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Toxic Federation are our Featured Artist in July 2011. Here the band's singer
Mitchel Emms and drummer JR Windsor talk
to Reviews Editor Jason Ritchie...
What are you currently up to?
Oh, and Alex our bassist has recently had all his hair shaved off into a mohawk.
So things are pretty busy and there's a lot of changes going on, musically and
image wise.
JR: We are currently working on our third album that we are hoping to hit all
the major places late this year. Along with a brand spanking new music video and
a full tour to go with it. We are cutting down the gigs to get it done soon, but
the gigs we do have are ones like Devon Rox with Funeral For A Friend, Rock and
Bike festival headlining slot and more around the UK
After 2 years of gigging experience, they decided that to develop onto the next
level, they needed a frontman, and found an advert I'd put up on the internet
looking for a band.
After coming to see me at a solo gig, I joined Toxic Federation in January 2009.
Since then we've wrote and produced two albums, "Behind the Mask (2008/2009)",
and "As One (2010)",and have played nationally, solo and alongside bands such as
Kamelot, UFO, The Answer, Saxon, The Levellers, Hot Leg.
After gaining new fans, we we're invited to come back in 2010 to headline the
annual Calis festival. So with 2011, we decided we wanted a change and headed
out to Istanbul to spread the word further.
JR: We originally went for a holiday for a few weeks, as a band haha, having a
few beers outside a rock venue when the owner saw us and thought we looked like
a band.
As the night went on, we were asked to get up and showcase a bit of British Rock
for the crowd. 2 songs later we were booked to headline 2 days later!
Once the word got around an English rock band was in Turkey, and the response
from the previous gigs, we were confirmed to play a few festivals out there! Now
it has gone from a simple get-away, to playing from Istanbul to Fethiye!
JR: This time next year, we would like to be gigging frequently on the back of
this new album which will be KILLER if all goes to plan. In 5 years, I would say
nothing short of World Domination ;-)
the internet has opened up a new platform for bands like ourselves to network
and share our music to more people than ever before...without a major management
or record company behind us.
In this age of downloads and declining CD sales has the internet helped you
get your music out there or has it in some ways hindered it by websites offering
free downloads etc.
For the breadheads of the world, it's a disaster, but for people who simply want
their music to be heard and enjoyed by the masses, it's a godsend.
JR: Definitely. We have an ever growing fanbase on Twitter and Facebook as well
as the dot com site too. Downloads help get our music to places all over the
globe.
JR: On drums: John Bonham, because you can't top that level of playing.
Bass: Lemmy. he is the Chuck Norris of Rock. Some say a drop of his blood can
kill a man. Guitar: Angus young. Charisma, playing style and stage show
are second to none. Guitar: Slash. A totally different playing style to
Angus. But just as immense. Vocals: Ronnie James Dio. A true legend and master
of rock.
What have been the live highlights so far and why?
Sometimes though, nothing beats packing out a small venue and getting face to
face with the audience, interacting and have an awesome time... the atmosphere
is brilliant.
JR: The foreign dates have been a good highlight. Headlining Silverstone Moto GP
this year. Working with some big names like UFO and Diamond Head, The Levellers,
The Answer.
it is important to support your locals to breathe life in this spoon-fed
X-factor industry.
Is the rock and metal scene still in good shape or do you think there maybe
too many bands out there now competing for an audience that isn't growing that
much?
Most unsigned rock bands are simply trying to emulate Guns and Roses. Unless
you're part of a scene (My Chemical Romance/Bring Me The Horizon) or happen to
have a Hollywood actor as your frontman (30 Seconds to Mars) it's tough for
rock/metal bands at the moment.
We try to stand out by writing music that's a lot more original yet more
mainstream than a lot of bands at the moment and we try to mix that with an
intense, entertaining live performance.
JR: The diversity of the metal scene has exploded with all this metal and rock
all over the place. Being the result of creating atrocities like emo, scene kid
fashion.
But at the end of the day, it is all the same. Heavy Metal, thrash metal, death
metal, speed metal, porn metal... IT'S ALL METAL.
The metal and rock scene has and will still produce some awesome bands both
locally and on a bigger scale so it is important to support your locals to
breathe life in this spoon-fed X-factor industry.
JR: AWAY from music? You can't escape from music! As a band we have a lot
of different interests. not many if you take music away! haha.
You can check out our music and where to come see us on our Facebook Page and
Website
JR: Hope to see you all at a Toxic Fed gig in the near future and a big thanks
for your support! Interview by
Jason Ritchie, June 2011
Photos by Sue Paterson
Special feature
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