Light The Fire – Compassion In Unlikely Places

By starrymag | March 3, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

SETH: Thrice, Saosin, Underoath

ANDREW: Story of the Year, While She Sleeps, Bring Me The Horizon

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “The Departed.”

 

SETH: It’s about coming to the realization we are all growing older and there is nothing you can do to stop it. It’s about remembering your younger years and how they seemed to be easier.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

SETH: The emotion that comes through the music, as well as the lyrics are something I feel like everyone can relate to.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

SETH: It portrays a young boy and his process of becoming a man, and him dealing with that process.

 

Q) What is your song writing process?

 

ANDREW: Normally, Seth will bring a demo to the band. We will jam with it as a collective group and see if it’s something we are all feeling. If it is, we work with it to put our own stamp on it. After that Seth will write lyrics and melodies for it based on the changes and build on the ideas he initially had in mind.

 

Q) Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

 

SETH: I usually write music and lyrics separately. I constantly write lyrics with no music or melody in mind, and then when I write the instrumentals, I’ll choose lyrics I’ve written that seem to have the same vibe as the music.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

 

SETH: Blake and I program 75% of the electronics and the whole band is a part of the production process with the producer, so I’d say we’re pretty hands on.

 

Q) In what ways do the new members of the band add to the sound fans have always loved about Light The Fire?

 

ANDREW: We typically bring in people that have a like-minded fundamental basis and understanding of what we do. With that said though, every member who is new also has their own musical personality that we are totally willing to explore. It provides constant evolution to our sound because no one musician hears things and plays things the same way. I feel like some of the member turnover in our band has helped keep us moving forward into new territory.

 

Q) How does the title for your upcoming LP Compassion In Unlikely Places play out as a theme throughout the tracks?

 

SETH: “We can find Compassion in Unlikely Places, if we stand together they cannot break us” is a lyric from “Carry On” and so much of this album is about finding your inner strength and lifting others up, so we felt it was a common theme throughout the album.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Light The Fire performance?

 

SETH: An intense emotional roller coaster, where every member gives their all every performance.

 

ANDREW: Like Seth said, “intensity” is the word I would also choose to describe it. We always try to perform every show like it might be the last one we ever played. Keeps a chip on our shoulders. We want to give the audience our best effort every time. They spent their hard-earned money to see us and deserve everything we got.

 

Q) What songs off the LP are you looking forward to performing live?

 

SETH: We’ve already been performing a few, but “Carry On” and “A Thousand Reasons” are really fun to perform.

 

ANDREW: “A Thousand Reasons” and “Autonomy” are my favorites. Pure raw aggression is what those songs encapsulate to me.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to Compassion In Unlikely Places as a whole?

 

ANDREW: A sense of hope for any dark period you might be going through as a person. It’s ok to experience trials in life and be angry or hurt by it, but also come to an understanding it won’t last forever. Also, to look to forgive others for their wrongs as well as find compassion for what they’re situation might be without judgement or condemnation.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

 

ANDREW: Pretty much anywhere we can play, and people can hear our music is what matters to me. Just to be able to connect face to face with a live audience and give and receive the energy that exists at a show is what is the most important thing about music.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future? 

 

SETH: Childish Gambino

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

SETH: The new Silent Planet album is a banger and I’m super stoked for the new Billie Eilish album coming out.

 

ANDREW: The new Architects album is one of the best things I have heard in quite a while. I also recently discovered K.Flay and really like her stuff. The new Bring Me The Horizon record is dope too just because they took a risk with it and did it well.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

ANDREW: Because it gives you a sense of humanity to the artists creating the music. It gives you a deeper insight into who we are as people and our personalities and maybe provides some deeper insight into where the inspiration for our songs come from.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

ANDREW: Thank you so much! If you’ve come to a show, listened to us, bought merch, etc… It’s what keeps us going.