For The Fallen Dreams has been around for the past 15 years, during which time they have gone on to write and record what is their sixth full-length effort to date titled simply "Six". Guitarist Jim Hocking talks about the album, it's current single, and some backstory into the band and their future.
1. Can you tell me about For The Fallen Dreams. Why did you decide to name the band with such a title? What kind of ideas did you explore?
Jim: The band name came from a really long list of band names the original members came up with many years ago. It’s sort of a mouthful so when talking about the band, we eventually adapted “FTFD” to simplify things for people familiar with the band.
2. How did the band come together in the first place, looking at yourselves now and then, what crosses your mind about the band as a whole?
Jim: We started like most bands start; in a small town with a few friends looking to play shows and have fun. Songs got better, our popularity grew city-wide, then state-wide, regional, and so on. Once our following reached the east coast, we started booking DIY tours with friends bands and hitting the road making just enough to get from one city to the next. FTFD eventually got recognized by Rise Records in the summer of 2007 with whom we inked a deal, then we hit the studio in fall of that year with our debut full-length hitting store shelves January of 2008.
3. In your opinion, what is the best way to define For The Fallen Dream’s sound?
Jim: Melodic, groovy, heavy. The band was built with influences like Bury Your Dead, Misery Signals, and The Acacia Strain. Each of those bands had very distinct sounds, so we took elements from each of them to craft our own sound.
4. Where do you take all inspiration from in terms of song writing and the lyrical context?
Jim: Lyrics for “Six” were more of a team-effort than on previous albums. Chad and I wrote together. I had entire songs, as did he, but we met in the middle and made changes that worked for each song. If one of us only had a fragment, we would have the other put a spin on it. I’m really pleased with the results. I think the style is the most consistent than its ever been, and I’m confident this album will be relatable with a wide range of people.
5. What are your main musical influences? How huge is their influence in your sound?
Jim: I draw inspiration from a huge range of styles. I was raised on classic rock, so my roots are definitely there, but heavy music spoke to me and I got pretty addicted to it. Its like a drug; you always need a stronger fix. For this record, I wanted to keep the same feel that our earlier fans would recognize, but without sounding dated or boring. I think we achieved what we set out to do.
6. "Six", is not only your newest album in almost four years, but also happens to be the sixth full-length album from you guys, what makes this 666th release so special?
Jim: The fact that we have even made it this far speaks volumes about our fanbase. They have carried us through ups and downs over the years but the interest never completely waned. We faced some pretty grim times, but the love people have for FTFD kept us going. We have achieved a lot in a ten year career, but I think the biggest milestone is making it to that ten year mark. Forever grateful for the ongoing support over the years.
7. Why go with a track such as "Stone", to be the single and video choice for this album?
Jim: We felt “Stone” was a solid track to show the world. It shows the audience we have moved into a direction without straying from our original musical goal. We didn’t want to drop our FAVORITE tracks first to avoid leaving our fanbase underwhelmed upon release. The album is very diverse and has a lot of cool surprises on it. No song on the album sounds like the next. Proud of that.
8. Can you explain as to why every artist or band always says that their newest album is their most favoritest? Why is that so?
Jim: Most bands say their newest album is their favorite because they have been playing those older songs for a couple years and are ready for a change. You invest so much of yourself into each song, but by the time a new album is around the corner you need to realize what you might not have liked about your previous work and build on that. The recording process is a fun yet, stressful, time. New albums are a chance for each musician to fine-tune their craft and create something new. That’s what we all love; creating.
9. What does the band have planned for the next couple of months?
Jim: We have a bunch of tours in the works for the rest of the year. We all have lives outside the band so its a bit of a balancing act to put together a full schedule. You will see some activity soon!
10. Anything else you want to add or want to get off your chests?
Jim: I hope everyone enjoys the album. Buy it, stream it, love it. Come catch a show. We aim to hit most of the world on this record cycle.
