We recently had a chat with Keep Sake vocalist Ed Butcher (previously in I Killed The Prom Queen and Eternal Lord) and guitarist Owen Davies (also of Loud Noises Recording Studio) to find out all things Keep Sake. We learnt how the band formed, how it compares to Ed’s previous bands and what we can expect from them in the next year.
Firstly, when, where and how did you form? Tell us the background behind the band.
Owen: Originally Ed and I got chatting as I own a local recording studio and he was looking for somewhere to track some vocals. A month later Ed messaged me asking if I knew any musicians who’d be interested in a new studio project and it all started from there. I pulled Sam and Tom in who I’d played with in a band previously and around the same time I had been working with a pop rock band in the studio, I was really impressed with their drummer Steve who I thought would be ideal to complete the line up so we asked him if he’d be interested in joining the band.
How would you describe your sound as a band?
Ed: That’s a hard question. We’ve had lots of comparisons thrown at us over the past few months. I think as a band we would just describe it as ‘rock’ drawing influences from bands we were listening to probably 10 years ago.
Who or what are your influences?
Ed: We are all influenced by lots of different styles of music, but we have a mutual love of bands like Glassjaw, Hopesfall and loads of current rock and pop bands.
You worked with Matt Wentworth of Our Last Night on the last two tracks you released. How was that experience?
Owen: As I own Loud Noises Production Recording Studio we’re fortunate to have our own studio to work out of so the tracks were self produced and then we sent them over to Matt in the US to mix. We really liked Matt’s mixing style and the work he’d done for Our Last Night so he seemed like the obvious choice for our debut.
You’ve just gone back into the studio. What can we expect from this time around? Are you sticking with the same kind of sound or will it be quite different?
Owen: The new tracks are poppier, catchier and a little less heavy than our previous songs but they still sound like Keep Sake. With this band we just write music we like and we’ll never really conform to a particular style or genre so always expect each release to be a bit different.
Who are you in the studio with this time?
Owen: We are self recording/producing the record again. We’ve talked about sending it elsewhere to mix but we have a clear idea of how we want these tracks to sound so we’re going to mix it ourselves.
Your frontman, Ed Butcher, used to be in I Killed The Prom Queen and Eternal Lord. How does Keep Sake compare to those previous projects?
Ed: Although this band was started as a fun studio project, the relaxed approach we’ve had from the offset has given Keep Sake a fun/real feel. We’re not pushing to be the biggest band in the world, it’s in no way money orientated and that’s what’s made the past year so enjoyable as a band. As a result of that we’re collectively proud of what we’ve achieved.
What are your plans for the rest of the year and the beginning of 2016?
Ed: Plans are to finish our next recording. That will probably take us into the start of next year possibly. Another music video with Loki Films is being planned and we just want to keep writing and hanging out as a band! If something cool gets offered to us show-wise we may even take to the stage.
Do you have any plans to tour any time soon?
Ed: No plans to tour at present, this band was really started as a fun studio project and we didn’t really expect much from it other than personal satisfaction, to have all come from metal orientated backgrounds and produce a mature sound we all love.
Where do you see yourselves in five years time? What’s your main goal with the band?
Ed: Five years is a real look into the future, as we all have careers/partners etc. I’d hope we’re still writing music and hanging out as we are now! Even though most of us will be mid 30s. Personally my goal with this band is to continue to mature in sound and push ourselves musically to evolve into something we’re even more proud of.
LAIS MW