TO HIS COY MISTRESS

WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/thcmband
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Rock / Screamo / Happy Hardcore

WHAT SUBJECTS DO YOU SING ABOUT THE MOST AND WHO IS THE BEST SCREAMER IN THE BAND?

We sing about relationships very often but I guess that’s just where we’re at, but we also sing a lot about life from our own perspectives, and the things we wish we could say, do and experience. We have two awesome screamers but Jes Jes has more range..

OUT OF ALL THE LYRICS YOU HAVE WRITTEN SO FAR WHAT LYRIC STANDS OUT THE MOST FOR YOU WHEN YOU PERFORM A CERTAIN SONG?

Definitely the glory end of our song silhouettes its pretty epic, if you listen to it you’ll see why!

WHO HAS THE BIGGEST “CREATIVE MIND” IN THE BAND AND WHICH BAND MEMBER WOULD YOU PAY TO STAY IF THEY THREATENED TO LEAVE THE BAND?

No one can really take a leading role because we’re all creative in our own field, and we wouldn’t pay anyone to stay, we’re in this because we want to be… if anything we might pay someone to beat up the person who threatens to leave :)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING YOUR RESPECTIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO REACH THE POINT WHERE YOU WERE CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO PLAY IN A BAND?

Sean and Craig started playing guitar at the same time about 8 years ago but only took it seriously for the last 3 to 4 years, Tim the lead vocalist started singing when he was about 15 in his first band with Sean because no one else wanted to do it and he eventually found a passion for it.

Jes Jes started playing drums about 6 to 7 years ago and played for a handful of bands. Conor the youngest and most arab member of the band started playing bass 5 years ago because of a band called the crooks! Done.

WHAT GEAR DO YOU CURRENTLY USE AND ARE YOU PLANNING TO EXPAND YOUR ARSENAL OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE FUTURE?

Sean: Behringer half stack thing, Ibanez Ax guitar and a boss GT 8 effects pedal.

Craig: Bugera Half stack, Gibson SG guitar and a buttload of pedals that we know nothing about, apparently ones used to ‘tune’ his guitar whatever that means? :Pc

Jes Jes: Four Piece Yamaha Stage Custom Neuvou, Istanbul cymbals and Gibralter Direct drive double pedals.

Tim: A microphone (think it’s a shure) and his voice. Think he got a vocal pedal earlier? We’ll check the band room later.

Conor: Ibanez Pro session Bass, Behringer 150 watt thang.

We’re all obviously improving our gear but it only improves as our bank account fills up so more shows means more money which means more gear :) We don’t really put it up to gear to improve our band though we believe it counts more to become better as an individual musicians, having sick sound gear just compliments our mad skillz yo. :P

TO HIS COY MISTRESS HAS ENOUGH SONGS TO FIT ON AN EP POSTED ONLINE. ARE YOU PLANNING A RELEASE OF ANY KIND SOON?

We need to re record most of our songs but we ARE planning to bring out a properly cut EP with the release of our merchandise!

HOW MANY SONGS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR SET LIST AT THE MOMENT AND I SEE YOU LIST MICHAEL JACKSON AS ONE OF YOUR INFLUENCES. ANY CHANCES THEN OF YOU GUYS DOING A COVER OF "BILLIE JEAN"?

We have a grand total of 5 AND A HALF SONGS!! AMPED! But we’re currently writing three new songs so just be chilled homeslice. And as for the Billie Jean Cover HELLZ YEAH! As long as its br00tal. :)

IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE DIRECTION OTHER LOCAL BANDS HAVE BEEN TAKING WITH THEIR MUSIC AND LIVE SHOWS?

We wouldn’t necessarily say that we are influenced but most definitely inspired by many local bands that that have come and gone through the years and many bands that are still here. So many local SA bands have so much to offer in all aspects of being a band and we are excited and honoured to be apart of that. Amped :D

I CAN SEE YOU GUYS ENJOY BEING IN THIS BAND WHEN ONE SEES ALL THE SILLY COMMENTS ON YOUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, BUT HOW DO YOU BALANCE “HAVING FUN” WITH THE SERIOUS ASPECTS THAT COME WITH PLAYING IN A BAND?

Well we have Craig who is the Samual L Jackson of the band (Pulp Fiction bad ass). We are all serious when it comes down to our music and Craig keeps us in check if things get out of hand. It is obviously incredibly important to us to write music we feel is awesome and that only comes with hard work and having fun at the same time.

I guess we just do what we do where every member plays there roll to keep things going. We have a good group of members and it works for us.

DID YOU START OUT ORIGINALLY AS A POST HARDCORE/SCREAMO BAND OR WERE THERE A FEW “TWISTS AND TURNS” BEFORE YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

HAHA non of us started as a Post Hardcore/ Screamo band we just kind of ended up here somehow haha. Tim and Sean started as a punk band then moved towards a posthard core vibe. Conor came from an Indie band called the Crooks, Jes came from many bands but mostly Deathcore Hardcore stuff and then there’s Craig who did something not quite sure what it was but we love him :)

HOW MANY SHOWS HAVE YOU PLAYED SO FAR AND BASED ON CROWD REACTION WHAT PARTS OF YOUR “SOUND” WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUILD ON FURTHER AS TIME GOES ON?

We’ve only played 6 shows so far… haha but I think the reaction we’ve been getting is far greater then we all thought. I guess we’re just gonna keep building on what we have at the moment. Catchy little leads and speedy stuff to keep the crowd going. We got a good thing and we have fun so uh.. ya :)

OK, PROMO TIME. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE UP TO FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

Uh.. well, we’re playing a show tonight at Street Café tonight which is gonna be an awesome party!! And other then getting our merch out and working on recording we’re just gonna play as much as we can and just enjoy it.

ANY LAST COMMENTS / ADVICE OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

We would just like to thank our moms especially Jesse’s mom cause she let’s us make noise 3 to 4 times a week. Christian Bale must be thanked cause he’s just awesome and all the other bands that play and all the people that come out to support us and enjoy what we do.