Interviews: Chapter Nineteen

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Post-Hardcore band, Chapter Nineteen 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?

Hi Breathing the Core, thank you for having me! Our name is a nod to Stephen King - my favourite author. The number 19 is a big deal in King’s stories, and tied in nicely with our debut single - Stephen - which was about the man himself. I should point out, though, that we’re not a Stephen King-themed band. It aligned nicely with our first release, and now we just like it as a name. Although I will gladly talk about Sai King to anyone who wants to!

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Mainly because it’s the sort of music played by a bunch of my favourite bands. I really like writing big, heavy riffs, but also enjoy thinking about songcraft, adding interesting overdubs, and trying to push myself vocally. Basically, I like stuff that is heavy and thoughtful, and post-hardcore generally tends to do that.

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

Yes! We first worked together back in 2014. At that point, I was a member of Crimson Star - a hard rock band from Birmingham who recorded their second EP with Chris, who now drums in Chapter Nineteen. Chris and I struck up a friendship during those sessions and kept in touch after I left Crimson Star to form WAVE. When WAVE was ready to record its debut EP, we did it with Chris, and did it again for their second release. Officially, Chapter Nineteen formed in 2019 - and it came about pretty naturally. Originally, I had started working with Chris to record these songs for WAVE, which was also a two piece. Chris was going to produce them, as he had done their first two EPs. However, after tracking all the guitars and bass for the songs WAVE disbanded, and I had a drummer-filled gap - and studio time booked to record those drum parts! Luckily, Chris was a drummer before he was a producer and by this point, having spent months recording these songs whenever we both had a spare moment, he was more than familiar with the material. Chris stepped in to record the drums, laid down what quickly became the definitive drum parts for those songs and the rest, as they say, was history.

4. Each band member favourite band?

The bands we’re both big fans of are Black Peaks, Biffy Clyro, Palm Reader, Manchester Orchestra, Jamie Lenman, and Nirvana. Dave is also very much into The Chariot, ‘68, Every Time I Die, and Code Orange - and their influences definitely sneak through into the songs on this EP. Chris is a massive fan of Rush, as well as lots of pop-punk, mid-noughts emo, and 80s synth-pop stuff too.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

My main inspiration, lyrically, is just storytelling. The EP is, effectively, a concept release. It tells the story of a band who tried their very best to make it but who, despite having great potential and doing everything that was asked of them, failed to break out. It’s a story very much based on my own experiences with my previous project, where people wrote off how seriously we took our music because we liked to have fun on stage, or didn’t appreciate what we did live because we didn’t have a bassist. Ultimately, it’s a story about how being different - which is something every band likes to think it is and what you’re always advised to aim for - doesn’t always go well.

6. Where was your last gig?

I would love to be able to tell you what our live show is like, but thanks to the pandemic we’ve not had a chance to find out for ourselves yet! We were set to play our first show - opening for Haggard Cat - back in March of 2020. But, you know, March 2020 was not a good time to have a gig booked! Fingers crossed we won’t have to wait too much longer to get on stage. That being said, Chris toured the UK and Europe extensively with The Morning Of and Mae when he was part of Kyoto Drive, while I have played all over the Midlands with his WAVE and Crimson Star before that. I also hosted the podcast Dave’s World from 2016-2018, a show that championed the West Midlands’ heavy music scene every week.

7. Where would you like to play?

Right now, pretty much anywhere!

8. Who would you like to support?

It would be fantastic to play with Black Peaks, or Palm Reader - they’re both bands we hugely admire and I think there’s enough in our sound for their fans to like us too. Also, the first single from our upcoming EP features a guest bass solo from Josh Redrup of Palm Reader, so if we played together he could come and do that on stage with us! 9. Who not? Any band that is racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise abhorrent.

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

Not really. I think the fact that you are brave enough to form a band, write some songs and step on that stage is more than most other people would dare to do. Just have belief in yourself and try to enjoy it!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For me, it’s the bands I’ve already mentioned; Palm Reader, Black Peaks, Nirvana, Every Time I Die, The Chariot, and ‘68 - as well as Metallica and Slipknot, who I’ve loved for years.

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

In my previous bands people have asked me to sign our CDs, which was always odd - I’m literally a nobody, but it was very flattering at the same time!

13. What do you think of your fans?

They are wonderful human beings and I think very highly of them. They showed that in March last year when we organised a charity compilation to raise money for the Birmingham-based promoters Surprise You’re Dead Music to help them when the pandemic kicked off - thanks to the support of our fans - and those of the other bands involved - we were able to raise £125.

14. What do you think of our site?

It looks great! And it’s fantastic that you’re out there supporting the scene and giving new bands like ourselves a chance to get some publicity - thank you!

15. Something to add?

Only to say that our debut EP - A Story Well Told - is out on Friday 23 April and I’d be very grateful if your readers checked it out. Before that, there’s a single dropping on 12 February - it’s called How Is There Hope, has loads of cool riffs and a guest bass solo from Josh Redrup of Palm Reader - we’re very excited about it!