Interviews: Friday Night Lights

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Post-Hardcore/Punk Rock band Friday Night Lights 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?

We're named after the American football film Friday Night Lights, when we started the band Rik had recently seen it and I loved that film, it's really emotional and the soundtrack by Explosions in the sky adds so much, it gave the feeling we wanted to go for as a band.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We all love punk and the old school Post-Hardcore stuff is a really true extension of that that gives us all room to do the stuff we like to do, it's still got loads of energy but loads of emotion and passion as well.

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

Liam and Rik knew each other, and Rik and Sean had known each other for years and played in bands together, James our bass player had played with us at gigs with his previous band This Party Sucks so when we were looking we knew he was solid.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Liam - Dinosaur Pile-Up (LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS)

Sean - The Ataris (appreciate that they aren't quite the same anymore 😢)

Rik – Texas is the Reason (so much we stole it as a song name)

James - Gree Day (think he means green day)

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Rik (Lead singer): Whenever I come across something cool I hear or read and think it might be a good line or song name I write it in my notepad, then when I have something happen in my life or idea for a song will come to me. I usually go back to the notebook and find some connection to things I have written down in there. Songs always have been about things in my life past or present though. Liam - In terms of lyrics, I know lately I’ve been pulling from nostalgia a lot, like looking back on stuff, usually, I try to start with a vague feeling and then find a few more specific experiences to put in with that. We thought about writing songs about eating juicy fruits in the summer and being gangsters on the street but it really didn't work for us.

6. Where was your last gig?

It should have been Coyote Ugly in Liverpool but there was a whole mess up with P.A equipment so instead our last one was in Fontaine palace, in Liepaja, Latvia. real cool place with great food and they look after you like kings!

7. Where would you like to play?

We've played a few countries we wanted to go to but Germany is still on the list, we all know people there and we hear about how good the music scene is over there. One of our friends who had to leave Ukraine is currently there and we owe him a lot so it'd be great to be able to go play for him and check he's doing ok

8. Who would you like to support?

I think the dream for Rik and Sean would definitely be Anberlin or Texas is the Reason, we saw them on their reunion tour which was great, they are a bit of an influence as anyone who's listened to our last E.P might guess

9. Who not?

I think we've just not got enough notoriety ATM, we don't turn out music super regularly and it's only in the last few years that I think we've really started to pick up momentum with people hearing of us.

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

I remember my first ever practice with a band in high school as a singer, I didn't sing at all for the first 2 weeks of practice because I was too scared, but I knew I wanted to sing so I kept going and willing myself, the more you do it the more relaxed you become during it, start at small stuff and just build your confidence, also remember it's ok to make mistakes, the best thing you can do is make them with confidence!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Wow, a whole mess of bands, for me (Liam) lately it's been older 70/80's stuff like AC/DC or the Eagles,

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

In Ukraine we're asked to sign a few people's bodies in places, none really NSFW but it was getting close

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love anyone who is willing to give us the time of day haha, really anyone who comes out to gigs and enjoys what we do is completing a connection for us. We make music we'd like to hear so people who listen must feel the same as us, so it's like finding a family.

14. What do you think of our site?

It feels like one of the few places still championing heavy and alternative music that's not given over to just being mainstream or gone bust like most of the big competitors did, it's so good to still have stuff dedicated to the kind of music we like.

15. Something to add?

Our new single "Bridge to Engine Room" is our 14.10.22 on all platforms, we've got our last gig of the year in Blackpool at the Talbot on the 28th of October, if you are nearby dress up and come over, we'll be back in Liverpool January next year to right the wrong of the last canceled gig.