- 11 minutes ago
Category
šµ
MusicTranscript
00:00What's going on, everyone at Motor City Riffs? We're back here, joined by another great band. I know it's been
00:06a while, but Forge the Sun is joining us for a great little interview here. What's going on, guys?
00:14How's it going? Thanks for having us.
00:16Of course. Thanks for being a part of this. We love trying to give back and trying to at least
00:21give more exposure to all the bands in our area. Sorry, I can't do this enough. I'd love to do
00:26it every week, but they got me tied up doing other stuff.
00:29You guys, I'm glad to be talking to you finally face-to-face because I've actually been playing your music
00:35for a couple of years now, ever since I joined the Riff.
00:39I took over our Motor City Riffs local rock program. The first song I ever played, because I had to
00:45scroll in our emails, and it was a couple months before I started, actually.
00:49You guys had released Burn the Witch and Medicine, and so I was like, wow, this song is pretty damn
00:59good.
00:59I'm going to give you some airplay, but I had no idea who you are.
01:03For a year or so, that's kind of all I knew you guys as.
01:05It's like, oh, they're a pretty good band, but I don't really know who they are.
01:09So, I just want to kind of ask you guys a little bit about, because some of your earlier music,
01:14or at least some of your earlier music that you put out there, I don't want to say it feels
01:18different, but was there like, I guess, can you tell me a little bit about what was going on in
01:23that time of your guys' life when you guys were making that music?
01:28I don't know, just, I don't know, just a lot of the kind of music I was listening to.
01:33Yeah.
01:33So, speaking for me, that was the, I don't know, I was really listening to that, you know, a lot
01:41of, lots of blues and lots of blues rock, and like a lot of Zeppelin, but also like Yes, and
01:50Genesis, and ZZ Top, and like the first Rush album.
01:56And a lot of the old school, like Detroit bands, like The Frost, and like Vanilla Fudge, and Old Alice
02:06Cooper.
02:07So, that's really, for me, you know, that's what I would, and Ted Nugent, I would just say like, that's
02:15just the style of music I was really into at the time.
02:18And I still love that music, it's just, it was a reflection of what I was consuming as a listener
02:23a lot.
02:23Gotcha.
02:24Yeah, because I think like, a lot of bands, whether it's intentional or not, they definitely take inspiration from other
02:31groups, and maybe not necessarily bleed into their music, but it kind of comes out one way or another, like
02:37whether it's unintentional or not, you know?
02:40Yeah, no, 22 and 23, we actually had a lineup change as well.
02:45Okay.
02:45So, that's when Isaac joined the group, and I think at that point, we started really trying to write songs
02:52together as a group.
02:53So, I think when the new stuff has come out, it's kind of reflected a little bit of everybody's like
03:00influences, like it's kind of led everybody's kind of styles together, which has been really cool to kind of experiment
03:06with.
03:07Well, that was cool.
03:08I bet you guys all feel more like a cohesive unit when you guys include a little bit of everything
03:12in there, you know?
03:17So, I do want to touch on some stuff, because you guys are having a busy, I'd say spring, summer,
03:23what do you guys got planned for this year?
03:25I guess short-term and long-term.
03:28We have a lot planned this year, so we have like three really, really cool shows coming up.
03:35March 7th, we are hosting a charity show, so it's going to be a local showcase of a whole bunch
03:42of great local Detroit fans, but also we are doing a dog food drive.
03:47So, if you come to the show, bring a bag of dog food that's new and unopened.
03:53And we will take that food, we'll donate to all of our local dog rescues in the Detroit area.
04:00We'll also be taking monetary donations as well, and anybody who brings a monetary donation or dog food will be
04:08entered into Raffle and win prizes at the end of the show.
04:11So, we're pretty excited about that.
04:14We do a lot of charity shows, and we try to do one like quick regularly, so it's a way
04:20to kind of give back to the community.
04:22Our next show is March 27th, so recently we just qualified to play the finals of the Homegrown Throwdown for
04:30Q106.
04:32So, we will be playing the finals with a bunch of other really cool bands, so we're pretty excited for
04:39that.
04:40And then July 18th, we will be playing Upheaval Festival in Grand Rapids with Papa Roach and Bill Murray and
04:47a whole bunch of other cool bands.
04:49Yeah, I saw that one.
04:50You guys were on the, I mean, there's a ton of great bands out there, and it's like, wow, oh
04:54wait, and For the Sun, right there too.
04:56And I'm like, I saw that one on your guys' website, and I was like, whew, that's going to be
05:01an awesome show, I bet.
05:02Oh yeah, it's going to be great.
05:04Let me ask you, how did, so did the charity show involving the whole dog food and stuff like that,
05:11has that been something that you guys specifically have done for a while?
05:15Like that show, that charity show, or is that just one of the many that you guys have done?
05:18So, that's a style of show that we started experimenting with this year.
05:24Okay.
05:25The last couple of years, we actually put on a show called FemFest.
05:30So, that was a local showcase of all the female-fronted Detroit bands and Michigan bands.
05:35Okay.
05:36Which was really, really cool.
05:38And then proceeds to that show got donated to a Detroit local, I guess, shelter for women.
05:46It's called Alternatives for Girls.
05:48They basically help women get out of bad situations and get them access to resources, education, shelter, which is really
05:58great.
05:59And then, Tristan has also put on a couple birthday shows where he's done, like, charities for Detroit Dog Rescues
06:06and other shelters as well.
06:08That's some incredible stuff.
06:09I love dogs.
06:10Yeah, I was going to say, I don't have to ask that question.
06:13I figured, but, you know, I'm assuming you guys have dogs then, right?
06:17Yes, we do.
06:19It's a big part of our lives, for sure.
06:21I've got a couple myself.
06:22They are, you know, clamoring to come in this room right now.
06:25But they're in the front of us.
06:27No, but that's awesome stuff.
06:29I know you touched on, like, the female-fronted bands.
06:32Honestly, that's something that I have been, like, trying to hunt for so, like, keenly throughout my Motor City Riffs
06:41program.
06:42And it's not because of any reason other than I feel like not enough people are listening to them and
06:48not enough people are talking about them or know about them.
06:50I know people do.
06:51I know there's fans out there.
06:52But I want everyone to know about them because there are some, like, killer bands out there with female lead
06:58vocalists in this Detroit area that I have been pumping for, honestly, it seems excessively, for, like, the last year
07:04or so on Motor City Riffs.
07:06Absolutely.
07:07And I will just say there are a ton of amazing, amazing female-fronted acts in the local area.
07:14Like, a few that come to mind right off the bat would be Stormstress, Living AI, Shadows Reflection, Wisher.
07:23Those are all crazy, crazy good acts.
07:25So, if you haven't heard of those, definitely check them out.
07:28Okay, okay.
07:29Good to know.
07:29And we see our fourth band members joining us here.
07:33How's it going?
07:35Good.
07:35Good.
07:36We were just in the middle of talking about, well, really, just some of the killer bands in the area
07:41and how you guys are one of them, of course.
07:42But just more about our local show and getting those, like, bands that have these female-fronted artists, singers, I
07:49should say, in there.
07:50And, yeah, you mentioned Stormstress.
07:52I know them pretty well.
07:52So, that's a group that I've, you know, we got out at Riff Fest a couple years ago.
07:57That was pretty dope.
07:59And I don't want to say immediately thought of you.
08:03But the second I first heard your guys' music, I thought a little bit, and I mean, this is the
08:09perfect compliment.
08:10No way it's a bad thing.
08:11It kind of reminded me a little bit of, like, Eva Under Fire.
08:14Just a little bit.
08:14Because I know, like, I don't think you guys copied their music or anything.
08:18But you just had that, like, when you sang, like, it's from the, like, like, right in here.
08:24And, yeah, the music to match the vocals.
08:26And I think that's something, when you do that together, it's super special.
08:30Oh, yeah, for sure.
08:31I could see that.
08:32Amanda definitely has, like, that really nice, like, soulful voice, too.
08:37I want to ask you guys what you got, because you have several shows, you guys mentioned it.
08:42Is there anyone in particular that you're looking forward to the most?
08:45Or, you know, you don't pick favorites.
08:47But which one are you especially looking forward to?
08:50Oh, people.
08:51People?
08:52Is there a certain band in there that you, like, and even if it's all of you individually,
08:57like, oh, my gosh, I really want to meet this band.
08:59I really want to check out that band, like, on that lineup.
09:03Gojira.
09:03Yeah, Gojira.
09:05Gojira.
09:05Ginger would be sick, too.
09:08Yeah.
09:10Bill Murray.
09:11Yeah, Bill Murray.
09:12I'm a big fan of his drummer.
09:14Oh, yeah.
09:16Or, I guess, third drummer.
09:20And, yeah.
09:21Gojira, Bill Murray.
09:23I mean, yeah, that's just crazy to have all those people in one room.
09:26If people forget how, like, how many loaded rock acts are still going on under your nose.
09:30Like, you wouldn't know about it.
09:32Just at the end of July, right, in Grand Rapids?
09:35Yeah.
09:36July 18th and July 17th and 18th.
09:39Gotcha, gotcha.
09:40I guess middle of July.
09:42Yeah, and it looks like you guys have approaching autumns there, too.
09:45And I've played their music on our show, as well.
09:48It's funny when you see, like, I think they're from that area approaching autumns, or at least near there.
09:53They have sent me several music.
09:55I just like seeing all the local bands come together, whether it's intentional or not.
10:00Yeah, actually, Annex Boyd is another local band that we're going to be playing with on the 18th.
10:06They are also a really good female-fronted band, as well.
10:09You gotta, like, I gotta, like, send you, like, a care package for you to, like, be like,
10:12hey, send this guy your music so the riff can play it.
10:16Because I need some more.
10:20Oh, I also want to ask you guys.
10:21So you guys just dropped a new single, like, about a month ago.
10:24Tell me about it.
10:27Yeah, that's Toad Honey.
10:29Yeah, yeah.
10:30But, uh, I got a Smashing Pumpkins vibe.
10:37I did like the album art, or the, you know, art for the actual song.
10:41It definitely gave me Smashing Pumpkins vibes.
10:44Was there a reason for the name?
10:46I want to know, like, what's the inspiration for it?
10:48Toad Honey is so great, right?
10:50Yeah, my girlfriend.
10:52She makes Toad Honey.
10:54Uh-oh.
10:55She makes Toad Honey?
10:56Oh, was she listening?
11:00My girlfriend had a dream that I was in a band called Toad Honey.
11:05Okay.
11:06And, yeah, that was pretty much it.
11:09And I brought it up to them.
11:10I was like, oh, I actually really like that name.
11:12Would you guys be down to use that as a song name?
11:18And it definitely works.
11:20Is there, um, for those who haven't listened to it yet, obviously, you know if they do,
11:24but what's, uh, what's, what's Toad Honey about?
11:29What is it about?
11:30Um, so, I was actually, um, when I was thinking of the lyrics for the song, I was actually,
11:38I do not remember the name of the anime, but I was watching an anime where, like, they have
11:44adrenaline rushes, like, like, gambling.
11:47Okay.
11:47And it kind of inspired me to write something where, like, you know, the lyrics are kind
11:53of about, really, you only live once.
11:55And, you know, when you get, like, that adrenaline rush of, like, taking a risk, it can sometimes
12:00feel, like, really exciting and really good.
12:02So, that's, uh, kind of what it's about.
12:05Well, that's pretty cool.
12:05Yeah, no, I, I, uh, I've listened to it a few times and I haven't, haven't really nailed
12:10it down, but I think that's what, why music's so cool is, like, it's all about interpretation.
12:14Like, I, we're still trying to figure out what I think it's about.
12:18So, but I was like, well, I didn't ask them what it's about, you know, that kind of thing.
12:22Um, cool.
12:24Well, I want to know, is there anything else that you want all the fans out there to know?
12:28Um, what kind of plans you guys have in store ahead of this year?
12:32Like, tell me a little bit about where Forbes of Sun is headed.
12:36Uh, we're definitely working on new music.
12:39Okay.
12:39Um, so in the last, like, year or so, we've released a lot of singles, experimenting with
12:46a lot of different genres, and I think that's the one cool thing about the band is that we
12:50don't really, I guess, brand ourselves in terms of what genre we want to be.
12:56Like, we, we all like different styles of music.
12:58We all like playing different styles of music.
13:00So I think it's really cool that we aren't afraid to change it up.
13:06Uh, we aren't afraid to, like, not be in, like, a cookie cutter type of, like, uh, pushing
13:12out songs that all sound the same.
13:14And, uh, this time around, we are working on a new EP, and I think the way that we wanted
13:20to try and, like, challenge ourselves with this EP is to have, like, one, like, standard
13:26for, like, the genre, but then mix it up and, like, play around with different genres inside
13:31of it.
13:32So this next EP, like, the base genre is going to be, like, shoegaze.
13:36Okay.
13:36Like a shoegazing sound.
13:38Okay.
13:38That'll be cool.
13:41Um, and then, other than that, like, really just playing, uh, all the shows that we've
13:46got lined up.
13:47Uh, we really are trying to push back because we're trying to write music, but every single
13:52time we try to push back, we just keep getting offers.
13:54So.
13:55I guess it's a good problem to have.
13:58Yeah, yeah, yeah, please stop, stop, no.
14:00I don't want it.
14:02No.
14:03Oh, that's awesome, though.
14:04I'm happy to hear about the, just the progress and the band, you know, keep, keep going up
14:09and up and up.
14:10Um, sky's the limit for you guys.
14:12Uh, so next show that everyone can catch you at, Sanctuary, Detroit, right?
14:17March 7th?
14:18Yeah.
14:18Yeah, be there.
14:19Help us save the dogs with our rock.
14:22Yes, yes.
14:23Rock will save them.
14:24We'll set you free, right?
14:25No, but no, thank you guys so much for chatting with me.
14:29Uh, I know the listeners really love to actually see you guys talk because they've been, like
14:33I said, they've been rocking out to my, your guys' music for a couple of years now on the
14:36show.
14:37Thank you so, so much for talking with us.
14:39Thanks for having us today and thanks for supporting us, man.
14:42Uh, glad to do the music and thanks for playing our music for all those years.
14:46We appreciate it.
14:47Of course.
14:48Just send me the whole catalog and we'll play it every day.
14:50All right.
14:51All right.
Comments