Interviews

Last year, Ben Pearce dominated the charts with the catchy ‘What I Might Do’ becoming one of 2013’s most prominent anthems. The track saw the Manchester-based DJ and producer shoot to fame and is still in heavy circulation in club playlists today. In between a hectic touring schedule, he is also creative director at his own record label and DJ agency Purp & Soul.

Despite having just arrived in Croatia straight from Ibiza, Pearce managed to grant us a quick moment to chat about his smash hit, his hectic summer schedule and his favorite festivals. Here he talks to Sayuri Standing and Ben Jolley before his set at Hideout Festival 2014.

So have you just got into Croatia then?

Yeah, about three hours ago. We came straight from Ibiza after I played at Amnesia last night.

Who else are you hoping to see around here?

F**k knows! John Talabot’s on tonight so I really wanna see him but I think we are playing at pretty much the same time which is annoying. And then, I don’t know, Route 94’s on after me, I’ll watch him. Skream’s on at the same time as me. I haven’t really looked at the set times yet, I’m going to look at them more tomorrow properly, hopefully. I try not to plan festivals because there are so many people that you meet, friends that you’ve not seen for like a year so you never actually get round to watching anyone.

Are you planning on sticking around for a bit?

Yeah, for a couple of days. We’re doing a boat party tomorrow and then I’m going to go to Garden Festival after that for a bit of a holiday.

Have you been to Hideout before?

Yeah, I played last year for the first time. It was great fun, just insane. It’s on a different level!

Is there a variation between club sets and festival sets?

Kind of, maybe a bit more just high energy stuff because you can’t really play big breakdowns in festivals because everyone will just go to sleep and get bored. There’s no plan in my head, but I guess there is a quite a big variation.

Did you expect ‘What I Might Do’ to be as big as it was?

No! I never expected it to get signed, let alone anything else so it was a bit of shock.

Your new Lego E.P was released recently, what other music have you got lined up?

I’m working on quite a bit of stuff at the moment, just different projects with different people and some of my own stuff. A couple of singers, one – Anna Holder – she’s really talented, and a Dutch artist, whose name I can’t give away right now. Because I’ve been touring so much, I’ve not been in the studio for about six weeks, so hopefully after summer I’ll get to the stage where I’m making more music and I can bash out a few more tunes!

Where else are you playing over the summer?

Everywhere really! I’m back in the US at the end of August. Loads of festivals in the UK, I’ve still got Reading and Leeds and also Lovebox, which will be really good. I really don’t know what else but quite a lot – I’m very busy. June has been crazy but it’s kind of calming down a little bit, but it’s still mental.

What’s your favourite thing about festivals?

Just the range of music you can get really, ‘coz usually when you go into a club, it’s very much ‘this is what’s happening’ – unless you go to a Fabric night where there are loads of people on – but festivals there can be anyone. I’m really liking European festivals a bit more because you can get a hip-hop stage, a death metal stage, a main stage, a house then techno stage – there’s so many genres. That’s what I like about it because you can wander around the different stages and discover things which you might not have seen before.

What is your favourite festival to play at?

Oh, that’s impossible to answer. Secret Garden Party’s really good, I did it for the first time last year and it’s so f**king good. It’s kind of like a mini Bestival, it’s got that kind of Glastonbury, Bestival feel to it – a bit boutique and a bit odd, but really good. I always really enjoy that one so I’m looking forward to playing there again.

Do you think Croatia could potentially become the new Ibiza?

Yeah, it’s looking like it! I think the money is a big factor because Ibiza is what it is, it’s just really expensive. It’s 14 euros a beer in some clubs and 50 euros to get in so it’s become that kind of status thing and fair enough if you can do it. But I think Croatia’s something new and it’s got a big appeal to it because Ibiza has been around for years since I was growing up. Now, Croatia’s new, it’s something different and it’s a beautiful country. Absolutely amazing driving around it, the views are insane. So definitely, if more people get into it, it’ll easily be on the rise.

What would you be doing if you weren’t a DJ or producer?

I was working in a bank before at a call centre as a complaints manager so I was doing that and then still DJ’ing on the weekends and kind of gave that up just as this started really kicking off, so I just kind of left it till the last minute.

How would you sum up your set in three words?

Music wise, it’d probably be: diverse, random and interesting, hopefully. I’m
hoping it’s interesting!

As published on Platform magazine: http://platform-online.net/2014/07/exclusive-interview-ben-pearce-at-hideout-festival-2014/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

A year since Birmingham band, Peace, released their debut album, In Love, they have played shows across the globe and are set to headline this year’s Dot To Dot Festival. Drummer Dominic Boyce spoke to Ben Jolley about making the second album and nights out in Nottingham.

“WE played Dot To Dot in 2011 and it was so much fun. Nottingham has always been amazing to us. We've had some great shows and we've got lots of friends there so we're really excited,” says Peace drummer Dominic Boyce.

“It'll also be one of the first shows since before Christmas so we can't wait. We're ready to explode. We're ready for a great weekend and I think Dot To Dot will provide.”

It's a significant gig for the Worcester indie quartet, as headliners. They'll be on the main stage at Rock City on Sunday, one of 15 stages hosting dozens of bands and musicians during the all day event.

The last time they played the Talbot Street venue was also a significant occasion.

“That was the first night on that tour and I was pretty nervous but very excited because it was the biggest tour we had ever done. I loved that Rock City show.

“That whole area around there with the venues and clubs is great. We've had many a good night in Rescue Rooms.”

Dominic says that the follow up to last year's debut album, In Love, is near enough finished.

“Sonically there are some similarities to the debut but it certainly drifts around different sounds. I think we're moving on, in a more focused and controlled direction.

“No one could predict exactly how In Love was going to sound, because it was our first album. Whereas, with the second one we're much more educated in the process of recording an album.”

With so much hype surrounding what Peace will do next, it's surprising that they aren't feeling the pressure.

“It was very much us saying we want to do it now,” he says of the quick return to the studio to record the follow-up.

“We're not putting it off, maybe we should be, but it just felt like the right time. It feels like this is what we should be doing.”

A lot of the new songs were recorded in hotel rooms or on the back of tour buses.

“There wasn't really a lot of pre-production to the new album.

“A lot of it was written on the road. Harry would make really rough vocal and acoustic guitar demos then we'd all listen to them and come up with our own ideas of what the songs could potentially sound like.

“The album's probably been written over the last 18 months of touring, although I think we've still got a lot to give from the first album.”

The band's new single, Money, is his favourite from the new record.

He says: “It was the first song we did in the studio and we had a lot of fun recording it. We'd been waiting to get back in the studio for so long.”

Another new track, World Pleasure, hears lead singer Harrison Koisser show off his rap skills.

“I think rap's too strong a word, but it is slightly more rhythmic,” says Dominic, adding “I think it sounds cool.”

In August, Peace will be playing the main stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.

“I think it's my favourite festival,” he says.”When we played there last year, they were probably our favourites of the whole summer. You couldn't ask for a better crowd really. We're very flattered and honoured to be asked to play the main stage this time. If people think we can do it then we'll certainly give it a good go.”

So what about the rest of 2014?

“After festival season, we hope to release the new album, probably at the end of summer. I don't know what will happen in autumn; probably much of the same really. We'll play a few shows, go abroad… we've got a lot of years left in us.”

Peace headline the Dot to Dot Festival on Sunday at Rock City from 10pm.

As seen originally in Friday 23 edition of the Notitngham Post and online at: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Dot-Dot-interview-Peace/story-21127798-detail/story.html?hga

Rock three-piece Darlia, play Dot to Dot Festival this Sunday. Frontman Nathan Day, spoke to Ben Jolley about festivals and flower parts.

So how did Darlia get together?

"Even as a kid I just wanted to be older so I could start a band and voice my opinion”, says Darlia frontman Nathan Day.

“If I wasn’t in a band, I’d just be starting one," he adds.

“When I first met Jack, we’d play on and off, and I was trying to convince him that we should start this band. We played some of the songs we play today, but it wasn’t a serious band. I didn’t want to be a 15-year-old kid in a novelty band"

"Jack went to uni and moved away, then I got Dave involved with the songs. We had this drummer at the time that was really bad and had a massive attitude, so it wasn’t really working with him. It got to a point where we were getting record deals so we got rid of him and got Jack back.”

“At the time we were all coming up with words and nothing stuck. Aside from the band, I was really interested with flowers and flower parts and Darlia kept coming up”, Nathan says.

“When we played our first gig we didn’t have a name at all. A girl in the audience handed me a plastic flower, which I kept in my back pocket for months. After we’d finalised on the name, I found it in my pocket and it was a Darlia.”

Their biggest challenge came last weekend at the Radio One Live Lounge, covering Lorde’s song, Team.

“When you’re expected to go onstage and just blurt out one of your sets, that can be incredibly easy because people are coming to see what you do best. When you have to learn a completely new song, as well as making it your own, it's like homework. It was massively challenging but extremely fun. It let us prove that we’re not just going to do an inaudible cover and sound pretentious about it. We wanted it to be a good cover and I think it went alright.”

The Blackpool trio have been announced for British Summertime at Hyde Park in July, on the same bill as The Libertines.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Pete Doherty. I’m glad that we’re even going to be near him,” says Nathan.

They’ve also been added to this year’s Glastonbury line up.

"I’ve never been to a festival before so I guess I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” he admits.

Nathan says that a crowd can make or break a show.

“Whatever they want to see, they’ve got to make it happen. You can play the most outrageously great show, but if the people there are just stood still… or you could play a flop show, full of mistakes and everyone’s drunk, but as long as the crowd are absolutely having it, it’s great."

And what about an album?

“Now we’ve found the right producer to make the record, we’re about to start recording it. It’ll be released at the end of the year or early next year. We’ve got another E.P, (Dear Diary) coming before that though.”

Darlia play Dot to Dot on Sunday at the Rescue Rooms from 6.15pm-6.45pm.

As seen originally online at: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Dot-Dot-interview-Darlia/story-21114577-detail/story.html

London four-piece, Wolf Alice, have just released their latest E.P, Creature Songs, and are set to return to Nottingham with one of the top slots at this year’s Dot to Dot Festival. Lead vocalist and guitarist, Ellie Roswell tells Ben Jolley why their last Nottingham visit was a “turning point” for the band.

“LAST year’s Dot To Dot was our favourite show of the year. We played at the Bodega, it was the last show of the night and everyone just went crazy. We’d never really experienced that before so it was quite a turning point in our career.”

Wolf Alice singer and guitarist Ellie Roswell is remembering their last visit to Nottingham as she and the London quartet head for Amsterdam in their tour van.

“There’s nothing particularly rock ‘n’ roll about it,” she admits.

The hotly-blogged about guitar band are currently on their own headline tour, which Ellie says is going really well.

“We’ve been very lucky with getting great crowds each evening, and there haven’t been any major hiccups which is a bonus."

“This is our first headline show in a long time, so the crowds are really different from any other time before. Now we’ve put more music out, people know us a bit better and are more willing to jump around, sing-along and have some fun."

“The shows can be a bit rowdy and it seems like this is the first time we’re really experiencing that, which is nice because I think most of our songs are really loud and energetic. They aren’t songs to just be stood still to.”

So how does she describe the Wolf Alice sound?

“I guess its heavy guitar-ridden pop music, maybe?,” she says, before running through their influences."

"We all grew up listening to different styles but there are some things that tie us all together. Joff likes acoustic guitar music, while Joel’s into his punk and Theo was in a metal/hip-hop band for a while. So it’s quite a mix.”

Wolf Alice released the Blush E.P almost six months ago, so what’s been happening since then?

“We’ve just been trying to figure out what to do next and planning to record an album. We feel like we’ve managed to find our feet after we signed a record deal a couple of months ago. We’re waiting until festival season is over to start on the album,” she adds, suggesting an early 2015 release.

There’s the new EP, Creature Songs, which includes the fan favourite Moaning Lisa Smile.

“Because we hadn’t put any music out for six months, we wanted to come back with something big, loud and heavy. It started off with just a riff that Joff had played, as he was singing Neil Young’s track, Old Man, thinking it would be a great song to cover. But then we thought we could make it in to our own.”

On their current headline tour, Wolf Alice are joined by Superfood and Gengahr, both of who are also playing Dot To Dot.

Says Ellie: “I think Superfood are one of the better bands out there at the moment and Gengahr have got their own quirky pop thing going on.”

Wolf Alice play Dot to Dot Nottingham on Sunday at Rock City, 6.15pm to 6.45pm.

As seen originally online: http://www.nottinghampost.com/Dot-Dot-interview-Wolf-Alice/story-21111650-detail/story.html

I was at Takedown Festival and managed to get a few minutes to chat with singer Jack from Chasing Cadence. 

Where abouts are your from? We're all from Hertfordshire scattered around the place but all in that general area 

Did you guys grow up together? No we found each other online, when we were looking for new bands 

Do people back home support you guys? Yeah our friends and family are great but I guess a lot of bands say it but the music scene where we are is terrible but there are people are trying to build it up it just takes a long time 

What's the goal you wish to reach in say 5 years? We'd love to be touring, getting our music out there playing some cool venues and meeting new people. 

Claim to fame? We played with Taking Back Sunday what was awesome as we all really love there music 

Do you guys have any other activities outside the band? We all work a lot so that takes up a lot of our time but couple of us like football so we sometimes play bit of that here and there. 

Who's the biggest motivator or the group and keeps everyone in line? It's prob got to be Rob, he's been a bit grumpy last few days due to lack of sleep but he's normally the one who keeps up going. 

Does anyone have any bad habits? Alf snores really loudly, sometimes we have to put head phones in to get to sleep cause it's so loud. 

What do you miss most when on tour? Eating got food got lot of spots cause eating rubbish food, we always try to get accommodation when on tour as we're all really feminine and like to always be clean, baths as most places have showers and after show you ache so a bath would be nice. Home comforts we miss.

You can find the bands music and such at https://www.facebook.com/ChasingCadence

I sat down with Black Futures and spoke to Stu who plays double bass and sings and also Paul who plays guitars and shouts.

Where are you guys from? We pull from all over the place but at the moment were in Guilford where our studio is. 

Do you guys get to practice a lot? Yeah as were all very close we get together and lot and write, we practice when we've got live shows 

What's the biggest goal you want to achieve? To play big venues, festivals, play shows where everyone is enjoying it and making the whole place just move 

Claim to fame? Playing with the Prodigy that was pretty massive for us 

What's the band got planned this year? We're going to be finishing our album and got some festivals, we've got Alt Fest and some others but can't say what they are 

Black futures music and such can be found at https://www.facebook.com/BlackFutures

Charlie sat down with James from Saint the Sinner at this years Takedown Festival to have a quick chat, check out what he had to say.  

How long have you known rest of your band? Known Pash since 2011, and rest from sort of around there, known Pash longest and I live with him

Biggest influences? Mines got to be like Blink 182, Black Dahlia Murder but it changes threw out the band really it's all very mixed. 

Do people back home support you guys? Yeah we get amazing support from all our friends, family. My mum will pretty much do anything for us. 

Who in group keeps everyone most motivated? It's got to be Pash, he's always writing, doing stuff on computer that sort of thing.

What is your guilty pleasure? Really cheesy pop music, Venga Boys, SClub7, Steps. 

What's have you got planned this year for shows? Got a big one with Local band called Griever that'll be fun, and it's Daves birthday for big old party, also we're recording and going to be touring at end of the year. 

Music and band can be found at www.facebook.com/SaintTheSinnerOfficial

The modern world is crazy right? It’s all Starbucks drive-throughs, touch screen Apples and crazy One Direction stalkers, but one of the better things the modern world has coughed up is Skype. Skype means we can do crazy things like make babies in whole different countries cry with out even being near them. It also means we can interview bands without being in the same city, country or hell even same planet (Bowie)…

This miracle of the modern world is how it became possible that on a windy autumnal afternoon, I was able to interview the wonderfully Swedish, not to mention slightly eccentric Max Bergå; lead singer of Everywhere the newest band to come out of the massively successful Stockholm music scene-

Tommy: We’re here to talk about the new single ‘Soldier’, but I’d like to get a bit of background first…
So you guys are from Stockholm, there’s so many huge headline acts like The Hives, Avicci and The knife who have burst from the scene in the last decade… What’s the pressure like for you to succeed with that competition?

Max: It puts allot of pressure on us to go in the same fold or foot trail I guess, to live up to the Swedish greats, the outstanding tradition of crafting massive pop tunes in now resting on our shoulders!

T: I read recently the band’s name came from a Helen Gurley-Brown quote?

M: Yeah, she was this outspoken female rights campaigner and I read that quote ‘Good girls go to Heaven, bad girls go everywhere’ and realised just when I started out with the band, that all the girls I had ever dealt with had been very bad, so I draw the conclusion that I must be everywhere!

T: SO, leading on from that, you started working the fashion industry before the band, is that a big inspiration when you are creating new tracks?

M: Yeah, I started working as a model, then a model agent; it has kind of forged my way and my perception of aesthetics, that whole ‘fashion industry’ and photographic ideals. It’s greatly influenced the way I see the visual aspect of the music.

T: Yeah, I guess right now in this social media obsessed culture, things like Instagram and Tumblr make the visuals as important as the music?

M: The concept of the image is enormously important, Drawing allot of inspiration from the fashion magazines and the big fashion photographers, as a concept is the right way to go!

(Back to the music)

T: Obviously your last single (huge viral hit ‘Eddie’) got so much success online, how’s that set you up for the new single?

M: It’s created a nice little root, like once you’ve been let into a room, the chances are you’ll be let into that room again…

T: So there’s a ready made fan base almost?

M: Yeah, I mean it’s created a good interest for us to follow up on.

T: So skipping the music for a second and going straight to the video…

(The video features Max, rolling around with lots of women, all naked in a giant swamp… see link bellow)

Who’s idea was that?

M: (after a slightly nervous laugh) the directors! It was all a bit like ‘okay max, time to take your pants off and jump in the pool!

T: It really works with the song though, it kind of gives a darker idea across with the song, was that kind of what you were going for?

A darker pop song?

M: What I realise now is it’s a very special concept, that I’m being attacked by these girls! Its kind of about modern day men, how they are exposed to these ideals, with pressure coming from society and women, they have allot to live up to! 
The video is kind of an illustration of how men are suffering too.

T: I guess that links back to your fashion background, on how women are made to look a certain way, and how that’s starting to move into male-society a little bit more?

M: precisely, What I’m doing is shedding light, that there is not only pressure on women, but there is also pressure on men to live up to often unreasonable expectations, like you have to have a ripped six pack a tight ass and be the best ever dad!
The women in the video are more of a metaphor of society and how it kills me!

T: So the song in itself, you can see references to The Cure, that 80s and early 90s darker pop music, is that what you were aiming for?  

That grunge pop kind of thing?

M: If that’s your conclusion, you’ve drawn the most accurate conclusion!

The guitars are never really tuned, to give them that kind of heaviness.
 
T: For that kind of ‘grunge’ aesthetic?

M: Precisely!  The thing is the piano kind of comes in and contrasts in a way, when I heard it the first time we were arranging it I was like, this is completely right, I want to go with this!

T: Yeah, it kind of jars, but in the right kind of way!

T: So who are the big influences on the upcoming E.P, who are you listening to?

M: As boring as it sounds, most of the guys are into classic Bono! Classic arena style anthems! For me personally when I wrote this song, I was listing to allot of the Pixies, it might not transcend to what I’m doing, it never seems to!

T: No, I think you can kind of tell, there’s that 90s Indie-rock voice there!

M: It’s kind of weird, whenever people ask me about inspiration it’s always so different from what it actually sounds like.  

T:I was listening to Florence (and the machine) recently, and its kind of interesting how you can really hear what her inspirations were, its cool to see that played out in a more subtle way here …

M: Yeah, you can hear she’s been listening to allot of Kate bush! That’s how some people work, there are two types of artist, those exceptional at recreation, who can recreate something iconic, and some people who just can’t, I’m lousy at reinterpretations, its simply impossible!

T: So you are talking these huge headline bands for inspiration, any plans to do the festival circuit next year?

M: We’ll see what lies in the pipeline…

T: so when can we next see you?!

M: Notting Hill Arts club, on November the 18^th! You are very welcome to come and see me making a fool out of myself!

T: it’s a great venue!

M: Yeah it’s nice to play in huge venues, but also the small places too.

T: To bring that big festival vibe to a smaller stage?

M: That’s what I’ve always been about, grand rock gestures on a small stage!

T: Meatloaf style?

M: He’s never been a hero of mine, I’m almost a carbon copy of  Bono! We draw allot of  live inspiration from Bono, he’s the best live performer of all time, I’m not so much into the music but he’s great. He looks into the camera, and he’s like ‘I’m going to screw all of you!’

T: It’s kind of iconic, are you aiming for that icon status?

M: It’s always about iconism, icon-fetishes.

T: So the E.P, What’s on it?

M: There’s 5 song, and some amazing remixes.

T: I’ve noticed on Youtube, there’s a lot of people remixing the songs, is that flattering to see?

M: Its nice to see Indie rock being mixed around, especially with things like new disco, letting these Swedish geniuses redress the tracks. We trust them!

T: So after the E.P when can we expect a full album?

M: We are currently working on one, but there’s no set release date, but there are two singles due out early next year!

T:  So I’m going to end on two classic questions for you…

What’s your hope for Glasto headliners?

M:  Kings on Leon!

T: and finally if you could duet with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

M: Mozart!  We have almost the same haircut; we connect on a deeper level!  As long as its big and fluffy I’m okay, no perms, we don’t like perms!

…We decided this was a fitting way to finish. I mean, who in the modern world really has a perms? They certainly wouldn’t look good on Skype…

Everywhere’s new single ‘Soldier’ is out on November 11^th.

Tommy Loebell

twitter: @TOMMYLOEBELL

http://everywheretheband.com/

Daniel Hughes was at this year’s V festival and managed to catch up with the lovely Moya after her performance on the Futures Stage. See what she had to say about performing at the festival, as well as how her year has been so far.

Dan: Hi Moya, you’ve just finished playing the futures stage how was it?

Moya: Good, really good, the crowd were amazing actually. It’s always a bit touch and go at that time of the day but there were some devoted fans at the front which made my life a lot easier, and it was a nice stage as well.

Dan: Ah that’s good, so how did it compare with when you played at T in the park?

Moya: Oh so much better. Don’t get me wrong the Scottish are mad and do like a party but for some reason, maybe because of the stage or just the way it was all set up, it just felt a lot more comfortable and the crowd were a lot better. Oh god they’re going to kill me at T in the park aren’t they!

Dan: Haha, I’m sure they won’t mind. So what is your favourite thing about festivals?

Moya: Is it really cliché to say about the drinking? It is isn’t it, but that is quite a big thing when it comes to festivals. But I don’t know I think it’s the laid back feel, at a gig everything is quite formal but at festivals everyone is just kicking back having a good time and so I think it’s the informality that I like about them.

Dan: So have you seen anything particularly strange at any festival that you’ve played at or been to?

Moya: Oh god….. Not really, well Reading and Leeds maybe, doomsday on a Sunday night where they try and blow up everyone’s tents. That’s not always fun.

Dan: Ok. So your new single Come and get it comes out soon, what’s your inspiration behind the record?

Moya: Haha…. Well it’s about an ex. Basically it’s about him not manning up and being a bit of a bastard really, and not realising what he had. When I was saying basically come and get it, I’m here for the taking and him then not doing that.

Dan: Nice. So you’ve recently been touring with Rod Stewart, how has that been?

Moya: Nuts! Arenas, there is nothing that can compare to it, it’s amazing and he is a very lovely man, I’m very lucky to be a part of his tour.

Dan: So who would you say are your musical icons and have inspired you to get into the business?

Moya: I think it’s kind of a lot of the motown and soul sort of stuff. I listen to a lot of Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan people like that and they are the ones who inspire me I think.

Dan: That’s brilliant, well thank you for your time today Moya and enjoy the rest of your day. 

Check out Moya's new single 'Come and Get It' here:

The Summer Festival Guide caught up with Mitch from Karybdis before their performance at this years Bloodstock.  See what they had to say about festivals, and what they have in store for the crowd on the New Blood Stage.

SFG: What was the first thing you did this morning?
Karybdis: Kissed my girlfriend!

SFG: What will be the last thing you do tonight?
Karybdis: Have a shower

SFG: What item do you most regularly put on your festival rider?
Karybdis: Water!! Cold water. If we get a rider at all that is.

SFG: What is the strangest thing you have seen at a festival?
Karybdis: A woman with pink hair on pink stilts walking around clutching an enormous bag of weed chatting to a police officer.

SFG: What is your pre-performance ritual?
Karybdis: Stretches, warm-ups, and we all cross swords and recite the pledge of allegiance.

SFG: What has been your favourite festival of the year so far?
Karybdis: Tech fest was a lot of fun, but I think Bloodstock will be the best!

SFG: What gig are you most looking forward to next?
Karybdis: Bloodstock baby!

SFG: What would be your dream place to play a gig?
Karybdis: Sydney opera house

SFG: Who would you love to tour with?
Karybdis: Me personally? LOG. Chris Adler is the reason I started playing metal 5 years ago.

SFG: To those that don't really know you, sum up the band and what it represents in one sentence
Karybdis: A mixture of melo-death, metalcore and groove metal, with big epic choruses and black dahlia style vocals.

SFG: How did you come up with the name Karybdis?
Karybdis: Thinking about amazing stories – Homers 'Odyssey' came to mind.

SFG: What surprises are the crowd in for this year at Bloodstock?
Karybdis: If we told your they wouldn't be surprises!

SFG: When can we expect the next album and what can you tell the fans about it?
Karybdis: We have just completed a new single, which sounds incredible. We are in a writing stage at the moment, and we are surprising ourselves with the stuff we are writing! We are still shopping around for studios and producers, but once that is decided it won't be long!!

Be sure to catch Karybdis at Bloodstock 2013 on Friday at 4.00pm performing on the New Blood Stage.