Unsigned Spotlight: Attraction to Tragedy
Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Attraction To Tragedy, and how long the band has been together.
Jaiden: I’m Jaiden and I sing/play guitar. I started the band in 2010 when I was 16.
Izzy: I'm Izzy I play drums and the band’s been together for a while now but I've been in it for around nine months now.
Brandon: Hello, I'm Brandon and I play lead bass fisher in Attraction To Tragedy.
The band has been together much longer than I've been a part of it but this lineup is quite fresh, coming up on its first year soon.
Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Jaiden: We’re based out of Worcester Ma. Depending on the venue the shows can be really strange lineup wise. Hardcore bands playing with power metal bands with deathcore/slam bands opening. We don’t really fit into one genre so it can be pretty cool. I’d say The Days Ahead are probably my favorite local band. Great dudes and their guitarist Josh has helped us out in the past.
Izzy: Worcester! Seven Spires is a great band we've played with before
Brandon: Massachusetts, and the local scene really isn't as bad as some would assume.
We aren't exactly in unison with the rest of it but we all respect the bands we share the stage with and they respect us. We don't play it, but that doesn't mean we won't check it out. And there's a ton I could name as we've played with some great ones but the guys in Inari are always really rad people. Eyes Of Lilith as we've all played shows with them even before this band and of course, our buddy Josh's band, The Days Ahead are killer. Lastly, Seven Spires are extremely talented and have a very solid image which is always important.
Is there any story or concept behind the album title Passion Over Fashion?
Jaiden: Some people assume that if you take pride in your appearance then your music must suffer as a result and the album title/song was my way of addressing that before anyone else could. And on a smaller level I know by making it so in your face it’ll bug some people which is always great.
Select two songs from Passion Over Fashion and what inspired the lyrics.
Jaiden: Undead is based off of Night Of The Living Dead. I was burnt out on personal stuff at the time so I wanted to take a more Misfits esque approach. Stephanie Brooks is written from the perspective of Ted Bundy and is based off the psychological theory that an ex girlfriend sent him over the edge. I was watching a lot of true crime documentaries at the time I wrote the riffs so it just made sense.
What is the Within The Ruins connection to the band and how did they become involved with the band and recording process?
Jaiden: Joe was brought in to split some of the workload with our producer Jim Fogarty when we were doing the Bleeding Envy single. It was such a good experience that during the end of that session Joe agreed to co produce the album. My drummer had left before heading into the studio to record Passion Over Fashion so Joe recommended his drummer, Drummer, and it was exactly what the album needed.
What could one expect from a live Attraction To Tragedy show?
Jaiden: High energy without sacrificing musicianship.
Izzy: Lots of high energy heavy rock music. Blood, drum sticks being thrown everywhere, ya know the usual.
Brandon: Well lots of hair, makeup and potentially blood! Aside from all that jazz, we'd like to think we play our songs decently. There's also many new dynamics with the way we've come to play the songs differently. We may improvise something new into the mix from time to time and things are always changing while remaining in the same song.
If Attraction To Tragedy could open up for any band either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
Jaiden: Bullet For My Valentine because 1. I’m a big fan and 2. I think we share a common audience.
Izzy: I'd love to open for Korn or Motley CRUE
Brandon: We'll probably all have different answers but I think mid 80's Mötley would be a wild time. Or something theatrical like Dimmu Borgir could be fun.
Any strange or scary happenings while on the road or at a show?
Jaiden: My amp stopped working at a show once so that was sick. That’s why you should never put off changing tubes haha
Izzy: Nothing for me really besides equipment malfunctions.
Brandon: Thankfully nothing too scary but there's always things like wire failures or ya' know, entirely forgetting the bass head and having to use a DI. ;) Oh and lots of drunk folks that LOVE to chat.
If the music of Attraction To Tragedy was a donut, what kind would it be and why?
Jaiden: Love this question. I’d say Boston Cream because underneath our dark exterior there’s a sweet sugary pop influence.
Izzy: Boston cream because it's sweet with a rich creamy filling
Brandon: Boston cream because you really have to break through the shell to find what we're all about. Donut metaphors.
What would you like someone to remember the most after hearing Passion Over Fashion for the very first time?
Jaiden: I hope people connect with it in some way or another whether it be just one song or all of them. Even if someone doesn’t like it I hope they can at least see that we can actually play.
Izzy: Our name and to keep checking us out because this is just the beginning
Brandon: The place the band was at and hopefully how interesting every element sounded. There's a ton of new concepts being introduced and I think it's easy to listen to without growing bored.
What’s up next for Attraction To Tragedy?
Jaiden: More shows promoting the album. Videos. No matter what we’re always writing too.
Izzy: Shows shows shows. Then eventually getting back into the studio.
Brandon: Once we wrap up this release then we don't intend to stop. We're going to keep crawling up from hell to steal all the good little boys and girls' souls.
Any final words of wisdom?
Jaiden: Don’t succumb to peer pressure but you should pre order our new record Passion Over Fashion because that’s what all the cool kids are doing. Thank you for your time.
Izzy: Keep listening to music and following what you love. It's worked for us it will for you too.
Brandon: Keep an open mind and donut metaphors can be neat.