INTERVIEW BY STEVE SHYU!
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The song ‘Rumination’ is arguably Crooked Royals’s biggest hit. What was the writing process like?
Conor: I give my input where I can. But mostly just the usual headache of trying to wrap my head around Jakes riffs!
Christian: It’s great that its Rumination that became the biggest hit because it really laid the basis to how we write songs. Since Rumination the process has been the same, we come up with a melody in minutes, and spends days or even weeks coming up with the best lyrics to fit the feeling of the song. At the time; I cant really tell you much, but I can say the process still affects our song writing to this day.
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How did you manage to get Lukas Magyar, of Veil of Maya, to feature on your single ‘Dissentients‘?
Christian: Gave him some chicken nuggets
Keane: Wasn’t as hard as many people think, Lukas is one of the boys. We met him back when we went to Iowa and all became really good friends him and his business partner Keith.
Lee: So when we had the song we showed it to him because we thought he might like it and luckily he did and was keen to be a part of it, which is dope cause it’s not every day you get one of your favourite’s artists to collab on a song with you.
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In your personal opinion, where do you see the Metalcore genre sitting in the future? Will it change or will it stay the same?
Jake: I think its just getting better and better, if you look at metalcore from 10 years ago a lot of it now seems very generic, not complaining I love old metalcore, I think bands have to be more creative and more diverse now to stand out in the genre which is great because we are getting a lot of new sounds.
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What has been the most insane and/or memorable show you guys have played?
Everyone: The Wellington show on the Polaris Tour!
Conor: We had never played in Wellington before so we came in with the expectation of having to win over the crowd as the support band but it was not the case.
Lee: I saw how packed the crowd was and had to do about 20 laps around the block to stop from having a panic attack. We eventually started playing and the nerves went straight out the window people were going nuts, moshing and singing the songs back to us, which was just mind blowing compared to the expectation we had.
Christian: Apart from being the best show we ever played there were so many characters we met. For example, There was one kid who wanted to celebrate his 16th birthday at the Polaris show (who wouldn’t those guys are dope) and pressured his bogan as dad to accompany him. I had to preface that because I was talking to the dad after our set and he just said “Mate, I don’t tend to agree with these new age trends but you lot and those Aussie boys really turned me around to modern metal”. Hearing that was just amazing!
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Your latest single ‘Copacetic’ has been getting lots of international praise – What’s the story behind the song and what inspired it?
Christian: Growing up we always heard songs about mental illness or about being in a bad place and like most people we found comfort in these songs, making it feel like these thoughts/feelings are common for everyone. Which is great until we start to become complacent of our own mental illnesses and forgo getting the help that is needed.
Copacetic is about being vulnerable and seeking the help/connection you need whether that be through loved ones or even a doctor.
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How have you guys kept yourselves entertained during lockdown?
Conor: Cards against humanity Zoom Streams with the boys and learning the new songs.
Jake: Writing new material, never enough time in the day being a musician, it’s like having a 2nd job.
Keane: Gaming and playing my e-kit, itching to get back on real drums.
Lee: Gaming with Keane and finishing the new songs
Christian: I just levelled up my 3rd healer class to 120 on WoW and I only started playing again in April, also cooking.
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What big plans do you or did you guys have in the pipeline? Has the lockdown affected many your plans?
Conor: Things were yet to be announced so can’t give away much. But it has affected our planned 2020 massively. But all is not lost!
Lee: Yeah unfortunately it’s all stuff we can’t announce as its not ours to do so, so unfortunately you will have to wait.
Christian: We did have plans in the pipeline, and I know the boys are not gonna like me saying this but I think the lockdown has definitely made our plans better. This is really because we can’t go to the studio to record so we’re going back and looking at what we want to put out.
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Once lockdown is lifted and normal life resumes, what’s the FIRST thing you guys are going to do? (It doesn’t have to be collectively as a band)
Jake: Head to the beach
Keane: I’ll be sorting out my new apartment and fix my drum withdrawals
Conor: Straight up, I cannot wait to get back to band practice!
Lee: Going to any and every gig I can possibly find, I miss gigs
Christian: Honestly, I miss some good Italian food.
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Which band or artist would you most like to share the stage with?
Conor: Veil of Maya and Architects
Keane: Dance Gavin Dance, Veil of Maya and Lamb of God.
Christian: The boys have mentioned the best answers so I’m just gonna go with my favourites; Radiohead, Dance Gavin Dance, and Biffy Clyro
Jake: August Burns Red and Parkway Drive
Lee: Polaris, Veil of Maya, In Hearts Wake and Architects
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Which Kiwi bands/artists have you guys been listening to lots of recently?
Conor: DRXNES
Jake: City of Souls, Banks Arcade, Achilles Complex.
Lee: Coridian, Banks Arcade, Seas of Conflict, City of Souls, Cohle Harris, Full Bloom, Claemus.
Keane: Full Bloom, I am Giant, Seas of Conflict, Coridian, City of Souls and Claemus.
Christian: Pale Lady, Balu Brigada, Mudshark, Fallstate
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QUICK FIRE!
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First round’s on me – What’ll you guys be having?
Conor: Is food an option? I miss takeaways 🙁
Lee: Ooooh I 2nd takeaway – I’d kill for a curry!
Keane: Racist.
Lee: Well I bloody never!
Keane: Haha I’ll take a honey whiskey
Christian: Old Fashioned, Please.
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Straight off the tops of your heads – Your top five favourite bands – GO
Conor: Polaris / Novelists / Slipknot / Veil of Maya / Dayseeker
Lee: Polaris / Architects / Veil of Maya / Northlane / Bring me the Horizon
Jake: August Burns Red / Polaris / Architects / Veil of Maya / Northlane
Keane: Lamb of God / Slipknot / Northlane / Veil of Maya / Periphery
Christian: Dance Gavin Dance / Radiohead / The Maine / Biffy Clyro / I The Mighty
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Answering only in movie quotes – What’s Crooked Royals’s mission statement?
Lee: I’m about to do to you what Limp Bizkit did to music in the late 90’s (punches dick) Dad?
Keane: I’m in a glass case of emotion.
Jake: Pull over! No it’s a cardigan but thanks for noticing.
Christian: LOUD NOISES!!!
Conor: Yeah baby yeah!
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Anything you want to add?
Wash your hands, keep your distance, be kind and think of others 🙂
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