Roy Niven Interview 02/01/22
Hey guys nice to meet you!
MM: Can you tell us about your Band and whos your biggest influences
Dave Grohl, Lead singer of the Foo Fighters, was always my hero. Songs like "The Pretender'', "Walking After You" and "Walk" got me through my worst and best times of my life. After being in a Foo Fighters concert in 2019, I immediately knew that music is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The story of Dave proved to me that if the desire is there and making music makes you feel like you already have everything you ever thought you needed, the sky is not even the limit. I recommend watching his speech which made me realize a lot about being a musician - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efv0Y5Fs7m4
MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from
One of my relatively mellow ballads was written from a place of pain after a breakup. That song almost wrote itself and I didn't have to do much to make it happen. In another case I just heard a vocal line in my head during dinner and immediately rushed to my guitar to play it and develop it into a song :) I believe there is no one creative process and I try to just listen carefully to my musical sense and trust that it knows what the song needs.
MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?
My favorite song is also my latest single - Stay Up. An acoustic-rock song that starts as a ballad and evolves into a powerful burst of energy and melody. We also shot a wild music video which tells a love story taking place during world war II. It was one of the most challenging and fun projects I have ever executed and you can find it here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvKDV6rDVbo and let me know what you think ;)
MM: What can we expect from you live
Mostly get ready to party. We keep it as tradition to make every show a party with a lot of high, hard rock energies. I love going wild on stage and I think the crowd likes to do the same with me. One of our greatest shows was in Tel Aviv, in this little club on the main street. It was one of our first shows and we were so excited to get it started! The crowd really felt our fire burning and bursting out of us as we waited so long to start performing. People were jumping and dancing and pushing each other around the place and I even got to go down the crowd and do a full song among them which really got me feeling their love and support.
MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring
Rather than being super talented and amazing performers, my boys at the band are also great friends. So luckily I can just sit with them for hours talking about whatever and the dynamics are always fun.
What is worst about touring is that sometimes you can get homesick or actually sick and there isn't much you can do with it. But the exitment of the shows and being with your friends eventually makes you feel a lot better.
MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies
That's easy! Definitely Foo Fighters. Maneskin is such a cool and sexy band I would love to tour with them. Also Royal Blood are so professional and powerful it would be an honor to be with them on the same stage.
MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why
It all started when I was in a Foo Fighters show at Sziget festival in Budapest 2019. They were the headliners (of course) and the crowd was massive. I was first raw and felt the weight of 50,000 on me but still the best show I've ever had. Needless to say, I knew how to play every Foo song there is and I shouted to frontman Dave Grohl and asked if I could come play with them. Still to this day I don't know if he said it or was it all in my head, but I heard someone saying "GET YOUR OWN FUCKING BAND!!" The minute I got back home from the festival I started recording my song in my crappy studio in the attic. That's how it all started.
MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far with
My proudest moment in music is definitely the moment when I completed the production of the 10th single with THE ANIMAL FARM. We worked so hard to make those 10 singles as awesome as can be and I was so proud of myself to have reached that point.
I know it's not some music award or a platinum album, but I know I never thought I could achieve that a year ago and to me, this is everything.
MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time
Nevermind, Nirvana's second and most famous album changed my life completely. I know some people would say I'm way too young to say this but the truth is I was introduced to this album by my dad when I was 11 and it led to a huge change in my perception of music. Red Hot Chili Peppers's Blood Sugar Sex Magik is an awesome album I got to hear for the first time when I was about 13. Immediately grabbed my stratocaster and started playing "Give It Away" like crazy.
MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people watching you?
Yes I was so stressed. Until then, I didn't think that would be a problem but once you're up there and all eyes are on you, it's different. I had to overcome my fear of what people think of me and just focus on having fun with my music. This is not always easy but I found that you can't have fun and warry at the same time, so what is it gonna be?
MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.
Nirvana's flag poster is still on my wall to this day. I don't think I'd ever take it off as it symbolizes freedom and not giving a fuck about what they think.
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person
I think The Beatles were the ones who created rock as we know it. They made something so simple and everything we hear today is an evolution of this revolution. I think their unapologetic nature and never-ending exploration after new, innovative ideas is what influenced the world of rock the most.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
To get as many people as possible to know us and our new single - Stay Up. And draw fans to our social media and IG page @roy_niv to be a part of our journey.
MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?
A song I always wanted to cover is Nirvana's "Drain You". Such a powerful song deserves to be covered! Although it can be scary to cover such a classic of such a famous band, I believe if I do it special enough it could work and be great. Generally, the way I learned to sing and play guitar is mainly through cover songs that I sang my own way. I will keep covering songs for the rest of my career even just because it's so much fun.
MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band
Just listen to my single. if you're not hooked, you're free to go.
MM: Four words to describe (band Name)
Powerful, unapologetic, unusual, sweeping.
Thank you for reading this! I might be an artist in the beginning but we are working hard creating amazing things just for you and with your support and love I know together we can reach places we never dreamed of so stay tuned and keep rocking
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Preview YouTube video Dave Grohl South By Southwest (SXSW) 2013 Keynote Speech in Full
