Interview with Max Raptor

With a new album scheduled for release and a string of tours lined up, 2016 looks to be an exciting year for Max Raptor. The band kindly took some time out before a gig to talk to me about their recently released (and thought provoking) EP Damage Appreciation, their upcoming album and naturally, their course of action during a zombie apocalypse.

1. So firstly, how would you introduce yourself to an audience in a country that you've never played before?

Ben: We'll find out!

Matt: Yeah, we're going to Europe next year for the first time.

Interviewer: Switzerland?

Matt: Yeah, Switzerland. Then we're announcing some more dates for around May at some 

point. Yeah, the answer is I don't know what the answer is.

Wil: I imagine hello.

Ben: In French.

Wil: Hello?

Ben: Salut.

Wil: Salut. Ciao. We're not going to Italy, are we? We'll take a little book.

Ben: A phrasebook.

Wil: A phrasebook. (Adopts a humorous tone.) Or, of course, modern phones these days 

have translation devices. Then you hold your phone up to the mic and it'll say "hello".

Ben: But everywhere speaks English. They'll probably just do it in English.

Wil: Oh, ignorant!

Matt: I once designed a website and they asked for it to be in French as well. That's why I just did Google Translate. Obviously the back button that was on it was a literal translation and they had to ring me up and said "it says the word spine". There we are!

Wil: I thought it was going to say something way more inappropriate.

Matt: No!

Wil: Oh my god, spine!

Matt: Well, it was a long day.

2. How has the reaction to Damage Appreciation been so far?

Matt: Really good. We're really happy with it. I think people have responded to it well.

Wil: They've taken it on board, under their wing. It's been a year and a half since we released anything so it's gone way better than expected. All good.

3. Your songs have always had a political nature to them but for your most recent EP, did you feel that this was a natural progression or more that it was inspired by the elections, like a catalyst?

Wil: The album's a little bit about politics. There are other themes on the EP as well so it's partly that, partly other content. Blue On Red was about how the main political parties have amalgamated and become the same thing. It disenfranchised a lot of people and people were getting bored;  I became completely apathetic to the whole process. Then, as we released it, Jeremy Corbyn took the reins of Labour so it's kind of ruined the whole thing because he's fully left and  I think the Conservative party are getting way more right wing. The more they stay in power, the more and more extreme they're going to become so I think it's definitely shaken it up. I don't know if it's for the good or for the bad but it definitely engages people more. 

Interviewer: Like how you wrote "bored" rather than "board" in the lyric video.

Wil: Yeah, that was intentional. Don't worry, it wasn't our misspelling!

Pete: Well spotted!

4. I've heard that you'll be recording your new album in December. How is the writing process going?

Matt: It's going well. We signed to Hassle officially throughout the summer but those conversations have been going on since November last year. We originally didn't know if we were going to be doing an EP or not so we had written about 25 songs just to get those 4 so actually, it's going really well. We've got a large percentage of it done so we've just got to tweak a few bits. It's going to be good hopefully.

5. Would you say you have a band motto or philosophy when you're recording songs?

Matt: Don't let Pete drink whiskey. It's probably fair.

Pete: If Matt says the word "comp", I'm going to poke his eyes out.

Matt: Pete records our demos and the particular word is "comp" that he hates. It just means copy a bit and stick it in but he absolutely loathes it because it's always said. Look at him, he's so happy.

6. Do you write your songs with the intention of reaching out to people and making them think about things or is it more of a personal process?

Wil: We've definitely got live shows in mind as well. You can kind of lose it completely if you're singing stuff that you can relate to and we've always got the live thing in mind. Well, I definitely do when I'm thinking about lyrics and breakdowns on guitars. It's always the live aspect. There are some personal things there as well which people can identify with because if I sing it, then it represents a 100,000 people. If someone else sings it, it represents another 100,000 people. People can get on board with it for sure.

Interviewer: Like how the last song on your EP is about depression.

Wil: Yeah, that's a tricky one. We haven't played it live yet but it's just about getting through dark, dark times and making a concerted effort to turn your life around.

7. You announced that you're playing with Press To Meco and Allusondrugs. How did this tour come about?

Matt: Really quickly. It was sort of out of nowhere. It's really good.

Ben: We got an email off Facebook from Press To Meco's label manager and he was super enthusiastic about it straight away.

Matt: That guy has basically spear headed everything and just been getting it all done, getting Scuzz on board. We said yes and straight away, there were 17 dates and we were like Jesus Christ, fair play. Even today on the announcement, I've never seen anyone so proactive in a long time in spreading the word in forums and groups that I didn't even know existed and he's just shouting about it. Hats off to the guy, he's absolutely storming. To be honest with you, it's all really nice because we know Allusondrugs and we know Press To Meco as well very well. Originally, we might have been playing some shows with the Press guys now but that didn't quite work out. It's absolutely lovely really, you know, a big group of mates going on tour. It's going to be fantastic.

8. Would we be able to hear some new material then?

Ben: Maybe. We'll possibly try to work a couple of bits in but we generally try to keep it all under wraps until it's on the verge of being out in the open properly. It suits us a bit better just to make sure it's all practised but also, just to have something to hold on to.

Matt: Album wise, I think the album is looking at late April hopefully as a release so there might be something out at that sort of time but we don't know yet.

9. Who would survive the longest in a zombie apocalypse and why?

(Collective "oohs" and Wil says "zombie apocalypse" in an American accent)

Ben: You wouldn't because you couldn't plan your way out of a wet paper bag.

Wil: I already know my exits here, do you?

Ben: Yeah.

Pete: No.

Interviewer: Anyone else?

Pete: Me. I've thought about this before. I think I'd do this quite well. I'd have to get on a ship that had no zombies on it and I'd sail out. I mean, as far as I'm aware, zombies can't swim.

Matt: Have you not seen Land of the Dead?

Pete: Yeah but they don't climb up onto a ship. I think it's highly unlikely if I sailed out into the middle of the ocean that they would actually find me.

Matt: Then you've got to think about supply levels, fresh water.

Pete: It's a bloody big ship.

Wil: What, parked in London?

Pete: But we didn't specify if we were going from London.

Wil: But we're here now.

Ben: So you've only got ship on your list.

Matt: Unless you own this ship, presumably you'd have to wait until everyone on board had 

already been killed so you could then steal it.

Pete: Well, what if you're in a land locked city? Just a good crew...

Matt: So you'd need a crew now for this as well.

Ben: So it's not just your ship.

Pete: Well, at least I've thought about it.

Wil: I think you should get a speed boat.

Matt: To answer your question, not Pete either. I think I'd be pretty bad at it because I can't really run that quickly.

Pete: But then again, what is the point? Once everyone's dead, what are you going to do?

Ben: It's Pete's optimism that will really carry us through any moment of distress.

Matt: Day to day.

Pete: Really, what's the point?

Matt: I would never want to be in that situation with Pete.

Pete: Just end it because it's better than being eaten. Or being a zombie.

Ben: Just end it? (sighs)

Pete: Yeah.

Matt: So we're not surviving now. We're killing ourselves. Thanks mate.

Ben: What about an attic? You go into an attic and you pull the stairs up and you've got tons of supplies up there. But then you might get rickets if there's no natural light or scurvy if you've got no fruit.

Pete: Oh, you'd get scurvy on the ship.

Wil: It's a nightmare!

Matt: Just take lots of cartons of orange juice.

Pete: I'm sorry everyone, I've ruined this question.

Wil: You've got Berocca.

Pete: Berocca, me on a bad... good day.

Ben: You on a good day?

Wil: Get the Berocca out and sort the zombies.

Pete: Zombies on a good day.

Ben: You could just pen them in.

Pete: They're not sheep.

Matt: Where are you penning them? They're after you.

Ben: Just lasso them.

Matt: What, like Nick Frost keeps Simon Pegg in his shed in Shaun of the Dead?

Ben: Yeah.

10. Last question (cue laughter), what's your favourite word?

Wil: Oooh, I think mine is deluge. It just sounds so nice and you can imagine being covered in water but very rapidly. In a deluge.

Ben: I like the word curmudgeon because it sort of feels like it fits the moment but it's a great word. You know, it sounds like what it is. Sort of.

Wil: Yeah, can you explain that?

Ben: Well, it sounds like droopy and sad and (puts on a somewhat dull, old man tone)"uhh curmudgeonly." Isn't it mate? (pats Pete's thigh)

Matt: I like the word confusion. (Silence for it to sink in then laughter from everyone) I always have. It kind of sounds like what it does. And what's yours, Pete?

Pete: No? That's a good word. I don't know. Love?

(Collective groans)

Wil: No love.

Pete: I don't know. Something long. I can barely speak so I don't like any words. I can't get them out my mouth.

*After the interview, we decided that Pete's favourite word should be catastrophe for what some may call obvious reasons*

You can catch Max Raptor on the UK Throwdown Tour with Press To Meco and Allusondrugs by buying tickets here.

The One Where I Talk About How Sexual Harassment Is Not Ok (Capiche, Austin Kerr?)

Imagine this. You're chilling after a gig after seeing one of your favourite bands, a band who mean so much to you that they've played an integral part in forming your identity. You've seen them play several times before and you've interacted with them on social media so much that you can personally message them. In other words, this is a band whom you unconditionally trust. Suddenly, a member of said band proceeds to come up behind you and attempt to unhook your bra. How would you feel about this? Shocked? Betrayed? Violated?

Spare a thought for the people who are coming out about their harrowing encounters with Austin Kerr, bassist of Set It Off, in which they were subjected to harassment both in person and over messages. These encounters have ranged from persistent messaging in an attempt to force fans to have a threesome with him to underage sex and abduction. Despite being told to stop in many of these instances, Kerr would either continue his actions or only stop once he or the person whom he'd been molesting had been pulled away. 

That's not how consent works. No, would you believe, actually does mean no. By blatantly ignoring the fact that they didn't want to do anything, Kerr has denied them of their human right to choose what they want to do with their body. As result of being forced into unwanted sexual situations, there are going to be people out there who feel responsible for what happened to them because they couldn't stop it. For all the people who have spoken up, there are going to be just as many who aren't saying anything because they blame themselves. The one thing in common that all his victims will share however is a changed outlook on how they interact with musicians in the future. Being a musician means being in a position where you are trusted by your fans which, for the most part, many musicians understand. Kerr however has misused this position to abuse the trust of several of his fans, underage or not, who were all vulnerable due to their trust in him. His actions mean that for some victims, it's going to take some time before they can trust their favourite bands again.

Though there has been some issue as to whether incidents could have been prevented by the victims, that isn't the main thing because really, the victims shouldn't have been placed in such situations in the first place. What is important is that Kerr felt he had the right to degrade these fans and must now be brought to justice for what he has done, both to protect anyone who could be his next victim and to allow those who have been wronged by him to move on with their lives.

In spite of this, many have still been insisting that these fans have been making false allegations. If you're one of the people who have been protecting Austin or who doesn't believe what is being said, consider this; why would these ladies lie about a member of a band, which they really like, when the repercussions of such a lie would possibly cause the band to break up and would most definitely ruin the life of the member involved? To think that a person would be so juvenile as to make up stories of harassment for attention is absurd. These people have had to overcome their fear of Kerr to come forward about what has happened to them and to shame them for wanting to prevent anyone else from having such traumatic experiences is just plain wrong. 

At this moment, Set It Off hasn't published a statement so I can't confirm whether the whole band has been made aware of what has happened. Nonetheless, considering that their guitarist Dan Clermont has been told by fans of incidents on numerous occasions, including via Twitter dms which can be seen below (these dms were shown to me by one of his victims), it's unlikely that they don't know. Set It Off need to acknowledge what Kerr has done and take appropriate action before more people are left psychologically scarred. First and foremost, it is the fan's safety that matters and if Set It Off can't realise that, they don't deserve the right to play in front of a crowd, no matter how good they are.

Leap Of Faith : Watsky at Warped Tour

Leap Of Faith : Watsky at Warped Tour

Three days ago, rapper George Watsky made the decision to jump off a lighting rig during his set at Warped Tour in Alexandra, making headlines in national newspapers everywhere and prompting response for the foolishness of his actions. Having been present at the event when it occurred however, I'd like to mention a couple of things and bring in my own light into what happened.

Firstly, the jump really did not come as a surprise once he started climbing the ladder. Within about 10 seconds of watching Watsky climb, it became increasingly clear that he was going to jump off the lighting rig and I really don’t think I am the only one who realised this. At no point did he slow down while climbing the ladder up to the rig to sing so why would he have done so after he reached the top? Would he then calmly come down the ladder after finishing his song after the crescendo of the response from the audience?

I will say that it may have been slightly misleading as he did take his microphone up the ladder but as soon as he got to the top, he left it on the side before proceeding to walk slightly along the rig and then dive right at the end of the song. Now, please don’t think I’m blaming the crowd for parting; it was only instinct that they did what they did and the crowd wasn’t dense enough anyway for the dive to have been successful at such a height. However, I do want to know what security was doing at the time. I hadn’t been close enough to see what the security had been doing but in my opinion, they most probably did have time to stop Watsky. (This is an observation, I am not pointing the finger at anyone.)

I do not condone his actions nor do I think it was particularly smart of him to take such a risk but we have to remember something quite important: the dive was not planned. Having been present at the set when this occurred, I saw the looks on the faces of the band members which most certainly confirmed this had been a spur of the moment decision for Watsky.

This was not a publicity stunt; to say otherwise would be to go against what Watsky himself and his music stand for. What he had done was to make an instinctive decision to end his performance on the climax it had been building towards, though this unfortunately did not end as he must have hoped. As much of an assumption this may be, this is still an assumption based on his music and music for many artists are insights to their identities. Watsky in particular made one song about his work ethic, which can be seen below. (Lyrics are in the description in case you can’t hear what he’s saying as he raps quite quickly.)


Why would a man who even raps about working hard ruin his career which he has worked so hard to achieve with a stunt that goes wrong?

Whatever happened was the result of one stupid decision which although he should be held responsible for, shouldn’t be something hanging over his head throughout his career, nor should it be the only thing he is remembered for. Because quite frankly, had it not happened, he would have been remembered as being the rapper who made the people expecting a rock band have a good time.

Interview with Morain

Imagine there's a heat wave, much like the one in the UK now, and today, like every other day for the past few weeks, it's really hot. You're walking outside and although you can see some clouds, you don't think it'll rain as it hasn't done so in several weeks. But then you feel something drop on your hand, something cold, something unexpected. Rain. It's just a couple of drops tumbling down at first and slowly but surely, it gets heavier and heavier. Before you know it, you're drenched- your hair, your clothes, your skin, everything. After all this time of relentless heat, you suddenly feel cool and my, oh my, it feels wonderful.

That is Morain. They are the breath of fresh air, the hidden gem amongst all the bands who promise individuality yet are predictably generic. I had the pleasure of interviewing the lead singer, Wil Frost, so if you want to know more about this wonderful band, read on. They do not disappoint so make sure you give them a listen and follow them on twitter here.

Interview with Cytota

How do you describe a band like Cytota? Brummie? Melodic post-hardcore? Young? Although they are all of the above, I'd like to highlight two missing words which, in my opinion, sum them up most accurately; unashamedly talented. Some may choose to focus on the fact that they have come particularly far for a band of their age and while this may be true, I'd like to point out that their music should be the main thing that matters and everything else, be it their age or their home town, is merely a triviality when listening to their music. Other than that, what I really want to say is that Cytota is a band that is most definitely going to make its mark on the music industry if it hasn't already begun doing so. You better keep your eye on them folks as I'm certain you'll be reading about them in a music magazine near you soon enough. Anyway, enjoy the interview and if you like, you can access their Twitter here and their Facebook here to drop them a like or a follow. The official interview is here.