EMQS with Famous Strangers
EMQS with Famous Strangers
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal Band, Famous Strangers. Huge thanks to their Vocalst, Amanda Kierman, 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 Amanda Kiernan and I’m the vocalist. The band officially started only a year and half ago, but we’ve all known each other for a couple of decades , playing shows together in our previous bands and just being part of the same scene. One day we were doing some cover songs together just for fun, and something magical happened. We formed the band and never looked back.
How did you come up with your band name?
Jeffrey was driving and listening to “Perfect Strangers” on the radio when he looked over and saw a restaurant called “Famous Donair.” He kind of mashed the two ideas together, and “Famous Strangers” was born. Neat little story from Jeff.
What country/region are you from and what is the metal/rock scene like there?
We’re from Alberta, Canada and the scene is fucking awesome. It’s a huge family. We’ve all been in it for 20-plus years, and even if you don’t know everyone personally, you’ve likely seen them at shows for decades. Lately there’s also been a wave of younger fans getting involved through more all-ages shows, which is so cool to see. It gives us hope that this thing keeps growing and evolving.
What is your latest release?
Our latest release is the music video for “LSC,” which is out on YouTube and streaming on Spotify. It’s haunting and heavy, and it lures you in. It’s also kind of a fun concept , it’s about how bugs mate. The black widow spider rips her mate’s head off after, which felt like a pretty metal concept to write about.
Who have been your greatest influences?
We all pull from different places and our answers change all the time. The guys have said bands like Judas Priest, Dio, and The Smalls. For me, it’s the 70s and 80s greats , Pink Floyd, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Tool. We’re influenced by a wide range of music and life.
What first got you into music?
Even back in kindergarten, music was my favorite class. My stepfather Robert bought me my first acoustic guitar and taught me Beatles songs around the campfire. Later on, I got introduced to the metal scene by friends who snuck me into underage shows. From there, I knew I had found my place. The guys have similar stories , growing up around music and just naturally falling into it.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
That’s always changing. I’d love to work again with Battle Beast and Unleash the Archers. Also would be incredible to work with Sin Reti from Tessitura and On Elliptic. I’d love to collab with Tool or Alice in Chains too. The list is never-ending.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Every single one! But obviously Wacken is at the top , that’s a metalhead dream. I’ve played MIDI Festival in China before with The Order of Chaos, and it would be amazing to go back. I’d also love to play 70,000 Tons of Metal , looks so fun and intimate, plus it’s on a ship in the middle of the ocean!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Too many legends to choose. Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Jim Morrison, Ozzy, Dimebag Darrell, and Vinnie Paul… Bring them all back.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician and what do you hate?
There’s nothing I hate. I love every second of it. Playing a show is the best feeling in the world. I live for that 30 to 40 minute set , it makes all the effort worth it. I love when our music helps people. If there’s one thing I don’t love, it’s loading gear. But I do it all the same. And yeah, the social media side can be exhausting. Some days it’s fun, others it’s hard to keep up. I miss the days where you’d buy a CD directly from the merch booth.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish musicians were taken care of better. The way ticket prices are inflated, and how bands struggle to make a living , it’s disheartening. I just want to be a full-time musician without needing a million side hustles. The more I earn from music, the more I can give back and help others too.
Name one of your all-time favorite albums
It changes, but Pink Floyd’s The Wall has always stuck with me. The messages, the mood, the artwork , everything about it.
What’s the best , vinyl, cassettes, CDs, or downloads?
I love all of them. Vinyl’s making a comeback which is great, but I seriously miss cassettes and CDs. That stuff was the bomb.
What’s the best gig that you’ve played to date?
Every show is special to me. Some standout moments were playing in front of 10,000 people in India with The Order of Chaos, or playing MIDI Festival in China. Touring through Europe, the US, and Canada , I just want more of it.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’d be depressed and wondering what was missing from my life. That’s the honest truth. But I’m also currently in school studying herbalism, so probably something with nature.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Joey Jordison, Bill Skarsgård, Frank Sinatra, Leslie Mann, and Billie Holiday… and a bunch more.
What’s next for the band?
Our new music video for “Deep Star” is coming soon. We’ve got a big cancer fundraiser show for Cam Kroetsch on October 3rd with Creature//Conspire, The Cutoffs, Bogue Brigade, and Cam himself. After that, a November mini-tour with Shackled to the Throne for their CD release. And we’re working toward an EP or album , something concrete.
What social media/website links do you use to get your music out there?
Visit www.famousstrangersband.com. All our socials and streaming links are there. We’re also on YouTube, Spotify, and everywhere else. Thanks so much for interviewing us , we really appreciate it.
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