In Hearts Wake Locked & Loaded For Froth & Fury
‘Creativity is meant to be on the edge. It can’t just be like a warm hug. It has got to push and challenge a little bit because creativity has to be ahead of the curve. So, whether that’s something that’s happening on stage, whether it’s the song choice or whether it’s what’s said, it’s really important. We’re in really uncomfortable times and we need change, and creativity is that thing that needs to be ideally ahead of the curve’.
Jake Taylor of Byron Bay metalcore band In Hearts Wake discusses where the band is at currently while they take a well-earned break before January’s double shot of Froth & Fury Festival.
‘There’ll be an element of carrying on that element of heaviness. Naturally when you don’t have someone doing a falsetto, really soft song, that’s not going to happen. So that becomes a byproduct of it. I have a feeling the music will be more of a voice instrumentally, the guitar, things like that can hold space when perhaps in the past maybe there were really solid bedrocks for vocals. I can’t help but feel heavy music right now is needed. And by heavy, I mean ‘heavy’. There’s not a lot of love, don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have joy and fun and things like that, but right now it feels like we’re really needing heavy. So much to scream and be pissed about.’
Jake currently is taking downtime in the States, a hotbed of what seems like soap opera chaos when watching from here however one wonders what is it like over there.
‘It’s a modern version of the Wild West. It always has been. Always was. As soon as the invaders came to this place, it became the Wild West and it still is the Wild West at the end of the day. Just the sheriff badges are on different people and it’s hard to tell who the bank robbers are. With the rise of tech that either can be an ally or our enemy and is basically being weaponized and creating division. It is incredible to study. If we can just remove ourselves from the judgement of it and see ‘wow, this is what’s happening!’ It feels a lot to be in it, but to take a step back and just be an observer, there’s actually a lot of really interesting things to write about and a lot of fuel for the fire potentially.’
Closer to home, Froth & Fury brings up the bands adaptability to showcase themselves to audiences that may not necessarily know who they are when the roll up in both Perth and Adelaide.
‘It’s really nice to go back and actually play two festivals there. Other than this, I feel like Soundwave was the only thing, Groovin the Moo kind of plays Adelaide. Knotfest doesn’t go there, so it just feels really right to be going there having missed it on Knotfest. Those two cities often get neglected so much by the big stuff. So it’s really nice that this festival really prioritizes those two places. They are not as spoiled for shows. So therefore, there’s a more regional mentality which is really appreciative of bands that do come through as opposed to being spoiled for shows. I noticed that difference. There’s passion, there’s a lot of passion!’
In Hearts Wake shows are explosive and rumble with energy throughout, however being on a big festival stage does present unique opportunities.
‘Speaking to the crowd, knowing that they’re not all your fans. That naturally just becomes a by product of the energy. It’s not something I plan for, that’s just an awareness. You can try and play all the favourites or whatever, but there are new fans, new people being exposed to your band. So put the stuff that you feel really confident in playing, even if it might not be the ‘greatest hit’ that everyone’s going to sing along to, because it’s still being experienced for the first time. That Townsville show was really, really strong and I don’t know what it was about it, but there’s a fire that’s still simmering from there, that needs to be lit again properly.’
Interview By Iain McCallum
Catch In Hearts Wake at Froth & Fury Festival in Adelaide and Perth. Tickets HERE…
