Interviews: Famous Strangers

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Metal band Famous Strangers from Canada. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? You planned it or came out like that?

The name Famous Strangers came out of a conversation about what it means to be seen but still feel like an outsider. It was not overthought or overly planned. It just came out naturally during a brainstorm, and it stuck. It captured something real about us — that push and pull between being recognized and still feeling disconnected. We’ve all been in bands before, but this time it felt different. The name felt like a reflection of the music and the energy behind it.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It was never really about choosing a genre. We’re all open to playing anything, and some days we do. One rehearsal might go from metal to blues to something completely unexpected. But the heavier side of what we do is where a lot of our roots are, and we keep that close. Most of us have been into heavy music since we were kids. For some, it started with Metallica and grew from there. The energy, the shows, the loudness, the aggression — it all hit at the right time, especially during those early years. Playing metal felt like the most natural way to express what we were going through. We didn’t chase the sound. We grew into it, and it has stayed with us ever since.

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

Yeah, we’ve all known each other for a long time. Braden and Beej go all the way back to high school. They’ve played in multiple bands together over the years. Jeff, Beej, and Braden were all part of the same local scene, crossing paths at shows, festivals, and shared projects. Amanda was always around, too, fronting her own bands and doing her thing. We’ve been in and out of each other’s musical worlds for the better part of 15 to 20 years. Whether it was playing the same bills or watching each other from the crowd, we’ve all been connected through the scene before this band ever existed. Famous Strangers came together naturally, but the relationships go way back.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Jeff: “I always come back to The Beatles and The Smalls. They’ve both had a massive influence on me. The Beatles are just timeless, and The Smalls are a Canadian gem. I also have a Judas Priest tattoo, so that says something.”

Beej: “Pink Floyd and The Beatles, hands down. Those bands helped shape the way I listen to and think about music.”

Braden: “The Melvins. There’s just something about that raw sound and weirdness that’s always hit right for me.”

Amanda: “It changes all the time, honestly. I usually say Pink Floyd and TOOL because they’ve been my go-tos for years. But lately I’ve been listening to a lot of blues and romantic soul stuff. Al Green, Eric Carmen, Otis Redding. All that deep, emotional music that hits you right in the chest.”

Honorable Mentions: Strapping Young Lad/Devin Townsend, In Flames, W.A.S.P., Soilwork, graveyard, all hail, the yeti, all that remains, unearth, Madball, Hazen Street, stuck Mojo, punchdrunk, Zimmer’s hole, Fear Factory, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, dozer, white lies, gunship, scorpions, BB King, The Who, Doobie Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Madonna, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Whitesnake, faith no more, Meshuggah, Chilliwack, Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, SNFU, Ramones, Bad Religion, Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth, Dire Straits. Ok, we will cap it at that, or we’ll be here all night.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Jeff: “For me, it’s simple. I just love creating music. My emotions and day-to-day life are constant sources of inspiration. If I’m happy, you’ll hear that in the riff. If I’m angry, you’ll hear that too. Every feeling I have ends up coming out through the guitar.”

Beej: “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Life dictates how you write and how you play. What you’re feeling that day completely affects the way it all comes out. It’s not something you plan, it just happens through the emotion.”

Braden: “I think that’s the heart of it for all of us. The mood of the day, the energy in the room, that all shapes what we create.”

Amanda: “For me, it’s also the local scene that raised us. I grew up watching bands like Quietus and Dead Jesus, and they lit that fire in me. Sure, the big names matter, but it was those local legends that built us and made us want to be better. Life is music, and music is a necessity. It moves through the world in a way that nothing else does.”

Jeff: “Every time we see a local show, especially when it’s some young band tearing it up on stage, that hits us hard. It fires us up. It reminds us why we do this in the first place.”

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last show was on May 10th at the Starlight Room in Edmonton, Alberta. We headlined the night, and it was an absolute blast. The energy from the crowd was unreal, and it felt like a milestone moment for us as a band. Big thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a memorable night. Woo-hoo!

7. For each band member, where would you like to perform?

Jeff: Brixton Academy in London or Red Rocks would be a dream come true. Those venues have such history and energy, and I’ve always imagined playing on those stages.

Beej: O2 Arena in England for sure. That’s a big one for me.

Braden: The Gorge. No question. That place is just breathtaking and built for massive sound.

Amanda: I was also gonna say Red Rocks, but honestly, I wanna go everywhere. I’d love to go back to India and China. I want to play every fucking town on the planet. Every stage, every crowd. Let’s go worldwide.

8. Who would you like to perform with?

We would be stoked to perform with Metallica or AC/DC, no doubt. Those are legends. A few of us would also love to hit the stage with Unleash the Archers and Battle Beast, friends of ours and total powerhouses. Grave Mass too. We are playing a few shows with them this summer, and it is going to rip. Oh, and DRI, that would be wild.

9. Who would you not like to play with?

Anybody with an attitude. That’s really it. Touring is like becoming a family for a short period of time, and when you’re stuck with someone who’s disrespectful or in it for the wrong reasons, it can kill the vibe. We want to share the stage with bands who are kind, supportive, and love what they do for the right reasons. We’re not here for ego or drama. Just music, connection, and good people.

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

Beej: Yeah, I've been performing since I was six years old, doing piano recitals. Playing in front of big crowds as a kid was pretty unnerving, but over time, you get used to it. It's like starting any new job — you're nervous at first, surrounded by people you don't know, but once you focus on what you're there to do, everything else falls into place.

Braden: A little tip that helps me is to find a place to hide offstage and watch the room fill up before we go on. That way, it’s not a shock when you suddenly walk out and realize how many people are staring back at you.

Amanda: I get stage fright every single time. The day before a show is full-on anxiety for me. It’s not a bad thing — it's just there. What helps is knowing we’re tight and we’ve practiced. As soon as my foot hits the stage, something changes. It all disappears. I throw that energy into the crowd. When that first note hits, it becomes something else entirely.

Jeff: I always get butterflies before a show, but it's more excitement than fear. It’s a good kind of tension. The second we start playing, all of that fades. You look around, connect with your bandmates, feel the crowd, and everything locks in. The nerves turn into momentum.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Our influences are pretty diverse.

Jeff: It has always been guitar-focused players and bands like Steve Vai, Jimi Hendrix, Judas Priest, Devin Townsend, and a lot of Swedish metal. He has a deep love for power metal and eighties metal. Amanda draws inspiration from vocalists and artists like Chris Cornell, Dax Riggs, Nightwish, Hailstorm, Lacuna Coil, and Spiritbox.

Beej: New York hardcore

Braden: Better add Burton C Bell to the list.

Jeff: also a fan of White Lies and that emotionally layered synth-driven sound. The inspiration really comes from all over. Whether it is classic metal, modern rock, hardcore, or synth pop, if it hits hard or hits deep, we pull from it.

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

Amanda: I don’t think it was exactly a request, but back when I was in Into Eternity, a fan once looked me dead in the eye and said, "I will follow you to the depths of hell and back." It was intense but definitely flattering.

Jeff: I’ve had people ask me to sign them in weird places so they could get it tattooed. That’s always a strange moment, but you go with it. I’ve signed a few chests, some questionable body parts, and yeah, it gets wild out there.

Amanda: A couple shows ago I got asked to sign someone’s tit, and I did it. No hesitation.

Braden: Give us enough time and the right vibe, and yeah, we’ll probably end up signing genitals. It’s part of the job. 13. What do you think of your fans? We think the world of our fans. They are the reason we get to do what we do. Without them, none of this would happen. They show up, support us, share our music, and keep the fire alive. We don’t see them as just fans. They are friends, they are family, and in a lot of ways, they’re our biggest inspiration.

Amanda: Fans are the reason I even write lyrics. They give me purpose and motivation. They’re the reason I keep showing up, even on the hard days.

Beej: Fans are wicked, deadly, and awesome. I’ve got one number one fan, and he’s behind me at all times. Not sure what his RPM is, but he’s always there. 

Amanda: Fans are friends. Not food. Unless you're a fish. But really, they are the heart of all this. Without them, there is no stage, no tour, no reason to keep going.

Jeff: We owe it all to them. They’re not just watching from the crowd — they’re in it with us.

14. What do you think of our site?

We really dig it. First off, the layout is super colorful and eye-catching, which makes sense considering how much band artwork is featured. It feels like a celebration of music and visual art in one place. There’s a ton of detail on each band, too, which we really appreciate. It’s not just a surface-level feature — it feels like you actually care about the artists and take time to dig into what makes them unique. The genre section is solid. It helps break things down in a way that makes it easier for people to explore and discover new bands, even within the subgenres they already like. That kind of organization is rare and super useful. A few of us are newer to the site, but first impressions are strong. It’s easy to navigate, well-organized, and honestly just a great place to dive into music you might not find anywhere else.

15. Anything to add?

Thank you so much for letting us do this interview and for giving us the chance to share our story. We're a relatively new band, and every bit of support goes a long way. It means the world when people like you help shine a light on what we’re doing. We appreciate you taking the time to hear us out, and we can’t wait to meet more of you out on the road. See you in the pit.