Interviews: By Devices

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Alternative Rock band, By Devices 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?

It basically came out of the world's reliance on devices. Everything we do these days is through some sort of technology even the music we make and create. It can’t be done, at least we don’t think it can without a device of some kind so even our music is “by devices”. We are the tools into which our devices plug so that we can share our art.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I think indie and rock music have always been a part of our makeup individually. We all love bands like the Maccabee’s, Bloc Party, The Pixies, but we found that in everything we did we had a slightly heavier edge, which to our drummer who spent his 90’s slamming his head around to Tool, Korn, Deftones, etc is a welcome side to our music.

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

Matt and Ced knew each other for a long time before the band as you see it today formed, then one by one along came Dave, Jimmy, and finally Rob. Like a moth to a flame and now there isn’t one of us that could see the lineup being any different. We’re like family now. Which makes for an interesting time.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Ced (singer): Manson or Rolling Stones

Matty (guitar): Pink Floyd

Rob (drums): depends what mood I’m in. I know that’s a really stupid answer but it really does. Right now I can’t stop listening to movie soundtracks, tomorrow it might be Led Zeppelin who knows. Next question.

Dave (bass): Pixies

Jimmy (guitar): Pixies

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

It’s normally some form of adversity that plants the seed of our writing. Things not going to plan, something that we believe to be wrong that needs a spotlight on it, someone mistreating someone else. Real happy subjects like that. The best thing to do is check out all our singles and see if you can figure out what inspired us at that moment.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was at the O2 Institute in Birmingham. We always love playing there and this was a quality night, everyone who turned up was really up for it and we all came off stage feeling pretty good for once. We usually come off thinking we could’ve played better, which is a scary thought really, maybe we’ve peaked…

7. Where would you like to play?

There’s a list as long as your arm of venues we’d still like to play in Birmingham. We’d love to mainstage the institute, we’ve played institute 2 and 3 and loved them both, along with the flapper and the vic. To get on at Mama Roux’s, The Mill, The Crossing, or back in The Sunflower Lounge would be awesome. Anywhere that will have us we’ll play. Or to be honest right now, just a good-sized festival next year would do us, it wouldn’t matter who we were on with. There’s so much amazing music out there, established and otherwise that it would just be amazing to get outdoors, on a big old stage in the middle of a field just have a great time and make memories. So if there are any festival organizers out there reading this… come find us.

8. Who would you like to support?

We are Scientists would be a good match for us I think, they have a similar banter with the crowd. The Foals would be awesome, Foo Fighters, we know these are obviously dreaming big, honestly, we’d jump on a support slot with anyone who’d have us, there are so many amazing bands out there at the minute it’s just whether they’d have us. If not we’ll just keep holding out for Jedward and The Backstreet Boys.

9. Who not?

The only thing we would say there is, not anyone who we didn’t fit musically with. We joke about Jedward support but obviously, musically it wouldn’t make sense for us to be supporting someone like that as our sound wouldn’t fit what the audience would expect. We had it supporting a band, who were doing pretty well for themselves back in the day and we were just completely the wrong booking for them, to the point where one kid in the front row was holding his hands over his ears while we played. Not something you want to see when playing. Said band shall remain nameless of course.

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

I wouldn’t say any of us have suffered from stage fright but there are always nerves if there weren’t then you’re not as invested in this as you think you are. You want to perform and play well and give your audience a great experience whether you’re playing to 10 people or 10,000 people. All we would say to anyone starting out is just go with it. Use the nerves and if you mess up just accept it and carry on, don’t try and hide it, most of the time your audience won’t even notice and if they do they probably care less than you do, they’ve come to see you and most of the time it’s because they’re into your music. We’ve all seen bands as big as the Foo Fighters and Metallica mess up so if they can do it you’re bound to do it so just roll with it. If it’s not scary it’s not worth doing.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

We all love The Cure, The Maccabees, Bloc Party, Pixies, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and loads, loads more. Some of which we get compared to on occasion when people are describing our sound which can only be humbling. Where the comparisons and influences that come through are more on a subconscious level for us though. We never set out to write a song that mirrors one of our musical idols but I think like most bands, what you’re listening to at any time always finds a way to bleed into what you’re doing.

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

Free tickets 😂😂. There haven’t been any weird requests so far from fans. We did however once get asked to tune the headline band's guitar, from a gig a while back because they were all too hammered to do it. Remember kids drinking in a band can be fun but when you can’t tune your own equipment it’s maybe time to put the bottle down.

13. What do you think of your fans?

If we’re honest we’re still building a fan base. There are some hardcore ones out there that have been around since the beginning before we started doing this seriously back in 2019 and they are incredible. Very loyal, very protective of us, and would see us on the biggest stages and we love them so much for their support. People who are just starting to get into us and are hopefully becoming fans, they’re pretty amazing too, always supporting the things we’re doing and helping us push forward, they too seem to be very loyal, it seems that we attract music fans, people who are into music on another level, not just fans of a band but who love music on all levels and we couldn’t be more grateful for them, it’s why we’re still recording singles 3 years on from our debut, it’s why we’re doing interviews like this and yeah, we may not having the biggest fan base and social media following but the ones we’ve got are amazing.

14. What do you think of our site?

The site is awesome. So much content for up-and-coming artists across so many genres. A really good platform and obviously now has an interview with us on there which we’re humbled to be a part of.

15. Something to add?

Only things we’ve got to add. If this goes out before the 7th of October then we have a new single coming out that very day called End of the line, which will be available over all streaming platforms. There’s a music video coming out the same day over on our YouTube channel. We’re headlining The Victoria in Birmingham for the first time ever on the 15th of October so if you’re around for that come and check us out. There’s rumors of our very first EP getting underway in the new year and next May will see us hit our very first festival, Breaking Bands Festival which we’re buzzing for. All info about the single, gig tickets, etc can be found right across our socials so go find us. Keep in touch with us at - https://www.facebook.com/mybydevices/