Dark pop rock power house
Rivals have been hard at work upon what is their first and debut full-length album titled "Damned Soul". This release going on to release two singles turned video releases called "Low" and "Moonlit". But in terms of the album, they wanted to show a darker side of who they are as a band and their music. Thus, with that the trio took the time to disclose the details about their material, single's, album, and touring plans like no tomorrow!
1. How did your band form?
Kalie Wolfe - Micket and I have actually know each other for about 10 years now but, when
I was like 17 years old, I went on tour with his old band The Collected as a photographer. He heard me sing and bout a year or two later, he hit me up asking me to try to sing on a song and here we are!
Seb joined about 2 1/2 years ago because we played a show with his ex gf, we ended up needing a new bass player and I posted up on Facebook. He legit commented with that girl emoji that has her hand up lmao.
2. What accomplishments are you most and least proud of as a band?
Kalie - Honestly were proud of everything we've done. Every mistake, every problem, every high and every low has been so important to the development of the band. People look down on their imperfections and mistakes, but mistakes are what help you learn to be the best version you can be.
3. How has being in a band impacted your life?
Micket Woodle - Being in a band has really shown me how to be more outgoing and meet new people. That thereʼs more to everything then just what I can see or what comes up on a social media feed.
Sebastian Chamberlain - Itʼs impacted my life in many different ways. Some good some bad. But at the end of the day Iʼm doing what I love and thatʼs the biggest impact I can get.
Kalie Wolfe - Its weird, Iʼm happy but depressed all at once. Music has so many ups and downs. Doubts. Late night thoughts. Questioning yourself and what your doing. But in some way itʼs also given me so much confidence, a sense that Iʼm doing more in my life then just working some random job till I eventually die. A real chance to help someone other then myself using my own personal experiences. Plus I've made some of the best friends of my life because of music, I wouldn't really trade this life for anything else.
4. Do you have any major goals for your band?
RIVALS - Madison Square Garden, sold out, 3 nights in a row. Been saying that since we first started as a band lol!
5. How do you describe your sound to people who ask you what your band sounds like?
Kalie - Its like dark pop meets alt rock, like a lighter Bring Me The Horizon lol!
6. Who are some of your biggest influences music wise?
Micket Woodle - Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, 30 Seconds to Mars and Bring Me the Horizon.
Sebastian Chamberlain - Biggest influence would have to be Nikki Sixx and Diego Russo.
Kalie Wolfe - Jessie J, Demi Lavato, Bring Me The Horizon, 30 Seconds To Mars, You, Me And Everyone We Know, to name a couple!
7. How about when it comes to the song writing, what are your songs about and how is the song writing process laid out?
Kalie - The whole album is kinda about loosing hope but also getting it back. The songs range from questioning my presence on earth and others are reminders to myself that we have to keep going. Life is worth every second if you just see the beauty in it.
8. Why go with releasing "Low", as a single then video of choice?
Kalie - We wanted to come out with a banger, we wanted it to be the poppiest song on the record, so that when we released "Moonlit", the contrast would be vastly different. Plus the video just turned out so dope thanks to Brian Cox lol.
9. "Low" is the debut track to come off the debut album "Damned Soul", so tell me how does it feel to have both under your belts?
Sebastian - It honestly feels really good, we spent a lot of time making the record so its nice too see it finally coming out for everyone to listen to.
10. What was it like working with producer John Espy/Aaron Edwards on your debut album "Damned Soul"?
Kalie - Both of them are fantastic people, they honestly really pushed us to do the best we possibly could. They were really real about everything, if it wasn't good enough theyʼd simply tell us "You guys can do better then that and we know it" and we'd keep writing until it was perfect.
11. "Damned Soul" will be released via Smartpunk Records, how did that set up end up taking place?
Kalie - They just liked it haha, a friend knew a friend who showed them our stuff and it just ended up working out. Everyone at Smartpunk are really good people and were VERY lucky to have them.
12. What's your take on the debut album "Damned Soul" as a whole?
Micket Woodle - Itʼs a very emotional evolution of who we are as people and as musicians.
13. Where does a title like "Damned Soul" fit into the theme and or concept of the album?
Kalie - When we started writing Damned Soul, which was unnamed, I was kinda in a VERY dark place, all the songs were just about my life just being a train wreck, but since it took us like a year and a half to write and complete, towards the end my attitude changed. I started seeing light in the darkest places. Even when life is hard there is ALWAYS bright side. The songs range from my darkest places and to the hope of a brighter future.
14. How does the album's artwork fit into the theme and or concept for this album that is "Damned Soul"?
Kalie - We bounced ideas back and forth like crazy, it took us a LONG time to come up with something, like it wasn't till like 2 months after the album was done that I came up with the bright colored drip idea. At the time I just thought it was cool but then I realized how much it had to do with the concept of the album. The dark can consume you, but the light always wins if you let it.
15. What else do you guys have got lined up for this next year coming up?
Kalie - LOTS! Tours on tours on tours! We are ready to get out there and promote the new album! So we will see you all very soon!
