Interviews: Prayers Electric
1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just come about?
Farris: We played around with a number of names for a few months. Eventually, I came to Jem and asked what they thought of “Electric Prayers,” as it reminded me of the neon church signs you see in places like Las Vegas. Jem turned it around to “Prayers Electric,” and we both fell in love with the name.
Jem: It came up at random. I didn’t know what it meant, but now I sort of see it as hope, a prayer, and the belief that sometimes you need to roll the dice and put some voltage behind it.
2. Why did you want to play this genre?
Farris: My background is in genres ranging from rock to EDM, so when it ended up being just me and Jem, we let the energy flow through us and played what felt natural. The sound that came out had the energy of punk music with big riffs and catchy vocal melodies, so we explored that direction and ended up with two EPs that we’re extremely proud of.
Jem: It’s a fun style to play. I’m not trying to emulate anything; I steal from as many genres as possible because then it stays interesting. Whatever I’m doing right now is something I’ve made up, and I’m having fun doing it.
3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?
Farris: Jem’s previous band needed a stand-in drummer for a gig. I learnt the songs, played the gig and was asked to join; that was the first time I met Jem.
Jem: Someone once thought he was my dad.
4. What is each band member’s favourite band?
Farris: Alongside bands like Deftones and Queens of the Stone Age, my all-time favourite band is Mastodon. While my playing style is different from Brann’s, I’ve followed Mastodon’s story these past couple of decades, and their music has been with me through highs and lows. Although I’m still very sad about Brent’s passing, I’m very excited to hear their new album Marrow Deep and see how their journey continues.
Jem: Cool Sorcery, The Murlocs, and The Beatles.
5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?
Farris: I’m inspired by the pure energy and chemistry that Jem and I have when we jam together. I’m a songwriter myself; I have three solo EPs on Spotify, iTunes, and elsewhere under “Farris,”; so I feel confident contributing not just to the drums but also to the structure, dynamics, and harmonies during the songwriting process. Just being in the studio with Jem is inspiration enough!
Jem: The threat of eternal darkness. By that I mean the feeling that if you don’t say it now, you’ll never say it. I’ve got people I want to honour and parts of my life I want to capture; memories and conversations with people who may never hear them, but at least I’ve said it.
6. Where was your last gig?
Farris: Our last gig was at Stage & Radio in Manchester. It was the EP launch show for Going Round Again, and it was an absolute blast. It was attended by musical friends, family, and people who had found our music online and came to check us out. It was so, so good.
Jem: One of the best nights we’ve ever done. We did it all ourselves, and we’ll definitely do more.
7. Where would you like to perform?
Farris: So many places! I’d love to perform at more festivals, bigger venues and abroad. Hopefully we’ll start to achieve more of that next year.
Jem: The Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. The O2 Ritz in Manchester. I’m manifesting Download by 2029.
8. Who would you like to perform with?
Farris: I could name a million bands, but honestly I’d like to perform with anybody who is sound and plays good music. If they’re passionate about what they do and nice to be around, that’s a perfect gig for me.
Jem: I’d go back in time and join Bowie’s band. I think that would have been interesting.
9. Who would you not like to perform with?
Farris: The opposite of the last answer.
Jem: Prayers Electric, because then something has gone seriously wrong.
10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Do you have any tips for beginners on how to beat it?
Farris: The first performance I did was at a school talent show when I was twelve, playing Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me” with my first band, The Viruz; later D-Minor. I was shaking backstage and praying to my drumsticks, much to the entertainment of the Year 11 rock band! From that point, I gigged weekly at the local jam night and around the Deeside music scene, and had played hundreds of times live by the time I left high school. Apart from a few big gigs, such as Kendal Calling, I haven’t had stage fright on the drums. I put that down to just playing and playing. Experience makes performing as natural as breathing; eventually you can connect with both the band onstage and the audience. My advice is to keep gigging as much as possible.
Jem: A gig can be a big deal. I’m usually in a different mindset for the entire day of the show. By the time I’m actually onstage with Farris, though, I’m having such a good time that everything else melts away.
11. What bands have inspired you the most?
Farris: Probably Abe Cunningham from Deftones, who I once went to the pub with after a Deftones gig and had a very fun pint with. He kept calling me “the Welsh Viking,” which I wasn’t complaining about. Name-drops aside, what he writes on the drums is extremely inspirational. He applies dynamics very strategically and composes drum beats and fills that feel both iconic and perfect for the music. “Beauty School” from Diamond Eyes is a great example.
Jem: Osees. The Trust Fund Kids. Tangerine Love Puppies. Paul McCartney. Benjamin Booker; he’s my favourite guitarist.
12. What’s the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?
Farris: After breaking a drumstick at one of our gigs, a guy asked me for it and for me to sign it. Pretty cool!
Jem: No one’s really asked me for anything directly, other than to sign a setlist. We played HMV once and asked them to print one setlist, but they accidentally printed about ten. At the end we signed them all and handed them out to a bunch of kids who’d watched us. In a hundred years, pretty good, isn’t it?
13. What do you think of your fans?
Farris: Amazing! Brilliant! Wonderful! Thank you for everything!
Jem: The people I’ve met so far are nice. I can’t wait to meet some more.
14. What do you think of the Breathing The Core site?
Jem: Clean. Nice. I like the logo. Having the merch up front is a solid shout; we should put ours on our website. Track by Track and Behind the Artwork are fun, and you cover people I don’t know, which I think is probably the point. I rate it.
Farris: Excellent, keep it up!
15. Is there anything you’d like to add?
A big thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. Our new EP, Going Round Again, is out now, along with the video for “Eyeballs.” Give them a listen, come and see us when we play near you, and tell us where you are so we know where to visit next. We also have cassettes, CDs, and other merch available, with more on the way.
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