Interviews: Held In Secret

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metalcore/Djent band Held In Secret, from Canada. 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?

I decided on Held In Secret after pondering a few names for months. we settled on this one because it's the perfect antonym to what our goal is. See, the goal of this band is to spread its message to anyone who needs it. and Held In Secret describes the opposite because, we should never keep our emotions secret, and holding them all to ourselves can be a weight too heavy for a lot of people. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Djent is a genre where we can merge and fuse aspects from other genres together and where we can be free to create musically as we want. there's room for heavy, for sad, for the epic and for slower. it's really where I feel at home musically. 

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

I had been in 2 bands with David Lamothe, our lead guitarist. and for years we wanted to create an image of compassion, respect, and grandeur. A brand that was more than just a product and a movement whose goal is to help everyone feel better. It took some time, but here we are!

4. Each band member favorite band?

My favorite band is Silent Planet, they're just amazing. Garrett, their vocalist is a big inspiration for me. His concept albums are nothing short of phenomenal! 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I write songs like I write a grocery list, I know the song needs to talk about this and that. I just don't know how I'll make it sound yet. what's incredibly interesting in that way of writing a song is that you can just LEGO your way through, if you find yourself to be more proficient at writing choruses, start with the chorus, if you're more of a breakdown guy, maybe write one or two before doing anything else, that way you can patch holes later on. 

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was in Hamilton at Doors Pub on February 2nd, 2020.

7. Where would you like to act?

I would personally love to act in California. it's a dream for anyone in the industry but my end goal is to move there. I'm always cold and I love palm trees so, perfect.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We would love to have Sam Carter from Architects on one of our songs. He's an incredible vocalist and his range exceeds anything I could ever do, I'd have a lot of fun making him sing an epic chorus!

9. Whom not?

Trapt, their unrespectfulness towards way bigger artists than themselves astonishes me. And I'd never feed someone's delusion of grandeur like that. Sorry Trapt and Trapt fans, not gonna happen.

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

When I first started doing music, I wouldn't be able to go on stage without throwing up immediately before going up. Eventually, it subsided, but I still get stomach aches from the anxiety of performing. However, I've found that Marijuana, in moderate doses and potency, can be a lifesaver in those situations. Although it doesn't work for everyone, and I, myself wouldn't advise anyone underage to take drugs, but if you're over 21 (or 19 in Ontario) and you find yourself overcome by the anxiety of performing, then maybe-probably, CBD would help you a lot. THC, on the other hand, has a very controversial reputation, but in moderate doses, and when your brain has reached its adult state, it's arguably less toxic to your system than a tall can of PBR. + bonus it makes me funnier, which helps for between-song banter.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

My first music love was Green Day with their concept album "American Idiot". This heartfelt story of the poor, trailer park kid from Jingletown, fighting his way through stigma and drug addiction to finally stick his middle finger in the air and leave his home resonated with me when it first came out in 2004. I was 5 years old when my dad took me to Best Buy to spend my allowance from my grandparents. I had never spent any of my own money at that point, and when I laid my eyes on the cover I took it in my tiny hands and my heart was set on it. I then went home, listened to it probably 100 000 times, and had memorized every lyric by age 7

Our computer at home was incredibly slow, and dial-up internet was a thing

( remember the beeping? ) So we couldn't watch YouTube until like 2008. The computer was however fast enough to let me download music from Limewire. and so I went on to download their entire discography (while also probably assassinating my family's computer) and learned the whole thing! Honorable mentions would also go to Silent Planet, Mom Jeans, Modern Baseball, Linkin Park, Motionless In White, A Day To Remember, and anyone who's message is letting people know they're not alone, whether in mental illness, or poverty, or abusive relationships.

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

Many fans ask me just to talk to them, which isn't weird or anything, but some of them talk to me like I'm their therapist, and I try my best to listen to their problems, give them advice and guide them in the right direction.

13. What do you think of your fans?

I think my fans are great, I think they're worthy of love, I think that about every single person on this planet, really, but my fans are just people who decided to invest their limited time on this earth supporting us, and it doesn't matter if that's a minute, an hour, a full day, or a full week of your time. Any amount of time you spend either listening to our music, or reading our interviews, or sharing our posts is a message to us to continue, and I'm in complete awe every single time one of them takes the time to message us or comment to let us know they like what we do.

WE DO THIS FOR YOU.

WE NEED TO DO THIS.

IT'S MY PURPOSE ON EARTH TO MEET AND LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU.

I LOVE YOU

14. What do you think of our site?

Your site, among very very few others, is a site that gives smaller artists like us a chance to share our thoughts about the world. And we couldn't imagine our climb to the top without you. Thank you so much for doing this and giving us a chance to be on your wonderful site! I hope all you new readers enjoyed this and will give our Facebook page a Like, it's where we like to entertain the masses nowadays :)

15. Something to add?

I'd like to add one more thing if you're reading this while in an abusive or toxic living situation or relationship. Or if you've recently had suicidal thoughts. Or if you've started spiraling down a new drug recently and it's kinda been consuming you a little bit more than you've been consuming it. Or if you're dealing with the pain of a lost parent or family member or friend. There is always a hand out there ready to help you get out of that hole, there are sacrifices to leaving the comfort of your hole, but there is satisfaction, glory, and success on the outside of it. You are capable, you are worthy, you are beautiful. And I love you. Thank you for reading until the end.