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00:00What's going on, everyone at Motor City Riffs? We're back here, joined by another great band.
00:06I know it's been a while, but Forge the Sun is joining us for a great little interview here.
00:11What's going on, guys?
00:13What's up? How's it going? Thanks for having us.
00:16Of course. Thanks for being a part of this.
00:18We love trying to give back and trying to at least give more exposure to all the bands in our
00:23area.
00:24Sorry I can't do this enough. I'd love to do it every week, but they got me tied up doing
00:28other stuff.
00:28But you guys, I'm glad to be talking to you finally face-to-face, because I've actually been playing your
00:34music for a couple of years now, ever since I joined the Riff.
00:39And I took over our Motor City Riffs local rock program.
00:42The first song I ever played, because I had to scroll in our emails, and it was a couple months
00:48before I started, actually.
00:49You guys had released Burn the Witch and Medicine.
00:56And so I originally, like, that's the, I was like, wow, this song is pretty damn good.
00:59Like, I'm going to give you some airplay, but I had no idea who you are.
01:03So for like 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, you know, 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.
01:19But was there, like, I guess, can you tell me a little bit about, like, what was going on in
01:23that time of your guys' life when you guys were making that music?
01:28Like, I don't know, just, I don't know, it was just a lot of the kind of music I was
01:32listening to.
01:33Yeah.
01:33So that, for, just speaking for me, that was the, just the, I don't know, I was really listening to
01:40that, you know, a lot of, lots of blues and lots of blues rock.
01:46And, like, a lot of Zeppelin, but also, like, Yes, and Genesis, and ZZ Top, and, like, the first Rush
01:55album, and a lot of the old school, like, Detroit bands, like, The Frost, and, like, Vanilla Fudge, and old
02:05Alice Cooper.
02:07So that's really, for me, I, you know, the best way I would, and Ted Nugent, I would just say,
02:14like, that's just 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. Yeah, because I think, like, a lot of bands, whether it's intentional or not, they definitely take inspiration from
02:31other groups,
02:31and maybe not necessarily bleed into their music, but it kind of comes out one way or another, like, whether
02:37it's unintentional or not, you know?
02:40Yeah, in, uh, 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, um, really trying to write
02:51songs together as a group.
02:53Um, so I think when the new stuff has come out, it's kind of reflected a little bit of everybody's,
03:00like, influences.
03:01Like, it's kind of led everybody's kind of styles together, which has been really cool to kind of experiment with.
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?
03:15Yeah.
03:16Um, so I do want to touch on some stuff, because you guys are having a busy, I'd say, spring,
03:22summer.
03:23What do you guys got planned for this year?
03:25I guess short-term and long-term.
03:28Uh, we have a lot planned this year.
03:30Um, so we have, like, three really, really cool shows coming up.
03:34Um, March 7th, uh, we are hosting a charity show, so it's going to be a local showcase of a
03:42whole bunch of great local Detroit fans,
03:44but 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.
03:52Um, and we will take that food, we'll donate to all of our local dog rescues in the Detroit area.
04:00Um, we'll also be taking monetary, uh, donations as well.
04:04And anybody who brings a monetary donation or dog food will be entered into raffle and win prizes at the
04:10end of the show.
04:11Um, so we're pretty excited about that.
04:14We do a lot of charity shows, and we try to do one, like, quick regularly.
04:19So it's a way to kind of give back to the community.
04:22Um, our next show is March 27th.
04:25Um, so recently we just qualified to play the finals of the Homegrown Throwdown for Q106.
04:32Um, so we will be playing the finals with a bunch of other really cool bands.
04:37Um, so we're pretty excited for that.
04:40And then, uh, July 18th, we will be playing Upgable Festival in Grand Rapids with, uh, Papa Roach and Bill
04:47Murray and a 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.
04:53And it's like, wow, oh, wait, and Forza Sun, right there, too.
04:56And I'm like, I saw that one on your guys' website, and I was like, whew, that's, that's going to
05:01be an awesome show, I bet.
05:02Oh, yeah, it's going to be great.
05:04Let me ask you, how did, so did the, uh, charity show involving the whole dog food and stuff like
05:11that, has 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?
05:19So that's a style of show that we've started experimenting with this year.
05:24Okay.
05:25Um, the last couple of years, we actually put on a show called FemFest.
05:30So that was a local showcase of all the female-fronted, like, Detroit bands and Michigan bands.
05:35Okay.
05:36Um, which was really, really cool.
05:38And then proceeds to that show got donated to a Detroit, um, local, uh, I guess, shelter for women.
05:47It's called Alternatives for Girls.
05:48They basically help women, um, get out of bad situations and get them, uh, access to resources, education, shelter, which
05:57is really great.
05:59Um, and then, uh, Tristan has also put on a couple birthday shows where he's done, like, charities for Detroit
06:06Dog Rescues and other shelters as well.
06:08That's an incredible story.
06:09I love dogs!
06:10Yeah, I was gonna say, probably, I don't have to ask that question, I figured, but, you know, I'm assuming
06:15you guys have dogs then, right?
06:18Yes, we do.
06:19It's a big part of our lives, for sure.
06:21I got a couple myself.
06:22They are, you know, clamoring to come in this room right now, but, uh, they're in the box.
06:27Um, no, but that, that's awesome stuff.
06:29I know you touched on, like, the female fronted bands.
06:32Honestly, um, that's something that I have been, like, trying to hunt for so, like, keenly throughout my Motor City
06:40Rips program.
06:42Um, and it's not because of any reason other than I feel like not enough people are listening to them
06:48and not enough people are talking about them or know about them.
06:50I know people do.
06:51I know there's fans out there, but I want everyone to know about them.
06:54Because there are some, like, killer bands out there, um, with female lead vocalists in this Detroit area that I
07:00have been pumping for, honestly, it seems excessively, for, like, the last year or so on Motor City Rips.
07:06Absolutely.
07:07And, um, 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, uh, right off the bat would be Stormstress, Living AI, um, Shadows Reflection,
07:22Wisher.
07:23Um, those 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, uh, joining us here.
07:33How's it going?
07:35Good.
07:35Good.
07:36We were just in the middle of talking about, uh, well, really, just some of the killer bands in the
07:40area and how you guys are one of them, of course.
07:42But, uh, just more about our local show and getting those, like, bands that have these female fronted artists, uh,
07:49singers, I should say, in there.
07:50And, yeah, you mentioned Stormstress.
07:52I know them pretty well.
07:52So, that's, that's a group that I've, uh, you know, we got out at, uh, Riff Fest a couple years
07:56ago.
07:57That was pretty dope.
07:58Um, and I, I don't want to say immediately thought of you, but I've, the second I first heard your,
08:05your guys' music, I thought a little bit.
08:08And I mean, this is the perfect compliment.
08:10No way it's a bad thing.
08:11You kind of reminded me a little bit of, like, Eva Under Fire.
08:14Just a little bit.
08:14Um, because I know, like, I don't think you guys copied their music or anything, but you just had that,
08:20like, 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 it 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.
08:37Um, I 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, but 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, like, oh
08:57my 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.
09:09Um, Bill Murray.
09:11Yeah, Bill Murray.
09:12I'm a big fan of his drummer.
09:14Uh.
09:16Or, I guess, third drummer.
09:18Uh.
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, uh, rock acts are still going on under your nose.
09:30Like, you wouldn't know about it.
09:32Just at, uh, end of July, right, in Grand Rapids?
09:35Yeah.
09:36July 18th and July, July 17th and 18th.
09:39Got you, got you.
09:40I guess, middle of July.
09:41Um, yeah.
09:43And it looks, it looks like you guys have approaching autumns there, too.
09:46And I've, uh, I played their music on our show as well.
09:48It's funny when you see, like, I think they're from that area approaching autumn.
09:52Or at least near there.
09:53Um, they, they have sent me several music.
09:55I just, like, seeing all the local bands come together, whether it's intentional or not.
09:59Yeah, um, actually, uh, Annex Boyd is another local band that we're going to be playing with
10:05on 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, I need some more.
10:17Yeah.
10:19Um, oh, 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, 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.
10:45Was there a reason for the name?
10:46I want to know, like, what's the inspiration for it?
10:48Toad Honey's, it can't just be so random, right?
10:51Yeah, my girlfriend, uh, uh, uh, oh.
10:55She makes Toad Honey?
10:56Oh, what was she listening?
11:00Like, my 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.
11:13Uh, would you guys be down to use that as a song name?
11:17That works.
11:18Yeah.
11:19It definitely works.
11:20Is there, um, for those who haven't listened to it yet, obviously,
11:23we hope they do, but 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,
11:39I 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.
11:48And 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.
12:03So that's, uh, kind of what it's about.
12:05Well, that's pretty cool.
12:06Yeah, no, I, I, uh, I've listened to it a few times and I haven't, haven't really nailed
12:11it down.
12:11But 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, why don't I ask them what it's about?
12:20You 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.
12:40Um, so in the last, like, year or so, we've released a lot of singles, experimenting with
12:46a lot of different genres.
12:47And I think that's the one cool thing about the band is that we don't really, I guess,
12:52brand 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.
13:05Uh, we aren't afraid to like, not be in like a cookie cutter type of like, uh, pushing out
13:12songs that all sound the same.
13:14And, uh, this time around, we are working on a new EP.
13:18And I think the way that we wanted to try and like challenge ourselves with this EP is
13:23to have like one, like standard for like the genre, but then mix it up and like play around
13:30with different genres inside of 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'd 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 I guess it's a good problem to have.
13:58Yeah.
13:59Yeah.
13:59Please stop.
14:00Stop.
14:00No, I don't want it.
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.
14:09Going up and 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.
14:19Be there.
14:19Help us save the dogs with our rock.
14:22Yes.
14:22Yes.
14:23Rock will save them.
14:24We'll set you free.
14:25Right.
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.
14:33Cause they've been, like I said, they've been rocking out to my, your guys's music for a couple
14:36of years now on the show.
14:37Thank you so, so much for talking with us.
14:39Thanks for having us today.
14:41And 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.
14:51Let's do it.
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