ONE MORE SLAVE - Soundtrack To The Coming Collapse... (France - Rap/Metal Fusion - Interview with Alex).

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?
One More Slave is basically a mix of different paths that all crashed into the same passion for hip hop rock-metal.
Jo (guitar) and Will (drums) grew up with the Judgment Night soundtrack—that was the big slap in the face for them, along with RATM, Cypress Hill’s Skull & Bones, and the Beastie Boys. For me (Alex), I got back into it through the Greek crossover scene (Artemis/Efthimis) before returning to the classics. David fell into it through skate culture and the soundtrack of the video Ban This, while Manu brought the groove, being a huge fan of bands like the Chili Peppers, Living Colour, FFF, or Fishbone.
What hooked us was the energy and the lack of rules. We just wanted to make music that felt right to us: heavy riffs, fat grooves, and a message that actually means something. That's why we started the band—to get that raw feeling back.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
The two brothers, Johan on guitar and Will on drums, had this idea after a 20-year hiatus from music (having mostly played hardcore bands before). They wanted to start a hip-hop metal band reminiscent of the 90s scene, which was mixing rap and rock with a very open-minded approach. It was not existing anywhere.
The fun part is that I was looking for the exact same kind of project at that time (2018)). From the start, our goal was to balance simplicity and efficiency. We wanted to create something catchy from the very first listen. 
The arrival of Manu (bass) in 2022 and David in 2024 (scratches, samples, guitar, and vocals) helped make this project a reality by bringing groove, interaction, and a lot of diversity.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
At its core, our sound is about combining hip-hop vibes and dynamic vocals with positive energy, old-school scratching, and a solid groove. Hardly anyone plays this style today; most bands have a more metal-oriented approach. Also we denounce propaganda, but we do it always with a smile and a hunger for the stage. 

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 ? 
Our music is a crossover collision of metal riffs, alternative rock, and rap—all stitched together with live scratches and samples. It captures that 90s spirit—Rage, Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys but also very different influences—but with a darker, more contemporary edge.
The name of the band, One More Slave, sums up the project in itself: we deconstruct propaganda and question the 'official' narratives we are fed every day. Our message is about critical thinking and staying alert in a world full of noise.
However, we share this with positive energy, cause we all need to experience great moments with live music, away from the all-around negativity 

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? 
Of course, I’d advise them to listen to our new record (out in early June), because there is so much diversity—ranging from direct, punchy tracks to instrumentals or vintage-sounding songs and even two songs in french. I think and hope everyone can find something to rely to. That said, our EP 'Pleasant Songs in a Pleasant World' is also a good starting point.

About your latest release ? 
Our new record, 'Until it Breaks', was recorded at Sofa Studios by Rom Tomcat and will be officially released in early June.
Regarding the content, it’s a very diverse album that perfectly captures our crossover energy. The artwork was inspired by George Orwell, but set in today's world; it reflects the contrast between our modern lives and the need to rise up.
It will be available on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Deezer, etc.), and for those who love physical objects, we’ll have CDs and vinyl available at our live shows.

Future plans ? 
Make this album live ! We want to play it in different places and in front of very different people.
Beyond that, we’re slowly starting to think about a new EP, which would be full of surprises, especially some features, as we want to keep exploring different angles.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
If we’re still around in a few years, it would mean we’re still having great experiences on stage and meeting amazing people. To us, the ultimate dream is simply to keep growing, both musically and personally.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
It will sound cliché, but our recent show at Evil Fest was the best one. We were so excited to play the new songs, and I think our setlist is more diverse than ever. We’ve reached a point where we just play and enjoy being on stage regardless of what people think—it’s pure enjoyment! (Indeed, that was a very good show ! - Ed.)
As for the worst, it was probably one of our very first shows, back when we weren't that confident !

Next live-appearance(s) ?
We make our release party in Lille on June 4th at la Bulle Café. (Tickets)
Afterwards, we'll be playing on the streets of Béthune (June 20th) and Arras (June 21th - Music Day)

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
So many great bands in our region, we have a great scene : to say some, and sorry for those we forgot, Coma & Mindgrief (Arras), Nak (Béthune), Falvino & Soul-X (Lille), Unfate (Douai), Black Hazard & Super sonic suckers (Cambrai), Stoutness (Orchies), Dear Liars (Lille) and so many others !

Last word is yours :
Thank you for your interest and all your efforts done to cover the scene. Keep the live music alive and whenever possible independent !