Q1: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A:
Pat: Quiet, adaptable and willing to listen likes to be loud.
For childhood impacts I would say my mom listen to a mix of metal, and hip hop, and my dad introduced hard rock to me.
John: the way I got into drumming was playing rock bands drums to build up my coordination and eventually getting my first drum kit at 5 years old. I got into a lot of my music tastes and various blends through them. I also have some specific I’d say help me in my formative years, and thats Dave, I hope I get to see you again dude.
Vaughn: I’m someone with a lot to say, but could never phrase it the way i wanted too, until i picked up a guitar. growing up, my father was an avid music lover. he’d play a pretty consistent variety, from hip hop to whatever was on the radio in 2006. that range really helped me discover what is it i liked about music, not genres, but music. he leaned towards rock so i love a loud guitar, though.
Q2: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Shape Or Form”?
A:
Band: With growing our fan base we believe in performing live, we all love to travel and love to perform for people. We all wanna see the world and be able to perform for it, we wanna get to learn cultures and such and see how other folks walk this world. We wanna see the other bands too, getting to see these up and coming peers of ours on the music scene.
For people out of place there are places here for you, there’s no outcasts here with Shape Or Form.
Q3: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A:
Pat: my artist for me would be Nirvana for melody and feel, Dinosaur Jr is in the same boat, blink-182 is monstrous with hooks and chorus
For Inspiration for me can really come from anywhere and at any time, I always have notes written down when I get them
John: The most inspiring artist right now has to be good kid, there music is a amazing and have impacted the way I play a lot. And what inspires me to continue with music is seeing how much of an impact my personal drum hero, Joey Jordison, left on the world from behind the kit. That’s what inspires me.
Vaughn: right now, the story so far and knuckle puck have been on constant rotation. i think those melodies are infectious and those guys are tight, man. plus seeing a contant murder, guys have been grinding for the love of it. crybaby cult, people we’re actively growing with. this whole music world is so vast and open, i feel included.
as for finding inspiration, i simply need an outlet to get those thoughts out. i have always found it difficult to relay how i felt at any given moment, but music makes me feel heard, as i’m able to finally get it out.
Q4: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Don’t Turn Away.”?
A:
Vaughn: everyone has been through a heartbreak, a loss.
i simply needed a way to cope through an ideal like that. and i can only hope, i can provide comfort to those who even feel remotely similar to just the way this sounds, let alone the lyrics.
everything good must come to an end.
Q5: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A:
Band: Wistful, like mixed feelings of honesty, uniqueness, and nostalgic
Q6: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Don’t Turn Away”?
A:
Band: Yes, we recorded about 5 times. what you hear now, is our most confident product we put together. there is always room for improvement, however i don’t see that as a demotion. simply put, i see that as foundation for us moving forward.
Q7:What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A:
Band: for those outta place there’s a place you’re never outta place in Shape Or Form
Pat: My goals as an artist is to progress with music and make it a full time deal, and try to play bigger and bigger places and reach all places on earth for people to hear.
John: My goal is to eventually learn as many instruments as possible and broaden my musical horizons.
Vaughn: I can’t stress enough how much music helped me in my darkest moments. there was someone out there who heard me.
i would love to share my music all over the world. i take a lot of joy in the idea of people listening to something like breaking benjamin, from here to japan, knowing they came from similar footsteps and a familiar area. there’s a universal language in music i desperately want to be apart of.
Q8: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A:
Pat: Travis Barker b/c of his modern mixing strategy and understanding of the artists and adding a signature sound
John: Trent Reznor, dude is an icon in the industrial metal scene and has been known for writing all his music, I’d love to meet the dude and see his work cycle first hand while adding my own addition with my drumming.
Vaughn: I would love to work with Hayley Williams.
i have always identified with her lyricism, her knack for aesthetics, and of course taste in music! she’d sing anything i’d throw out at her out of the park.
Q9: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A:
Pat: if you’re pursuing music as a full time career make sure you’re more than 100% in on it and know exactly what you wanna do being in a band or someone in the industry to prepare yourself and make connections with as many people in the industry as possible
John: Never give up on your dreams, every tunnel always has light at the end, you just gotta find the right people and itll all play out. The hardest and scariest part is the first time of starting things, if a college drop out like me can do it, so can you!
Vaughn: Never lose sight of your passions, and please share them. don’t hide your ideas and visions. there is an audience for everyone.
Q10: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A:
Pat: Being in a band is a constant grind, of not only the music aspect but also making connections and the networks and business perspective it doesnt happen over night, it will take time.
John: Stop beating yourself up so much, you’ll get there one day and all this pain won’t hurt anymore. Just give yourself time and room to breathe, and itll be ok. You’ll wow the world with your personality alone, but behind that is a ton of talent. Don’t count yourself out just yet.
Vaughn: Never give up.
i made it somewhere i never could of dreamed, even 3 years ago. and i know we can keep growing.
