Band of the Day: Mountains to Move

Mountains to Move have recently released their new single “Left or Right” which asks the “what ifs” of life. So we figured it was only fair we asked them our own pile of “what’s” and “how’s” with our Band of the Day questions. Having supported bands like Young Guns and Deaf Havana over their four years, the Belgians should have enough to talk to us about.

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

We’re from Antwerp, Belgium. Some of us also live in Ghent.

How did you meet?

Three of us were high school buddies and just decided one day to start a band. Sander, a friend we met throughout the years, joined the band later.

How long have you been playing as a band?

Like four years I think.

Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?

It actually comes from a Seahaven song, called “Plague”. At that time we were listening a lot to this band and just were in need of a band name. The song ends with “I’ve got a mountain to move”, so that’s were the name comes from.

What are your influences?

We get influenced by plenty of artists and genres, such as (pop) punk, emo, hardcore, shoegaze, and even hip-hop. Bands we all like are Crucial Dudes, Counterparts, Turnover, Seahaven, Grandview, Have Heart…

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

We’re good at blending emotional and calmer parts with a blasting chorus. The bipolar contrast between heavier and softer parts perfectly also describes lyrical themes.

Do you have any particular lyrical themes?

Mostly rather personal and pessimistic stuff about how I feel at a certain point in my life. I never write about the good things that happen to me, but use this type of negative writing as therapy. Usually it has a misanthropic undertone, but also about broken relationships or self-hatred.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

Oh, I don’t know how many we’ve played over the years, but it’s a lot. We try to create this wall of sound when we’re on stage, trying to ‘blow away’ the audience, if that makes any sense. This combined with these extremely chill and calm, clean parts is the perfect MTM live set.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?

We aren’t that wild on stage, but I remember one time going to a Midnight Souls show (Belgian band that has quit a long time ago, now members of Newmoon) at which their bass player, Bert, just walked off the stage into the crowd and just placed himself standing in front of someone and stared at that person for an entire song. That blew my mind.

What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?

I play on a Fender strat and an orange AD30. Sander plays a Hagström and a Vox amp and Philippe on a Jazz bass and a Orange Amp.

What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?

We recently released a new song called “Left or Right” and we’re extremely proud of it. We released it through Red Bull Music, which was also pretty sick. Please check it out if you’re into happy sounding music but with a sad undertone!

What are your plans for 2018?

We’re planning on releasing another song this Summer and hopefully have a physical release by the end of the year, but we’re still in search for the right partner for this!

If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!

We’ve been on tour with Wallflower and Prey Drive and playing with those guys again would be so cool. It’s been a while since we heard anything from the boys in Wallflower so would love to see them again. It would be cool if both of us could open for a band like Brand New or Jimmy Eat World.

From previous Band of the Day, Crejuvent: why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?

I have no idea how to answer this question.

From previous Band of the Day, Nomasta: what is your favourite album for those special fuzzy tingle times?

I’m in love with this record by a small band called Grandview. The album is called Everything Between Paint and a Wall and listening this record hits me in the feels every time. It’s one of my biggest recommendations if you’re into punk/emo music.

And from Empire Warning: if a Norse God had to take over from one band member what god will it be, what position would they be filling?

Probably Sköll, the wolf in Norse mythology.

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