Unsigned Spotlight: I Hate Heroes
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
Ephraim Francis – Vocals
Jimmy Snyder – Vocals
Ricky Nachurski – Guitar
Devon James – Guitar
Matt Cellini – Bass
Nick Nachurski – Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to I Hate Heroes? How long has the band been around?
Ephraim – Real Time Remedy
Jimmy – The Prize Fight, Amongst the Wicked, Shining Through
Ricky/Nick/Devon – Ill Fate
Matt – Sunset Hollow
The band has been playing shows since Nov 1st, 2014 with the final line-up forming late December 2014
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
The name has been the same since it began and it is a statement for people to stand up for themselves and become their own hero
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?
We work as a band to write our music. Usually it starts off with theguitarists bouncing riffs off of each other creating ideas, which then nick comes up with drum beats for. Once the instrumentals are in place, the vocalists take over and write lyrics to finish the song. It's really a well rounded team effort. The themes lyrically are self-confidence, heartbreak, surmounting negativity, and overcoming people that try to hold you down. We write about whatever we're passionate about at that given moment, so the themes can definitely change depending on experiences.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Vocally, bands such as Silverstein, Ice Nine Kills, and Like Moths to Flames. Instrumentally, a combination of Memphis May Fire, We Came as Romans, Crown the Empire, and a little bit of Asking Alexandria.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
Ephraim – Pierce the Veil
Jimmy – The Used
Ricky/Nick – Avenged Sevenfold
Matt – I, The Breather
Devon – Memphis May Fire
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
Ephraim – I do a short workout and sing a cappella to warm up my voice
Jimmy – Stretch, gargle water, vocal warmups, tell stupid jokes amongst ourselves
Ricky – Just get in the mental mindset by envisioning the set in my head
Devon – I like to listen through the songs on the set list and get in the mindset of performing them live
Matt – I stretch/loosen my wrists and hands, as well as playing through a few bass parts to get me warmed up
Nick – I usually listen to some of my influences to get in the zone, get my sticks out and drum on my practice pad, and mentally prepare for the set.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
Playing Warped Tour 2015 and signing with Kolossal Management
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Ephraim – I'd love to tour with Pierce the Veil, A Day to Remember, and Ice Nine Kills because they're my favorite bands
Jimmy – I'd tour with Underoath, The Used, and Blink 182 as they were big influences to me
Ricky – I'd tour with Crown the Empire, Asking Alexandria, and Memphis May Fire because I think they are great musically and have a great live performance
Devon – Asking Alexandria because I learned a lot from them over the years
Matt – August Burns Red because they've helped me through rough and emotional times with their positive and uplifting lyrics. They have also made me strive to become a better musician.
Nick – We Came as Romans, Memphis May Fire, and Asking Alexandria because WCAR has helped me out through tough times in my life and gave me hope, MMF have always kept me in a positive mindset, and AA is just a bad ass band.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We'd like to first and foremost thank all of our fans/friends/family for being so supportive and believing in us. We'd like to thank God for the opportunity to live our dreams each and every day. Our advice for those reading: Don't ever give up on what you love to do.