Interviews: The Heir Apparition

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Rock band The Heir Apparition from the UK. Check out this band and follow them on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

Reece: It's actually the name of our overall concept! We originally had written our first album to be a concept album and planned to follow it up with a second part where it would end, but as things progressed, we decided we wanted to continue telling stories in that world. At that point, it felt appropriate to adopt the name as the band name; we used to have a different one.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Reece: We're all big fans of storytelling in music, and we're all of an age where early 2000s rock played a massive role in our development as musicians. It was very natural that we would end up here, even if it can feel a little dated at times. We just play what we want to hear; it's very fun.

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

Reece: I have known our bassist, Jake, since college, which goes back like 17 years or something, but we somehow never ended up in any projects together over the years. When we found ourselves in need, he was the first name on the list, and thankfully, he was really into the idea. Adam and Chris (guitar and drummer) are more recent; we met both of those guys over the last year or so through various means. We had a period of time where we had a stand-in drummer for a few shows until we found a permanent one, and Chris caught us at one of those shows and offered up his services. Adam came highly recommended from a friend we have in a band called Breather, and his immediate enthusiasm for the project was very encouraging. For the most part, we're all quite new to each other, but we've definitely bonded over the last year or so of playing together. It's been great.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Reece: I discovered Coheed and Cambria when I was around 14, and they've been my favourites ever since. I think anyone who's ever met me or listened to our music would be able to pick that out, haha.

Chris: Sleep Token for me, there's something about that band that just hits home. 

Adam: I actually don't have one, haha, or at least not just one.

Jake: Rise Against.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Reece: My biggest inspirations as a songwriter come from big ideas. I adore concept albums; I will seek out and devour as many as I can. I just love narrative songwriting, and I've always wanted to do it.

6. Where was your last gig?

Reece: We actually just played our first show in a while in our hometown of Manchester, England. It was a tribute night we organised for a friend of ours who sadly passed away last November. We wanted to use the opportunity to pay tribute to him, but also raise some money for charity in the process. It was a really cool night, we ended up raising a lot of money, and the show ended up selling out about halfway through the night.

7. Where would you like to play?

I think it would be really cool to play Red Rocks. I don't know that we'll ever reach the level where that could ever happen, but that's the dream, haha.

8. Who would you like to support?

The obvious answer is Coheed, so let's get that out of the way up front. But yeah, it would be very cool to play a show with someone like them or The Dear Hunter, for sure. We've got some campaigning to do, haha.

9. Who not?

Anyone who's a dick.

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

We all suffered from it when we were younger, but I think we're past it. There's always a slight amount of nerves before any show where you know there's a lot of people, but it usually dissipates within a song or two. If I had to give advice to someone who was about to start performing for the first time, it'd be to find the guy who seems to be having the most fun and focus on them. Look for the face in the crowd that's really enjoying themselves and perform to them, you can't lose that way.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Reece: Obviously, Coheed are at the forefront of that; they have played a big role in my own musical DNA. The Dear Hunter also has played a large part in it, they're absolute masters of world-building in their songs.

Adam: Linkin Park and My Chemical Romance are the bands that convinced me to pick up a guitar and start playing. Frank Iero was exactly what I wanted to be as a guitarist! AFI also inspired me, with their complex lyrics and melodies, coupled with their knack for reinvention, absolutely captivated me.

Chris: When I was younger, I was really into Green Day. Dookie and American Idiot both got me super into drumming. Alter Bridge is also a big one.

Jake: I agree with the guys on Green Day and Linkin Park; they were in heavy rotation for sure. I never got tired of it. Rise Against are definitely my biggest influence as a bassist, though the energy and passion in RPM and Siren Songs have fed my soul for well over a decade now.

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

I don't think we've ever been asked for anything too strange, luckily. We'll know we've really made it when someone does, haha.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love them; they've been so patient and supportive. We've been through a lot of change over the past year, along with asking quite a lot of them in terms of buying into this story we've built. Without them, our first album wouldn't have been made, full stop.

14. What do you think of our site?

It's cool! We love independent media covering smaller underground bands; it's awesome to see a platform like this.

15. Something to add?

Go listen to our new single, THE OTHERS, on the 13th of March!

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