Interviews: A Thousand Suns

In this new occassion we have had the opportunity to interview the Metalcore/Nintendocore/Post-Hardcore  band A Thousand Suns from Germany. Check out the interview and this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

Regarding the band name we have been inspired by the book title "Brighter than a thousand suns", which is about the making of the first atomic bomb, the Manhattan Project. The name represents something powerful, something bright, but of couse something very dangerous. Of course we are against all kinds of war, (social, religious or political) oppression and everything that is related to such issues, but for us the name is very meaningful and of course has a historical background. 

  

2.Why did you want to play this genre? 

All of us have some kind of personal background in the metal genre, in general. We all spent many time of our youth listening to the "typical" and great bands of this genre, like As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, etc. The Metalcore / Post-Hardore style we are playing currently has developed from the various influences that each of us brings into the band. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Only a few of us knew each other before. Our Drummer Dan, our Shouter Rene and our Singer Dennis knew each other before, but the other members (Lukas - Bass, Marius - Lead Guitar, Dominik - Rhythm Guitar) joined via advertisments on online musician forums. 

4. Each band member favourite band? 

Marius - As I Lay Dying

Lukas - In Hearts Wake

Dennis - Asking Alexandria

Daniel - Survivor

Rene - Bad Religion

Dominik - Architects 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Most of our current songs are based on classical retro games, like Nintendo, Sonic, Zelda, etc. Many of us have a strong personal background within this video game genre. At first we only had one song ("Fall of Bricks") which was based on this retro game stuff. The lyrics are about Super Mario and the song also includes some of these Super Marios Synthies, like the coin sound. We have received very positive feedback regarding the idea to combine retro games with our kind of music and so we continued creating these songs. The main topic of our first album "Memories", which we have published recently, are also these retro games. 

Regarding the whole instrumental stuff we do not have a clearly definable inspiration, but of course many of our ideas are based on the influence of other bands out of this genre. 

    

6. Where was your last gig? 

Our last gig was the Madhouse Open Air Festival at Castrop Rauxel (NRW, Germany). There we had the opportunity to share the stage with great bands like Annisokay and A Traitor Like Judas. 

7. Where would you like to act? 

We would really appreciate it to act on the annual Vainstream Festival at Münster (NRW, Germany). This is definetely one of the greatest (metal) open air festivals in our region. Of course our biggest is to act (on the main stage) at Rock am Ring, but of course it is a hard way to get there. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

It would be great to have a feature with Phil Bozeman of Whitechapel or Winston McCall of Parkway Drive. We really love both bands and of course the voices and power of the frontmen. 

9. Whom not? 

We would not say that there is anybody we do not want to feature with. We're open minded for every new influence and like to try something new. Of course we are clearly against any kind of racism, homophobia or intolerance, so we would not want to have a feature with somebody who cannot identify himself with our attitude. But besides that there is nobody we would exclude yet. 

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? 

No one of us ever had some kind of stage fright. Of course we are all nervous ion front of a gig, but we might say that this a normal behaviour. Nevertheless our tip for beginners is that you should not only focus pn the gig you're going to play. Do or think about "normal" things. Just enjoy the time and relax. And of course a cold beer with your band colleagues in front of the gig is also a possibility to calm down a little bit ;-)

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

A big inspiration for us is Eskimo Callboy, cause they are one of the biggest (or the biggest) German band within this Genre. They are also based in our hometown Castrop Rauxel, so of course they've started making this genre popular in our region. 

From a personal perspective our inspiration to make music in general, join a band and play on stages are of course great bands like Linkin Park or Rammstein. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

We have been asked to play some kind of "Living Room Concert" on a birhtday party. We have been offered a small payment, of course free drinks and food, but the weird thing was that we have been offered a small tattoo for each us of (for free), cause the "birthday child" is a professional tattoo artist. Unfortunately the concert did not take place, but nevertheless this was a weird, but also very cool thing we have been asked for. 

13. What do you think of your fans? 

We have a great fan base, who follows us to most of our concerts. We really love this people and are closely related to most of them, cause normally we are organizing after-concert parties with all of them in our rehearsal room. We would like to thank these people, who support us in so many ways!

14. What do you think of our site?

It is a really great concept. We really appreciate it that you're looking for cool bands (especially within the local scenes, where are not so many possibilities to present yourself as a band) within so many countries and that you give them - and of course - the opporunity to present themselves on your webpage. That's a great concept, keep doing it! 

15. Something add?

With extra cheese and bacon, but without pickles please ;-) But seriously, many thanks for the opportunity to present ourselves! We really appreciated it! You're doing a great job!