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Interview with Darran and Matt - Funeral for a Friend
Steen and I (Anders) met the warm up act for Maiden's concert in Copenhagen. Funeral for a Friend is a relatively new name on the scene - they come from Wales, and they have released their first full length album called something as catchy as: "Casually dressed and deep in Conversation". We had a little chat with Darran Smith (one of the band's two guitarists) and Matt Davies (vocalist) before the concert. Among other things we discussed the band's quick success, how it is dealing with the "Maiden chant" and whether there is a deeper meaning behind the band name. Note: when it says "FFAF" in the interview below it means that both Matt and Darran answered the question.
Steen: Is this your first you first time in Denmark.
Darran: Yes.
Steen: I know Bruce have been sick for a couple of days, have you just arrived or have you spent some time here to check out the town?
Darran: We arrived this morning in the early hours. We flew into Hamburg, and then the bus drove up here. Yeah, but we flew back to the UK after we found out Bruce was ill. We did a couple of shows back home, and we were told the Finland show was cancelled as well. It was one of those things where we just ran home, and we found out some of the shows were cancelled, so we were kind of lucky that we were back home anyway. So we could wait for the next show to be confirmed to be on.
Steen: But you have played a couple of shows in Europe?
Darran: We've only played one so far. We did the first show in Frankfurt, and then the following night the Rotterdam show was cancelled. And then they cancelled the Poland show and then the Helsinki, so we've only played one so far.
Steen: Do you feel some kind of difference playing for the UK audience and the European audience? Because I don't know how well known you are over here.
Darran: I don't think we're very well known over here - the album has just come out here I think. It is very different, but it is hard to judge because we are playing with Iron Maiden. I think that makes a difference as well, because we have the hardcore Maiden fans. That is the way we thought in Frankfurt - as much as we enjoyed it, it was quite challenging, because we had to prove ourselves worthy of their attention. We played the first three songs and just had the "Maiden chant" between the songs. So we just had some fun and joined them, and that kind of broke the ice. After that we had good reactions, there was some clapping and cheering. It was quite a challenge to look at all these faces with no emotion on them when we walked out. It was like: "what have you got for us".
Anders: You have just released you debut album Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation.
Darran: Yes.
Anders: I know it has been extremely well received.
Darran: It seems to yeah.
Anders: For example Kerrang has awarded you "Best British Newcomers". How have you experienced this time as a new band starting off and getting all this positive response?
Darran: It has been kind of crazy really and hard to come to terms with. Kerrang even came out with the totally ridiculous statement that we were the hottest new band on the planet. It was like fuck off, how can you say such a ridiculous statement about any band really.
Anders: Still it must have been kind of flattering?
Darran: Very flattering, but at the same time if they want to say something as shocking as that - fine that is up to them. And it is very very flattering for us, and we thank them for that attention. But at the same time we try not to think too much about it. I mean we are sort of good positive stuff, but it has all happened so quickly, that we're more shocked than most people. We're still in our own little bubble of just us 5 being the same idiots from Wales playing the best songs we can and making the best show we can. Obviously we read all these things, outside the bubble all kinds of crazy stuff is going on. It seems hard to believe they're talking about us.
Anders: How long have you been together as a band? How did you meet with the other guys?
Darran: With this line up it has been about a year and a half. But total it has been 2 years, since there were a couple of changes in members. So it is very new, and things have happened very very quickly. But we all knew each other within the scene from where we all come from. Me and the drummer Ryan - we were in a band together for about 3 years. But we all kind of knew each other from different bands, and we're friends anyway. Some of those bands broke up, and we all came together for Funeral.
Steen: So now your focus is 100% on Funeral for a Friend?
Darran: Yes, totally. It has been like this from the very beginning of the band. We went to a studio and recorded the demo in a couple of days. The studio also had a record label side to it, and they loved our songs. And they were the first 4 songs we had written basically. They decided they wanted to sign us, and we got out the first EP. So we were signed before we even played a gig, which was kind of bizarre. Things escalated from there and went a bit crazy.
Steen: If you had to describe the music of Funeral for a Friend with just one word, which one would you choose?
Darran: Apart from the obvious genre stuff, I would say just rock music. Another word is energy I think.
Steen: I got your album last Saturday and what struck me was that the songs were not on the usual verse-chorus-verse-chorus form.
Darran: No, we do like to branch out in different arrangement. It is the way approach music - we are all super music fans with super huge CD collections. When I listen to bands, I hate when I get the record on the first listen. It is like there is nothing there. So we try to create as many layers as possible. So there are rhytms and counter-rhythms and counter-melodies going on to one another. And we try to break away from the straight forward arrangement of a song. Where the song starts at one point and ends in a totally different field. More than anything we just want to make it interesting for ourselves, and then offer it out to anyone who is interested in listening to it.
Anders: Is there any deeper meaning behind the band name Funeral for a Friend.
Darran: No there isn't, none of our friends have passed away or anything like that. It was Matt who liked a band called Planes Mistaken for Stars from the States. They had a song on their album called Funeral for a Friend. Elton John also has a song called Funeral for a Friend, and a lot of people assume we took the name from there, but actually we took it from Planes Mistaken for Stars. I just really liked the name, and everyone suggested it as a band name. It sounds a bit like a Swedish, gothic, dark, black metal band. Yeah, it was Matt who came up with it, but the more I heard it, it kind of grew on me, and I think it is quite memorable. A lot of band names you tend to forget and mix up or even forget quite easily, and ours is perhaps a bit more original.
Anders: It is a bit the same with the album name "Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation"?
Darran: Yes, it is a common thing, which runs through the song titles, the album and even the band name. We like to play on words, things that amuse us. Like when someone comes out with a random sentence and it sounds different, and then you think that's quite cool. It doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it makes you think. On one of our earlier EPs there is a track called The Art of American Football - but there is no art to American football, it is just guys with pads running in to each other. It is the vibe of it. We just like thought provoking and to play on words. The Art of American Football is about the British educational system. And we're describing how it doesn't really work, but generally we have songs about broken relationships and that kind of things. But it is always from Matt's angle, and he has a slightly different approach than the normal boyfriend losing girlfriend normal cliché approach.
Steen: I had to read the lyrics a couple of times before I got some kind of meaning out of them.
Darran: Some of them are kind of abstract and some them are really harsh brutal lyrics, but Matt puts melody to them, and sings them in an uplifting way. And it has a different vibe, not in a dark way.
Steen: So, how does the songwriting process work in the band?
Darran: Usually it is either me or Chris (the other guitar player) who get an idea, and we'll sit down together and form a shape for the songs. We rarely play the same thing, we mostly play counter-melodies, and we get that started. The other guys will come in and help form it into an arrangement. And then usually we hand it over to Matt, the music is always written first, and then he writes the lyrics. Usually I will work with Matt because I got an 8 track studio in my garage. And I always demo our songs there before we go and record them properly. So Matt comes and we will work on the vocal melodies and shape them into the song.
Steen: Are you doing the band full time?
Darran: Yeah, we are in a lucky position we can do it full time, and we are very thankful that is the case. We've all been in bands for years, and we had our full time jobs, and had to fit it in around that. It is not easy, but it was always a dream to have the opportunity to concentrate fully on playing music. And we've been lucky enough to be in that position. So, thankfully I could throw my office job.
Anders: Your music is very inventive, what have your inspirations been?
Darran: From all different things really .. musically from Morbid Angel and extreme death metal stuff. A lot of us are into different things, but we have some common ground. Hardcore, post-hardcore, punk stuff. And a few of us are really into metal music, some of us really like melodic bands. So it is drawn from a lot of different places, and so we fit it all into a song, and try to give it our own sound.
Anders: I think you've succeeded in getting your own sound.
Darran: Yeah, nobody is never totally original, because everybody is what they've listened to over the years. But it is how you melt it together and hopefully create an original sound. That is something we always strive for. Hopefully, I think we might have achieved that.
Steen: Yes, it is very interesting. But I heard a song from your first EP - it sounded a lot more harder, hardcore punk like. So you have evolved.
Darran: Yes, definitely. On the first EP, like I said, were the first 4 songs we ever wrote. And we were all getting used to how one another writes and work with the chemistry together. There is quite a difference between the first and the second EP, and then the album is a progression to how we approach song writing now. So even though we're still very proud of our first EP, we were still learning how to work together.
Steen: So, have you started writing new songs yet?
Darran: No, we got a couple of songs, which will probably be released on the next single. We did these songs in the session for the album, and they didn't get quite finished in time for the album.
Steen: So when is that going to come out?
** Matt (vocalist) joins in**
FFAF: That is coming out in February I think - it is February in the UK, I'm not quite sure when it comes out over here. There are a couple of new songs on that, but no we haven't started on something new, even though we have a couple of ideas floating around. We've been touring so much, but we have a small amount of recording gear in the bus, so we're starting piling up some ideas. So there are a couple of songs in the pipeline, but no definite songs yet.
Anders: It must be a huge thing for a relatively new band as yours to tour with Iron Maiden. A dream come true - what do you think the consequences are of this?
FFAF: To be honest, not all of us in the band are fans of Maiden. (Matt admits he isn't). Three of us are, and you may be able to pick up influences on the album, like for example the guitar harmonies. But it is just an incredible opportunity to play with Maiden - it is a dream come true. I mean hopefully in such a large crowd we are able to impress at least a handful of people. They might be interested enough to go out and pick up the CD. Or maybe when we come back next year, they'll come to the show. It is probably in small clubs or whatever. So we just hope to do some groundwork, and get people a little bit interested.
Anders: Did Maiden themselves pick you for the tour?
Darran: Yes
Anders: It must be quite an honor!?
FFAF: Matt had an interview with Bruce, because he (Bruce) has a radio station back in the UK. We were a bit shell shocked when we first met him - the legend Bruce Dickenson. But we found out he is a big fan of our music, and he had been playing our music on the show for a few months. We found out Steve Harris likes it as well. And before we joined the tour they had a compilation CD they played over the PA before the show, and we got like 3 of the songs. But it is amazing to think that those guys are listening to our music and enjoying it.
Steen: I read somewhere that you were only supposed to do the UK part of the tour with Maiden.
Matt: It came just after the European dates were confirmed, so it was like "fair enough". We find it quite fortunate, that we were allowed to come to Europe as well, so we're quite happy about that.
Steen: Are there any guest musicians you would like on your next album?
FFAF: We thought about having guest appearances. It would be obvious that people would think we would have Bruce Dickenson or something like that. But we toyed around with maybe asking Nathan from Boy Sets Fire - people we respect. To be honest we should just do it ourselves - especially on our first album.
Anders: Do you know anything about the Danish rock and metal scene?
Darran: No, not much - we are pretty ignorant to the Danish scene. Is it a good scene?
Anders: Not as good as Sweden and Norway.
FFAF: It is building slowly?
Steen: Yes very slowly building here. The best clubs are in Copenhagen, I live in Aarhus, so we often have to come here.
Matt: It is the same thing where we're from. I come from the country, so I have to travel to go see shows. It is the same everywhere.
Steen: So, do you have a lot of spare time, and what do you like to use it for?
FFAF: *laughter* WHEN we get it, spending time with friends and family. We got home, chill out and relax with our families and enjoy their company.
Steen: I read an interview with Matt, where you said that the one thing you were looking most forward to, was to check out the girls. How is that going?
Matt: Not very good, we haven't had much time to go into town, so we check out the audience, but they just chant "Maiden" at us. It is embarrassing - work in progress!
Anders: So, what are your plans for the future - now you've got this great start with great reviews and so on?
Matt: Just a continuation on the path really, we'll see if we can build up that momentum, release more albums, tour some more and hopefully make a lot more fans. We try to enjoy this as much as we can for as long as we can - and try to progress. It is nice to think about where you might be in the next ten years, but every day we set the pace ourselves. And that is all we care about really.
Steen: So when did you know you wanted to become a musician?
Darran: Probably from 11 or 12. We've all played in so many bands, and having this take off so unexpected is cool. We will just ride the wave until it ends.
Steen: If you had to name your three favorite albums, what would they be?
FFAF: I always love that question. Definitely Far - "Water & Solutions". We're all big fans of Far, if you've never heard them check them out. They are one of the most definitive but unrecognized bands.
Anders: Where are they from?
FFAF: They're from America from California. They're good friends with The Deftones. That and probably "Master of Puppets" and maybe The Beatles "The Red Album (compilation)". Beach Boys - "Pet Sounds" and Boy Sets Fire - "After the Eulogy". It is a beautiful record with melody and progression, it is also very political, so it is educational, and it has got a lot of meaning to it and intension.
Steen: Do you have any final words for our readers?
FFAF: Copenhagen we will be back! | 
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Written by Anders - 12/2/2003 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by liam slater (Anonymous) - Tuesday, December 23, 2003 | funeral for a friend are so cool
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| Comment by Nik (Anonymous) - Monday, December 29, 2003 | I LOVE MATT DAVIES AN RYAN RICHARDSON THEY R SO CUTE!!!
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| Comment by nikki (Anonymous) - Wednesday, January 7, 2004 | Matt ur HOT!!!! by nikki and laurz
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| Comment by angus (Anonymous) - Thursday, February 5, 2004 | funerl for a frined rock, where in wales are they from? do you know?
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| Comment by emma (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 24, 2004 | funeral for a friend..just amazing really! ^.^ you crazy
cant wait to see u in concert, play in tj's!!!! in newport ur bound to know the place, we are waiting for ya
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| Comment by Eddie Aranda (Anonymous) - Friday, March 19, 2004 | Im from southern California, near Los Angeles. I listen to you guys all the time since I got a hold of your ep with the art of american football on it (one of my favortites from that album)almost two years ago. You guys need to come to so cal you got some fans. Your guys work on each ep and your new album evolves perfectly.
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| Comment by ER DR (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 19, 2004 | ffaf r from Pontyprid in wales the same town as the Lost Prophits
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| Comment by emmaz (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 19, 2004 | matt davies is a fucking GOD!!
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| Comment by david (Anonymous) - Wednesday, September 22, 2004 | hello
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| Comment by sarah (Anonymous) - Saturday, March 5, 2005 | hey! funeral for a friend ROCK!!! u guys r amazing!!
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| Comment by **bullet theory** (Anonymous) - Saturday, August 6, 2005 | yes, ffaf is truly an incredibly talented band. i just love the lyrics...and the guitars..damm, everything is so cool i just cant get sick of it!
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| Comment by yay (Anonymous) - Wednesday, January 4, 2006 | yay
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| Comment by luv ffaf (Anonymous) - Wednesday, January 4, 2006 | yay! I cant wait 2 c FFAF....there comin here (aus)in april. I saw 'em at taste of chaos...soooooooooo good! cant wait till aprl!
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| Comment by Matthew Stanion (Anonymous) - Friday, January 27, 2006 | What gear do you use
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| Comment by vikkie (Anonymous) - Monday, July 17, 2006 | you guys rock!
your lyrics changed my life!!
LUV YA xxx
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| Comment by Dani (Anonymous) - Friday, July 28, 2006 | yeah! they absolutely rocked when they did download!! Without funeral i wouldnt be in a band YOU ROCK!!!!!!!
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| Comment by arlenblink_182@hotmail.com (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 14, 2007 | ffaf is the best
there`s nothing`s more to say
hey i really love them¡¡¡
matt davies is lovely
ffaf saved my life in this moment
jaja when mom are screaming at me¡
but their music make me feel better.
i love you guys
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| Comment by IeroDavies (Anonymous) - Thursday, June 7, 2007 | Matt Davies is really hot n cute...+ His voice is so amazing!!!^^ Hope I have the chance to see em again live...
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