Interview with Crostpaths

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• The usual story, influenced by parents initially then when that wasn't cool anymore (adolescence) it becomes your school friends and peers.

  We all work regular jobs as music doesn't pay the bills these days, however, without it life would be far less fulfilling... 

  That being said, we might well have discovered far more lucrative past times!

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• SLEEP. When we're not sleeping we're rocking back and forth sobbing in a corner, ruing the day we ever started this cursed band!

How long has your band been around?

• We launched "digitally" in late 2019 but thanks to Covid we didn't start performing live regularly until 2022. 

  We feel new and old at the same time.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

• We're from Kent which is a deceptively large county. When we were coming of age there was an abundance of live music venues in the South East where we could cut our teeth. Unfortunately most no longer exist but the ones which remain still hold a loyal following today.

  Leo's Red Lion in Gravesend and The Forum in Tunbridge Wells for example. There are also newer venues emerging such as The Booking Hall in Dover and Ramsgate Music Hall.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• The cheesy part is music being the reason we "crossed paths" socially.

  It's also a  sort of portmanteau of Crossfaith, Stray From The Path and Architects who were some of the bands on our initial inspiration playlist we put together before demoing our first ideas for material.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• We have: 

  • - Opened for The Kennedy Soundtrack at Le Pub in their hometown of Newport with Benji Webbe (Skindred/Dub War) in attendance.

  • - Reached Kent’s Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses Final which was played to a sold out crowd.

  • - Performed London’s MCM Comic Con to a tonne of incredible cosplayers.

  This summer has huge potential to join the list with a headline show at Camden’s Black Heart on 26th May, followed by exclusive appearances at Breaking Bands Festival & Hammerdown Festival.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• We've namechecked a few already so don't want to play favourites! One we haven't mentioned yet is the Lady Luck bar in Canterbury. An intimate venue in a rad location, run by an awesome team.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• Download Festival 2009. Final answer.

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?

• DON'T DO IT! GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

• I repeat: DON'T DO IT! GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• Meridian from our first EP and probably Nostalgia on our new record. Both are angsty, emotive and probably a little melodramatic, but fuck it.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• Rampage usually instigates stage invasions. Would be cool to rock the remix live with Kid Bookie one day too.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

• We glare at each other intensely until someone snaps.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• No messages. Our lyrics are deliberately open to interpretation. We do hope we create an energy that people can feed off of cathartically though. Especially live. We wanna see chaos without violence. If someone falls, you pick them up.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

• We bicker constantly and there will always be an elephant in the room until one of us has an aneurysm or a stomach ulcer ruptures.

  Whoever created group chats has a lot to answer for!

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• New single I AM THE LIQUOR is out now. 

• Next single ECHOLALIA is out 28th April.

• New EP THIS IS FIRE is out 26th May with a launch show at The Black Heart, Camden on the same day!