interview with Mutalist
What´s the name of your band? Mutalist
How was the band formed? The band was formed about 8-9 years ago with our old drummer Jason, our guitarist Shane and our bassist Brian. I (Stefan) shortly after joined the group and filled in on vocals until we parted with our drummer Jason a few years back where I switched onto the drums and we got our vocalist Jeremy
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? We are all from the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area, Shane is the guitar player Brian is the bassist Jeremy the vocalist and myself on the drums.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started? Our ambition was to create heavy devastating music that we all enjoyed and hopefully others would enjoy it as well.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? I would say we have a classical death metal influence, combined with politically empowering lyrics mixed in with everyone's own and unique musical influence.
Where was your first gig? Our first gig was at this club called St. Michaels
Where was the latest gig? At a venue in Uniontown Pennsylvania
Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics? Everyone contributes openly and freely, upon conceiving ideas we mold them together into what we feel would be the best for us and our style.
Who has the best since of humor in the band? We are all very goofy and humorous, so we all contribute to the good time we have as a band.
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? Not to many bad things other than sometimes we fuck around to much, but we try to stay on track at all times. We feel that we are a death metal band.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? It's just the music that we all love to hear and play, and mostly our songs are about empowering the individual, asking important questions, and being politically aware of the veil of deception surrounding modern day politics.
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? All of our material is 100 percent our own.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? Yes we have 1 full length album called "Planetary Decimation" that is available for free download from our bandcamp page, and currently we are in the act of making an EP that should be out sometime early next year.
Do you have any clips on YouTube? Yes, we have a few.
How old are you?/What got you started in music? I am 21 years old, my musical experience started when I lived in Serbia as a child, and played the violin as my first instrument. After moving to the US i stopped my practices around 7 years old and didn't start playing music until I was 12 and seeing my friends in a cover band inspired me to start playing guitar.
At what age did you start playing? The violin around 3-4 years old, and guitar from about 12, drums from about 14 and bass and piano for a few years on and off
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage? I was about 14 years old, Brian was 16-17, Shane was 18-19 and Jason at the time was 18-19
What year was the band started? around 2006-07
What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? Not sure, hopefully very large shows
Where have you played from then till now? All over our state and a few others
Witch band is the best you´ve seen? That's a very difficult question. The best performance would be a tie between After the Burial, Conquering Dystopia, The Contortionist, Animals as Leaders and Ovids Withering
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? We unfortunately have never toured as a band, but hopefully we can have the opportunity to do so in the future
How big crowds do you usually play for? It depends, largest was about 150 people where the smallest was probably 10 people
What are the plans for the rest of the year? Writing, recording and playing shows along with investing in merch.
Where do you usually play? The smiling moose in pittsburgh
How do you get psyched up for a gig? Smoke a little weed, tell some jokes haha
What are your goals with your music? Hopefully to touch some people so they can relate with their struggle and hopefully gain the tools needed to overcome any situation
When did you decide to go all in for the music? Very recently actually, not even 6 months ago
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Definitely modern bands, there's a musical evolution taking place and I am definitely very excited about being a part in it.
What are your sources of inspiration? Music, places, people and experiences
What's the first step when making a new song? Trial and error
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? I am all for free downloading of music. I understand artists gotta make their money, but album sales are never useful in that. It's always about going out touring/playing shows and selling merch and expanding your marketing and the reach of it
What would be your dreams for the band? Not really sure
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? Anything, as long as it relays the heart
What would be your greatest fears for the future? I would say my greatest fear is that everything would stay exactly the same as it is and no progression will be made.
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then? Nothing, fear is no longer an object of my persona at that point in time.
What songs and what years were they released? Have you been part of any other projects? Multiple ones actually
Have you been in any other bands? Yes
What do you work with outside of the band and the music? Unfortunately my professional career is not something that I enjoy doing, but it pays the bills haha
What would you do if there was no music? I am not sure, nature and life itself is technically music so it would just be the silent type
How important are your fans? Very, a good relationship with your fans is a must, but that's where a lot of artists lack
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? Nothing so far
How often do you rehearse? Once a week, on a sunday
Where do you rehearse? Our bassist Brian's house
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? Cerebral Convolution and Wasteland
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen? I can't choose just one
What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? Hope and faith in their music and themselves
Do you have any webpages? yea we have a facebook and a bandcamp, I am not aware of any others
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? Welcome to the hardest field of work on the planet, perseverance and hard work are what will make you succeed
Describe your show, visually and musically. Usually dark haha
How do you view the musicindurty of today? It is a complete joke and it is a cancer of true and actual talent
What advice would you like to give other bands? Work hard, play hard
What are the biggest obstacles for a band? Having an overall pleasant relationship with the people you choose to play music with. Forming that brotherhood is very important and crucial in having a band that can function.
What is your favorite crappy instrument? Haha I really don't understand this question
What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? When we were kicking our old drummer out
Whats your Pre-show ritual? Smoke and relax haha
