Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Patrick Stowe (Lead Vocals)
Pat Davis (Guitars)
Jamel Twigger (Bass)
Bruce Marsden (Drums)

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to ATRIS? How long has the band been around?

(Pat D.) I was apart of this band called Texas Blvd.

(Jamel) I actually played in a church band, but I got weirded out by a member speaking in tongues at one of our rehearsals. So I hopped on Craigslist the next day and found these guys!

(Pat D.) hahaha yea! I came across the band on craigslist as well.

(Bruce) I’m not sure I can name all the bands I’ve been apart of, but I can tell you we’ve been a band since 2012 which is a feat in of itself!

(Pat S.) Warning tl;dr VH1 style behind the music coming: My last serious band (I was 19) was a Metalcore band named ScareJohn. That was back in the day when the other bands actually would talk to you and the music community was, ya know, a community? Hahah.

It was through that groups old recordings that got me an audition with Ted, our old lead guitarist. Later he brought my name up to a group that would later become the near first incarnation of this band (we wouldn't really feel complete until we were able to pick up Jamel)
I've been in various bands ever since I was 11 ranging from punk to blues, in which I've been a bassist, drummer, guitarist, percussionist, jug player and vocalist. My very first band as a kid we use to trade instruments and I found I had most fun on drums because of how shy I was, now I'm a lead singer, damn, go figure lol.

The bands been around since 2012, but I was absent for some defining parts of it. Ted, left the band due to not being able to afford cost of living out here, (our hearts were again later broken when similar financial troubles plagued our buddy, Matt, another amazing guitarist who can be heard on Womb to War.) Later I was asked to leave when my manic depression took over my life and I tried to fill the hole with Tinder and alcohol. If I'm honest they were probably right to kick my ass out, it lit the fire under my butt to drive me to change who I was and also to get help. I'm grateful for it now.

After I cleaned my act up I was asked to return to replace the band's new gimmicky female singer, who everyone in the band agreed wasn't cuttin it, the screamer took it upon himself personally to kick her out, soon later he too left the band in the middle of making the EP to join a band with her, lol again, go figure. In my mind this is the third incarnation of this band, and most dedicated version. Goddamn bands dude. Lol

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

(Bruce) The origin of the name is from something all the members of ATRIS hold near and dear, Star Wars. Specifically the name is that of a character you meet playing Star Wars knights of the old Republic. The band has never had a name change.

(Pat S.) I've always been a Star Wars fan, I used to play Star Wars: Knights of the old republic II, RELIGIOUSLY. Atris is a female Jedi council member and historian who's forced to go into hiding after she overestimates herself, she underestimates her enemy, accidentally killing a whole planet of people. She slowly loses sight of all things light and her mind becomes corrupted by the darkness, (who hasn't been there amirite??..No?.. ok.) later she's brought back to the light by the Jedi exile, also the story's main protagonist. I know right? Can you believe I've touched a woman?

Yup, like most bands we’re definitely stuck with it, but one of the other names that was in the running were “The Arms of Isis”, (only a few short months before ISIS became a known terror network), so um, I mean, at least we're not terrorists? Heh.. heh heh?..

(Jamel) Yea we’re all huge Star Wars nerds!

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

(Pat D.) I'm not entirely sure who wrote the songs that we have out now. As far the new stuff we're writing, I've been coming up with new songs on guitar and adding bass too with Jamel's input. Then we basically hand it off to Bruce to add drums and then Pat S. for his sweet vocal icing.

(Jamel) As far as our first EP “Womb to War” the musical foundation for “Fightin’ Words” was constructed by CJ Thomas one of our former guitarists. We did some reconstruction on guitar parts in that song as well as “Flintlock”. I came up with the structure for “The Human” and “Kasdea”. The big thing with us is collaboration. We’re constantly sending new things to each other especially now with our new album we’re working on.

(Pat S.) In the beginning the only writers were Ted and myself, which caused some problems with other members not feeling their creative voices were being heard I later found out. Our vast arsenal of very different guitarists have always made the skeletal structures of the songs with the remaining members adding each our own unique flavor over it. In my opinion no one writing style is really superior to the others.

We've had 7 guitarist total, Ted commanded beautiful melodies, Sinoe’s guitar playing was toe tappingly catchy as hell, Matt’s playing was nothing short of a freakin force of nature, Pat is quintessentially the most technical minded guitarist we've ever had so this next album is promising to offer our fans even more diversity. So, he’s currently writing all our song structures and then we'll all add stuff and jam on it and maybe sometimes Frankenstein’s monster it around, and other times the song stays pretty much exactly as is written. I try to veer away from hammering the same topics lyrically.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

(Bruce) Protest the Hero, Dance Gavin Dance, The Fall of Troy and various other progressive bands or musicians. I’ve been playing The Fall Of Troy’s latest release 401K.

(Pat D.) In no particular order, The Mars Volta, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Destrage, Protest the Hero, Sikth, The Dear Hunter, Stolas, Tool, Between the Buried and Me, Good Tiger, Closure in Moscow.

(Jamel) Protest The Hero, Periphery, Animals As Leaders, Thank You Scientist, Tool, and a lot of Jaco Pastorius.

(Pat S.) For me when I write vocals/melodys it's always Rody Walker (protest the hero), he's just the best and tier in my book not to mention one of the nicer individuals I've had the pleasure of meeting.. On stage, with a cell phone in my hand and my back turned to him lol (he asked the audience to ignore them while they played “Blindfolds Aside” my favorite song). I've been enjoying the new DGD Mothership album. Tillian’s Vocals are amazing. I like emarosas new stuff too.

Right now I listen to Gary Clark Jr, Bruno Mars and the weekend around the house. I'm pretty boring, a huuuuuuuge fuckin nerd. I listen to NPR or silence mostly when I'm driving; music is mostly for my passengers. Most of my creative influences actually are non-music related, I like politics, science, comics, movies, world news, that sorta thing.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

(Bruce) Led Zeppelin dude.

(Pat D.) The Mars Volta.

(Jamel) Green Day before they became EMO.

(Pat S.) Like most sheltered privileged caucasian suburbanites raised in Southern California, I grew up on Blink 182 and green day, (they're democrats like me Jamel, were just naturally Emo you know this lol). I grew up in essentially the same place as Tom, Mark and Travis. When I was just a little boy my mom took me to see Stevie Wonder and he blew my damn 7 year old mind, my jaw was probably wide open the entire show. He was seriously Funny, he was seriously talented, he had an absolutely enormous on stage presence. He was a blind guy who sat the entire show and yet you couldn't take your eyes off him. “You could do that.” She told me.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc….

(Bruce) Group huddle if it's a venue with a bar usually a toast individually. I think we each do a lil yoga sesh that benefits each of us with our perspective instrument.

(Pat D.) Lots and lots of Cocaine! Hahahaha Not really... I don't really have a pre-show ritual but sometimes I like to meditate to get myself relaxed and take my mind off things and also some guitar warm ups I learned on YouTube from Martin Andres of Pomegranate Tiger.

(Jamel) Jack coke, and trying to get lucky, fiddling around with Mandy’s G-string.

(Pat D.) Wait.. Who’s Mandy?!

(Jamel) Hahaha my bass!

(Patrick S) I meditate pretty much daily usually. The day of a show I'll start the day off with a light jog around the neighborhood, then it's vocal runs, I have a few ‘trade secret’ (cough* YouTube) warm ups I run through with myself, then I do a run through on my own with our EP in my car where I'll sound better than on stage. Then I try my best not to be a nervous wreck and speak to no one at the show for fear of puking all over them. (This includes band mates who don't even get to chat with the real me till after the show) and then I actually puke usually. Then I envision Prince telling me he's disappointed in me and I should practice more because I'm failing as a musician and have no business on that stage.

I don't drink tea or down a tube of honey and lemon or any lame stuff like that. Objectively speaking, nothing you ingest can make you a better singer just like that and often bypasses the chords anyway. If you usually suck, guess what? You're going to suck. No amount of honey can help you then. That's why you practice. *cough, cough* *puke*

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

(Pat D.) Apart from selling out stadiums, I think the biggest highlight for me has been reaching new fans and connecting with them through our music.

(Jamel) Yea 2016 has been amazing for us as a band because of all the cool people we meet at shows! We love talking music and love meeting people who are interested in what we’re trying to do musically.

(Pat S) Hey look Pat! Jamel's in a pat sammich and he's the meat!... Um. That sounded way less gay in my head. (..No it didn't.) Really though the new friends we make, either other bands or folks that come up to us after a show. Funny, I used to hate those parts the most, now I semi look forward to them.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

(Bruce) Protest The Hero, The Fall of Troy, Chon, Eidola coming to a city near you on the Mellowdick Post Hardcore Tour!

(Pat D.) Definitely Led Zeppelin. They are the epitome of rock and roll and have been the root of inspiration for so many of the bands I love. Also The Mars Volta or Tool since they are two of my all time favorite bands.

(Jamel) Queen, Zeppelin, Van Halen, Protest The Hero

(Pat S.) Yup probably Chon, I'd love to play with those dudes. I guess probably friends bands that already have people I know in them, friendly people. Some of the bands I like are better liked from a distance as they are not the coolest of people in person (*COUGH* ALL OF THE BLUE SWAN BANDS *COUGH*) The Wiggles could broaden our fan base I suppose. (Adding 3 more to our existing 4 fans lol)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

(Pat D.) We got some hot new tunes coming your way! Stay tuned!

(Bruce) The new album is going to be fire check our Facebook for updates as well as new merch coming soon!

(Jamel) We’re all super excited for what we have planned! Check out our Ep “Womb to War” on iTunes, Spotify, and our bandcamp!

(Pat S.) Yeah actually, we would love the opportunity to play for a charity gig, we're probably not like the band you've heard on the radio but we still love our communities and would feel honored for a chance to give back, thanks.

Also, I'm pregnant, and set to star alongside Danny DeVito in the sequel to the movie “Junior” we're calling “Junior Jr.” It should address all questions from the first film. WubaLubaDubDuuuuuub!