Interviews: The Fires Below

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Heavy Rock band, The Fires Below from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

If we had ChatGPT a year ago we could just have asked AI, but instead, we spent ages coming up with a shortlist of names that we liked. We can’t remember exactly where The Fires Below came from, most likely from the fiery abyss below. We started to make some artwork and soon the name felt like it really fitted what we were trying to do.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We usually don’t think about playing a specific genre of rock or metal, but rather write various riffs, melodies, and songs that evolve to be a certain way. We listen to a range of heavier music and there are aspects of punk, metal, hard rock, djent, and stoner-rock in our songs.

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

Del and Smithy knew each other from a previous band ages ago called Monster Fight, and Del and Si played together in a previous band Crybaby Deathmatch. So three of us knew each other from various gigs, but Sam was the missing piece of the puzzle and we’ve gotten to know each other since our first jam in 2022.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Narrowing it down to just one is hard, but not to dodge the question…

Del - Iron Money

Sam - Meshuggah

Smithy - QOTSA

Si - System of a Down

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

It’s hard to pin it down. We come up with basic riffs first, then wait for inspiration based on the vibe we’re getting from the melody that comes to mind. Smithy tends to write about what's wrong with the world and there is a lot of source material there, so no shortage of inspiration.

6. Where was your last gig?

Our last gig was at The Spice of Life in Soho, London. It is a very cool place in the heart of London, they seem to have a lot of live music there, so it's quite rare these days. Too many music venues have been closing down, especially in central London.

7. Where would you like to play?

We enjoy and appreciate the venues we currently play, but it would be great to play at a larger London venue like the Garage. It would also be fun to play some niche festivals down the line. We’re also willing to play weddings, bar mitzvahs, and corporate events for a fee. Any offers are welcome! We seemed to get a lot of streams from South/Central America, so that would be something cool to aspire to.

8. Who would you like to support?

QOTSA, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Big Business, Kvelertak, JOHN (timestwo), and Baroness would be great!

9. Who not?

We’re not sure we can be that fussy. Perhaps we’d possibly draw the line at R Kelly.

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

Preparation is key. If you don’t know your own songs really well, then you should be nervous! Otherwise, it’s normal to have some trepidation at first, but the more experience you gain the more comfortable you’ll be with playing live. If you tense up that really doesn’t help, so it’s important to relax.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

This list could be a very long list, we listen to a wide range of different bands, which hopefully you can hear in our music. Early on we shared with each other a playlist of bands we each like that the others might not necessarily have heard of. This was a great thing to do, just to hear each other’s tastes. That being said, we didn’t set out to be like or sound like any other bands in particular. I would say if you like QOTSA, Foo Fighters, Red Fang, and System of a Down then we might be your bag.

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

We’re yet to receive any exotic requests. No one has asked for their money back yet at least!

13. What do you think of your fans?

We think our fans have at least moderately above-average taste. We’re happy if anyone listens to and enjoys our music. We really appreciate the support and it's great to see familiar faces in the crowd at a gig, it gives you a lift.

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s a great site for discovering new interesting stuff you may not otherwise come across. Behind The Artwork is an interesting feature as artwork can be so easily overlooked. Del (drums) does our artwork, so he certainly appreciates this section!

15. Something to add?

We hope you enjoy the single Masquerade and also the upcoming 4-song EP with the same title. We have a show at the Fiddler's Elbow in Camden, London on Friday the 21st of July - please check it out if you can!