Interviews: Jumpscare

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Melodic Death Metal band Jumpscare from Italy. 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?

First of All, before answering the questions, I just want to thank you for featuring us on your webzine. About the name.. the idea of Jumpscare came during one of the first rehearsal from my brother and bassist Salvatore. We really wanted to have a name that has impact on the listener and has also a double meaning. Jumpscare was perfect for that! We realized how this cinematographic technique had an impact on people, those who were affected by the "Jumpscare" after the strong initial impact they remained more focused on the succession of events, remaining more concentrated and in most cases also more interested in digging deep into the what is going on. This comparison between films and Music was perfect since we wanna do something that has impact but at the same time more deep and melodic. Of course the themes that we are going to convey are not horror related, but we wanna tell them in a “horrorific” way , if you know what I mean. We speak and sing about so many thing and we having an editorial line that projects itself on scenarios that however make the meaning of what we want to convey in a more creepy and obscure way. I want to point out this because in the past people, reading only the bandcname, thought that we were only dealing with horror stufff ... in reality the meaning of this is much deeper, we try to build our own “Jumpscare” by taking the “philosofical” meaning of it. Before ending this question I wanna just reveal some “behind the scene” near the band name : Our old frontman was late for the session and we decided to make him scared... it was a really mess but we had fun... what a great memory !

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We always loved heavy metal in all forms possible, we decided with our debut album to play melodic death metal combined with a lot of core (metalcore and deathcore) influences since we try to focus ourselves to the point in common that we have between each other, we are five open minded people that really listen to everything we wanted to do something aggressive but melodic at the same time, so it came really natural to play in this way ! 

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

Yes! I (Graziano, the drummer ndr), my brother Salvatore and the guitarist Vic know them since forever, I really played with them for the most part of my life. We met Andrea and Kirion in the underground shows our local scene. Basically we met each other in the moshpit, and I believe that this is insane ! Speaking about Kirion he was in the first metalcore of Napoli... we know him since he’s always got a powerful voice and we are really glad to have him in the band.

4. Each band member favorite band?

Ahhh taught question! We try to name 5/6 band that really influenced us a lot individually! For me, Graziano: In Flames, Rhapsody, Lacuna Coil, Motörhead, Sepultura, Soulfly Slayer and The Misfits Salvatore : Iron Maiden, Bullet For My Valentine, Rush, Pearl Jam, In Flames Vic: Trivium, Angra, Megadeth, Rhapsody,In Flames, As I lay Dying Andrea: Death, Opeth, Dream Theater, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity Kirion: Chelsea Grin, I prevail, Lorna Shore, As I Lay Dying, Make Them Suffer

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Basically, everyone of us is part of the composition, it’s a team work! Everything around us is an inspiration for making music. I think that what drives us the most is the passion for the music and also our will to embody a positive and revenge message. We always want to write something deep, sincere and truthful. We are obviously influenced by everything around us and by life we live life. We also try to take inspiration from our literature, as Italy is full of it and very often it is full of meanings. It also depends on the mood in which we are during the composition, for us, it is a moment on the edge of the sacred.

6. Where was your last gig?

We have been supposed to play in support of the legendary band Venom Inc. through Italy but due Coronavirus outbreak everything was postponed. Our last gig was in Cassino near Rome at 500 Caffè Club, a really cool venue, with a lot of people attending our show. It was really insane!

7. Where would you like to act?

Our dream is to travel around the world and plays everywhere we can !!!! I think that for us playing at Wacken Open Air in Germany is one of our dreams that we have in our childhood... but also Be a support act of one of our heroes will be something that is really a dream come true!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Whoa! A great question! I will answer saying that a tour with In Flames and Dark Tranquillity is something really special and great! But also sharing stage with bands that we like it would be great !!! I think that meet as artist people that really changed our like is something that we would like very much!

9. Whom not?

I do not know ahah Maybe we do not like to feature with some garbage pop artists !? I do not know really hahah  We are more focused with one we like and respect, we do not want any bad blood with anyone so my answer will be that I like to be featured with real artists and I do not like be featured with fake ones, and you can really know how is a true artist really passionate about the art and who is not !

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

I think having that tight in the chest before playing is one of the most beautiful sensations, together with the adrenaline rush you have on stage. None of us has ever suffered from stage fright, what we can suggest to younger groups is to go to hyper prepared lives: get to know the pieces, build an impact show and take care of the warm-up before the show ... obviously we are not of the "piece of ice" even in the biggest live shows we had, we had small anxieties ... the trick is to split, have fun and beat it if the place is full or not ... play as if you were every time Wacken! You will see that it will always be fine !!!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Speaking for the metal influences : As a band we took inspiration from Swedish melodeath ( In Flames, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, At The Gates), modern metal bands and metalcore/deathcore(Trivium, KSE, Parkway Drive, Darkest Hour,Make Them Suffer, Winds Of Plague, As I Lay Dying) but also big Italian heavy metal acts such as Lacuna Coil, Fleshgod Apocalypse and Rhapsody We also took inspiration from Opera, Symphonic and melodic classical music too. As I said we have really a ton of influences!

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

Basically, we have not creepy fans, so I can tell you some “funny things”. The most important one are the memes that our fans Vlash and Rudi make to Andrea, thanks to his similarity with Jesus Christ. They really make funny memes and we really love how they can make us laugh every time. Andrea it’s not the only victims of those memes but his are the most funnier that they make! Ahah thanks dudes, you make our day... everyday 😂

13. What do you think of your fans?

They are the best. They are fantastic people, they care about everything we post, they are curious and loyal . It is great to be able to hear them express their emotions through our music. Reading that they are well netted thanks to what we compose it’s priceless, beautiful and unexpected. Be able to connect with people that is helped and emotioned by your own music it’s something magic. We are never thankful to them enough, if we can live our dreams it’s thanks to them.

14. What do you think of our site?

Your site is really well made, you give space to a lot of artists from all over the world and basically, I really like how you guys are doing things. One of the most things that I like is the compilation dedicated to Austrialian Fires. What an amazing initiative we will be part of it for sure!

15. Something add?

Yes! As I said at the beginning of this interview we are really thankful for your support and feature on your website, you are doing really great things for the underground music and I hope that you can grow up better and better day by day. We really appreciate this interview and we hope to meet you guys soon. You gained more followers and I will support anything you would do in the future!

Thanks for this interview. For the people that want to connect with us feel free to reach out at the social media links below : 

http://Facebook.com/jumpscare.band http://instagram.com/jumpscare_band_official http://jumpscareband.bandcamp.com/ http://youtube.com/JumpscareBandOfficial