{"id":94762,"date":"2023-10-12T13:00:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T12:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=94762"},"modified":"2023-10-11T22:16:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T21:16:49","slug":"air-drawn-daggers-diy-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/air-drawn-daggers-diy-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Air Drawn Dagger\u2019s Top DIY Band Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you didn’t know already, being an independent band can be hard work. Just ask Air Drawn Dagger<\/b><\/a>. Since forming in Sheffield, the trio have been living the life of a DIY band for the best part of 8 years, playing when and wherever possible to anyone they could. Whether it’s in a tapas restaurant, hardcore punk shows, or trekking across North America,\u00a0Air Drawn Dagger<\/strong> have certainly paid their dues.<\/p>\n

This week sees Maisie Manterfield (vocals), Lewis Budden (guitar\/backing vocals) and Ross Dore (drums) return with a new EP. Consisting of five songs, ‘Songs To Fight The Gods To’<\/em> sees them produce a cocktail of energetic pop-rock that incorporates elements of electronica and hip-hop. While conceptually, it follows the tale of someone’s battle at a fabled mountain, to stand face to face and destroy their gods.<\/p>\n

Stylistically, it’s an effective set of songs that highlight\u00a0Air Drawn Dagger<\/strong>‘s abilities. From the straight-up pop-rock blasts of ‘You Should Have Known Better’<\/em> and ‘Title Fight’<\/em> to the pounding paranoid rush of\u00a0‘Stigmata’<\/em>, to ‘<\/em>GhostsGhostsGhosts (Phantoms)’<\/em> and its towering, pounding charge. In short,\u00a0Air Drawn Dagger <\/strong>go big on ‘Songs To Fight The Gods To’<\/em>, and manages to tie in some classical mythology for good measure.<\/a><\/p>\n

Having put in plenty of road miles, we decided to ask Maisie, Lewis, and Ross for their top tips to life as a DIY band.<\/p>\n

Writing: Write WAY more songs than you need<\/h2>\n

If there isn’t a label or management giving you an honest opinion on your tracks, it’s difficult to have a perspective on your own music. One way to assess the quality of your songs is to keep writing! Writing a 5 track EP? Write 50 songs, looking for a single? Write 50 songs. Creating a high-concept triple album about space goblins? Write 50\u2026 actually, you better write a few more songs for that one.<\/em><\/p>\n

They don’t all have to be finished, just rough sketches of songs will give you a sense of the quality and help you pick the best track to release.<\/em><\/p>\n