Interview with Icantdie
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Adam: I used to listen to music with my dad and hammer on a toy guitar and little drum kit from as early as I can remember. It’s always been something I’ve loved.
Kyle: Music was always a curious thing to me when I was younger, so it’s weird to consider doing anything else. However, I’d probably go into my dad’s line of work which is engineering. Although I’d absolutely find that boring! Haha
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Adam: I love mountain biking and being in the outdoors – it really frees the mind and keeps me feeling fit.
Kyle: I love Gaming I’ve got a few consoles and love that escape and story driven advertises in gaming really inspires the creativity, I have also been exercising regularly which I agree with Adam that it totally frees the mind.
How long has your band been around?
Kyle: We’ve been round since 2016 since I started doing bedroom demos when my last band broke up. It was in 2019 where the line up with sam and Adam first came in with our EP Doppelgänger and every though we have an EP previous to that, I consider Doppelgänger the start of this band.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
Adam: South Wales has always had a strong presence, I feel like being from here has pushed us to try something different. I don’t think we sound like most bands in our area.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Kyle: Icantdie’s meaning is subjective however the origin is pretty simple. When I was starting this band I always wanted a band where the name would stand out, like those festivals where you see the lineup have bands you’ve never heard of but have incredible names. So I wanted that, after watching an episode of South Park the Character “Kenny” dressed as his super hero ego “Mysterion” says the phrase “ I Can’t Die” and there was the name.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Adam: The gigs we played with Raiders over a weekend was a really good time for me. We did a good local Halloween show dressed in Skeleton Onesies that went down well too. Ooh and we played a Skatepark in Minehead once! I think Sin City in Swansea is probably the biggest venue we’ve played though
What is your favourite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Kyle: We’ve got a few but Sin City and Bunkhouse in Swansea are definitely our favourites to play. We’d love to hit Tramshed and the Student Union in Cardiff, but also the Fleece and SWX in Bristol.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Adam: ETID/Better Lovers would be the band I’d love to play with!
Kyle : Yeah!! Better Lovers is a goal for us! We love that band!
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?
Kyle: Enjoy yourself! The moment it no longer becomes fun for you then do something else. Creativity is fuelled from the enjoyment of the job. Like the late great Taylor Hawkins once said “Why would I want a vacation, when work is so much fun?”
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Kyle: Invest in Bitcoin! Haha
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Kyle: “Counter” is the most personal that we’ve released. I wrote the lyrics to hold a mirror to myself when I started gaining weight. I used to be such a exercise freak and then depression hit me hard and lead to overeating. To channel that into my music was very cathartic and it lead to the theme of our upcoming EP “ERRORS”.
It felt like making your life story biopic a horror movie. It was very exciting to make and I’m glad the EP wraps up that narrative.
Which songs are your favourite to play and which get requested the most?
Adam: I love playing “Frankly My Dear I Don’t Give a Vanme Damn”
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Kyle: I come up with a lot of riffs for Icantdie and pretty much send them Sam and Adams way. We then meet up to discuss what goes in and goes out. Its a process that has allowed us to pick parts, change to meet our techniques and styles even use old riffs and reinvent them. We’ve made the best structures because if this “Counter”, “Follower” and “teaser" being some of them.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Kyle: That life is tough, but not unbearable. It can be a horror show in your head, but your the final victim and its up to you whether you perish at the hands of your antagonist or survive and destroy all the demons you face!
In the end you say to yourself “I Can’t Die”
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Adam: Yes of course. We have our battles with mental health and various strains on life and sometimes we can disagree on something. Usually getting together and playing a show seems to shake off all the bad energy. We’re normally pretty quick at getting over things!
Kyle: Were too old for grudges! Hahahaha
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Kyle: Our new EP “ERRORS” comes out 17th Nov on all streaming sites and our new single “Teaser” is out now!
Go check it out! Were very proud of it!