Last Friday a panal of music industry judges announced the final 15 bands for this years Red Bull Studios Download Festival competition. Those 15 bands are now set to visit Red Bull Studios in London to record music, receive media training and more.
As part of our “Red Bull Rated and Recommended” series, over the next three weeks we will be meeting the final 15 bands, finding out more about them, what it would mean for them to play Download 2014 and more.
This week we meet A Mouth Full Of Matches, Bentley Park, Breathe In The Silence, Call It Reckless and Chasing Cadence.
A Mouth Full Of Matches
AH: Can you introduce yourself and your role in your band?
AMFOM: We are A Mouth Full Of Matches: Tom- Vocals, Helen-Bass guitar, Steven-Drums, Mark- Rhythm guitar, and Jane-Lead guitar.
AH: For new listeners how would you describe your sound?
AMFOM: Big! Huge chords, meaty drums and soaring vocals. Passionate, powerful and very loud. Each song is an experience to be felt.
AH: How does it feel to make it this far in the competition?
AMFOM: Absolutely a dream! We’ve all been far too excited. The last month has been a nail biting one. The support we’ve had so far is phenomenal! We are really looking forward to the experience of going to Red Bull Studios and meeting everyone there.
AH: If you were to make it to Download, what can festival-goers expect from your set?
AMFOM: Not just a set, but a show full of energy and passion, played loud! We pour everything we can into our shows, no half measures!
AH: What would it mean for you to play Download?
AMFOM: We have been festival-goers for years and to play such a prestigious rock festival would be a dream come true! So many legendary bands have graced the stages, it would be an honour to play and it would be an experience we would remember for the rest of our lives.
AH: Once the next stage of voting opens, why should people vote for your band?
AMFOM: We place so much of ourselves into the music. We practically obsess over it and are constantly doing our best to improve our performances, writing new material, and spread our sound to as many people as possible. Playing Download would not only mean the world to us, but we would put on a hell of a show!
AH: Do you have any final words to share with Already Heard readers?
AMFOM: We are set to release our second EP, ‘Smoke Signals’ in the summer. It was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Matt Hyde (Machine Head, Slipknot, Bullet For My Valentine.) Thanks again to everyone for the kind words of encouragement and lets play Download 2014!!!
A Mouth Full Of Matches links: Red Bull Profile|Facebook|Twitter
Bentley Park
AH: Can you introduce yourself and your role in your band?
James: I’m James and I’m the vocalist in Bentley Park.
AH: For new listeners how would you describe your sound?
James: US post-hardcore infused with a British overtone.
AH: How does it feel to make it this far in the competition?
James: It’s awesome, it’s really humbling to know that people care about the music we make.
AH: If you were to make it to Download, what can festival-goers expect from your set?
James: Five guys on a stage, much bigger than they’re used to, having a nice time.
AH: What would it mean for you to play Download?
James: We’ve been as punters in the past and it’s a festival we’ve always aspired to play.
AH: Once the next stage of voting opens, why should people vote for your band?
James: opefully watching our live video will inspire people to vote for us. We’ve worked hard to put out our EP and Download would definitely be a personal milestone for us.
AH: Do you have any final words to share with Already Heard readers?
James: Check out our EP, give the video a watch and vote for us!
Bentley Park links: Red Bull Profile|Facebook|Twitter
Breathe In The Silence
AH: Can you introduce yourself and your role in your band?
Jake: Hi my name is Jake, and I’m the bassist!
AH: For new listeners how would you describe your sound?
Jake: We resemble an A Day To Remember kind of style, but practically no pop punk and influences from a lot of new rock and metal bands. Such as Memphis May Fire, Mallory Knox and so on. We try to be as versatile as possible!
AH: How does it feel to make it this far in the competition?
Jake: Brilliant, I never thought we’d make it through the first round. The support we’ve had has been amazing and we can’t thank the judges enough for choosing us to go to the Red Bull Studios in London.
AH: If you were to make it to Download, what can festival-goers expect from your set?
Jake: Bouncy Riffs, Heavy ass breakdowns and 5 sweaty Welsh lads giving it their all on stage! We concentrate as much on our live performance as we do in our writing.
AH: What would it mean for you to play Download?
Jake: The world, I’ve been religiously going to Download for the last 8 years running and always said I’d love to play it. So to actually be on the other side of the barrier would definitely be the highlight of my life!
AH: Once the next stage of voting opens, why should people vote for your band?
Jake: If people vote for us and get us to Download, we will play the best show that we possibly can. Expect things to get wild!
AH: Do you have any final words to share with Already Heard readers?
Jake: To whoever is supporting us in this competition or in general, thank you so much for supporting me and my band. We have been overwhelmed with the amount of people behind us. If you’re only just finding out about us now, check us out and hopefully you’ll like what you hear!
Breathe In The Silence links: Red Bull Profile|Facebook|Twitter
Call It Reckless
AH: Can you introduce yourself and your role in your band?
James: Hey I’m James, I’m one of the guitarists in Call It Reckless.
Hey I’m Marc and I play drums in Call It Reckless.
AH: For new listeners how would you describe your sound?
James: I’d say it was a blend between pop-rock and a little bit of punk thrown in for good measure.
AH: How does it feel to make it this far in the competition?
Marc: Truly incredible the support we have received from our fans and peers alike has overwhelmed us and to have this chance makes us want to prove we deserve their support.
AH: If you were to make it to Download, what can festival-goers expect from your set?
James: Well, let’s just say we would be the most pumped up, and excited guys around. Hopefully we would translate that energy and excitement on stage and get everyone feeling the same.
AH: What would it mean for you to play Download?
James: Everything. We have been searching for the chance to get our music to as many people as possible as there is no better feeling than playing music you have worked hard on and are proud of to new and fresh ears.
AH: Once the next stage of voting opens, why should people vote for your band?
Marc: Honestly, every band in the competition deserves to be there but for us personally, this is what we live and breath. Playing shows, playing festivals, meeting as many people as possible and making friends along the way. This is our whole heart and soul and we give everything to all of the people who watch us play there’s no nonsense here, only passion.
AH: Do you have any final words to share with Already Heard readers?
Marc: We want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your support and even just for reading this. Play it loud!
James: Just that I hope we get the chance to show everyone what we are made of. Please do check us out and if you like what you hear, then you wont be disappointed if we get the chance at Download.
Call It Reckless links: Red Bull Profile|Facebook|Twitter
Chasing Cadence
AH: Can you introduce yourself and your role in your band?
Jack: I’m Jack, I’m the lead singer in Chasing Cadence.
AH: For new listeners how would you describe your sound?
Jack: Like those Lindt Lindor chocolate balls: Soft in the middle but hard around the edges.
AH: How does it feel to make it this far in the competition?
Jack: It’s absolutely incredible. We entered this opportunity with a bit of hesitance purely because we’re still at such an early stage in our career, but the support we received in the first round was completely overwhelming and has made us want to play Download that little bit more.
AH: If you were to make it to Download, what can festival-goers expect from your set?
Jack: Pure passion for the music we write and play. We’re by no means the heaviest band in the world and don’t pretend to be, but we do play every show like it’s our last and put 110% energy into each one. We like to get hot and sweaty amongst the crowd. There will be no exceptions for Download Festival.
AH: What would it mean for you to play Download?
Jack: It’s one of the biggest and most well-known rock festivals in the world and would be an absolute honour and privilege to show people what we’re all about. It’s the dream for any band.
AH: Once the next stage of voting opens, why should people vote for your band?
Jack: So far this year we have been endorsed by Orange Amplifiers, embarked on our third UK tour, have been added to Kerrang! TV’s playlist and have supported one of the bands who have hugely influenced us, Taking Back Sunday. Playing Download could give us that extra push, and opportunity to help take us to the next level of our career. Besides all that, we’re 5 hard working lads who devote our lives to music. To be able to play one of our favourite festivals, would honestly mean the world to us all.
AH: Do you have any final words to share with Already Heard readers?
Jack: Keep on voting for us if you think we’re worthy of your vote! And we’ll hopefully see you at Download, up close and personal.
links: Red Bull Profile|Facebook|Twitter
Red Bull Studios Download Festival links: Website|Twitter|Instagram
Words by Sean Reid (@SeanReid86)
