FIREPHOENIX: “It was important for us to name our debut after ourselves, because we want to show the world who we are”
There's always a certain excitement to come across a great, new band just around the corner, and south german FIREPHOENIX, who were funnily recommended by a friend from the other side of the world, don't make an exception here. They released their amazing debut album on November 11th, which quickly convinced me with its power, and left me curious to learn more about this young quartet.
Band-Links: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Their guitarist accepted the invitation to join our journey, so welcome to read more about their background, music and artwork here:
Hey, thanks for making time to answer my questions today. Could you please introduce yourself and FIREPHOENIX to our readers?
With pleasure :-) My name is Nick Berger, and I play guitar for FIREPHOENIX. The band is based in Göppingen (Filstal), and has been playing together for about 2 years now. We knew each other already beforehand, and just started jamming during the pandemic, as far as it was possible.
Our old bands didn't exist anymore or were on the wrong track, so we were all up for a new challenge. I came to our drummer Luca with a set of songs, which was sort of the start. Luca had already played in a band with our singer André before, and he was also quickly on board. Kevin joined a little later and made the quartet perfect.
How did you come up with your band’s name, and is there a deeper meaning for you behind it?
It's not that easy to find a fitting band name, there are simply too many already used. So we went through our song titles, and "Firephoenix" was free in this spelling, and also had a nice sound. The mystique that comes along with it was a bonus.
You just released your same-named debut album. How do you feel about it, and how was the reception so far?
We are very happy with the final result and hope our audience feels the same way. On release day, we played a show at the Memminger “Kaminwerk” - Judging by the direct response and the press afterwards, we can be really proud of it.
Absolutely :-) Let's take a look at the fiery cover artwork. What can you tell us about its origins, and how does it reflect the album thematically?
It was important for us to name our debut after ourselves, because we want to show the world who we are and what to expect from us. Accordingly, a phoenix on the cover was the most obvious thing. We are all interested in mythology, pop culture etc., and the phoenix rising from the ashes is a nice symbol for many stories.
Indeed. Could you dive a bit into the album's topics with us, please?
There wasn't necessarily an overall concept, we rather cover a lot of themes in terms of subject matter. Everyone is different, and we try to do that justice by addressing the most diverse topics.
We all make our experiences in our private lives that keep us busy, so we write them off our chest. If necessary, our fans can identify with it, and maybe it helps the one or other to process something themselves.
That would be awesome. Where do you see your main influences musically?
There are many :-) The band consists of four unique, talented people who all contribute something different to the music, which is awesome. When you look at each musician's background you quickly see how broad their influences are. One comes from pop-punk, the other has done old-school heavy metal, the next feels like he belongs more to the heavier genres, while the last one is mostly into modern metal. We all like a wide range of music, and I think you can hear that pretty well on the album.
Indeed, and it keeps the music varied and interesting. Could you briefly describe your writing and recording process please?
Very simple – Someone brings an idea to the rehearsal room and we work on it. When we all think the song is good, it will be recorded.
Let’s talk about FIREPHOENIX live: What was your most memorable show so far?
Our CD release show at the Memminger “Kaminwerk” was a special moment. The audience was great, the promoter awesome, and the location fantastic. It was absolutely exciting to see our name on the same program as artists you've been listening to since childhood.
Totally get that :-) So, how would you describe your local rock / metal scene, and did you notice any changes over the past years?
I think that the scene is running through a finding phase. Due to the clubs' dying and the pandemic, fans and bands have a harder time than ever to connect. On top of that, musical preferences differ by region. With the internet and constantly changing musical trends, it's hard to judge all of this.
However, I think that especially in the rock and metal scene, we can see the most loyal fans, and that our niche will not be defeated by external events.
Absolutely not :-) What can you tell us about your future plans?
We want to grow of course, and are working hard to achieve this goal.
Before we wrap things up, do you have any further thoughts you’d like to share here?
Thank you for your attention. Feel free to listen to the album, follow us on social media or even visit us live.
Band-Links: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Would be great to catch you live one day. Thanks again for your time, and all the best :-)