscuit, or has Tesco just been having us on all these years?
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Not really but thank you very much for your time and we hope everyone checks us out and loves
what we’re about!
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