Forest Wars - Interview

In this new occasion we have the great opportunity to interview the Progressive Hardcore/Power Violence band Forest Wars from USA, here we will let you their FACEBOOK PAGE to give them a like and follow them. 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?  

Josh: The name Forest Wars was a concept I had came up with for a grind project about different groups of people claiming territory in different woodsy areas around the world and going to war with one another. It was a concept about human digression due to over exposure from technology, the Internet, and social media. In this idea people end up going back to primitive ways.

We needed a band name so I just decided that it would become the name. It was a last minute band that was put together to fill out a show I booked for a friends band from New York that was coming through our area on tour. Forest Wars ended up being more than what we expected. It was supposed to just be a one time thing but the reaction we received on the first show was a pleasant surprise, so we kept on going.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

Josh: It was a completely different sound or style than any of us have ever played before. So we took what we knew about Hardcore and PowerViolence and put our spin on it. Also the freedom to experiment and be loose is extremely intriguing.

Jesse: Because its fast, heavy and fun

Marcus: I love to play a wide variety and this band allows me to release aggression and explore areas of music, different from what I'm used to.

Jon: Freedom

Nicky: I love this genre.

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

Josh: Yeah, Myself and Nicky are brothers as well as band mates in a Prog Metal band from Chillicothe Ohio along with Jon. Jesse and Marcus are in a separate Prog Metal band from the same town we are. We have spent years playing shows together and were friends already. It just made sense for us to work together in Forest Wars.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Josh: Deftones

Jesse: Deafheaven

Marcus: Slipknot

Jon: Pink Floyd, Dillinger Escape Plan, btbam

Nicky: Metallica

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?  

Josh: The inspiration behind a lot of the content in this band for me is love and love lost, but as an overall feel for my writing for all projects can be summed up as mostly about pain and passion. Extreme emotional connection with ideas, life, feelings, human interaction, and conversations. I could go on and on about this subject so I'll try not bore you haha  But it's Almost an over indulgence of emotion. I got lost in the cold dark woods on my trek to utopia a long, long time ago. I'm just using what I have to stay alive.

Jesse: Because music is what I love, and I love writing songs that I am proud of.

Marcus: The need to understand life and to create something that is mine without any restrictions or regulations.

Jon: Emotions

Nicky: Movies and books.

6. Where was your last gig?  

Columbus Ohio with Conveyer, Ghost Key, Until We Are Ghosts, and Until Yesterday. Rad dudes in all the bands, I highly suggest to check out all those guys.

7. Where would you like to act?  

Everywhere possible

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Josh: Chino from Deftones

Jesse: Jonsi from Sigur Ros

Marcus: Weird Al

Jon: Chino from Deftones

Nicky: Mike "Gunface" McKenzie from The Red Chord

9. Whom not?  

Josh: Kanye West or Fronz from Atilla. They share the same brain. Also I know none of the Kardashians are musicians but if they were, they would be number one on this list.

Jesse: The Beatles

Marcus: I can't say I would turn down a show based on who is playing. As far as collaborating goes, I don't think there's many people I wouldn't at least enjoy jamming with.

Jon: Zakk Wylde or Kerry king

Nicky: Lil Wayne

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

Josh: Oh yeah. Most definitely. I still get butterflies before each set but I remind myself that this is my escape from the every day burden of existence so I try to get lost. Even if it is only for a half hour. Enjoy that nervousness though. It reminds you you're still breathing.

Marcus: You just have to play. Good or bad, just keep playing and learning about the music and yourself. If you play for the need and love of music, rather than acceptance, you can grow to feel at home up there. Life will become just time in between stages.

Jesse: Get a box of tissues and get over it.

Jon: Yeah when Shall Be(mine, Nicks, and Josh's other band)  first started playing shows. Just practice. The more comfortable you are with the material the more comfortable you'll be on stage

Nicky: Yeah. Don't let fear stop you from doing something unless the thing you're doing is illegal.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?  

Josh: Deftones, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Pantera, mostly metal bands, some melodic hardcore bands I'm a fan of, some modern metallic hardcore bands, and honestly a lot of country music from the 70's to mid 90's inspire me when it comes to my writing. I'm a massive country music fan. Real country music though. There's something so honest and sad with classic country that really gets my gears going. I'm a fan of writing about sorrow. It's way more interesting and dynamic than any other emotion, I feel. Sad songs are therapeutic. They help us relate and heal. No one sang sorrow like them old school country folk.

Jesse: Metallica, explosions in the sky, btbam, deafheaven.

Marcus: Slipknot, Primus, Zox, Killswitch Engage, Al Green, The Spill Canvas...

Jon: Pink Floyd, Dillinger Escape Plan, btbam

Nicky: Gaza, Pig Destroyer, Cattle Decapitation.

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

Josh: It's always weird when someone from our home town(or anywhere at that) asks me to sign something. Like I do it because they want it for some reason but it's like, man you know me haha like I dated your sister. I'm broke and work at a daycare when I'm not playing music. I'm far from someone valued enough to have a signature of. I do it when asked though because denying them something as simple as writing your name on a cd or whatever would be a rockstar move. It's usually younger kids that don't know any better yet that ask for my signature. I went through that phase as a young teenager going to shows so I understand where they're coming from. Most of the people I thought were cool in music and wanted their signature ended up being very rude to me. So I refuse to act that way. Also side note, kids, don't go and get a tattoo of a local band you looked up to that treated you like you were annoying and not worth their time. You will regret it, trust me haha  Jesse-I don't know? I feel weird signing autographs in general.

Marcus: Sweaty hugs, and autographs. I don't have a problem with either, I just don't understand why people want them from me lol.

Jon: It isn't strange to ask but it felt incredibly awkward being asked for an autograph.

Nicky: Probably for a hug or to sign something.

13. What do you think of your fans?  

Josh: They have been awesome. We have gotten a ton of amazing feedback and support from fans and friends.

14. What do you think of our site?  

Its rad, we are super stoked you reached out to us to do this!

15. Something to add?

Check out our EP "Light Leaks" as well as two brand new tracks we released on our bandcamp. forestwars.bandcamp.com . Also like us on Facebook and tell us what you think of the jams!