A Q&A with XIII Doors
Here’s DJ from Irish hard rock/metal combo…
What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
Our latest release is ‘Unleash The Beast’… the song is really about getting up and achieving what you want to achieve in life! It’s kind of written to myself, in a paradoxical way I’m telling myself to do what I want to do, by doing what I want to do!
What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
I’m sure anyone who has released music understands that it can be a lengthy process. To be honest, there were no real difficulties, just lots of time and work!
Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Ed Hannigan produced it. I think it just helps having another creative head in the same room when recording, creating this type of music. Myself and Ed listen to a lot of the same bands so we know what sound we’re after. At the same time we both have some very different influences so it’s nice to be able to look at a few different ways of doing things and picking the one that comes out best.
What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
We want to leave a positive mark on the world, so I’d love it if listeners felt happier or more motivated by listening to us.
How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Personally, it tends to be music first when I’m writing. I was primarily a guitarist growing up so for whatever reason I always seem to come up with a riff first, followed by some sort of melody or lyrical idea and the songs grows from there. This album had a few of Ed’s riffs/chorus’ too that we sort of stripped apart and made sound cohesive.
What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
In terms of this project, Alter Bridge and Alice in Chains are big influences. I think both bands combine heaviness with melody which is what we really set out to do too! Riffs that make you do “the face” (you know the one I’m talking about) but melody that you can also sing along to.
What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
I love travelling so I’m game for anywhere! I think Japan would have to be on the list purely because of the extreme culture shock. I’ve never been there before so it would be amazing. Venue-wise I think the Royal Albert Hall would be a phenomenal place to do a gig.
If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
Unleash The Beast will give you an idea of our sound and what’s to come!
What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
If I could make a decent living doing this, get to write, tour and meet amazing people I’d be happy. If it ever got up to the level of arenas or stadiums I’d be over the moon! But we won’t try to run before walking.
Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
I’ll be cliche and say thanks so much for having me! We’ve got new music coming soon so keep an eye on our social media pages for updates.
Follow all XIII Doors’ links here: linktr.ee/xiiidoors
