Upcoming Progressive Metal band Pridelands are set to release their debut album Light Bends this upcoming Friday (January 14th.) Pridelands drummer Joe Lipsham took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about the band’s debut album, the music scene in Australia, hopes for the band’s future, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: The band’s debut album Light Bends is set to be released January 14th, what can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
Lipsham: We can tell them that we’ve been waiting what feels like a lifetime to get it out there. We’ve been working on it for so long that it doesn’t even feel real that it’ll be out so soon. Every song is so special to us and we hope to subvert the average listener’s expectations with them.
MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being the bands first full length album?
Lipsham: It was lengthy, strenuous at times, but rewarding. We wrote a lot of it in the studio which was not something we intended on originally, but I think that it ultimately worked out for the best. We’re very collaborative in the process of songwriting and recording, so having us all together at once with a common goal definitely helped us create something that would’ve otherwise been impossible or at the very least, drastically different.
MER: The band has released the single ‘The Lake of Twisted Limbs’ from the album, do you feel like this song gives fans a good idea on what to expect from the full length?
Lipsham: Absolutely and at the same time, not at all. That’s the funny thing with this record. The hardest part of working out how to release it was trying to choose songs that encapsulated the feeling as a whole. ‘The Lake’ is a very good representation of the dynamics of the record however. By design the song builds up and cascades down, conveying the complexity of human emotion when faced with trauma and pain. It sounds cliche, but it’s true – no two songs sound the same. We wouldn’t feel as though it were a good record if it didn’t challenge us as songwriters in that regard.
MER: How did the formation of the band come about?
Lipsham: This is always a difficult question to answer, as we’ve changed so much as a band to the point where the name itself has been the longest running consistent factor of it, besides Josh and Liam being in it. As it currently stands with our lineup, the band came to be through our collective passion and finding one another along the way on our own walks of life. We’re from all across the country originally, and we often marvel at how it’s even possible that we came together to make music as a collective. Before all of that though, it was a group of friends inspired by the music they were listening to and the shows they were going to that decided to try and contribute to that world.
MER: What are some of your influences to play music?
Lipsham: Expression of the self, and that’s pretty much it. We’ve been moved by music for our entire lives and will continue to be moved by it, so being able to try and do that for others is a very unique blessing.
MER: How has the band been able to work together the past couple of years?
Lipsham: We’re patient. We could’ve released the album in a rush and not been able to tour it, just to look ‘active’ online to appease this idea that a band must always be working non-stop to foray themselves into the public eye. That’s never been us. The past two years have been challenging, but we’re so lucky to have been able to bide our time and work on things behind the scenes as opposed to being cheated out of a successful release period.
MER: Being from Australia, how is the music scene out there?
Lipsham: Incredible. So many outstanding acts have come and gone over the years and we’re honored to fall under the same banner as them. A lot of them don’t get the attention they deserve, but at the end of the day, the caliber of the music is what matters and there is no shortage of genius songwriters here, in the heavy music scene and beyond.
MER: Is there anywhere in the world you hope to tour and why?
Lipsham: We love the idea of touring Europe and the US. A lot of our friends who have ventured out have told us how incredible the fans are and how crazy it is to be so far from home doing what we love doing. Japan would also be insanely cool to tour. That’s probably my number one dream destination.
MER: If you could tour with anyone, who would it be and why?
Lipsham: TOOL. Their shows are on another level and probably always will be. Them or Sleep Token I’d say. Don Broco would be super fun too, they look like they know how to have a good time.
MER: What are your hopes for the band’s future?
Lipsham: We just want to keep doing what we’re doing and to keep falling in love with the process. Making music is about sharing a part of yourself to the world, so as long as there are people listening and connecting to what we do, there’s not much more we could ask for.
MER: Thanks for your time and stay safe and healthy!
Lipsham: You too. <3
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