Famous Strangers

Edmonton Shows Preview, answers by Amanda Kiernan

What inspired the songs on your new album, and what do you hope fans take away from it?

The instrumental parts definitely come from years of inspiration, because a lot of those songs were written well into ten years ago and put into the vault. Then we brought them back to life with my vocals on them. Personal experiences inspired the songs, and we hope we spread our love and our message to the world, help people get through the day, and let them know they are special, they are worthy, they're doing the best they can, and to keep moving forward and come together and be good to one another and to ourselves.

We hope that after they listen to the album, they sit with their thoughts, and hopefully our music gets into the depths of their soul, maybe parts of their soul they didn't even know existed, and brings them joy and all the emotions. Hopefully it helps somebody get through their day, or helps them do another rep at the gym, or maybe they want to sit in the bath and just cry. Hopefully people feel exactly what the messages are through the whole journey of the album, even if it's just sitting there laughing at the abduction song, the punky song. Hopefully they laugh, and they cry, and they smile. But all of it comes from love.

How would you describe the sound of this album compared to your previous music?

This album is very different from all the music that the boys and I have made in the other bands we've all been in. There are definitely takeaways from those old bands that we've put into this album, but for all of us, this one has been something so different and new, a breath of fresh air, because we're exploring and adventuring through the genres and just playing what we feel. So it's very different, but with little hints of the old stuff. I know that on As Your Leader there are moments where a little bit of Order of Chaos comes through. It's pretty cool how you can listen to this new album and probably pinpoint parts in the songs that sound like This Is War, or Pugnacious, or Compromise, or Order of Chaos, and all the other bands we've been in. We're proud of this one. Like Jeff always says, the sound is a journey through all the emotions. I think the sound is exciting and funny, but also heavy hard rock, and also emotional and bluesy and vulnerable. There's a little bit of everything.

Is there a particular song on the new album that means the most to the band, and why?

I feel like all the boys would have a different song, and it changes every day. But for me, it would be Rain, because I've always wanted to write slow, bluesy music like that, and I finally had the opportunity and the creative freedom to do it. It's also very personal. Writing Rain was like, I'd been holding back so many things until that song came out, and then I just poured it all out onto the paper.

It comes from personal experience, and I'm not in that spot anymore, but when you go back and sing it again, or listen to it, you can tell where I was. I was in a pretty bad spot, but I got out of it. I came out on the other end, and I think that was the point of that song. By the end of it, it's like, you're going to make it through; it's going to take some time, but you're going to be okay. And I sit here as living proof, because I poured it all out and released it into the world, and now I'm here feeling a lot better about that situation.

What was the recording process like for this album?

It was really cool. Poor Beej, our drummer, he had one day in the audio department with Phil Anderson to record every song, and it was in the middle of Christmas and New Year's, the point where nobody wants to lift a finger. So we put him in the recording studio for one day and said, all right, hash out seven songs; you have one day to do it. That's a lot of pressure. But Beej and  I always say we work best under pressure anyway, and when you only have one day to get it done, you start making more decisions instead of procrastinating, because now you don't have time to procrastinate. I feel like for Beej it was probably challenging, but also just exciting to get it out and see what came out.

For the rest of us, we were blessed to be in Jeff's basement with Jeff helping us out with the recording. It was honestly an honor. Usually you're in the studio, and you only have a limited amount of time and money, but this way, if I didn't like how one word I sang sounded, I could go in and just fix it. That's a blessing for sure, a luxury.

I feel like Braden did so well. He holds it down, as they say, and he has this really relaxing vibe to him, so he did so well. We definitely threw Ghosts of Men in there last minute, so he shows up to jam, and we're like, hey, we have a new song, and we're recording it tomorrow. I'm sure there were challenges, but he certainly just gets it done.

And then Jeff, I feel like he had so much fun, and this was his dream come true, and he's so excited. But it was also so much work for him. He put in all the hours, did all the recording, then edited it to send it off, working with Phil Anderson and sending it off to Joel and Maor Appelbaum. It was a lot of work for Jeff, but he loves doing it, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

What can fans expect from your upcoming shows in Edmonton?

We have the double album release happening. Part one is at The Rec Room on the south side with Bang HC, Systems of Chaos, Bogue Brigade, and Syryn. It's all ages, and it's going to be an early show. I think doors are at 5:30. It's going to be amazing, with a bit of a diverse genre, some punky and thrashy feels to it. It's going to be really fun, and it's going to be a really cool room. I've always wanted to play The Rec Room. In the middle of a changeover, you can go eat food or play the games, because they've got a lot of entertainment there. Hopefully I'll get to play some games, but I doubt it, because we'll be busy.

The very next day we're doing part two of our album release at the Starlite Room, Temple Side, with Axiom Anna, Costectomy, and Black Friday. I feel like this one will be a little heavier, a little more metal on that side, but just great bands all around. It'll be interesting to see who shows up to which show, or who shows up to both, and all the different bands with the different fans. It'll be really cool.

We are ambitious, and we definitely shoot for the stars; that's for sure. We hope they're going to love it. We'll probably play the whole album, and then maybe a couple of other tunes as well. I'm still hashing out the details. Sometimes I like to throw balloons out or give flowers away, something like that.

How do you prepare for a live performance, and has anything changed for this tour?

I think everybody's different, and the boys do their own thing. I try my best not to speak for a day or two before the show, and the day of the show I will not speak at all. I'll annoyingly write on a piece of paper or on my phone, and I know after a while people probably get annoyed reading it, but I've got to save my voice. And I do warm-ups, about an hour of them, not just singing warm-ups but jaw massages and tongue exercises and face stretches. There's a whole thing I've learned over the years, so that takes me a little time. I shouldn't, but I totally take a shot; I think most of the band does. We take a shot of Jack right before the show. It loosens me up and makes me feel better, but I should probably find something different.

The whole time I have to talk myself off the ledge in my mind, trying to pump myself up, telling myself this is going to be fun, you're going to have fun, you're going to hit all the notes, it's going to be amazing, you're going to sound amazing, and that you're amazing. You've got to get the energy right, you've got to set the tone, and you need to pump yourself up, because not just as a vocalist but as any musician, your mind affects your performance one hundred percent. You need to be in a good mindset. But there's also something to be said about being angry and getting on that stage, because there's a weird explosive energy that comes with that too. Music is supposed to be fun, but also emotional, so however you're feeling that day, take what you're feeling and use it.

And for this tour, yeah, it is different, because now that I'm all grown up and not being a complete crazy person, I'm trying to be more professional and not drink. I quit smoking weed a long time ago now. It's really hard to find the balance of taking this seriously and being professional, but also wanting to connect and socialize and party with people. I need to understand that people come and pay for a ticket to see you, and you need to be at your top-notch best. So it's definitely changed, because we're older now and it's go time. Not that it wasn't before, but we want to play with the big boys, and in order to do that, you've got to step it up.

What message would you like to share with fans who are coming to see Famous Strangers live in Edmonton?

Especially Edmonton, you are our foundation. You've been so supportive over the years. You have seen all four of us in all the phases of our lives and all the different bands, and you just show up, and we love you so much. Thank you for being there all the time. There's something to be said about hometown shows, because they're the most special. Everybody in that crowd, you know that person. And now with the all-ages shows, there are new faces coming too.

I never realized twenty-plus years ago, walking into my first metal show, that those people would be my friends and family for life. So we just want to say thank you so much for all your years and years of support, and thank you for showing up to this new band and still supporting us. We couldn't be where we are today without you. This band doesn't exist, and neither did the other bands, without you. All of you are the reason why music exists. So thank you. It doesn't sound like it, but no words can describe the love we have for you, Edmonton. Just like the scene.