We recently threw the new video for Ascends’ “Fraxured” into your faces (see it again below), and the band decided that they wanted you know know more about them. Who are we to deny a quality noise machine the chance to get themselves better known? Thanks to Marco Romero, Ascends’ singer, for taking the time to answer our Headline Act questions…
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
We are from a French speaking region of Switzerland called Wallis. A beautiful place surrounded by mountains and pure air… for the moment!
I am Marco, singer of the band Ascends. I am originally from Peru but I have been living in Switzerland for many years.
How did you meet?
We met through concerts or through mutual friends. I was on the guest vocals on their first EP when they called “I, The Deceiver”… And one day they sent me some demos after the departure of their singer Dany, and finally I got to work on the vocals after the split of my old band Breach The Void.
How long have you been playing as a band?
I think since 2015, I mean it was the period of our first single “Change”.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
We had a lot of cool or weird names but when we chose Ascends it sounded cool and no one has this one so it came obviously. But the link to moving up or being taken into the air play an important place in our last songs.
What are your influences?
Honestly, I listen to a lot of 90s alternative music or 90s grunge music. My mates listen to a lot of different styles, from hip-hop to metal to rock to electro. Personally, if I had to choose my most influential bands, I would say: Deftones, Erra, Gojira or Fit For An Autopsy.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
We wanted to try something different. Show what we can do and mix all our influences into a single mold and just be really open minded. There is nothing unique in our music, we just try to complement each other and do what we love.
If you like what we do, consider joining us on Patreon for as little as £1 per month!
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
It’s a melting pot of words or themes basically inspired by life’s experiences or simply the human condition in the world in which we live.
What’s your live show like?
Personally, it’s an intense moment for me after the recording process, playing the most recent songs is very emotional and I feel the connection that we need as a band.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
Nothing special, but maybe in the near future or in our release party!
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Alex plays an Ibanez RGT6EX-FX 6-string guitar connected to an Axe-FX II XL. He is the perfectionist of the band. All recordings or ideas go through him before being finalized.
Julien, 2nd guitarist plays on an Ibanez 7 string RG7421 and his Line6 Pod HD500X pedal board. A fat and powerful sound!
Emilien, our drummer, also manages the band. Between looking for concert dates, organising video clips, pressing CDs or merchandising, he plays on a DW drum kit and Sabian cymbals. He is always looking for the element that will add a plus to our music or our image.
Simon, our bass player plays with a Dingwall NG-3 combustion 5 bass connected to a Trace Eliot GP-12 SMX amp. The organs of our bodies move with each repetition.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
Right now we are trying to reach as many listeners as possible. Trying to make us known via social networks, spotify and the few media that surrounds us. It is not easy to succeed in crossing borders, countries or continents. Everything has to be paid for. Even to appear in a local newspaper, large sums of money are required… I hope that our music will naturally cross the mentalities and that many people will appreciate our music everywhere on earth. And in space?
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
Think about new songs or gigs, but for now it’s just promoting our album and making new connections with new fans. And of course our third single “Space Drifted” is on the way.
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!
I don’t think I have a specific band in mind, but opening for a great band like Architects, Silent Planet or Vildhjarta would be a hard dream to achieve. There are a lot of bands that we have friends in and others that have disappeared from our surroundings. I think the band “Catch My Story” (our bassist’s second band) would be the closest group of friends. Many Swiss bands are worth listening to like The Kompressor Experiment, Overgrass, Hubris, Mind Spun, Pollen or Voice Of Ruin.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
If you want to check out more new music, then fire up our Headline Act playlists on Spotify and YouTube!