Interview: VERITAS
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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
I’ve been interested in music since I was very little. My parents were always playing music on the stereo. I have no idea what else I would be doing with my life if not for music. I don’t really have many interests outside music. I love old muscle cars and traveling.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
I’m either working, listening to music, watching concerts, or working on my cars.
How long has your band been around?
It was started in 2012 after I started working with original drummer Adam Hartley. The current line-up has been together since 2017, I think
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
The band is based out of Kansas City, Kansas. Myself and Geno Alberico-bass, live in the KC area on opposite sides of the city. Denny Anthony-vocals, is in Minnesota and Mark Zonder lives in California. For myself, living in the midwest probably helped me be a better guitarist. When I was a kid the town I lived in was very small and there wasn’t much to do. I spent hours daily playing and writing.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
I came across Veritas when looking for a name and it sounded good to my ear. It means truth and we try to be true to what we like and listen to in our music. Combined with the Celtic symbol Awen, which means creativity, we created the logo we use today.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
We, unfortunately, haven’t played live yet. We were looking forward to getting out in support of our cd release but everything shut down due to covid. We are hoping to get out soon since venues are starting to open again.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
I don’t know what venues are my favorite but there are a few in the area I’d like to check out. Knuckleheads, Aftershock (if it reopens), Voodoo Lounge. We’d also love to be part of festivals. Best way to new and old bands.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
I’m sure we’d all agree on Fates Warning, Queensryche. Myself I’d love to play with Savatage, Crimson Glory, Metal Church.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Definitely learn everything you can and don’t stop learning. Stay focused and have a goal. Cover bands are a great way to get used to a band dynamic but it’s very important to work on original material. When putting a band together, it’s very important to find people that can be friends and no ego.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to take chances. If it doesn’t work out, look at it as a learning experience and keep moving forward. There’s also a few relationships I would tell myself to avoid.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
I don’t have a favorite. My listening taste changes all the time. It’s the same answer when I’m asked to pick a favorite band. Sentimentally, some of the first we worked on under the Veritas name were Starlight and Masquerade.
Which songs are your favorite to play, and which get requested the most?
A few that are fun to play for me are Masquerade, Love and Burn and Far away. The ones I’ve had requested to be played live the most have been Love and Burn, Starlight, and Frail.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
So far, we’ve been using the songs that I have written but everyone writes their own parts so it’s still a band collaboration. It begins with recording a basic guitar track. Gets sent to Mark for drums. Once he adds his parts, he sends it back and I retrack the guitar to fit better. It’s then sent to Geno for bass and finally sent to Denny for vocals.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Denny writes his lyrics in an unusual way that it can be interpreted differently by each listener. So it’s more of a personalized experience. Musically we just hope that everyone likes the music and can enjoy it. It’s got some technical parts to it but still melodic enough that non-musicians can enjoy it too.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
So far we’ve been lucky. We have been doing this long enough that we try to do what is best for the song and not our egos. It usually makes for better songs when you try different ideas.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
We’re still promoting our current cd, Veritas-Threads of Fatality -shameless plug-(available worldwide, cd/digital/merch links on our site www.veritas.rocks/shop ) and starting work on the next one. Hopefully as venues continue to open, we can get out and play some shows too!