Interviews: BlackMarket

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metalcore/Nu-Metal band BlackMarket 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?

When our new lead singer, Fraser, and our synth master Cary joined around 8 years ago, we took on a new sound and felt we needed a change. Like a lot of bands, I’m sure, we toyed around with a lot of names. But we wanted something that reflected our mixed taste in music and unique sound. BlackMarket made us think of a place where anything goes and where you can find something you didn’t know you were looking for.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Although we all have a very wide taste in music, Metal is our biggest shared passion. It was less of a conscious choice but rather an evolution in our music. Naturally, when we played live, our heavy sounds and energy came out a lot more than when we were in the studio. Once we learned to recreate this in the studio, our music began to take on a much heavier feel.

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

Our lead guitarist, Danny, Bassist Scott, and Drummer Hadleigh have played in a band since school days. Danny's younger brother Cary joined the band around eight years ago, and later our lead singer Fraser joined. Cary and Fraser worked together at leisure and invited him along for practice after finding an embarrassingly old video of him singing on Facebook. 

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Fraser Singer: Stray from the Path, Danny 

Guitar: A Day to Remember

Cary Synth: Bring Me the Horizon

Scott Bass: Alter Bridge

Hadleigh Drums: Knocked Loose

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Fraser: I’ve written songs for as long as I can remember. From being a toddler with my first electric guitar in front of the mirror, through school, writing in the back of my workbooks instead of paying attention. The feeling you get when someone headbangs to your music, or better yet, can finish your words in the crowd, is incomparable. All I want to do is keep doing that and keep sharing it with people.

6. Where was your last gig?

The last show we had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Seething Akira. Really awesome group of guys and make some awesome music! We played at a bar called The SixSix in Cambridge. Great venue with some really awesome staff. One of the few places as a grassroots band where we felt valued and looked after. Being the smaller band on the bill, we had the pleasure of opening the night, but we quickly got people going and warmed up for the show. Our next show, we can’t wait for. On the 27th of March 2026, we will be returning to a favourite of ours, Trinity in Harrow.

7. Where would you like to play?

Our biggest dream is the Download Festival. To play to a large festival crowd would be incredible. We’ve seen so many times what we can do with a packed room, and we want to see what we can do with a packed-out field. And nothing beats British festival season!

8. Who would you like to support?

Enter Shikari would be a great one for us. They were such a big inspiration to us when we started writing together as a group. They are probably the band we’ve seen together live the most. They have such amazing energy on stage and in our mind were true pioneers in blending together metal vocals and drum and bass music.

9. Who not?

Now that’s a hard one to answer without throwing some shade. There aren’t genres we wouldn’t be open to working with, because why limit yourself? There’s definitely a lot of bands out there that we think use their platforms for the wrong reasons, and we certainly wouldn’t want to align ourselves with them. We’re all about bringing energy, speaking up for yourself and the people around you. If you can align with that, we can make music together.

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

DEFINITELY! As exciting as it is to hit the stage, certainly in the early days, you’d have some code browns. We were a band that A.) sounded a hell of a lot different to everyone else on the bill and B.) had a complicated live setup from day one. So, there were always a lot of maybes before getting out there. A tip for anyone just starting out: just get out there and be you. A crowd will get on board with you if you’re giving it everything you’ve got. So just get out there, enjoy yourself, and give it some energy.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Recently, for our new EP, we’ve taken a lot of inspiration from bands like Stray from the Path. There’s an urgency to their music, which we absolutely loved. We’ve also taken inspiration from people like Will Ramos in Lorna Shore when it came to our approach to vocals. Trying to hit Screams that reach into multiple tones and give you that stank face.

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

A guy once asked us to sign his body with a permanent marker. Scott & Danny didn’t hesitate and, of course, went for it. The guy then insisted that their partners should also sign his body, and they were happy to oblige.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Our fans are who we are. We see fans in the front row at our shows that we saw at our very first show, as it means the world to us. But you go into our fan base, and you’ll see fans of metal, rap, house, drum and bass, everything. We love that, and it’s the kind of environment we want to create.

14. What do you think of our site?

We love it, it feels like a real hub for the scene, and there’s a genuine passion behind it that really shows. Your platform really understands the genre and gives bands a space to be seen and heard properly.

15. Something to add?

Thanks for chatting with us and giving us your time! Keep doing what you're doing, and we’d love to speak with you guys again soon!

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