Photo Credit: Alyssa Dueck, of Linen and Lace photography
Hey Guys!! You just finished up a four month tour with Live Different. Can you tell our viewers about this tour?
Hey! It was an amazing experience. We did 73 shows over the course of 4 months, performing 5 days a week. We learned so much about touring and about performing together as a group. Live Different had a message to inspire youth and to re-imagine greatness which made it very fulfilling to be able to perform our music while helping to send the message.
How did you guys become involved with such a cool project?
We had been in contact with our tour manager through one of our friends who did this same tour 2 years ago. They thought we would be a really good fit for the tour and thought it would be a big learning experience for all of us to grow and develop.
Any fun moments while on tour?
SO many! We had a blast, through all of the ups and downs we had a ton of fun and always were trying to find new ways to make good memories. What we did as a band in particular that stands out is going to any place we could that would let us watch the Winnipeg Jets games. We loved watching them during the playoffs and always tried our best to go out and support our hometown team.
What’s your guys favorite thing about being on the road?
Traveling everyday and driving across the country in the bus. Being able to see the country from the road and always being in new places was so cool. Meeting all of the new people every day and making relationships with every audience we performed in front of was a major memory that we will never forget as a band or as individually.
How did you guys all meet & become a band?
We had a band going on for a long time, in various lineups, and eventually we got to the point where we started to write our own music and shift into more of a pop direction. At that point, we started looking for new members. When we got Daniel to play bass, we had a set lineup for a while. Then when we decided to go on tour, we looked for a new drummer and began speaking to Zach. Since then, we have had a very steady lineup and have been growing together as a band.
What’s the meaning of the name “Encore”?
In our old band, we wanted to change the name away from, “Brothers N’ Others,” but we had no idea what to put it to. At the end of all of our shows, people would always chant “Encore” out loud and want us to do another song. We eventually began to think that it would be good idea to make our name Encore so that they would be chanting for us as a band at the end of our shows, and for us to do another song at the same time.
Can you tell us a little something about each of you?
Richard- the youngest in the band and is very into Marvel movies.
Daniel- Born in Israel, and is an amazing cook who loves to make different foods.
Zach- Loves everything about hockey and gets distracted when dogs are present.
Joe- Goes to a lot of concerts and listening to new artists everyday.
Don- Very into fashion and performs at retirement homes for the elderly.
What is it like being in a band? And what’s the difference from being solo artists to being in a band?
For us, it is amazing. We love being together and have so much fun performing together and doing all of the things we have done. The tour really brought us closer and gave us a lot of chemistry working as a team. The biggest difference is probably in the performing. When you’re in a band, you share the stage together and all are up there at the same time, whereas a solo artist a lot of the time doesn’t have that same bond and same experience being up there with that same group.
How would you describe your musical style as a band?
Pop with rock and funk influence.
What artists/bands are you influenced by?
Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars. The list goes on forever but these are the big ones we have had a ton of influence from for sure.
What’s the difference from your band and all bands that have come before you?
To us, our music is the differentiating factor between us and all the other bands out there. We have so much passion and so many different ideas that make us different. We don’t stick to one style of playing, and are always writing new music to get us into areas that branch out from a typical band.
You guys recently released your new single, “Feeling”. Can you tell us how this song came about and the meaning of the song?
Feeling was a song that we had performed live only a few times before it’s release, and had big plans for it from the time it was written. When it was just starting to be produced, writing notes down and incorporating them into the song was the go to process. We always had new ideas for it coming into our heads, so we would just record it as soon as we could write it down.
Do you guys have a creative say in your music and videos?
We do everything ourselves. We make the music and all of the videos. Being an independent artist, we have to do it on our own, and we really like it that way so that we are able to make it exactly how we want it to look and sound.
What do you hope to gain out of your music careers?
We are hoping to release our music and to have a fan base that doesn’t restrict itself. Our goal is to have every possible demographic covered with our music. With our style varying so much, we hope to gain recognition for our creativity and for our audiences to connect with us through our music.
What do you think is the benefit of having a following on social media in the music industry?
It is crucial. Social media is so important in today’s society and being able to reach everywhere on different platforms is a big influence in your career. It gives you more recognition as well for your music as people will know about your releases if they follow you.
What’s the feeling you guys get when performing in front of your fans?
It is so great. We love performing in front of our fans. Sometimes it is in front of people that we recognize which is always an amazing experience, but performing in front of someone for the first time is surreal and that first encounter with them liking your music is unforgettable.
Does your fanbase have a name?
We’re still trying to figure that out. Sometimes we have seen people that have called it “The Core.”
How do you want your relationship to be with your fans?
Very personal. We want to develop connections between our music and them. We want it to feel like a family, and for them to be there for us and for us to also be there for them whenever somebody needs it.
What social media platform do you use most to stay connected to your fans?
Instagram, but snapchat has been getting a lot bigger for us lately, so we are going to continue focusing on growing our following on that platform.
What was the craziest fan encounter you guys have had?
One time we were doing a ticket meet up for a show and one fan that came made us all presents. She wrote us all individual letters on why she appreciates each of us as well as what we all mean to the band. It was such a different experience for us but we loved that moment, and still have the cards and the gifts!
Will there be an ep/album out soon?
Yes, we are planning on releasing the second single very soon with the EP to follow later in the fall. We are so excited to share it and release our debut EP.
What’s an average day for you guys look like?
An average day consists of a band meeting/rehearsal for most of the afternoon, followed by producing and writing new material for the rest of the day and early night. Later on at night, we love to hang out together and just relax and spend time with one another. Going to movies, going out for food, or just hanging out is all part of what we love to do together and being together is the best part of our days.
Where do you guys hope the band is in 5 years?
In 5 years time, we want our sound to be developed. We hope to have released 2 or 3 full albums, and to have a fan base that connects with our music the way we do. We are hoping to be able to tour and meet new people from all over the world.
Do you guys have any last things you want to tell your supporters?
We love your support. All of you that support us are the reason we are able to continue doing what we love to do, and without you we wouldn’t be able to do anything we are doing now. Whether it’s coming to a show, buying/streaming our music, or even if it’s letting us know that you’ve connected with our music, we really appreciate everything you have done and will be releasing new music for you very soon so please stay tuned!
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