Interviews: Broken Amber
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it, or came out just like that?
Fabian: Johnny Depp’s ex-wife and one of probably the most bizarre court cases, which made headlines around the world, were the inspiration behind it, without meaning any disrespect towards her as a person, of course. The name just rolls off the tongue really easily and somehow fit perfectly into the world we were creating. There were other alternatives, but somehow we kept coming back to “Broken Amber,” and it just stuck. And the abbreviation “BA” works wonderfully as well.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
Fabian: First of all, it’s not that easy to put our music into one specific genre. It covers quite a broad spectrum. Essentially, it’s a mixture of many different influences, which comes down to the wide range of music we listen to ourselves. Call it post-hardcore, nu metal, metal-pop, whatever you like. In the end, it’s the kind of music that challenges us the most, that we enjoy the most, and that gives us an outlet to process all our thoughts and emotions.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
Daniel: Absolutely not! Fabian found me online and just sent me a message. I was intrigued by the project and joined Broken Amber after I met up with him.
Fabian: Exactly, it was a 5-minute coffee date, which was enough... Daniel was on board right away. Nico had applied first. Laurence came in through the back door with a suggestion for a singer who wasn‘t Georgia (laughs). Georgia beat out about 50 other women and was the dream candidate from the very beginning. So we’ve all only known each other since March, and at our first in-person meetup in May, it felt like we’d been friends for 20 years. Totally crazy and absolutely unique.
4. Each band member‘s favourite band?
Georgia: It’s so hard for me to choose a favourite band. I always struggle with that because I’ve been influenced by so many artists over the years from different backgrounds and genres. I was brought up on country, blues and folk music but I’ve been listening to a lot of heavier bands lately. I’m really liking bands like Marmozets, Dayseeker, Vukovi and President. Big riffs and a lot of feeling. Anything like that is right up my street!
Nico: Like Georgia said... it's hard to pick one because my favourite band changes from time to time. But right now, I'd probably say Limp Bizkit as a Band and John Mayer for Songwriting.
Laurence: While She Sleeps is my current favorite band. I love that multiple members sing. The hooks are catchy, and the drums are so energetic. I saw them at Wacken and even went to a concert of Parkway Drive just to see them.
Daniel: Man, that's so difficult to choose. There are some older bands that are close to my heart, like MUCC and Dir En Grey. As of now, I'd say Surprise Chef has been quite a fav of mine for a good while now.
Fabian: It feels like a different band every day. Right now, it’s probably Future Palace, as I really like their new album. Holding Absence and Cannons are always near the top. Other than that, definitely check out The Haunted Youth or Die Spitz!
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Georgia: I’ve been involved with music since I was very young. My dad taught me to play guitar from when I was 9 years old, and that’s when I realised how important it was to have an outlet for my emotions. I have a lot of big feelings, and I’m quite a sensitive person, so putting those feelings into music is like therapy for me. I am inspired by experiences more than anything, but it’s also great to write from different perspectives. Creativity often comes out of the blue for me, and I have a lot of song and lyric ideas saved in my phone as well as on the back of old shopping receipts and journals. A lot of these are unfinished.
Fabian: The biggest source of inspiration is probably my own life or the lives of others. There’s no fixed pattern when it comes to how the songs are written, though. Most recently, for example, I recorded a hook in the middle of the night after waking up. Another song might come together almost as a reflex because my mind suddenly needs to process something. That could be something that happened years ago or something from the here and now. At the end of the day, I’m just a bit of a freak when it comes to music and, as people say, something of a walking music encyclopedia. Hehe. My taste goes all the way back to the ’60s and covers pretty much every genre, and I’m also very emotionally connected to music. If a song is good, I cry. It doesn’t even have to be sad. My musical appreciation might come from my mom, who's always had incredibly good taste in music, or from my grandpa, who was a pianist.
6. Where was your last gig?
Georgia: Alongside Broken Amber, I sing in a band from Newcastle called Hivemind. Our last show was a local grassroots festival called Treevolution held in Gateshead. The line-up was amazing, and we got to play in a cool little venue with a lot of history. I really enjoy intimate shows in smaller venues. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to play big stages, but there’s something special about being up close and personal with people experiencing the same emotion. It really makes you feel like you’re part of something, and that is what music is all about for me. I’m looking forward to Broken Amber shows next year.
Laurence: The last gig has also been the biggest gig for me so far. I played guitar for a singer called "Wylhem“ and we played as support for a singer called "Montez“ in Ulm, Germany. There were 6.000 people; it was open air and super hot ... like 40 degrees. It was an awesome experience! I‘m looking forward to playing with Broken Amber in front of such a big crowd someday.
7. Where would you like to act?
Nico: Of course Rock im Park, Rock am Ring, Hellfest, Wacken, Reload, Southside... if we ever end up playing there.
Laurence: Yeah, that would be awesome, of course.
8. Whom would you like to feature with?
Daniel: One of my dream features would be Linkin Park for sure. Seen them live with Emily and Colin, and they blew me away. I basically fell in love again with their newest release. Also, FJØRT would be cool.
Nico: When it comes to artists, I’d love to record a song with Linkin Park or Limp Bizkit. That would definitely be at the top of my list.
Laurence: At the moment, I would really like to feature with bands like Future Palace or April Art. Besides that, I also think that Pinknoise would be a very interesting and exciting feature.
Fabian: I’m totally open to it, because there are so many artists that could be a great fit. But if we stay within our own musical world, I’d love to go with Novelists.
9. Whom not?
Laurence: Defo not 5FDP! Hahaha!
Nico: As for whom I wouldn’t want to work with, I honestly don’t have anyone in mind. I think every artist has something unique to offer, and I’d rather keep an open mind.
Daniel: Anyone who is not in there just for the arts and/or wants to push any toxic beliefs or ideals.
Fabian: Yeah, I’d probably only avoid people who hold certain views that don’t align with our own values.
10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?
Laurence: Of course. I don‘t have it anymore, besides the tingly good feeling right before I hit the stage. Or sometimes more like a nervous and stressed feeling when something isn‘t working as planned. For me, the best medicine against stage fright is being prepared. And I don‘t mean just practicing the songs. Check all your gear twice. Every cable. Have backup plans. Keep your area on the stage neat and clean. Practice when you‘re going to stand where. Stuff like that. And chill right before stage time or have fun with your bandmates. The rest of the stage fright will disappear with experience.
11. What bands have inspired you the most?
Georgia: A band that truly sticks out to me from my younger years is My Chemical Romance. I can’t think of any other band that created such a genuine sense of belonging for me. It wasn’t just the music itself, although that was a huge part of it. It was the community that surrounded the band and the feeling that there were other people out there who understood the same emotions, struggles, and experiences as me. My Chemical Romance provided a space where being different felt acceptable, even encouraged, and that‘s the feeling I want people to find when they connect with Broken Amber‘s music.
Fabian: We’d be lying if we said Linkin Park hadn’t inspired all of us in some way. But for me, though, it starts with Neil Young, Electric Light Orchestra, goes through the entire 80s, Alan Parsons Project, Pet Shop Boys, moves on to East Coast stuff by DJ Premier, The Offspring and ends with Vivaldi.
Laurence: Yeah, Linkin Park is at number one when it comes to influences. 30 Seconds to Mars, Dreamstate and Paramore are also on the list.
Nico: I’ve been inspired by a lot of bands from the pop-punk to progressive metal scene. But I also listen to a lot of blues and R&B, so there’s definitely a wide range of influences in my music.
Daniel: Definitely the classic Nu Metal era bands and a lot of Japanese artists in the early years. Nowadays it's a lot of Jazz and electronic music like Mark Guiliana, Christian Lillinger and Nicolas Jaar to name some.
12. What‘s the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?
Fabian: It might not be completely weird, but being asked when we’re going on tour is obviously a bit strange when you’ve only released one song. That would be a very, very short show (laughing).
13. What do you think of your fans?
Fabian: We’re still very new to all of this, but the people who are already with us have shown us so much love. We really feel like an amazing community could grow around this, and we’re really looking forward to seeing where it goes.
14. What do you think of our site?
Daniel: "Schmeckt!” (German slang, roughly: “I like it!”)
15. Something to add?
Georgia: I’m super grateful for how well Broken Amber’s first single has been received. It was a big deal for me to join a band from another country and push myself to do something out of my comfort zone. Recording remotely has been a challenge, but I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve got to meet some very special people who are now some of my best friends. I truly believe in our music, and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Fabian: We’re incredibly excited about the future. We’ve got quite a lot up our sleeves, and you definitely haven’t heard the last of us.
No hay comentarios