Interveiw with Hanshotfirst

How did you start the band?

Zander: Ed (Guitar + vocals), Mike (guitar + vocals) and I went to school together and started a band when we were about 15. That band broke up but we still played music together and then when we finished Uni we decided to start a band again and do it properly! We knew Will (drums) through .his sister and got him involved, while we met Marek (Bass) through mikes dad! It all came together nicely

What was hard about creating this band?

Zander: The hardest part about creating the band was just timings! Mike, Ed and I were supposed to finish Uni at the same time but Mike ended up screwing up his leg and taking a year out. This meant for our first year we had lease around Mike being in Plymouth, Ed working in Russia for 2 months (for the winter Olympics) and Will and I working full time jobs at home. It was a struggle but we made it work! The band really kicked off this summer anyway, when we were all together.

Where did the name of the band come from?

Zander: I came up with Hanshotfirst, I’m a hardcore Sci Fi nerd and obsessed with Star Wars. We threw around a few other names but figured that we liked the name and we should go with it and concentrate on the music, otherwise we would argue over trivialities for ages!

Tell us a bit about the song "Sarah,Tone in"

Zander: Sarah, Tone in’ is our latest single which has been out for just over a month! We released it to bridge the gap between our first EP and to showcase the direction we are going to take with our second EP.

Where did the idea for the song come from?

Zander: We wrote this song the same way we usually do, Mike, Ed and I sat in a room with a few guitars and just went with what came out! I went through a rather messy break up this summer and I used the song writing as a means of release, which worked pretty well to be honest! I’m really proud of that song, It’s definitely my favourite song of ours and really highlights what we can achieve and produce!

As a kid what bands/singers inspired you?

Zander: The bands that inspired me range from Madness to Green Day to Jimmy Eat World to Letlive. I remember the first gig that blew me away was Green Day at Milton Keynes, supported by Hard Fi, Taking Back Sunday and Jimmy Eat World. Thus my music taste changed FOREVER! Jimmy are now my favourite band, I’ve even got a tattoo of one of their lyrics. Green Day are incredible live and it made me just want to be up there! Every gig I’ve been to just made me jealous and made me want to be up there, commanding the crowd and singing my heart out for people.

Influenced you?

Zander: I’d say that our biggest influences are Finch, Alexisonfire, Jimmy Eat World, Reuben, Taking Back Sunday and loads more! There are loads of others but I’d be naming them for hours!

Influence/inspire now?

The bands that inspire me right now would be people like Bring Me The Horizon, Mallory Knox, Don Broco etc. who are really showing what heights British music can reach.

Out of the songs you wrote/played which is your favourite? Least favourite?

Zander: Sarah, Tone In is definitely my favourite song and its great to play live, I don’t really have a least favourite although I always screw up the lyrics to Fire In The Fall when we play it live which is so annoying! I don’t mean to and I wrote the bloody lyrics! Ah well.

What is your favourite song from other bands?

Zander: My favourite song of all time would have to be… Mono by Fightstar. It’s timeless, epic and gorgeous. I’m seeing them live soon at their ten year anniversary shows, I can’t wait!!

What song do you despise?

Zander: Hmmm well there are a few, I’d say Sex is on fire by Kings of Leon and Rockstar by Nickleback. I DESPISE THEM. Eurgh, the drive me round the bend. Never really been a fan of Kings Of Lean and this guy at college used to put Sex Is on Fire every time he drove into the car park, which used to drive me nuts too. Just terrible. I love that Taking Back Sunday reference that they don’t like it on their album.

If you could redo a gig which one would it be? Why?

Zander: Guilfest was brilliant, but I was to concentrate on the future, I want more, bigger and better shows. We have so much more to give.

If you could play a concert anywhere where would it be? Why?

Zander: I’d love to play in Iceland and Japan, I’ve been to Japan and it was insane, I want to go back! I love the band Fact so playing with them would be awesome. Iceland, I want to play there because it’s so isolated and all the volcanoes and glaciers and stuff, I’ve always wanted to go there. Otherwise I’d like to headline Wembley stadium… that’s the dream isn’t it? That and Reading festival! Other than that, I’d be happy headlining The Wedgewood rooms in Portsmouth, I love that venue!!

Who would you want to tour with?

Zander: Wow, good question, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, Mallory Knox there are too many! Letlive would be great, just to see To be honest I’d just like to go on tour! So if anyone wants to take us, we are game!

What advice would you give to your fans if they were creating a band?

Zander: Do it early and go for it! Concentrate on the music and the people will come? Maybe? I don’t know… the music is key, but social media is so important and a great tool for getting fans. Other than that, play loads of shows and have fun!!

What is the hardest thing about being a musician?

Zander: Surprisingly its getting good gigs! Gigs are hard to come by and good promoters are even harder to come by! Other then that its just hard to organise 5 guys plans and bring them together. Especially when we all work different random jobs.

Do you get stage fright sometimes?

Zander: We did at first, we used to get really nervous but now we are more used to it and its more nervous excitement now! As soon as we get on stage, its go time and the nerves go and the adrenaline takes control. I never really remember our gigs as I’m too busy running around going crazy!

If you could hang out and talk with someone from: the past, Present, Future or even fictional who would it be and why?

Zander: I’d love to meet Jimmy Eat World but then again they say you should never meet your idols! Jason Butler from Letlive would be an interesting person to meet as I think he has impeccable style and is a great performer. I’d also love to chat to Bill Bailey, as he is hilarious but we could also talk about animals and the environment, I loved his show about how Alfred Wallace actually discovered evolution and sent his notes to Darwin, DARWIN WAS A THEIF! Well… kind of… they both go there at the same time really.

#hanshotfirst