The source behind this interview is generally
Quite straight-forward, although the interview
Has taken a little bit of time after all
Sides involved thought it was best if we left
It for a little bit in the future, instead
Of doing the interview almost immediately.
I first met Submerged through the efforts
Of their lead singer, Jessica who I first met
Through my travels in myspace.com when I
Stumbled onto her myspace.com page where
She has a number of excellent poems on there
(http://www.myspace.com/melodica23)
After some conversations with her over her
Poetry, she advised me she was also a singer
In a 5 piece alternative metal / rock band
�Submerged� who certainly had reminded me
Of a cooler Evanescence and Lacuna Coil.
At the time of meeting Jessica, I didn�t
Have the Internet at home so it proved
Hard to listen to Jessica�s music on
Myspace.com, and I know Jessica felt at the
Time she would rather wait a little later
For various reasons I won�t reveal here.
Fast forward a few months, I finally got
The Internet and then finally I have chance
To speak to a lot of other artists, first
Up contacting Jessica again.
Jessica by this point advised �Submerged�
Had being recording new material and had
Also played a number of concerts, and after
Talking to her, the interview then promptly
Followed.
A special thank you to Jessica for this
Interview.
Submerged, take it from me in particular
Are a name to watch.
Make sure you check out them on their page
On myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/submerged05)
All three of their songs are well worth
Checking, take it from me.
Many thanks
Andy N
Setting Sun:
How are things and what's happening at
The moment?
Submerged:
Well after our first couple of gigs ever
Last year we are currently back at the
Drawing board writing new material.
We currently have 6 tracks which
I (Jess) have written that we have
Adapted as a band. The new tracks will
Display more of our ability to write as
A band and further express our ideas.
Setting Sun:
Next can you tell us a little bit
About the history of 'Submerged' �
How you all met up etc, etc?
Submerged:
Ok! There are two stories involved
Here so here goes!
Firstly Jess's:
A couple of years ago now I began writing music
Having been affected by my mum's death-
A point in my life where music was my only
Consolation.
I wrote some songs initially on my keyboard
And then proceeded to find musicians whom
I could form a band with. I first met
Lead Guitarist Jay in a pub in Erdington
Via the help of a friend who told me they
Knew somebody who wanted to form a band.
We got on very well and I was really happy
With things. Jay's cousin Chris was
Introduced to me and became our drummer.
Then a couple of months passed and Jay's
Friend Gav (bass player) contacted him.
We all met up and after a really great
Night out in Erdington- yet again- we had
Found our bass player! The next addition
To the band was Jay's best friend John.
He had been travelling and Jay had told
Him about the band whilst he was abroad.
So when John came back we had our
Complete band. I was really lucky to
Find a group of people who I could
Connect musically with more or less
Straightaway.
Jay, John, Gav and Chris's story:
These guys were originally in a band
Together but due to John's
Travelling and Gav's commitments the band
Kind of separated unintentionally.
However despite the problems their
Friendships and enthusiasm to play
Together still remained. Jay and
Chris were still working together
On material and ideas.
When Jay met Jess he had an
Opportunity to form a new band with
Her and bring all the others together
Again!
Setting Sun:
Music wise, what are your influences
And what are you listening at the moment?
Submerged:
Jay- Stone Roses, Rage Against The Machine,
Guns and Roses and many more.
Listening to the sounds of Guitar Hero
At the moment- 70's rock and
The Arctic Monkeys!
Jess- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Evanescence,
Foo Fighters, System of a Down and loads more!
Listening to Submerged's new demo of course! ;)
John- Nirvana, Libertines and King of Leon and more.
Listening to The Fratelli's.
Chris- Foo Fighters, Deftones etc.
Listening to the Radio lol!
Gav- Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Atticus etc
Listening to Incubus.
Setting Sun:
Listening to your songs available for
Streaming on myspace.com - there is a
Nice variety in them for example the
Piano led 'Losing' - Can you tell us a
Little more about it etc?
Submerged:
Losing-
Jess- Oh my fave track by far!! I
Wrote the music to Losing first on my
Keyboard during a bout of night-time
Inspiration. It�s funny how these things
Happen- I was sat playing my keyboard
When suddenly I was playing what would
Become a very special song indeed! Having
Discovered its melody I wrote lyrics that
I felt expressed the meaning of the song.
Everybody can relate to Losing in their
Own way- which is a good sign.
I think I just tried to combine my own
Thoughts and feelings with the words and
Music in order to express myself. The
Guitars and drums bring different effects
To the song especially towards the end
Where we have tried to create a musical
Crescendo to really emphasise the last
Verse. The harmonies at the end of the
Track are probably my favourite part at
The moment. Overall, the song has raised
A few eyebrows - (in a good way lol) and
Whenever we warm up for gigs with this
Little number we always seem to get a
Really good response from other musicians.
Setting Sun:
It is also really pleasing to read you are
Branching out into the live environment /
area? How has these gone so far? Is their
One you prefer over the other?
Submerged:
Yeah, from our live shows we gained a lot
Of interest. Its weird because there
Are a lot of people willing and ready
To support us on our journey.
Other than the obvious- family and
Friends- we have conjured up a following
That includes other new bands on the circuit.
The thing we're looking forward to most
Is the possibility of playing a roadshow
In the upcoming summer months where we'll
Get the chance to play alongside some
Mainstream bands such as Idlewild. Also
The opportunity to get our songs played
Online/radio is something we're all looking
Forward to.
Setting Sun:
Out of interest, where does the name
'Submerged' come from?
Submerged:
Ok the band's name! Jess thought of
The name as she was writing her songs.
The concept is that we live in an
Industrial world, full of corruption
And hatred. People are Submerged metaphorically
By all these things and more- there own
Problems and sufferings hold them back
From what they could be. The fact that
So many people fail to realise their
Own potential and ambitions is what the
Name is all about. We're hoping to
Enlighten people and therefore open
Their eyes to what they could achieve
With a little more self-belief.
Setting Sun:
Anyway, some slightly lighter questions
For you to ease off with - firstly,
What would be your dream job if you
Were not in Submerged?
Submerged:
Jess- my dream job wouldn't be anything
Else really! It'd have to be something
Creative if it all went wrong though-
As long as I could write music
And lyrics I'd be happy!
Setting Sun:
Where are you all from? What's
The music scene where you are?
Have you been to any good gigs?
recently?
Submerged:
We're all from the home of rock! �
Birmingham! Jay's from Erdington
So is Chris, Gav's from
Chelmsley Wood, John's in
Shard End and Jess is from Stechford.
All Midlanders and ready to Rock!!! ;)
Setting Sun:
What would you like to be doing
When you are 60?
Submerged:
I seriously doubt I'll get to 60 my
friend!! If by any chance I do,
I want to be sitting in my own home
surrounded by my family and all the
happy memorabilia I have from my
younger days as the Angel of Rock! lol!
Setting Sun:
What will you be doing when you are 60?
Submerged:
I'll probably be stuck in some old
people's home wetting myself and
staring out of a window!
