EMQ’s with House of Hosts
EMQ’s with House of Hosts
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Welsh Modern Metallers, House of Hosts. Huge thanks to 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?
Hello lovely people of Ever Metal, glad to be back! I’m Jack, and I’m the bass player of House of Hosts. We hail from South Wales and I have a feeling this is going to be fun!
How did you come up with your band name?
I’m going to hand this one over to our fabulous drummer Beth, as I wasn’t involved in the band at that early stage.
Beth: Easy peasy! So, when I was younger, I was a MAJOR party connoisseur specialising in house parties at my parents house (see where I’m going with this?)…SO we needed a band name…I was very drunk on whisky most of the time and decided that “House of Hosts” would be a great name for the band – given that I was usually the host of many a house party! Et voila— we were born!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
James here. We’re from South Wales Area. The scene is fantastic, so many good bands making amazing music. The best thing is that everyone is so supportive and really pushing each other to be best they can be!
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Our latest release is the lead single “Darkest Days” from our upcoming EP “Reckoning”. We’re really excited for this to come out as we’ve been building up to this release for a long time!
Who have been your greatest influences?
Dan: Corey Taylor, the emotion in his voice, the way he can switch between aggression with the screams, to a melody that isn’t completely clean but tells the story through its tone
James: Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora’s ability to serve the song has always inspired me, the way he never overplays but seems to find the perfect parts is genius
Ross: Dream Theater. Every note has got to mean something
Jack: Slipknot because angry and chaotic, rage because of influences of funk and energy. SOAD for both melody and experimentation.
Beth: Gabe Helguera (I Prevail) – because his drum style is sick! He provides the insanest and cleanest drums and makes I prevail sound absolutely epic!
Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) – his technicality yet also his fluidity around the kit inspired me to stop playing so rigid and get all loosy goosy and FEEL the music! I also grew up on a LOT of pink floyd so he was pretty much part of the family
What first got you into music?
James: My Dad took me to see Bon Jovi on the One Wild Night tour in Cardiff when I was like 9. Honestly life changing and from that moment I was hooked!
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
We’ve actually already had a recent collaboration with an awesome local band called Confessions of a Serial Killer. Griff was on their recent cover of Break Stuff and it f*cking slaps. You should go check it out! It would be awesome to more of these collabs, especially as we get to whip it out live every now and again!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download festival. It’s THE alternative music festival of the UK! We all grew up hearing about it, GOING to it. I can’t think of a single band we grew up listening to who hasn’t played Download at least once!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Griff: Never had a weird gift but I’ve been asked to sign a guy’s arse so there’s that!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Watch this space! We can wait to show you what we’ve got coming up!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Rhandy Roads! He just had so much more to give!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
James: Honestly it’s looking out and seeing people singing along to our songs. I can’t see myself ever getting used to that!
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Griff: Make it about the music again and not the “what’s hot now”
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
James: Funeral for a Friend – Hours. It’s absolutely unbelievable and some of our home grown hero’s!
Jack: Slipknot – Self titled
Dan: Five finger death punch – wrong side of heaven, righteous side of hell
Beth:Favourite album? Eh! SO MANY of all time, would have to be the self titled, Evanescence album (2011)! Amy Lee will forever be my biggest crush and Will Hunt will forever be a musical inspiration of mine!
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
James: Vinyl! Something about physically owning something and there is no better way of appreciating the artwork, especially a centre fold!
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
James: We played a Christmas gig last year and there’s something extra magical about a giant circle pit to our cover of Merry Xmas Everybody
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
James: Something creative that’s for sure, I’ve done a bit of acting over the years so if I had some more time I’d definitely be doing more of that!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
James: These 5 guys right here, as long as Griff is the one doing the cooking!
What’s next for the band?
After our EP is out, we can’t wait to get back on the road and see some more of your beautiful faces!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
We can be found on all major social media sites through the following link:
https://linktr.ee/houseofhosts
And our Spotify page
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?
Griff: A bap, anything else is heresy!
Jack: Griff, you and I are about to have words.
Griff: The f*ck do you call it??
Jack: It’s a roll if savoury, and a bun if sweet. Bap is also acceptable, as “Breakfast bap” rolls off of the tongue better than “Breakfast roll”. Butty is also acceptable, but only for a chip or bacon butty.
Griff: I actually agree.
Beth: Neither. It’s a breadcake. Despite being a raging Welshie, my family stems from Hull and that’s what they call them there!
(Jack just looks at Beth, horrified and disgusted).
Griff: F*cking breadcake??!!! Naah lad.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
A massive thank you for having us, and to anyone who takes the time out of their day to read this!
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