Interviews: Misophonia

This is a new interview with the Doom Metal band Misophonia from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the artist on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Misophonia was to be the title of an EP that was never released and Misophonia was born from that. Prior to Misophonia being the band they are now, Cristina and Jay were in a previous band together and that band was a sinking ship Jay was at a stage where he was hating the music he was writing and playing and was feeling very negatively towards the whole prospect of the previous band but did not want to admit it was over. Eventually, though he did. Misophonia is a neurological disorder where certain sounds trigger negative emotions and it goes hand in hand with Melophobia which is an actual fear of music and melody, this was exactly the headspace at the band's inception and Misophonia was born 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Jay: Why do we want to play this genre? That is a very difficult question. We haven't got a clue what genre we are or what to tag ourselves as. At our core, we are a metal band, but are we Melodic-doom-death, Melodic-death-doom, Melodic-doom, Doom? We think we might need some help with our genre Identification. Let's say we are Misophonic Melodic Metal (hahaha we just invented our own genre)

Cristina: I don't think I did to begin with, it's just something that's developed over time. 

Ken: I’ve always been into rock/ metal from 11 years old. So it has always been this genre for me. 

Neil: It’s the most challenging genre to play.

Jay: Serious answer now. We are influenced by so many bands and genres, we have a wide age spectrum in Misophonia. We have the classic old-school rock and Metal influences of our drummer Ken and our guitarist Neil. My musical tastes are all over the place, Industrial, EBM, Nu-metal, Classical, Easy Listening, Black, Doom and Death metal, Cristina is very much a Thrash and Classic metal fan but she also enjoys a bit of Power Metal. Justin is the youngest in the band and is more clued up on modern and current metal. We mix everything up and hope for the best and it seems to have worked...For now (lol)

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

Cristina and Jay were the only two members who knew each other and everyone else met online via musicians wanted groups. Ken could have joined the band in 2019 after our previous drummer left but at the time he didn't feel confident enough to commit Jay and Ken kept in contact and in 2020 Jay reached out again and this time convinced Ken to come on board it wasn't long after that we found Justin and the rest is history as they say.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Jay: My Dying Bride

Xtina: W.A.S.P 

Neil: Queen

Justin: Amon Amarth

Ken: Judas Priest

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jay: Musically I think the band just writes what comes naturally, so who knows. Some lyrics make sense, others not so much, some lyrics are personal but not Clichè, and others are more poems put to music with no clear content. 

Neil: Life, love & death 

Ken: Jay does all the writing so he puts ideas to riffs that get sent out and we all as a whole decide. Could be anything from finding random quotes. El Silencio was initially a quote Jay & I saw online and it just resonated so we built on that. We also write about ‘dark’ historical events. Jay can elaborate on that...

Jay: Search 'Tuam Babies' on google and you will find all the influence and information used to build our Primordial-influenced epic, a 9-minute long musical horror show 'The abandoned babes of Tuam' which will very much feature on our forthcoming album 

Justin: To escape the dread of everyday life 6. Where was your last gig? We recently played a gig in one of the bigger local Edinburgh venues ‘Bannermans’ on 30/05/22 playing alongside a few local bands. Big shout out to @Nocturne Wulf for offering us that show. If you like your metal hard and heavy with a major nod to 80’s Thrash metal then check them out they are awesome!

7. Where would you like to act?

We would love to play Resurrection Fest in Viverio, Spain. Jay & Cristina went there in 2017 when Ramstein and Sabaton were headliners and it would be such an awesome experience to play in Cristina’s homeland. Cristina is originally from Palafoils, just an hour on the train from Barcelona. Plus the festival is just awesome, an awesome collection of bands play every year, awesome beer, awesome atmosphere, it would just be an awesome festival to play.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Ken: Judas Priest 

Cristina: Sabaton, Angelus Apatrida 

Neil: My dog Molly, preferably on a beach with a bone and a cold beer! ** (Neil misunderstood the question and thought you were asking where would we like to act he thought the question was who would we like to act in a film with) 

Justin: Amon Amarth 

Jay: Too many to choose from but Rammstein, Sabaton, or Behemoth

9. Whom not? 

Cristina: I’d be happy to play with anyone just now 

Jay: Architects, I don't want to talk negatively about a British band who have made it pretty big but I saw them once (@Resurrection fest), and let’s just say I wasn’t a fan.

Ken: I have never thought about it

Neil: No churros** (We don't understand this answer he has not explained about why he doesn't want to play with churro’s) 

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

Ken: Stage Fright? No, never. Nerves yes, every time. Take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. 

Neil: Use your nerves to drive your performance and relax.

Cristina: No I've always loved performing, but deep breaths and knowing your set well will get you through. 

Jay: I am with Ken here stage fright never, nerves yes every time. I am a stress bomb before every show but as soon as I am on stage with my bandmates the nerves fade and the performance begins. That is the moment I live for. Tips for beginners let's see...Never, ever perform drunk. No matter how sober you think you are, do not use excessive alcohol consumption as a crutch for your nerves. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Ken: Black Sabbath, Bill Wards drumming style is amazing

Neil: My Dying Bride, Gary Numan, Satyricon, Arch Enemy, Envy of None, Megadeth, Metallica, Queen, AC/DC, Dark Tranquility, Motorhead, David Bowie, Trent Reznor, INXS, Van Halen to name a few 

Cristina: Type O Negative, Iron Maiden 

Jay: NIN, My Dying Bride, Behemoth, Korn & Deftones 

Justin: Amon Amarth, Knocked Loose, Bring me the Horizon

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

Ken: Never been asked for anything 

Neil: An autograph

Jay: Autographs and pictures, 11 years ago my old band were supporting KMFDM in Glasgow, the Crowd thought we were a bigger band, we were the opening local support for the show. Random people buying me a beer and wanting autographs and pictures. It was a very strange night.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Ken: We have fans? All joking aside if they are fans of us then I’m glad they enjoy what we are doing 

Neil: They are strange and come out at night so watch out. 

Jay: We have fans? Where? Come out, come out wherever you are!! We won’t bite unless you ask

14. What do you think of our site?

The site is amazing, it is very different from a lot of similar pages but in a good way. The website layout is amazing and the content is outstanding. We love the range of bands you support and give your time to. MisophoniA can't thank you enough for featuring us once but, wanting to feature us a second time is amazing and we appreciate the continued support!!

15. Something to add?

We want to do the cliché thing and shout out to our fans and friends and just want to say thank you for caring. A massive shout-out goes to our record label @Sliptrick Records thank you for believing in us and taking us ‘Under your wings and into your arms’ (yes it is a My Dying Bride lyric so what). Thank you to our amazing video production crew @comharramusic. Thank you for making all this possible. Thank you to everyone @Breathing the core and for anyone reading please please please give us a like and a follow on the usual platforms, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, and Bandcamp just search for @Misophoniauk and you should find us