Interview with Hero

Coming together from members of 2 bands I really loved, Mimi Soya and The Auteur, I just had to check out new on the scene brighton rockers Hero. The band have just put a new song, ‘Take It From Me’, up for free download, and with a video and EP to follow, this band are certainly ones to watch for 2013.

We spoke to singer Hero and Guitarist Jules, the band are completed by Guitarist Alex, bassist Kerry and drummer Memby, to fill us in on all things Hero related.

Introduce yourself to our readers?  
Hero – I’m Hero and I sing
Jules – I’m Jules, I play guitar in Hero.

Where did the bands name come from?  
Hero – ‘Twas self-indulgent, I just chose my name.

How did you get started?  
Jules – We met all met on the live circuit years ago, touring in separate bands. We became really good friends, so when came the time that our bands called it a day, we combined and established Hero.
Hero – We have a great chemistry together and that’s only been enhanced by the joining of Memby. From then on we’ve just been committed to writing good music together that we enjoy playing.

What have you got going on at the moment?  
Hero – We have spent that last year recording our first EP and shooting a music video with Sitcom Soldiers for our first single. Add that to a furious onslaught of shows this year and I suppose you could say we have it all going on!

Favourite music and why?  
Jules – I can’t pinpoint a genre or a band as a favourite because my tastes vary. Generally-speaking, if a song has a solid, addictive melody, it’ll be up my street. That’s where bands like Say Anything or Jimmy Eat World take the crown. But as much as I like melodies, listening to something as chaotic as The Dillinger Escape Plan or Stray From The Path is equally as enjoyable. It’s all about the mood.
Hero – Agreed. Mood has a lot to do with it. I can vibe some TDEP if I’m feeling particularly destructive or have a little cry to Nick Drake, maybe even at the same time. Is that possible? Does such a mashup exist? Who knows…

 Favourite book and why?  
Jules – Anything by David Shrigley. All books should be like his.
Hero – Yes Jules, David Shrigley is a bit of a king, but if we are going for literary content, I really like ‘On the Nature of Things’ by Lucretius. For it’s time (50 B.C) it was pretty out there and interestingly, most of his theories have in fact formed the basis of what we acknowledge as the fundamentals of life. That for me, is pretty ace. I loved ‘The Testament of Gideon Mack’ by James Robertson. Never have I more wanted a fiction novel to be true in my life. A fascinating look at the immortal marred in the madness of a mind.

Favourite film and why?  
Hero – ‘The Witches’, Roald Dahl. Terrified and excited me to no end as a kid. Even thinking about the High Witch now makes my skin crawl.
Jules – Aliens, without a doubt. I saw at an early age, it was pretty much compulsory viewing in my household so it holds sentimental value, as well as being awesome. Oh, and the M41A Pulse Rifle is by far the coolest gun in a film, ever.

Best experience in the business?  
Hero – For me, probably signing my publishing deal. I love writing music and that day affirmed what I loved was something I was actually good at. That or the tour with Cobra Starship purely for the amount of good times I had with Ryland. He is a funny, funny man.
Jules – Playing T In The Park. After years of attending festivals, it was an honour to play one of the biggest and have a dressing room next to The Saturdays.

Why should our readers care?  
Hero – I truly believe if the creator cares enough, naturally the observer will find a reason to care. I believe our record that’s due for release and the records that will follow will show an innate ability within all of us to write great music that will rival our contemporaries that we have been looking up to for years. If we aren’t going to do that, what is the point?

Tell our readers an interesting fact about the band?  
Hero – Hmmmmmm.
Jules – Next!

What’s the best and worst things about touring?  
Jules – The worst and best thing about touring is that you never know what’s going to happen. You might find yourself in a blizzard, driving through the hills of Wales hoping that the next turn you take isn’t going to end up with the van sliding on ice and ending up in a river. Or, you can find yourself playing some unknown town, random shitbox venue with a room full of kids singing the words of your songs back to you. By far the best thing.
Hero – From my point of view (having one of them vaginas) it’s probably the impatience the boys have with my girly bladder. Other than that I’m as hardy as a tree in winter. I love sleeping on the floor. I don’t mind the long drives. I like being surrounded by my brothers 24/7 and I love playing a show, whether there’s one person or 5,000. I don’t think there is ever a reason to complain if at the end of each night you’re still doing what you love.

Most embarrassing thing to happen to you while in the band?  
Hero – Being a clumsy, forgetful, useless individual, most days are pretty embarrassing for me. Thusly not much can embarrass me!

What’s your writing and recording process?  
Jules – A song usually comes from me sitting at my computer for a few hours, piecing a few riffs together and sending a demo to Ro, for her to put lyrics and melodies over the top. Once we’ve finalised our ideas, we re-record everything at my flat and then take the song to the rehearsal room to see how it comes across in a live situation.

What inspires you?  
Hero – Frustration is a massive part of my creative inspiration. I find it therapeutic to expose and address my frustrations at myself, the industry and in part the world. I suppose from the outset everyone’s inspirations, in some part, is a form of frustration, a call and answer from the observations around you.

Best thing about playing in Wales?  
Jules – The hospitality. The Welsh know how to look after a tired, malnourished, touring band.

Who are your role models or idols?  
Jules – I don’t have any idols in-particular. There’s a ton of artists and bands who I have a lot of respect for and have songs so good, that I wish I wrote them. Discovering music like that makes me want to better myself.
Hero – I went through a phase of actively meeting my idols and being so disappointed that they were all dicks. In fact I swore I wouldn’t bother having that ‘pedestal’ respect for anyone like that again. But then I met Max Bemis, and that all changed. He is such a decent, humble human being. So purely on that basis I will say him.

What’s the hardest thing about the current business?  
Hero – Ha, that no one actually knows what the hell is going on.
Jules – If you’re good at your profession, chances are you’ll become successful. Where as in the music business, One Pound Fish Man can reign supreme over a talented, hard-working band, struggling to get a break. Its like having some guy who can barely kick a ball, play for FC Barcelona, whilst Lionel Messi is stuck playing Sunday league football.

Who is your favourite Batman actor?  
Jules – I’ll probably get a lot of hate by saying that I don’t really care much about Batman. The Dark Knight was good though. I’ll go with Christian Bale purely on the fact that I haven’t seen any of the older Batman movies.
Hero – Only ever saw Christian Bale. I don’t get the Batman thing.

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