The COVID-19 pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for everyone over the past 12 months, and has presented new challenges for the arts sector. The impact on underground and unsigned artists has been particularly damaging, with musicians left short of a live stage with which to perform and promote themselves. Last summer, I spoke to Kent metalcore group A Higher Demise about how they have been dealing with the new obstacles thrown at them in 2020.
First off tell us a little bit about your band and what you’ve been up to lately.
We are ‘A Higher Demise’, a 5-piece metal band from South East England. We have been going since 2011. We have 2 EP’s out currently and a string of singles recently. Lately we have been pretty quiet as the world goes into lockdown planning what we are going to do when all this is all over and we can walk back on stage.
As with any band which changes vocalist, there can sometimes be difficulties and changes to the dynamic of the group. With Mikey having been in the band for a few years now, how have things changed with his input?
The dynamic definitely changed over the past few years with Mikey coming in a bringing a fresh eyes and ears to song writing and on-stage performance, as well as Terry leaving and Joe joining the band. Terry was one of the main song writers for the previous releases so moving forward was slightly strange to start with, but we are now in a nice flow.
The band has released several singles over the past few years but is still yet to release a full EP or album since To Death or Victory in 2017. Is this a conscious effort to release music as it’s written, or are there any plans to record a full release in the future?
It is conscious decision to release the tracks in this fashion. With how people consume music nowadays releasing and Album or an EP people will see it as it goes live but after as little as a few days it is buried behind all the other new releases. So a 10 track Album can grab an audiences attention for a few weeks with a single release date or can be released over a few months as 10 Singles holding the attention.
With the coronavirus pandemic causing venues to close, the local music scene across the UK has been hit pretty hard. What concerns do you have about the impact this pandemic has had on the British music scene?
It has been nothing short of a massacre. I feel sorry for bands that are just starting out as there will be no venues left at the current rate. With no revenue going into venues some of them won’t have any choice but to shut and sell the property to a developer as we have seen far too many times in the past.
In what ways has the band managed to cope with life under lockdown?
Gaming, Writing music and online Quiz’s. It is all a rather strange time that we are living through and everyone has their own ways of getting to the light at the end of the Lockdown tunnel.
Once venues are allowed to re-open, there will be a lot of uncertainty about the “new normal” of social distancing, and how that may affect the ability of artists to fill venues when touring. How do you expect bands such as yourself will have to adapt in the short term?
The new normal is going to be strange to adapt to for a while but as the situation eases up, we can start to see if we can return to the old way of going to shows. The important thing is going to be making the effort to still go to shows and support not only the bands but the Venues and Promoters.
It’s almost certain that many bands will have been actively writing material inspired by current circumstances. Can we expect the same from you guys?
From a musical standpoint no. Sure idea have been started and new music is in the works, but I do not feel that the current circumstances are musically inspiring. Lyrically we will have to wait and see what comes out after all this is over and we have time to process it.
What are your goals for the band going forward, assuming that the world is able to
return to some form of normality sooner rather than later?
With the release of ‘Reconcile’ we have now exhausted our recordings from our recent sessions at Hidden Track Studios with Oz Craggs. We are going to be looking to get back out playing shows and along side this we will be back writing and finalising tracks for our next recording session.
Lastly, in these uncertain times it’s now more important than ever to support local artists. Aside from yourselves, what other bands should readers check out?
‘Cold In July’ are doing amazing and just released a new EP.
‘Crostpaths’ are brilliant, you will not be sorry for making a trip to see them live.
‘After Smoke Clears’ are a must follow band.
‘Last Existence’ are a fantastic new band. Go and check them out.
A Higher Demise kindly contributed their track "Renegades" to the latest The Death of Music compilation, Soundtrack to the Underground, Vol. 2. Visit them on Facebook for more information.
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