A Sense Of Purpose - Interview

Hey, Breathing The Core fans, here we bring you another interview of the Metalcore band A Sense Of Purpose from USA, so here you can see and give a like to his FACEBOOK PAGE. We have nothing more to say, so enjoy this interview!

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Kyle: The name originally was a song of ours (Now called Of Faults and Failures) which to me is about the idea that having something to work towards and fight for is energizing and can “set you free” from some of life’s smaller worries and struggles. It just seemed to work better as a band name than a song title, so here we are!

Jon: The band name comes from a repetitive lyric in “Of Faults and Failures” --”a sense of purpose will set me free; I must search within myself for a sense of purpose”. The phrase stood out to us while we were recording “Become One”, so much that we decided it would be a good name to represent the band, so we changed the name of the song and here we are.

Chris: The name comes from a lyrics in our song “Of Faults and Failures” from our first EP. It is fitting because one message we want to give as a band is that finding your place in life and a reason to be are vital to a pleasant existence. It is also fitting because for us in the band, playing music together is our own sense of purpose.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?  

Kyle: Metal to me has the potential to be the most varied genre of music and can have so many different emotions - blending that with the technicality that is common in the genre is so appealing to me.

Jon: My favorite thing about the genre is the immense opportunity for contrast. Having the capacity to blend clean guitars and singing with screams and a defined low-end really opens up the possibilities for the direction a song can take. In a live setting especially, metal possesses a full frontal energy that is unmatched by pretty much every other genre.

Chris: Ever since I listened to Metallica at the age of 11, the aggression and power within metal music has always called to me. Throughout the years I’ve developed a more refined taste and I now like to include plenty of melody, ambience and more intricate elements of composition into metal but still I like playing this genre for its pure power.

Seth: As cliché as it sounds, I can remember listening to the bands that introduced me to the metal genre - Pantera, Iron Maiden, Metallica, etc. - and being drawn to the aggressiveness of the music. Now, I have grown to appreciate the boundlessness of the metal genre. Within metal music, there is so much diversity, and talented musicians are constantly infusing the genre with their own flare and flavor.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Kyle: I was in a band with Jon’s older brother in high school and we connected through mutual friends to pursue the band together.

Jon: Chris and I have been making music together since we were like 13. He, Kyle, and I all went to the same high school, and Seth and Nick were likewise paired, so our rhythm section came as a package deal when we solidified our current lineup.

Chris: Jon and I have been making music together since we became friends nearly 9 years ago. Kyle was known through Jon’s brother, who was in a high school band with Jon and I, so that’s how he came into the fold. Nick and Seth were actually met through craigslist, but they were already buds, so it all came together quite nicely.

Seth: The foundation of the band was formed prior to my arrival. Chris, Jon, and Kyle were all closely acquainted with one another before I knew of them and their musical endeavors. Nick and I were good friends prior to meeting those three. Nick and I were a two-for-one package: they auditioned Nick for drums, and shortly after he earned his spot in the band, I auditioned for bass - they were gracious enough to give me the spot (haha).

4. Each band member favourite band?  

Kyle: currently really digging Silent Planet

Jon: I still haven’t been cured of “Juggernaut fever” so I have to say Periphery.

Chris: Periphery

Nick: As of now, I would have to say Erra

Seth: My head says The Black Dahlia Murder, my heart tells me Counterparts

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Chris: Musically, my songwriting inspiration comes from a endless list of bands and musicians. I have a core group of influences within the metalcore, djent and progressive metal genres that get me going, but ,as time goes on, I try more and more to write in my own style, rather than rehashing other bands’ sounds. Lyrically, my inspiration generally comes from one of two places. One general topic I write about are problems I observe in the world around me. These can include: our generation’s apathy towards most things, prevalent and unjust racism and hate in America, and our society’s need to take sides rather than unifying. The other side of my lyrical content comes from personal struggles and experiences of mine. This includes my battle with depression/anxiety and using unhealthy coping mechanisms.

6. Where was your last gig?

The 2015 All Stars Tour (Cleveland Agora) - our biggest show yet!

7. Where would you like to act?  

Jon: Anywhere that our music will get a response from the audience, really. Northeast Ohio has a pretty ‘quaint’ scene right now, so getting out to places where the music is really appreciated would be, as we say, titties.

Chris: Right now, we’re trying to expand past Northeast Ohio, so a venue in Columbus, like the Newport, would be sweet.

Seth: I want to play everywhere, at any venue that will invite our band through their doors. Realistically, I would like to end 2016 by playing some out-of-state shows.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?  

Kyle: Periphery, After the Burial, Tesseract

Jon: Wovenwar or Killswitch Engage would be really fun.

Chris: Periphery, Killswitch Engage, and probably Creed.

Nick: Reflections, The Plot in You….Anyone, really.

Seth: Erra, The Contortionist, Glass Cloud

9. Whom not?  

Jon: I think there are so many subgenres of metal nowadays that we could make almost any partnership work. I think we have enough creativity amongst the five of us that we could even make something like Ke$ha or Childish Gambino work. I mean, we did John Mayer okay, right?

Chris: I’m down to play with anyone really, though I can’t see us fitting on a bill with Kanye or anything in that musical realm. We probably also won’t share the stage with Death of an Era anytime soon because, unbeknownst to me, I put my nutsack on their merch table.

Nick: I will, literally, play with anyone

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?  

Kyle: I get nervous as hell almost every show - the only way I’ve found is to practice your material until you’re confident and then push through the stage fright. It goes away when the adrenaline kicks in. Also doing shots seems to help…

Jon: I’ve been a performer for most of my life, yet I only just recently came to the very simple conclusion that the audience came to see a SHOW. So no matter what you do on stage, as long as you’re entertaining the crowd, you’re fulfilling your PURPOSE (ha!). Just relax and get lost in the music. If you need a lubricant like alcohol to get you there, so be it. Everything in moderation.

Chris: I did when I played in my high school band but I’ve been on stage a bunch since that and don’t really get afraid anymore. Easiest way to get through it is repetition and to know your material well. Alcohol has also helped.

Seth: I think stage fright is something that every musician has to face. I’ve found that being comfortable with the set and confident in your playing can alleviate much of the jitters of playing on-stage. If you can confidently play the set, then you have no reason to doubt yourself once you’re on the stage - just practice the material, have fun and remember that you are sharing the stage with friends that are invested in a common goal and playing alongside you.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?  

Jon: I think we’ve derived our inspiration from a pretty wide array of sources, and because of that, our music doesn’t really SOUND like anything else. That’s a big point of pride I have with our music, and it stems from our compulsory knowledge and appreciation of music as an art form. From individuals like Dave Grohl and Paul Gilbert, to innovative groups like Periphery and The Dear Hunter, we’ve taken inspiration from sonic and personal characteristics that we, and hopefully larger audiences, can really get into.

Chris: I think we all have a wide array of influences but some common ground is probably Periphery and some old school metalcore.

Nick: Some bands that have inspired me, even if it doesn’t show in the music of the band, include Underoath and The Dillinger Escape Plan.

Seth: The Black Dahlia Murder has always been an inspiration. I marvel at the consistency of their discography - every album is good, and they progress with every release. I’m anticipating the release of Abysmal this fall. Other bands and artists include Decapitated, The Contortionist, Northlane, Guthrie Govan and Jon Gomm - a weird mix, you could say.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?  

Jon: I don’t know that we’ve really been asked for anything much yet. But we’ve been told on a few occasions that we are “adorable”. So I’m sure it’s only a matter of time…

Seth: I mean, nothing really, unfortunately. I would love for some weird-stuff to happen, though.

13. What do you think of your fans?  

Jon: *laughs* if you’re out there, I hope you all have hot sisters.

Chris: Currently, since they’re pretty much exclusively our friends, they’re alright haha. But if we have any fans out there that I don’t know yet, thank you and let’s share a beer at our next gig.

Seth: To those that consistently come to our shows, or come whenever their schedule permits, and support what we do in any capacity that they can, I appreciate it greatly. To all the fans that I don’t know, that may or may not exist, don’t be strangers - we want to get to know you!

14. What do you think of our site?  

Jon: I think it’s great that sites like Breathing the Core are out there to lend a hand to struggling local artists! Like I said before, our local scene doesn’t have a strong presence, so most of our exposure has to come from digital mediums like blogs and Facebook. So, thanks for taking an interest in our work!

Chris: I think this site is fantastic. It’s refreshing as a band member, and even just as a music fan, to see people out there making an effort to help the heavy music scene grow. So thank you!

Seth: Any medium that seeks to promote the products of artists, especially in the metal scene, is something that I greatly value. Judging from the site, Breathing the Core seems like a professionally-run site that has great intentions. Thank you for investing your time and interest into our music!

15. Something to add?

Jon: I just want everyone to know that we are really excited for what’s in store for this next year. We have some really cool things lined up...I can’t spoil the surprise just yet, but between that and the consistently positive response we’ve gotten even just in these past few months, I can’t get over the feeling that we’re on the verge of something really pivotal for this band. #ohiovstheworld

Chris: To anyone that read this, thanks! To Breathing the Core, thanks for having us! If you like what we do and want to see us do it better, keep an eye on us because we’ve got some sick material on its way to your ears.

Seth: Again, thank you, Breathing the Core, for interviewing us! To those who happen to read this interview, keep our name in mind. We are working hard to better ourselves as musicians, and we’re working ceaselessly to present potential audiences with music that they can hopefully find enjoyment in. Until then, stay metal \m/(>_<)\m/