NIGHTMARE TOYS

Sunday, May 3, 2020

AMNESIS THE GRINDER INTERVIEW


1.Introduce yourself and your band and tell us why we should listen to you.

Nhiles (guitarist) Amnesis (band).  Listening to us builds strong bones and healthy bodies, unlike the lying-ass milk industry.

2.What do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?
  

Nu-metal with a touch of metalcore and a dash of groove metal.  if you want to one-off from first looks and bring the hate with the "ripknot" comments.  
We love it.  Influences include 
Lamb of God,  American Head Charge,
Mushroomhead,  Nothingface,  Killswitch Engage and The Gospel Four to name a few.

3.With digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?

Keep.  Someone is always going to want it for memorabilia if nothing else.

4.What is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid off?

I always wanted to curb my anxiety by forcing myself into crowded scenarios. When I started playing I noticed over the years that being on the stage helped with my overall
shut-in state of being.  Music i guess you could say,  helped me grow in a lot of ways and I wouldn't change my path for the world.  My payoff has been the journey and the
friends I've made along the way.  It has definitely served its purpose.

5.How do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?

They do??  Sure why not?  Next question.
  

6.In the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal being an “ angry” music
   Do you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?

Our music draws it out.  Which I guess is another answer to #1 as to why you should listen to us.  Anything that can make you feel any emotion on a primal or spiritual level
is worth listening to regardless of the notches it might put in a group of nay-sayer's boards.  Metal also brings people together and forms lasting freindships from something
as simple as a group gathering for a practice or a jam or friends met through concerts etc.  Music is life.  Metal is even better.

7.Are you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?

I have a choice of what I listen to just like a musician has a choice of what they put out there.  It's all out there already so if it's your cup of tea cool, if not?  You have the
option to scroll on.

8.We have dove into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music sends a message and if so what is it?

Many messages.  Too many to list.  And the beauty of it is that most who listen to us say they get their own message from it.  If anything we are going in a
more theatrical direction so I'd say one or two messages could be merely to support live acts by simply being there from a stage perspective and to feel the music and 
the angst in what we write.  A lot of our songs are about losing it for example or giving up yet pushing through or pushing someone or something out of your life that isn't working for you
or harming you by being in it etc.

9.The market has changed and many bands believe that record labels are a thing of the past, with many labels now charging bands to “sign” how do you think a band can make it in todays scene?

Be yourself and do your research.  We are an independent band for the most part that reaches out to the right people when we need aid to promote ourselves and reach a wider audience when we need it
A lot of the people we encounter on the "inside" don't agree with that but the first thing out of their mouth is a figure and how we will be in 6 months and you can't measure
that anymore with the kind of music we play.  Passion is where it's at.  Develop that and you'll never worry about being the next big thing and what you are searching for will
come to you in it's own way wether you see it or not.

10.Why with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events everything on demand
     Why do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say in your music?

It's loud and angry and has something to say.  It's a voice among many always trying to break free and be louder than the others almost like vocies in your head.
The right people are drawn to that and relate to it.  Our tunes are soothing in the right element with the right person, as bizarre as that may sound.

11.How do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?

Depends on what they are trying to do. If they want to open for their favorite artist who could give two shits about their 20 minute set and is waiting in their tour bus for 
them to get off stage so that they (touring act) can play, then I'm happy for them.  Most artists want the street cred or think it will get them to the next level, so they eat
the ticket sales they are required to make because it is usually out at a venue in the middle of nowhere with not a lot of local draw.  Hey.  I played that game a couple times
and got to make buds with a couple of my heroes.  We decided that ain't for us but I don't judge anyone who gets something out of it as long as they don't mind knowing they
might take a hit to do so.

12.It is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what you think is the most important key to success?

Be happy.  Whatever that takes.  But discipline yourself and set goals.  

13.In country music and even in some cases rock music is written and performed by different people would your band perform a song written by someone else?

Sure.  We have talked about it before.  If someone wrote us a banger we would lay down on it.

14.If you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?

We a bunch of hairy dudes who dress up, wear face faint and masks.  If that's sexually apealing to someone and draws them in then....yes??  My priority is
that they enjoy the music and arne't there just to see my junk swinging around while i play but if that's your thing no hate here.

15.What is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?

Everyone is going to be divided at some point and have their opinion on it.  It's a broad spectrum trying to cover a bigger scale.  If a dude grabs a girls ass at a show 
and somebody doesn't step in well everyone watching is kind of a shithead to say the least.  Vice versa if a lady is being inapropriate towards a fella and it continues
untouched by the venue etc then id have to say i wouldnt be attending that place anymore.  These things all go under the rug and are accepted by a society that goes down
the middle of right and wrong or the concept of shes just drunk or, hes a good dude when you look past all that.  As far as an art goes, live it for all i care just
don't be a creep ass or weirdo in the process.  Probably pretty hard for some of these blokes out here.

16. Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?
  

I have many.  Right now I'm on an Issues kick again.  Good writing makes me write good, so to speak.

17.What would you be doing if you were not in a band?

Plumbing.  Everyone needs a fallback trade, or in some cases a day job (laughs)

18. Do you have a favorite sports team?

Nope.  Not my cup of tea.

19.If you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?

Edgar Allen Poe

20.This is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz
  

Money talks.  Everyone is fake.  Gotta smoke some metaphorical pole to get a leg up.  It's more about the image than the product or in some cases neither.  
Most people only hit you up because you are a convenient thing to be used until they get to what they percieve to be the "next level".
Friends are enemies.  The industry is a joke.  A lot of venues are a joke.  A lot of promoters are a joke.  Most booking agencies are a joke.
Things we all know but most are too afraid to say because it would be "unprofessional"  or "hurt their image" with this person or that.  Nah.  Be real. PREACH!!!

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