Interviews: Borehead

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Instrumental Doom Metal band Borehead 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 plan it or come out just like that? 

Mike: The name came from our original drummer, Ian. I'm not sure where he dreamed it up from, but it felt right. All band names pretty much suck, so it doesn't really matter what you're called, so long as you're not confused with anyone else. 

Stuart: I think Ian’s inspiration might have come from his girlfriend’s opinion that our music was slow and boring.

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

Rich: For me, it’s the vibe, you can branch off in several directions; get heavier, or get more progressive. Of course, it’s also super fun to just get really loud too.

S: Being an instrumental band means an extra level of challenge for me. Which I love. It means you have to fill the space that a vocalist would normally fill. It forces you to be creative with how you fill that space and maintain interest within a track to fill that gap.

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

M: No. it started with me jamming with Ian (original drummer) when my previous band disbanded. We soon had a few song ideas, so we wanted to get a bass player on board. We found Stu and instantly clicked - it was like we'd been playing together forever. We knew Richard from playing with his previous band, The Red Widows, so when Ian left, we gave him a call and the rest is history.

S: I was in another band that had been together for a while, but at rehearsal one week the other members announced that they were both going on holiday, and it would mean no jamming for 6 weeks. I immediately started looking for something to do in the meantime and came across an advert from Mike online. I think it was for a guitarist for his previous band (the same role I had in my other band). Mike responded by saying that he and Ian needed a bassist and to quote Mike “The rest is history”.

4. Each band member's favorite band? 

M: It changes on any given day, but today let's say it's The Beatles

R: I’ll probably go with Queens of the Stone Age; the first 3 albums are my drumming bibles and I love how they warp their songs live.

S: This is impossible for me to answer with just one band. I would have to say the top three are Grateful Dead, Rush, and The Prodigy. A bonus “guilty” pleasure must be Toto.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

M: Inspiration is a fickle beast. Her wants remain unknown to me, so I just try to show gratitude when she occasionally reveals herself. Also, weed.

R: For me, it’s to escape the everyday monotony of life and the pursuit of coming up with something better than the last song. 

S: Generally, the thing that inspires me to do anything creative is to express my opinions about society and attempt to highlight its merits and its flaws. Although often in an obscure way.

6. Where was your last gig? 

M: Desertfest London

S: and before that Doom by the Sea at Daltons in Brighton. An amazing event.

7. Where would you like to act? 

M: I've never played a show outside of the UK, so anywhere beyond these borders would be great. 

R: Yeah I’d love to go to Ireland and play, also mainland Europe, Belgium, Germany, etc.

S: I just want to play, wherever that may be, but like Mike, I’ve never played outside of the UK, so taking shows outside of the UK would be awesome.

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

M: Would love to be on the road with Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs. Love what they're doing, and they seem like chill dudes. 

R: I’d go with Amenra. The live show they put on is always intense i, I think it would be a great learning experience too.

S: My dream is to be on a three-band bill with Yob and Ufomamut.

9. Whom not? 

M: William Sitwell. The show would be confusing at best. 

S: Haha, I’d be happy to share the stage with anyone, but I guess playing a show with Taylor Swift might not work well for either set of fans.

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

R: I’m lucky as I lost my stage fright after my first gig at high school. I’ll never be as nervous as playing to 100 students performing a song I’d never heard before. As for tips, I’d say go to random jam nights with nothing in mind of what you’re playing, it makes you adapt and be prepared for anything.

S: I don’t think I’ve ever suffered from stage fright when playing music. Decent people know that there is a learning curve and won't judge you for making a mistake. Anyone who does isn’t your target audience. You just have to remember that you will make mistakes, but 99% of the time people won’t notice. There will be times when things go wrong, but if you are well-practiced, you’ll recover well and it will add to your performance.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

R: For me Kyuss, Tool, Mastodon, and Sleep.

S: In terms of writing music with Borehead, my biggest inspirations are Yob, Mastodon, and Monolord. I don’t think we sound anything like any of them. It's more about being inspired by their ideas.

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

M: Do you have us confused with someone else?

R: I get asked for broken drumsticks now and then, It's not weird but always cool when people ask us to sign something too.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

R: We seem to be building a really good base, people that travel from a long way to see us and buy merch. That and support from overseas is always humbling.

S: Just having a fan that reaches out to you, however, that might be, is humbling. As Richard says we have some fans that have traveled quite a distance to see us live, through train strikes and such, and it really is amazing. My two favorites are Ashley and Robin. Their support is the highlight of my music “career”.

14. What do you think of our site?

M: Great! The championing of underground music is vital, so we wholeheartedly approve of the work you're doing. 

S: Independent underground music media outlets are vital to the survival of non-mainstream music, so I love it!

15. Something to add?

M: Scenes live and die by shows in small venues and bars. Go to gigs. Support your local riff dealer.

S: Small to medium-sized bands struggle to break even in today’s world. If you love a band’s music, please (when you can afford to). Go to their shows and buy their music/merch to help keep them going. The support of fans is vital to sustaining this. It doesn’t have to be via money. Sharing a band’s music with others is even more valuable!