Interviews: DMS

In this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band DMS from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the 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?

The band went through several work in progress names in the beginning but it was Mikey that came up with Deaf Mute Society.  The Deaf Mute reference originated from the tagline of The Laughing Man from Ghost in the Shell since Mikey is an otaku!  There’s a more serious answer about how a lot of people would prefer to be buried in their phones with headphones on rather than interact with strangers nowadays.  As a society we are being rendered both deaf and mute by technology despite promises of a more open world.  Just look at any online comment section to see how that turned out… Which answer we give generally depends on how DEEP we want to appear.  We like you though so you can have both.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Never really thought too much about that.  The genre lines get a bit blurry depending on what tracks you listen to from us.  It’s just the result of cramming us in a room together given that we all listen to a LOT of different stuff in our spare time.

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

Yeah.  Mikey went to high school with Jen but met John after a jam session with his cousin in early 2006.  Callum ended up joining the band they were in at the time after a recommendation from a mutual friend.  Mush was playing in another local band so we became mates after playing a bunch of bills together.  Reconnected with Jen after running through a bunch of keys players that didn’t cut it.

4. Each band member favorite band? 

John – Prince 

Mikey – Infected Mushroom

Jen – PVRIS

Mush – Stevie Wonder

Callum – Led Zep  

Collectively I think we can all agree that Vulfpeck are the greatest band of all time though.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Inspiration can come from anywhere really and that’s the way it should be.  For the most part if a hook comes into anyone’s head we just capture it by either writing it down or doing a quick phone recording.  We were staying in an an airbnb in Manchester after a show last year and someone drunkenly switched the washing machine on by leaning on it.  It made a bunch of beep boop noises so we immediately got a recording of it and started messing about with concepts.  

6. Where was your last gig? 

Breakthrough stage at Party at the Palace – a festival in Linlithgow

7. Where would you like to play? 

Would love to try and have a jam on the vomit comet... with someone else’s gear of course.

8. Who would you like to support?

Honestly whoever can get us in front of the biggest suitable audience.  When Metallica toured the black album Kirk was asked about his thoughts when people considered him a sell-out.  His reply?  “Sure we sold out.  The last tour we sold out every stadium we played.”  Well played. 

9. Who not?

Interesting question - We wouldn’t want to get involved with any alt-right proud boy BS as we’d end up wearing our knuckles down to the bone...

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

If you’re struggling with crowds find something at the back of the venue to focus on.  Maybe the fire exit or something.  Means you’ll be looking out to the crowd without locking eyes with them.  Kind of hard to answer that since it’s never been an issue for us.  Guess you could always be like Tool and not bother facing the crowd to focus on the music.  If all else fails, ALCOHOL (in moderation – stay safe kids)

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

After googling “most inspiring bands” and going for the first result we have the following courtesy of thetoptens.com The Beatles/Black Veil Brides/Linkin Park/MCR/Metallica/Pink Floyd/U2/Iron Maiden/Led Zep/Nirvana 3 out of 10 isn’t terrible I suppose.

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

After a gig where Callum had shattered part of his cymbal, a guy asked how much we wanted for the shard.  

13. What do you think of your fans? 

Last summer there was a really bad heatwave here.  Mikey was ill at the time and bought a Dimplex Tower Fan from Argos.  Within a couple of days EVERYWHERE was sold out.  It’s a really good fan for the price.  People that support our band are pretty cool.

14. What do you think of our site?

It´s a fine site to be sure.  Big fan of the free music BC section.

15. Something to add?

https://dmsscotland.bandcamp.com/ for more free stuff (we won’t say no to donations)  https://www.facebook.com/dmsscotland/ if you want to read more of our words and attempt to figure us out on a more personal level