Indie Exclusive: My Heart To Fear Interview!

My Heart To Fear is a great Christian metalcore band from Pennsylvania! Their song, "The Witching Hour" is amazing. I recently got the chance to interview the guys from MHTF, so here it is! Enjoy! My questions are in red, and MHTF's answers are in black.

First of all, can you tell us about how My Heart To Fear was formend, and how you got the band name?

My Heart to Fear was formed by a group of high school friends back in 2005, with a big dream, and almost no musical experience. Our band name comes from the old song, "Amazing Grace" , where it says, "twas grace that taught my heart to fear".

 

How would you describe the music of MHTF?

Our music is written as more of a story than just a song. We're about to go into the studio to record a brand new full length CD. Genre wise, the music is experimental/melodic metalcore.

 

Your song "The Witching Hour" deals with a topic many Christian musicians don't touch, demons. What was the inspiration behind this song?

The Witching Hour was written out of personal experiences and the idea of Gods existence proven through the duality of good and evil.

 

MHTF just wrapped up playing the extreme tour. Can you tell us what touring across the us is like?

Meeting so many amazing people on tour really inspired a lot of the new songs and lyrics. Touring across the US is quite an experience, the jumps from town to town show you subculture you may never have come upon other wise.

 

How have you seen the music of MHTF impact your fans?

We love our fans and they are as much a part of this band as we are. They have impacted us just as much as the stories they tell of our music in their lives. We have a file with emails from our fans from the last almost 6 years, sharing very personal stories of their lives and struggles, and how our band in some way has helped them or touched them. It's amazing and humbling.

 

What would you say is the band's main goal to accomplish in the music industry?

MHTF wants to create honest music not aimed to just please or give kids a breakdown to dance to, but to also create a movement of love and acceptance across every race, religion and culture.

 

What would you say is the best and worst part of being an independent band?

It is very difficult to support yourself financially as an indie band. We have been fortunate to remain debt free after 6 years of being a band together, but it hasn't been easy. The best part of being an independent band is the lyrical and musical freedom.

 

What are the favorite Bible verses of the guys from MHTF?

Jeremiah 29:11-13

 

If MHTF could play any stage with any artist, who and where would that be?

I cant say that we focus too much on this sort of thing, so its difficult to say. We just love meeting all sorts of artist, and in all different places. We have been blessed to have shared the stage with some amazing bands across the country.

 

Has anything strange or funny happened to the band?

Wow. Do you have about 6 hours to talk about this question? Haha. The most recent thing that happed is, last week, coming back from a show in New York, we were driving through a horrible thunder and lightning storm, the same storm that flooded much of Pennsylvania recently. 2 large trees had fallen on the road and on power lines, which because of the storm we couldn't see them in time, so we skidded to a stop and got entangled in all the trees. We had to wait for the fire department to get there and cut the trees up and free our van and trailer. We slept in the firemans truck while they cut us out.

 

What does the band enjoy doing outside of the music?

Several of us used to snowboard, and play baseball and basketball, but honestly now music is about the only thing that any of us do at this point in our lives, whether that be playing shows, practicing, touring, writing music or writing lyrics.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. Any closing thoughts?

No problem! yeah, please look us up on facebook and like us. Also, go to youtube and look for our new music video "The Witching Hour". If you listen to RadioU or TVU be sure to stop by to their sites and say hello and request more My Heart To fear. We were number 7 last week on their top 15, and "The Witching Hour" is playing on TVU on their hardcore show the battery.  Stay tuned for our new full length that should be coming out before the end of the year. When it does come out be sure to read the lyrics.

Indie Spotlight: My Heart To Fear

I recently came across a hardcore band I think you'll really like! The band is My Heart To Fear, from Williamsport, PA. Their mix of screaming vocals, heavy guitars and meaningful lyrics are sure to draw listeners in. Check out their music video for "The Witching Hour" below, which I happen to really like, even though I normally don't like screamo. You can visit the band's Facebook to hear more of their music.

Interview: Skyhawk Drive!

I recently had the privilege of conducting an interview with Ronnie Bingaman, lead singer of Skyhawk Drive. Skyhawk Drive is an up and coming band from Greencastle, PA, and has released an EP, "Center Stage Shout Out" in 2009. Currently Skyhawk Drive is in the studio at Skies Fall, recording a new album! I'm super stoked for it! It was a great privilege to interview Ronnie, and make sure and check out The Extreme Tour site to see when Skyhawk Drive will visit your area! (I believe they're touring from the middle of June through mid-July on the Extreme Tour.)  My questions are in black, and Skyhawk Drive's answers are in red. Enjoy!

Can you please tell us a bit about how Skyhawk Drive was formed and the story behind the band name?
The band was started back in high school for an English project. We had to read a book and then present it in front of the class in a creative way. We made  the band, wrote a song about the book, and made a little music video for it. "Skyhawk Drive" came from a street name in a town not to far from ours=) 


Your first album, “Center Stage Shout Out” was released in 2009, and “Their Dance, Your Chance” became a hit in Japan, China and the Philippines. What was it like seeing your song doing so well in other countries?
We are all really happy with how "big" its gotten. For us 30 some thousand views on Youtube is big. Haha it might not seem like anything compared to other bigger music videos but to us we were stoked with the response.


“Finest Mistake” is an amazing song with a Pro-Life message. Can you explain what inspired you to write the song?
The song was written about a close friend of the bands. She went through this situation and we saw her go through those hard times. She is now married and is the mother of a beautiful baby girl. It took a lot of faith and and courage to do what she did in that situation and it was really inspiring to us.


Currently you guys are at Skies Fall Studios recording your second album. What can we expect lyrically and musically from this record?
You guys can expect a ton from this new record. It really has shown how we have grown as Christians, people, and musicians. The songs are a little edgier but still keep that pop catchy feel. We grew up and so has our music. We're tired of the super happy pop sound so we've  changed it up a bit. The Ep shows off our more "popish" songs out of all our new music. We hope to soon after, record  full length with everything we've written in the past few months.

Of course, who can ask about recording at Skies Fall without asking what it’s like to work with Ben Kasica and Nick Radovanovic? =)
Ben and Nick are really great guys! It was intimidating at first because we're all Skillet fans. We learned how awesome Nick's old band, Acceptance, was after getting into the studio. They are both extremely talented musicians. Working with them has been really incredible for us and I count it as a huge blessing to able to work with such a great team on this!


Who has influenced Skyhawk Drive the most as a band?
We really take so many influences from so many places. Too many to even list. Theres a huge list of bands that influence us, movies even influence us, God and His word, situations influence us, and people and life in general is all an influence.  

I’m sure some hilarious stuff happens while touring. Can you share with us one of those “moments”?
One time after a show we packed up all our gear and pulled out of the venue and drove about 15 minutes and realized we left our drummer at the venue. All of our phones were either dead or on silent so we didnt get his calls=)

I bet touring can be hectic and stressful at times. How do you guys keep up your relationship with God while touring?
Our keyboardist is actually just now graduating from high school this spring. Because of that we really haven't been able to tour much at all. We pretty much have been limited to weekend shows. Our first official tour will be this summer across the east coast and some in the mid west. The band, thankfully, hasnt taken a big toll on any relationships thus far. If anything its strengthened our walk with Christ. We've definitely had some stressful times that we needed to rely on Gods strength and guidance to get us through it=)

If you could tour anywhere in the world with any band, where and who would it be?
I would love to do a European tour and I really wanna play a Flevo fest in Holland haha. We would love to tour with 30 seconds to mars, Paramore, Relient K, SKillet, or Switchfoot. Any of those bands would be incredible to tour with!

Could you please share with us the members of Skyhawk Drive’s favorite Scripture?
As a band we all like the verse Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." That verse has gotten me personally through battles and hardships. Its engraved on my necklace that I wear all the time so its an easy reminder to all of us that God has everything under control even when we can see it.

In what ways have you seen your music affect your fans?
A lot of people have come up to us after shows in the past years and told us their stories and how our songs have given them hope and helped them in their time of need. Its the coolest thing ever to hear stories like that because you know God has used you in some way. Its probably the most rewarding part about being in a band.


Now, since Skyhawk Drive is from right here in Pennsylvania, I have to ask….Steelers or Eagles? =P
What or what? Eagles are pretty cool birds. I hope they don't go extinct. Steeling isn't good so I'm not about that. (we're not into sports haha)


Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions. Would you like to share any closing thoughts?
Thanks for asking us these questions=) 

"Center Stage Shout Out" by Skyhawk Drive Review!

I'm really excited to review this project! I recently heard about Skyhawk Drive, and their EP, "Center Stage Shout Out" which was released in November of 2009.

Starting off the EP is a fun intro track that sets the pace for "Center Stage Shout Out": a fun, electro-pop/rock album with light hearted lyrics that bring a positive message as well. "Their Dance, Your Chance brings a fun pop track infused with elements of rock. This song is so fun, but brings a message of being who we are without caring what others think with lyrics such as, "Shout HEY! World it's me, I don't care what you think!"



Coming in at track number three, "Us Against The Clock" is one of the most fun tracks off the EP. Now, I want to clarify something. When I first heard this song, I thought there was a swear word in the opening lyrics. THERE IS NOT! Ronnie from Skyhawk Drive told me they do not use swear words in their music, which I think is pretty awesome of them. The music is fun, and I bet this is even more awesome live.

"Hey Candi" is a lighthearted, sweet song about a girl that equates how he feels about her with the effects of candy. It's a funny song, but doesn't fall into that "oh brother" category. "Finest Mistake" has got to be one of the BEST Pro-Life songs ever written. This song tells the story of a young girl who makes the choice to have her child; her finest mistake. "Finest Mistake" is a powerful and beautiful song, and I encourage you to listen to it as soon as you can.

 "Silence Says" is next and carries more of a punk feel, with lyrics that deal with the confusion of trying take the advice of others, trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Great track with a strong punk feel.

"The Breakaway" closes out the EP, and is probably my personal favorite off the album. As teenagers, we go through a lot of terrible things, but through this song Skyhawk Drive encourages us to "give it all to grace" and promises "You're worth more than what they say, don't you forget for another day, that you're loved and you mean everything ". This acoustic track is beautiful, conveys God's love for us, and is the perfect closer for the album.

"Center Stage Shout Out" gave us just a taste of what Skyhawk Drive is capable of. Two years later, Skyhawk Drive is still going strong, and is currently in Skies Fall Studios creating a new project! I recently had the opportunity to interview Ronnie Bingaman, the lead singer of Skyhawk Drive! The interview will be up within the week, and I'm really excited for you guys to get to know this awesome band from right here in Pennsylvania!

Introducing....KAELUM WAY!

Well, as you know, I LOVE to find new bands, especially up and coming indie ones. After watching Ben Kasica's first Skies Fall podcast, I knew I wanted to check out the bands I saw featured in it. I have to say, Kaelum Way was my favorite!

Kaelum Way is a new band from Nashua, New Hampshire, and they sound very promising! They released their EP, (produced by Ben Kasica) on May 10th, and I really want it now that I have previewed it! The clips sound really good; their vocal and musical abilities definitely shine! You can preview and buy "Pictures Of Home" here. Judging from their website's about page, they would be an awesome band to see live. I.e: "The band has an energetic live performance of original songs that have been known to include such antics as swapping instruments (even mid-song), two-person drum solos, and chains of 3 members playing each others guitars and a trumpet."

Kaelum Way is also giving away a FREE download of their song, "Let Go" on their Facebook. It's a great track, and hey, you might really like them! I know I do.

Music Review: "The Grey EP" by Icon For Hire

Icon For Hire is a new band signed by Tooth & Nail last summer. You can read about them in my New Bands You Should Know: Part 2 segment! They've released two independent EPs, and I'll be reviewing their most recent work, "The Grey" which was released in 2009. Since this is only a 3 song EP, I'm going to try and be as detailed as possible, and hopefully, I won't bore you! Let's begin!

"The Grey" kicks off with "Carried Away", which has a very interesting intro. It's definitely "ear-catching" with an almost Asian sound at the beginning...however....it leads into some rocking guitars and even a yell. Icon for Hire is definitely harder, so if you like hard music, you will like Icon For Hire. The lyrics speak of going through hard times, yet being strong and pulling through. "Carried Away" is overall a decent song, I just find it doesn't break the mold to pieces. The lyrics really pull this song from about a 3 to a 5, and the music fits the song perfectly, it just seems a little too familiar. You know what I mean?


"Fall Apart" is one of my favorite Icon For Hire songs. Ariel's vocals are strong, and the music is also rock solid. "Fall Apart" carries on the theme of never giving up, declaring "Seize our families, take our homes away, we don't fall apart, we don't fall apart!" The only problem I have with this song is the guitar on the verses sounds a bit rough, but perhaps that's the sound they were aiming for. It's not horrendous, but it did catch my attention. The bridge gives us another yell, and it's a little creepy in my opinion, but it actually fills out the song quite nicely. I'm not exactly a fan of screamo, but I try to review cds fairly, regardless of the genre.

Rounding out the EP is another fantastic song, "The Grey". This song is simply AMAZING. The lyrics are really raw and relevant. The theme of this song is how we can be caught in sin, yet in our most horrible times, we are still loved by God. This song isn't quite a ballad, but does slow things down a bit. Ariel's vocals once again shine, and the music is beautiful. It's the perfect closer for the album.



Icon For Hire shows great promise, and I can't wait to hear their new stuff! If you're a fan of Flyleaf, Paramore, I Am Empire, etc, I think you will like Icon for Hire. Even if you don't like those bands, you WILL like Icon For Hire. Trust me. :) Look for their first album on Tooth & Nail July 26th!

The Lost Colors (Indie Review)

As I was searching for new bands, I came across a great band called The Lost Colors, thanks to Cara from http://philadelphiaandthefringe.wordpress.com/.

The Lost Colors is a pop/rock band hailing from Wichita, Kansas. Their Reverb Nation profile describes them as, " five friends united by not only a passion for music, but also a love for Jesus Christ. The group began their career playing various shows to gain recognition around the Wichita area, and soon began branching out to the surrounding regions."

Their debut EP, "The Lost Colors" was released in May of 2009. Containing three songs, it gave us just a little taste of what The Lost Colors is all about.

 The EP starts off with "Blame", and begins with a beautiful piano intro, which later in the chorus turns into a nice guitar riff. Ellie begins to sing of a person who is hurting and angry, and begins to blame others for what they have done to themselves. I really like the lyrics of the bridge, that say, " I know that it's easy to blame everyone else, for our own lack of motivation, and I know that it's easy to blame everyone else, than fixing our own situations." "Blame" is a great song, and I enjoy the music as well as the lyrics. Ellie has a distinct voice, strong in it's own way.

The second track is "Turn Around". It begins with some crashing cymbals that I really love, and crescendos into additional guitar and piano. Ellie's haunting voice begins to sing, "I can't find myself, I'm lost in misery, I don't know where to run, when they chase me..." This song is a great encouragement to those who are hurting. The lyrics and music are once again great. The Lost Colors are amazing songwriters, and very talented musically.

Since this is an EP, there aren't that many songs. Lastly, we have "Say OK". A rocking anthem to not run from our call, to stand up and "Say Ok". The intro to this track is very "ear catching" and they don't disappoint. However, I was disappointed this was the last track.

In closing, The Lost Colors is an amazing indie band, and already they have shared the stage with Red, Emery, and Relient K. Be sure to keep your eye on them, and buy their EP on iTunes. It's only a couple bucks, and well worth it. I give "The Lost Colors EP" a 4.5 out of 5.

Check out their YouTube page for Behind The Scenes videos from their recording session, as well as on tour.

http://www.youtube.com/user/thelostcolors