Ignite Interview~ Scottie Somerville Of Artifas Gives Us Some Insight On The Band & New Album “…and New Single ” Leave Me For Dead”
Ignite Interview~ Scottie Somerville Of Artifas Gives Us Some Insight On The Band & New Album “…and New Single ” Leave Me For Dead”
Artifas Buy/Stream link:
Hard rock band ARTIFAS released their new single “LEAVE ME FOR DEAD” via Imagen Records! The single is from their forthcoming album titled Reflections due out November 19, 2021.
Interview answered by Scottie Somerville
Tell us a little bit about the band and how long you have been together for some of our readers that may not know about the band?
Cody and I started the band back in 2011. We had been part of the same local scene for a while but in different bands. We had done a lot of work together through those years, everything from playing shows together to writing music. Once both of our bands broke up, we joined forces and opened a our first recording studio in Martin, TN. One day, knowing the chemistry we had and the dedication to our art, we looked at each other and decided to start a new band. We immediately went on the hunt for other members, people that we knew were willing to sacrifice it all to make it. After some searching we landed 3 other guys from around the region that were ready to take on the world. After a few years and a few tours under our belt, one of the members had a child which caused him to have to step away from the band. Our original bass player and drummer soon followed suit. These were some extremely tough times for Cody and I, as everything we started building was hanging by a thread. But we never gave up. After countless auditions, we finally found Mikey. He came in, nailed the parts, and fit right in. Anthony finally ended up joining us on bass. He had originally turned down the offer, because he had just joined a new band. One night after doing a show with Ant’s new band, he came up to me backstage and said, “I made the wrong choice.” Cody and I had known Ant for years through our old endeavours, so we knew immediately he was the guy for our band. Finally after searching the whole internet for the right drummer, I came across Jared on like page 40 of a website called BandMix.com which is a social platform for musicians looking for bands. Once I saw the first video of him playing, I sent it to Cody and said, “This is our guy.” I called Jared up and he was ready to go. After a couple tours we hit the studio to write our first full length, INHUMAN, and the rest is history. Our new record is dripping out into the world as I type this, so get check out the new jams!
What got you into music and what keeps you going night after night playing?
I would have to say my mom taking me to see Garth Brooks as a kid. I saw that dude flying over the crowd like Peter Pan with a guitar, and I was sold. My mom took me to a lot of concerts as a kid, and music was always something I loved. As I got older, I started getting more into rock music. My dad had always jammed the classics, and I still love them to this day. But actually my brother turned me onto a lot of new rock when the grunge era hit. The first rock record I bought was Sixteen Stone by Bush, and it’s still a favorite of mine til this day.
So, what is new with the band?..New Album out? New Videos?
We are currently dropping new singles and new videos. We put our souls into this record. We knew it had to be just right, so after working with a few writers and producers we ended up scraping what we had for the most part and starting over. It was a big undertaking and a huge risk, but we decided to self produce the album and make what we really wanted and what we enjoyed. It was time to tell our story and be more vulnerable to our fans and listeners. The best music has always been the most genuine in my opinion.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
That’s a question I ask myself from time to time. I think I would have really enjoyed be a detective or some kind of investigator, maybe a lawyer. Those all seem like some pretty interesting fields to me. I like solving problems.
What is the weirdest or funniest question you have ever been asked?
hmmm….. question number 11 lol
If you can have your fans remember you for one thing, what would that be?
I want my fans to remember me for my art, my passion, and my want to share with others that you can do anything you want. That may sound a bit cheesy, but it’s true. I think many people are scared to go after what they truly want to do. It’s a scary thing at times. But if you really want something, the only person stopping you is you.
On a scale of one to 2593, How good is your new single compared to your last single? (my attempt at humor, but please still answer)I’d have to give it a 2593!
We are so proud of this new material, and we finally feel like we got the sound we’ve always been chasing. We couldn’t be more stoked!
What do you feel is the best song you have released to date and why?I think I would have to say Cut Me Out. People really seemed to resonate with this song. I think we’ve all struggled with having that toxic person in our lives. You seem to hang on hoping things will change, as they continually drag you down. At some point you have to let all of that go and do what’s best for you and cut them out.
Do you think you can get any better as a musician/singer? And if so, How would you achieve that?
Absolutely. You can always get better and grow. I constantly am trying to learn something new or see someone else’s approach. Gotta put in the work constantly to stay maximizing what you’re capable of.
If you could give your fans one random fact about you that you think they should (or should “not” know) about you what would that be?
I’m a huge Batman fan. I grew up reading comics in my dad’s shop. He ran a ball card and comic store out of it. I’ve always liked Batman the best.
You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
My crayon would be half black and half white. I always try to view things from both angles, and the name of the band is Sanskrit for duality.
Who are you inspired by?
Honestly I’m inspired by so many people daily. I’m really inspired by others that chase their dream, no matter what it is. I love hearing about how someone pulled themselves up from nothing and made something of themselves. I want to put my stamp on the world and leave my legacy here one day as well.
What’s an average day like for you?
An average day is usually to wake up, make social media posts, call or text the guys about the days business, go into the studio, do some mixing or producing, do some phone calls, hang with friends, and then I wind down by watching a show, reading, or playing a video game. Typical day.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans?
We all try to be as active and responsive with our fans as possible. Without them we are nothing. We try to make them feel a part of this. We call it our Arti-fam! We seriously have the best fans ever though!
Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?
I personally haven’t dealt with it in this band. I did deal with it some in college though when I would have to play a big marimba piece in front of the whole music department. That shit was nerve wracking. I majored in music education in college with an emphasis in percussion.
Tell me about your favorite performance venues?
My favorite venues all have a lot in common. They take care of the artists, they have good sound, they have a decent stage, and they promote and build their crowd/scene. It really shows when the venue cares. My favorite place I have ever played had to be in Japan, playing for our Troops at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. What an amazing experience. I’ll never forget it.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Persistence is key. You have to be all in. Visualize it. See yourself doing what you set out to do. Put it in your head every day. The mind is a powerful tool, take advantage of it!
Thanks for having me. Great questions! I really enjoyed doing this one. I would be glad to be back anytime!
Scottie Somerville
or More Information Please Visit:
Artifas Music:
Imagen Records:
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