Unsigned Spotlight: Iron Will
Orlando alternative rock trio Iron Will have garnered national attention with their arena-worthy take on modern alternative rock. Nodding to the likes of Incubus, Circa Survive and 30 Seconds to Mars, the Sunshine State trio temper driving rock riffs, atmospherically intertwined with melodic vocals.
Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
William Walsh - Vocals, Guitars
Jeff Daughtridge - Bass
Jamie Pannucci - Drums
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Iron Will? How long has the band been around?
Both Jeff, Jamie and I have been active in the Central Florida scene for years. Prior to the inception of Iron Will, Jeff and I were in Lost Satellite together and Jamie was in Men Against Fire. Due to various circumstances, all of the members of Lost Satellite mutually agreed to hit pause late 2018. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the catalyst to the formation of Iron Will. We officially formed in August of 2019.
After Lost Satellite went on hiatus, I continued to write music, started pushing myself vocally and through that process wrote the entire EP Secrets. Anthem was really the track that changed everything; once I finished writing it, I booked studio time at Rocky Water Studios with Stu Richardson (Thursday, No Devotion) on production and session bass, and Alex Petrosky on session drums. In summer of 2019, Anthem took home the IndieCon Next Big Thing Award right upon release, I hit the studio to finalize the EP Secrets, and realized… I need a band. I reached out to Jeff and Jamie, and within a matter of weeks we were rehearsing and the journey began.
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
By definition, “Iron Will” is a burning determination that cannot be stopped or hindered by anything. The name was a natural fit for us, we believe that anyone can accomplish their goals and dreams; you have to take action and be relentless in the pursuit of them.
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?
I (William) write the songs and bring them to the group. We are trying to push our creativity and be dynamic; we want to stay true to our sound but write both heavier and lighter dependent on what the song calls for. The inspiration for the tracks comes from real life circumstances, whether it be overcoming struggle, eliminating toxic relationships or dealing with life & death. Naturally, I think the topics may change overtime but the theme will remain the same, finding optimism through conflict.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
One thing I love about our group is the diverse influences, we pull from the full spectrum of rock genres; from alternative to heavy. The core influences are Incubus, Deftones, Circa Survive and Thirty Seconds to Mars with outside inspiration from Tool, Jane’s Addiction and Beartooth.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
No, Not a specific band/artist; Music has been a huge part of all of our lives, we all started playing young and have been to hundreds of concerts collectively.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
Well, at any show prior to our set you will find Jeff front and center jamming to the other bands. He is a socialite and genuinely loves supporting every group, no matter the ticket. If Jamie and I aren’t joining him - you will find us keeping it low key, getting in the zone. I’ll run vox warm ups, etc. and jump around to get the blood flowing. Jamie is always calm, cool and collected but we know he’s about to go nuts on stage with his crazy faces. We all share a brief moment prior to every set with mutual gratitude to be able to perform together.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
There have been three defining moments for us so far; the IndieCon Award, Headlining Space Coast Music Festival and most recently, playing Seattle Hempfest. We would have to say Space Coast Music Festival was the biggest highlight, it was a huge collective moment for us and the Central Florida music scene.
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Aghhh tough one, too many to list! Our main goal currently is to hop on major festivals like Lollapalooza, SXSW, Welcome to Rockville, Aftershock etc. so we can share the stage with both our top influences and new favorites.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
We have a steady stream of new music coming, with hopes to release our next EP early 2021! follow us at our socials @ironwillrock or www.ironwillrock.com