Nine Sons Of Dan Follow The Blood Interview

Nine Sons Of Dan have come along way since their days as a university band project. With their third EP 'Follow The Blood" primed for a May 9 (2014) release and a national launch tour taking in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland from May 22, the six-track compilation introduces an edgier and slightly darker approach to the band.

'This EP was a chance for us to show case the songs that we always wanted to have on our records," says singer Jay Bainbridge. 'We took a lot of risks, we didn't want to be safe and at the end of the day music is art and I think this EP will also allow us to meet some new people and the true NSOD fans to grow with us".

Nine Sons of Dan is a five-piece alternative rock band with an eclectic, yet direct approach. Their youthful and fun blend of sound falls somewhere in between the appealing melodies and uplifting spirit of college rock (think All Time Low, Yellowcard, Four Years Strong) and the clever arrangements of alternative rock (think Propagandhi, Transit, Taking Back Sunday).

'Follow The Blood" was tracked in Australia but mixed and mastered in Nashville (USA) by J.R. McNeely (Dead Letter Circus, Anberlin). 'I wrote about where I was at that moment," says Bainbridge. 'Sometimes I use dramas that have happened in my past as fuel for content, but this time I just wrote about what was happening around me and to me. I had a lot of frustrations and heartache in my personal life but at the same time felt a sense of strength of unity with the boys and our future as a band".

This sense of feeling was also carried over to the EP's artwork with its meaning being progression – that no matter the environment, the character on the cover is able to adapt, evolve and still flourish.

NSOD will be taking the EP on the road performing nine dates across the country from May, which will mark the first time in almost ten months since the band last graced a stage. 'We are all about high energy performances," says drummer Morgan 'Flakey" Blake. 'It was always in our mind to create an EP that would translate well live".

The band started out humbly in 2010 for the sake of good times. Things started to get serious soon after, but the chosen formula remains simple. At the end of the day, Nine Sons of Dan are still a group of friends rocking out, expressing their passion for immediate and gritty rock songs with lyrics that are easy to relate to on a personal level. Yet, the band set out to develop a unique chemistry, allowing them to add a bit of unpredictability to the mix, with cool drum patterns and tempo changes, guitar riffs and vocal harmonies.

Above all, this band is a unit: these guys turned from a being a recording project on the side of their studies to becoming one of Australia's most promising new touring act within their genres. Nine Sons of Dan managed to retain their humble and direct approach, knowing that making music is a process of constant growth. Each time they hit the studio, each time they walk up on a stage under the spotlight… they never stop pushing the envelope and striving to be the best they can.

This brand new EP stands as a great testimony of the band's versatility: from up-tempo bullets to mellow ballads, Nine Sons of Dan set out to take the listener through an emotional rollercoaster throughout a texture-rich and exciting EP.

Let the music tell you the rest of the story…

Nine Sons of Dan Tour 2014
With special guests Far Away Stables

Thursday, May 22: Hot Damn, Sydney, NSW – 18+*
Tickets available from the door – discounted when you say 'Nine Sons Of Dan" at the door

Saturday, May 24: Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith, NSW – 18+*
Free Show

Sunday, May 25: Bald Faced Stag, Sydney, NSW – All Ages

www.ninesonsofdan.oztix.com.au

Friday, June 6: POW, Werribee, VIC – 18+*
Tickets available from the door

Saturday, June 7: Wrangler Studios, VIC – All Ages
www.ninesonsofdan.oztix.com.au and usual Oztix outlets

Saturday June 21: Coffs Hotel, Coffs Harbour, NSW – 18+
http://www.trybooking.com/84451 and from the venue

Thursday, July 3: Snitch, Brisbane, QLD – 18+
www.ninesonsofdan.oztix.com.au and usual Oztix outlets

Saturday, July 5: Racehorse Tavern, Ipswich, QLD – 18+
www.ticketmaster.com.au or from the venue

Sunday, July 6: Swingin' Safari, Gold Coast, QLD – 18+
www.ninesonsofdan.oztix.com.auand usual Oztix outlets

*Far Away Stables not appearing

www.ninesonsofdan.com

Interview with Alex "Pidgey" Pundyk

Question: How would you describe Follow The Blood?

Pidgey: Better then our previous EPs, still with everything you love about NSOD + more


Question: What risks did you take with Follow The Blood?

Pidgey: Wrote songs that reflect where we are at as a band, instead of writing to what we think people want to here. So far it's turned out that people are sharing our passion for the new songs we have written though so that's awesome.


Question: How much time was spent on Follow The Blood?

Pidgey: A better question would be how much coffee was created in the making of it....A lot of time was spent creating what is Follow The Blood by Jay and Flakey in particular. Jay is always writing songs and many were written to try and make the cut onto this EP.


Question: Which is your favourite track from Follow The Blood?

Pidgey: 'Wrecking Ball" for the pure energy and rock within that song.

Question: What should audiences expect from the upcoming tour?

Pidgey: One of the strongest live sets we've ever put together with new and old songs. More vocals by the whole band (Jay has been teaching us to sing).


Question: How has the band grown since your last EP?

Pidgey: The songs written we think are more dynamic musically with better lyrics and we are enjoying playing our music more than ever because our new songs reflect the bands attitude better than previous EP's have.


Question: What was the inspiration behind the tracks on Follow The Blood?

Pidgey: Jay writes about anything he can, I guarantee he thinks of song ideas and draws inspiration every day from different things. As I said I think the bands attitude is reflected in these songs so I think a lot of the inspiration came from what we want to play and be as a band. As for meaning, this will lie in each songs personal connection to Jay.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?

Pidgey: We are touring! If it were up to us, we wouldn't stop touring!


Question: Do you have a website fans can visit?

Pidgey: www.ninesonsofdan.com


Question: What message would you like your music to say to your fans?

Pidgey: We are here to create and play music and have a great time doing it, so hopefully our fans listen to our music and have a great time doing it.

60 Second Quiz

Full Name: Alex Pundyk
Nickname(s): Pidgey or Pidgeyyyyyyyyyy
Star Sign: Pieces
Music Talent: Guitar
Favourite Food: Chomletes
Favourite Film: Anything funny
Favourite Actor: Will Ferrell
Pet: A wild magpie
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: John Mayer
Hobbies/Interests: Bulk Surfing
First Job: Supre door boy
Are you a Pub, Bar or Club kind: Pub
What Can You Never Leave Home Without: Clothes
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning: "what's the surf doing"

Interview by Brooke Hunter