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

Tyler Eden - Vocals

Austin Wright - Drums

Stephen Malone - Guitar (answering questions)

Justin Elliot - Guitar

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

Austin and I used to be in a metal band called DEADLINE (pretty metal, right?) for a few years.  We played a lot of regional shows but never really did much outside of that. Tyler and Justin were in a band called Heritage that was somewhat similar to what we’re doing, but a little more spacey. The current incarnation of the band has officially been around since late 2010. There was a completely different lineup at one point, the band broke up, then we reformed and pretty much changed everything. We kept the name because no one could agree on a new one.  

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

When the band first formed (before I joined), the old bassist came up with the name. I don’t think it really has any meaning to be honest. I wish there was some sort of deeper story, but alas, we’re apparently not that deep. At one point, very VERY briefly, the band was called Mourning Party, but that was too deep in the sad boy end of the pool so that was quickly abandoned.

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 compose most of the music, and do a great deal of the arranging. However, I really like for songs to come about in an organic way as well, so I’ll bring a loosely constructed idea to rehearsal, and Tyler, Austin, and myself will come up with the foundation and tweak things as we go. I would like to think that the subject matter of our music is widely varied, but to be honest, there are a lot of recurring themes dealing with our feelings on religion and its social implications (we grew up in small town Mississippi, so you can imagine…), songs about past relationships, dealing with adversity, thoughts on society, and some obligatory songs about girls.

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

We all have such a diverse and varied musical taste, but we also have some shared influences.   I think collectively we draw some influence from Thrice, Deftones, Glassjaw, Saosin, Circa Survive, and a slight hint of Every Time I Die. ETID is a band that I’ve always listened to, and remain in constant rotation.  We’re all REALLY into the Foo Fighters, and are constantly trying to do our own version of what they do, with straight ahead rock songs. Lately I’ve been really influenced by The 1975 just because their music is SO groovy and catchy.  Literally cannot stop listening to their current record. I’ve also been revisiting Refused’s “Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent” lately. I just can never get over how ahead of it’s time that record is, with the songwriting and the recording. Saves the Day is also a huge influence on me. I’ve always loved Chris Connely’s stream of consciousness style of lyricism, and how they always manage to write really solid riffs and catchy ass hooks. Coincidentally, we’re going to be hitting the studio with their guitarist Arun Bali in July.  Seriously cannot wait for that.

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

I really hate to say this, because 90’s grunge is so trendy right now, but Nirvana (and subsequently the Foo Fighters) is the reason I decided to be in a band. The first record I ever went into a CD store and bought was Smells Like Teen Spirit. It absolutely changed my life. A few weeks later I went to Blockbuster Music (telling my age here), and bought FF’s “The Colour and the Shape”. Once I gathered up the pieces of my brain after it exploded, I decided that what I wanted to do was be in a band. To this day, whenever I start to feel disillusioned, or disenfranchised, I listen to those records and am immediately taken back to that 15 year old kid sitting in his room listening to those songs on repeat trying desperately to learn the riffs. One day I would like to shake Dave Grohl’s hand, give him a hug, and say “Thank you for giving me purpose and drive, and a dream to chase, through your music.”  

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

Generally we all do some stretches, run in place, stretch our hands and fingers, etc. Tyler has a routine of vocal warmups that he does, and Austin will run through rudiments and warm-up exercises for about half an hour. Justin and I will do some hand stretches and play our guitars for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes I listen to Have Heart’s “Armed With a Mind” or “Life is Hard Enough” to get me pumped up because those songs are super passionate and aggressive and get me jazzed up. Pat Flynn is such an inspirational lyricist.

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

There have been SO many cool moments. We’ve gotten to play on the same stages as bands like ADTR, Underoath, Emery, He Is Legend. We’ve gotten guest listed by Slipknot and ETID on separate occasions, which was absolutely insane. We’ve been from one end of the country to the other.  Been featured in AP Magazine, and by New Noise Magazine several times. I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but those are some that stick out.

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
I hate to speak for the rest of the guys on something like this, but I think they’d agree. Top of the list would be ETID and Letlive, just because they’re all rad dudes, and it would probably be the most fun tour that I could possibly imagine, Deftones because they’re incredible and Chino and Stephen Carpenter are some of our heroes. I think the epitome of touring heaven would probably be going on tour with the Foo Fighters. I just feel like it would be nonstop inspiration every minute of everyday, plus I could die happy after seeing them every night.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Yes.  Support local music. It sounds so cliche’ to say, but I hear younger people complaining about lack of touring acts, or attendance at local shows, but a lot of these kids are the same ones who don’t go to shows, don’t buy merch, and don’t hang around to watch local bands supporting tour packages. As an independent touring band, it’s frustrating to walk by a group of kids bitching about the “scene”, then spend their entire time at a show hanging out back and not getting involved with what’s going on. If you love music, then love music.  Even if you’re not a musician, become involved with setting up shows, promoting, volunteer at events, join a street team, hand out fliers etc.  It takes a collected effort to create and maintain a healthy scene.  

Check out their music video for "Wasted War" below!