ION INDIE MAGAZINE December 2016, Volume 31 | Page 83

everyone was in good health, we hit it hard! This is the most solid this group has ever been. Every practice is
a riot. All we do is laugh in between songs. Most of us grew up together, so it’s always jokes and we have a
very good and close relationship. So the recording studio has its stories. But mostly when we were there, we
were working. You know what they say... “Time is money”--especially when recording!
Kat Zee: I have listened your album and I really love it. You are playing hard rock with influences of
progressive metal, symphonic metal and melodic metal. What topics are the most important for you to
describe in your lyrics?
OTS: Anna and Josh primarily write the lyrics. When Josh writes he likes to stick to topics like “true
innocence” and internal battles. Anna writes about battling inner demons and struggles as well, but she
also writes a lot about death and loss--as well as the harsh never ending winters we have here in Wisconsin.
She gets pretty bleak at times. It must be the lack of sunlight and vitamin D. Which would explain why we
NEVER write love songs (ha-ha). One thing that we like to get across in our music is that no matter how dark
the subject matter, or no matter how painful the loss, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We went through
it and survived, and you will too. We will be there to weather the storm along with you.
Kat Zee: I love the most the song “Running On Fumes”, “Infinite Months” and “Speechless”. Who comes up
with the ideas to write the lyrics and music?
OTS: Everyone contributes the music. It’s all a group collaboration. When we write a song, we draw off of
whatever experiences and influences we are experiencing during each period of every song. This album in
particular took a while to complete. So from start to finish, we experienced a lot of different things and were
exposed to so much new music that each song has its own flavor and identity. They all reflect different
points in our lives over the course of a few years.
Kat Zee: Anna, You have an amazingly powerful and clean voice. What are your main influences as a vocalist?
OTS: Cigarettes and coffee (ha ha ha!). You know, that’s a tough question. My single biggest influence are
my emotions. That is what dictates what songs will be about and how I sing them. I never really try to emulate
anyone when I sing. I mean, I guess I can say I’ve always been influenced by gospel singers and Trent Reznor
and Maria Brink from In This Moment. She’s been really my only direct influence. When I started adding
screams, I based how I scream off of her style.
Kat Zee: OnceTheSun, did any of you attend a formal music school? And what are your favorite bands?
OTS: Most of us had music courses and private lessons through school and then private instruction after
school. Sam always credits the drummers he grew up with for showing him what he knows. Going to shows
and helping his friends load their drum kits in and out and getting to watch them from backstage was his
biggest influence. As for favorite bands? We all have very different tastes, but we all share some similarities.
Here they are:
Anna: Trent Reznor and NIN, M83, the Birthday Massacre, In This Moment and Dredg
Nick: Fear Factory, Die Antwoord, NIN--so many more...so little time!