Interviews: Opensight

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metal band Opensight 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? Did you plan it, or did it just come out like that?

We went through a few names at the start, including one with the words “Dark” and “Side.” Over time, “Dark” became “Open” and “Side” became “Sight.” “Opensight” sounded good, and it also felt flexible. It did not lock us into one genre or one image. The name came before people talked about our film-music influence, so the link between “Opensight” and the visual, cinematic side of the band was mostly a coincidence, or maybe it was meant to be. We also like what the name can mean: clarity of vision, seeing beyond the normal, being open-minded, and even the idea of music creating hallucinations and vivid scenes in your head. Those ideas connect strongly with the themes on our new album, The Outfit, where “open sight” becomes a recurring metaphor.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We never sat down and said, “Let’s play this exact genre.” We just followed what we love. We grew up obsessed with heavy music, but we were equally obsessed with cult cinema, old film scores, grainy VHS-style visuals, and vintage video game music. For us, all of that belongs in the same world. So the sound became heavy and melodic because of the metal we grew up with, like Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Megadeth. But the atmosphere and the details come from elsewhere too, B-movies, genre films, Westerns, thrillers, and hardboiled ’70s action film soundtracks. That is why people hear “cinematic” in what we do.

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

We met through London’s metal scene. It was not childhood friends starting a band; it was more like a slow convergence. It felt like the connection had been there for longer than it actually had, like the chemistry existed before we officially formed the band.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

It changes all the time. We all listen to different things, and favourites can change depending on mood. As a band, we tend to connect over artists who take risks and have strong identities. Bands like Faith No More, Opeth, Devin Townsend and Iron Maiden. We also love composers like Ennio Morricone, Lalo Schifrin, John Barry, and Bernard Herrmann. And visually and thematically we’re drawn to Italian giallo, Euro-crime films, ’70s thrillers, Spaghetti Westerns, vintage horror, and even some old videogame ambience. That mix of heavy music and cinematic tension is a big part of Opensight.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

A lot of our first ideas come from outside rock music. Film music, grindhouse themes, old video game soundtracks, and certain moods and atmospheres. Then we translate that through the language we grew up with, hard rock and heavy metal, and it becomes an Opensight song. Ideas often arrive suddenly. Sometimes a melody or a section appears in a dream, and we try to capture it quickly before it disappears.

6. Where was your last gig?

One of our last big shows was Z! Live Festival in Spain. We played on a huge bill with bands like Dream Theatre, Vola and Meshuggah. A highlight was our drummer being invited onstage to join Sepultura during their tribal jam for “Kaiowas,” which was a real honour. Next, we’re heading to Taunus Fest in Germany, and we’re really looking forward to that.

7. Where would you like to play?

We want to keep building across Europe and keep visiting new places. After that, we’d love to take the band to North America and also to more countries in South America. And further down the line, places that are far from us, like Japan and Australia, would be incredible.

8. Who would you like to support?

We love bands with a strong world and a sense of theatre. Supporting Ghost would be a lot of fun. Supporting Iron Maiden would be a dream come true. We also love artists with a clear cinematic edge, like Goblin, Calibro 35 and Carpenter Brut.

9. Who not?

We’ve never really made a list of who we would not support. We can work with a lot of different lineups. Sometimes a bill just does not make sense for a particular band, and that is normal, but we do not spend much time thinking about it. We are pretty flexible and enjoy the challenge of earning that love and respect from the audience, even if it seems like they are not into our kind of music.

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

Feeling nervous before a show is normal, and it usually means you care and you want it to go well. It is part of the excitement, too. If you are prepared, know your parts, know your gear, and have your setup organised. Then you can enjoy the moment more. Once the first part of the set starts, the nerves often turn into energy.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

The bands that push boundaries and have a clear identity. For us, that includes Faith No More, Opeth, Devin Townsend, Cynic, Iron Maiden and so on. And beyond bands, film composers and soundtracks have been a huge influence on how we think about tension, melody, drama, and atmosphere, which is a big part of Opensight.

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

One time our singer got electrocuted on stage, bit his tongue hard, and ended up bleeding from the mouth. A drunk guy in the crowd thought it was stage blood and smeared some of it on his own face. That was definitely strange.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We feel very grateful. When someone connects with the music and responds emotionally, it feels like a very strong connection. And live shows make that even stronger, because it feels entrancing, like the audience and the band are in sync. 

14. What do you think of our site?

It looks like there are a lot of independent artists featured, which is great. It is evident that there is a genuine effort to spread the word about hard-working bands that really need to connect and grow their audience, and that’s what keeps music alive.

15. Something to add?

Stay tuned for our new album, The Outfit, out May 15 via the label Inertial Music. We are releasing the first single and video, “In Plain Sight”, on March 13, which will give you a good idea of what to expect! Get in touch via the usual social media channels, looking for Opensight, and go to our official site at opensightband.com

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