Interview with Forrest Isn't Dead

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

Well, I started showing interest in music at a very young age and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life. 

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

I like skateboarding and video games, but I don’t really do those as much as I did as a kid because most of my time is taken up with music. Most of my influences come from personal experiences and listening to The Cure and My Chem.

How long has your band been around?

We’ve been doing our thing since 2018-2019!

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

We’re from Atlanta, GA and the surrounding areas! It’s hard to say exactly what influence it has had although I’m sure it does. 

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

My name is Forrest and despite the couple of times I’ve almost died, I’m still alive! 

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Our most recent Atlanta show was super dope because the crowd knew the words and was getting rowdy with us.

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

My favorite place we’ve played was maybe The Monstercade in North Carolina. It was such a weird, interesting venue. I would love to play Terminal West in Atlanta or Saturn in Birmingham! 

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

My Chemical Romance, Touché Amore, us and Turnstiles! 

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?

To anyone who wants to be a musician, I would say don’t ever give up and always accept that there is room for growth. And to my younger self, what I’d say is don’t do drugs and stay focused.

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

Probably “Deputy Bones,” which will be out with the new album. I wrote that song about the child abuse I endured and the time I was almost murdered and the emotions surrounding it.

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

Our favorite song to play is “Paper Kingdom” and most requested is “Fire”!

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

Typically, it starts off with an idea between me, Matt and Wes, but going into the second album we’re hoping to have all members more active. 

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

We want to create a safe space for people to express their emotions and a place for the outliers to feel accepted.

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

Not really, we’re all on the same page.

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

Our debut album The End Of Everything is coming out September 16th and we have a bunch of shows to follow!