CHALK HANDS - Scream, Survive, Shine ! (England - Screamo/Post HardCore - Interview with Antoine).

Hello! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
I was really young when I first discovered the screamo genre, and it definitely was the day I heard "A Dead Sinking Story" by the Japanese band ENVY for the first time. It must have been in 2003/2004, I was 16 at the time and it completely changed my life. I had always been into heavy music and went through a lot of different phases, but when I heard that album for the first time, something just clicked, like I found something I’d always been searching for and I remember thinking, “that’s it, that’s exactly what I want to do”. And here I am, 22 years later, still doing exactly that!

Tell me about the band… How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
We all connected through the Brighton music scene. Most of us were friends of friends, meeting through going to gigs or through bands we were involved in at the time, that kind of thing. I couldn’t really tell you why there was a specific need to form this particular band, personally I’ve always done music and will always do music. The line-up changed a couple of times in the early days, but it has stayed the same since the release of our first album.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost?
We like to keep it simple and usually describe our music as “loud sad songs”. Of course it’s a bit more complex than that, but at its core, that’s what it is.
If you want the longer answer, sonic contrast has always been at the heart of what we do. That probably comes from our love of post-rock, we’re just taking it somewhere a little more intense. We move between slow, atmospheric and pretty sections, and intense, aggressive parts with blast beats and heavy riffs. There are also hints of math rock in there as well.
I don’t think anyone needs to listen to our band ‘at all cost’. It’s an emotional genre made for personal connection, so if you connect with what we do, that’s awesome.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences? How important are the lyrics for you? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics?
Growing up in Belgium, I had access to a lot of really inspiring scenes around me, especially the German, French and Italian screamo scenes. Many of the bands I loved sang in languages I didn’t understand, and that never really bothered me. If anything, it probably shaped the way I approach lyrics.
I tend to see vocals as an integral part of the song, almost like another instrument, rather than something that exists purely to give it meaning. That definitely influences how I write. I prefer using metaphors instead of trying to describe something very precisely. Since I’m writing about my own subjective experiences anyway, I’d personally rather people connect with the feelings behind the songs and what the words carry.

About the band’s discography… Imagine someone who doesn’t know your band at all and wants to get interested in. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why?
At the time I’m writing this, we’re still over a month away from releasing our second album, so I’d recommend starting with our previous one ‘Don’t Think About Death’. We’re still incredibly proud of it, and it should give people a good idea of what we’re about while they wait for the new record. We’ve released 2 singles of our new album so far though, so make sure you check those out too!

About your latest release?
Our second album, "The Line That Shapes the Coast of Us", was recorded in May last year at The Bookhouse Recording Studio in London with our friend Tom Hill. It was a really great experience. Tom is amazing to work with, he’s patient, attentive and incredibly talented. I love spending time with him, both in and out of the studio.
It was a special time outside of the studio too. We were staying together in a family home nearby, which gave us a comfortable, homely place to come back to and relax. That sense of calm and togetherness made the whole process even more enjoyable.
The album will be released in multiple formats (digital, tape, vinyl and CD) and will be available worldwide, which we’re very proud of. It’s our second album released with Dog Knights Productions, and they always do an amazing job. The cover, insert and labels were all illustrated by our guitarist Tommy, we’re very lucky to have him in the band.

Future plans?
This coming April, we’re organising 2 release parties in London and Brighton, and then we’re heading out on a European tour. Touring will probably take up most of this year and next year, and then… who knows!

Your most insane dream with the band would be?
You guessed it, playing with Envy in Japan. We actually technically played together already, as we both played ArcTanGent Festival last year, but that one would really be the dream and a personal ‘full circle’ moment for me personally.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why?
It’s hard to pick just one, but playing a sold-out Electric Ballroom in London, which holds around 1,000 people, while touring with Touché Amoré felt pretty unreal. Also playing shows in Turkey was one of the band’s favourite memories.
Our worst gig would probably be our only show in Switzerland. It was especially disappointing because the venue was huge and clearly had a lot of money and effort put into it. We got really excited thinking it was going to be something special, but in the end almost no one showed up. Playing to a massive empty room was pretty disheartening.

Next live-appearance(s)?
We’re organising a release party in Brighton on April 9th, followed by a London one on April 11th.

Some words on your local scene - bands you’re friends with and you’d like to name?
We’re extremely excited about our friends Fall Of Messiah and their new album, which is coming out around the same time as ours. If you like what we do, definitely check them out, there’s a good chance you’ll love their music too.
Brighton has so many cool bands but my favourite local band is a slowcore band called Glasshouse Red Spider Mite.

Last word is yours...
Thank you so much for this interview! If you’d like, you can now pre-order our album via Dog Knights Productions wherever you are in the world. Much love xoxo.