I Was Awake – The Frightened One

Listen to the new song from I Was Awake – The Frightened One

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Exclusive Interview

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
We are based in the North Shore of Massachusetts a few miles outside of Boston. We’ve all played in several bands around the Boston area for the past five years or so. Our band consists of Chris Harvey on vocals, Justin Demko on guitars, Chris Bouchard on drums, Kyle Paradis on bass and Dan Goodhue (myself) on guitars. Chris, Justin, Bouch and I all went to school together and have been involved in several projects together in various forms. Justin, Bouch and I started writing music for this project in March of 2011 and shortly after we were graced with the talents of Chris and Kyle to complete our lineup. We’ve been playing shows in the Boston area for the past six months including the Hard Rock Cafe and The Middle East and are gaining a solid fan base following the release of our self titled debut EP in April.

What do you have coming up? What are some of the new projects we can expect to see?
We actually have a big show this Friday, August 24th at The Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA, and another at the Church in Boston, MA on September 22nd. We are also currently in the process of recording a second EP for online distribution (which will be available for free) and will include two new original songs and two covers from a broad spectrum of rock arranged with some of our own flair mixed in. We’re expecting to start recording our full length debut sometime this winter.

Tell us more about the current song you are promoting to everyone.
The song we have included with this interview is “The Frightened One” off of our self-titled EP. This song has a very Jekyll and Hyde feel to it. From the vocals and lyrical content, to the ebb and flow of the instruments, it’s complex yet well-balanced while telling the story of a man at odds with himself and the world surrounding him. Also, it’s one of our favorites to play live. (Chris H)

How does your music separate yourself from other artists and bands out there?
Though I will admit it is easy to identify some of our collective influences, we put quite an unexpected spin on many genres to form our own eclectic sound with diverse appeal. We try to have a little something for the hardcore metalhead, the indie rocker and everything in between while maintaining a cohesive musical vision.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
Thus far we have been fortunate enough to play some great shows at well known venues in the Boston area, though one struggle we have had is getting our fair share of press coverage. Boston has a very large underground music scene with local and national touring acts passing through on a daily basis so it’s hard to gain recognition. We’re quickly learning that you have to continually prove yourself every time you go out on stage and force those “in the know” to pay attention. We work just as hard to grow our fan base and generate buzz as we do crafting our songs and we’re confident and hopeful that as we continue to make our rounds we’ll be seen as a force to contend with.

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
Luckily we haven’t really seen any setbacks as of yet, and we can only hope our good fortune continues; though we all know no journey is complete without its fair share of hardship. That being said, we’re trying to put ourselves in a position to be able to deal with whatever may come our way in the future.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
It’s easy to let small successes blind you and inflate your ego. Our advice to any artist is that regardless of how talented you are, patience and an infallible work ethic are key to accomplishing anything substantial with your musical career. It also helps to have a little luck of course!

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Play as many shows as you can! There are always more fans out there looking to hear new music. There are many good people out there in the music scene so remember it’s about making friends, having a good time and doing what you love.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
Playing live is still by far the best promotional tool. We live in an age where there is so much online media readily available that it’s easy to skim through music and overlook a band or artist that you may have loved. Checking out shows is still the best way to get an accurate feel of an artist’s sound and overall presentation.

Where can people visit you?
You can check out what’s happening with us here:
www.facebook.com/iwasawake
twitter.com/IWasAwakeBand
www.reverbnation.com/iwasawake

And you can check out our EP here:
iwasawake.bandcamp.com