EMQ’s With BEFORE THE SIRENS
EMQ’s With BEFORE THE SIRENS
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK metalcore band, Before The Sirens. Huge thanks to their vocalist/ guitarist, Alun Davies, 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?
I’m Alun Davies and I am the vocalist and guitarist in Before The Sirens. The boys and I have been playing together in bands since we were teenagers. I actually met Adam and Chris at school so we have been friends for nearly 30 years. We were introduced to Alex by a mutual friend nearly 20 years ago. Before The Sirens formed in 2019 and Alex joined in 2021.
How did you come up with your band name?
Funny story! We originally came up with the name Before The Storm and launched our social media pages, only for an established UK based rock band of the same name to contact us asking us (quite rightly) to change our name. We obliged, but realised that all our branding was centred around the letters B,T, & S. So, over the course of the next few days we threw all sorts of variants around (Before The Sausage was a personal favourite) before settling on Before The Sirens, as we felt it illustrated the dark, bleak and aggressive tones of the music we were writing.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are based out of Hertfordshire, UK. The Hertfordshire metal scene has become a really strong environment of collaboration and most importantly, some really excellent bands. We have had the privilege of playing with the likes of Dead Flesh, Lowdown, Earthbound and The Hot One Two, all of which you should check out and they are top drawer.
What is your latest release?
Our new EP ‘As It Is Above, So It Is Below’ was released on 19th December on all major streaming platforms.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Our music stems from our influences in early 2000s metalcore (Killswitch Engage amongst others) and those ‘Kerrang’ era Nu-Metal bands that formed our sound. We list ourselves as ‘for fans of Killswitch Engage, Alter Bridge, Breaking Benjamin & Metallica’.
What first got you into music?
All of parents and families had their part to play. Chris was taught guitar by his cousin and discovered rock and heavy metal that way. Alex was taught to play drums by his grandad and found a penchant for progressive and experimental drumming techniques. And Adam and I spent hours and hours watching live DVDs of bands we aspired to be like after school and we learnt a huge amount that way.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Metallica. Still, in my opinion, the greatest metal band of all time. Still killing it when the could be claiming a bus pass. Incredible band.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download would be fun. We often fall into a grey area for genres. We’re not heavy enough for some metalheads but far too heavy for a pop environment so Download has rock and metal acts in the same arena and that would lean perfectly towards our blend of metal, metalcore and hard rock.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Not so much a gift, but after a gig I was given ladies underwear. No conversation. No explanation. Just put her pants in my hand and wandered off into the night!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Check us out. We love writing and playing music and our biggest ambition is for people to hear it. So if you are reading this, jump on your preferred streaming platform and give us a spin. You just might like it!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Freddie Mercury. The greatest 30 minute live show in history has to be his performance at Live Aid and I was introduced to his music as a child but I was too young to have seen him live in the flesh so I would love to have the opportunity.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
As I mentioned earlier, we have been playing music as our outlet and our passion since we were kids. I absolutely love it. I think that’s the reason why it’s been the only constant thing in my life since I was a child until now. So I love every part of it and by consequence, you take the rough with the smooth. There are some elements that are less enjoyable than others but they are by far outweighed by the buzz I get from playing really loud heavy music with my best mates on the planet.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Put simply, I would love to hear that more bands could make a living off of their art. These days the payment structures for streaming, merch, labels and live performances are suffering and that means that most bands who have put in all the leg work to get a really decent following and be playing awesome shows, still can’t make a career out of their music.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“As Daylight Dies”, Killswitch Engage. Chris and I were talking about this the other day. It is a wall to wall banger of an album and Howard Jones’ voice is just ridiculous.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I really like the experience of a vinyl. You get all the artwork in the sleeves and the covers and you have to flip and change the records and it also seems more alive coming from a record.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
The best we have played together in this band was a show we played last year at Club 85 in Hitchin, UK. It was busy and we really got after it and afterwards we were buzzing. We really enjoyed that show.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’d be pretty miserable to be honest. I can’t imagine a world where I’m not making music of some description.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Alive or Dead? Freddie Mercury, James Hetfield, Jimi Hendrix, Howard Jones and Ozzy Osbourne.
What’s next for the band?
Our EP has been out a few weeks now so we are spending most of our time trying to get that out there to new audiences and hopefully people like it!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
We are on all the usual social media channels but you can get all our links and goodies at www.beforethesirens.com
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?
Bap. Controversial in some parts I know, but that’s what I know it as.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for having us. And if you get the chance, give us a listen!
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