Devitalized answered some questions about their music and songwriting process. Let’s see what they have to say!
First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
(JP) So there is a bit of a funny story behind it. Before we officially rebranded to Devitalized it was a small side project aside from the main band I was in with two of my friends. It was originally a hardcore band that didn’t go anywhere and since it was on a indefinite hiatus I asked my other friend in the project if we could use it for the rebrand!
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
(JP) – My dad started me on drums at the age of 5 and although I wasn’t old enough to understand it I thought it was an awesome instrument I mean c’mon you can bang things and make loud noise? that is awesome! but aside from that I started learning vocals around 11 and tried to start my own band, that didn’t officially come into fruition until I turned 15 then it slowly progressed over the years and after a huge rebrand and finding the right members we became what Devitalized is today!
(Caleb) – I grew up playing in pretty low effort death metal and grind bands, just trying to make as much noise as possible. We didn’t really think about songcraft or any of the more nuanced aspects of making music. Looking back, it was pretty goofy, but those were important years, and I would never be in a coordinated, well thought out band today if I hadn’t paid my dues making a racket as a kid.
(Zack) – I started playing guitar when I was 6, used to take lessons at a place called jacks guitar garage. Started playing restraunts and small gigs like fireflys with other people I met through the place. I eventually applied and got accepted into berklee where I honed my craft and learned the theory behind what I was playing.
(Joseph) – I started playing guitar in 7th grade but only for a project in music class which I completely bombed, that really sparked a fire in me to try to get better at the instrument because wanted to make up for what had happened in school and prove to myself that I could play guitar
(Jonathan) ⁃ I’ve been playing drums since I was 10 years old. I’ve played in 3 different bands before this, all of which were classic rock cover bands. I’ve always loved metal and wanted to pursue music with likeminded and motivated people, so this band is a dream come true.
How would you describe your sound?
Honestly our sound is a mix of Metalcore, Deathcore, and Hardcore. We like to take influences from those genres and sort of put them into one song creating this sort of metal ballad! We also really love mixing the genres so we have a lot of other experimental stuff in the works already.
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
This is one of our favorite questions to answer just because it’s so MIXED.
(JP) – Growing up I listened to a lot of classic rock but slowly and surely (like everyone else) I got into very heavy music. One of the first deathcore bands I listened to was Chelsea Grin “Desolation Of Eden” then from that point on I started listening to experimental, metalcore, and hardcore. Bands such as Crystal Lake, Falling in Reverse, Kublai Khan, Darko US and that always stuck with me.
(Joseph) – Motionless in white, Killswitch engage, Slipknot, Trivium, Metallica
(Jonathan) – Chelsea Grin, As I Lay Dying, Currents, Silent Planet
(Caleb) – I was a huge fan of Suffocation and Cryptopsy as a kid, then I’m college I started getting into singer/songwriter and folk music. People like Lucinda Williams and Zola Jesus. Those artists are still very important to me today. While the music I make doesn’t sound anything like them, the emotional weight and DIY work ethic really rubbed off on me.
(Zack) – Steve vai, animals as leaders, Eddie Van Halen, Guthrie Govan, Jason Becker, They bring virtuoso playing to the table and combine it with unique crazy interesting song writing to create some of the most insane guitar music on the planet
What’s the last song you listened to?
(JP) – Black Mammoth – FFAA, really that gritty deathcore, it’s been on my mind a LOT recently
(Joseph) – goat by Polyphia
(Jonathan) ⁃ Everything is fine! by Periphery
(Zack) – Lippincott by AAL
(Caleb) – Fluorescence by Deepchord, his stuff gets me in a good headspace to paint, which I’ve been doing a lot of lately.
What’s your source for hearing new music?
(JP) – Spotify and Youtube ALWAYS. But a huge underrated one is going to local shows, you can always find some amazing artists there and really get to network with them, it’s great for growth in the scene.
(Caleb) – Bandcamp for metal, record stores and youtube for everything else.
(Zack) – friends mainly but when I went to berklee that’s when my horizons really opened to all kinds of new music including my current favorite bands/artists
(Joseph) – I use Apple Music, I don’t really listen to many bands but I’m slowly starting to expand my playlist
(Jonathan) ⁃ Spotify recommendations, drum playthroughs, bandmates/friends’ recommendations
Who is your dream producer?
(JP) – Mick (THE GOD) Gordon. He is one of my favorite music composers/Producers in this scene and really formulates Crazy material.
(Caleb) – Colin Marston. Krallice is my all time favorite band, and I’m a huge fan of his production style.
(Joseph) – I can’t think of many producers but one person that comes to mind would be Mick Gordon
(Jonathan) – WZRD BLD (Drew Fulk)
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
(JP) – This is a super tough question just because there are many artists I’d love to work with but one I can name right now is Garrett Russell of ‘Silent Planet’ his lyrics, meaning, message, and style very much resonates with me and what i’ve done musically it’s only fair to say that we’d create a insane track together!
(Caleb) – I’m a huge fan of rap music, and while it doesn’t always cross over well with metal, I’d jump at an opportunity to work with Benny The Butcher.
(Zack) – If I could collaborate with anyone it would probably have to be Steve vai, I would definitely want to learn from him as his playing is what I’ve tried to model mine after. I don’t think I would be worthy of collaborating with him yet
(Joseph) – Jesse Leach, Randy Blythe, COREY MUTHFUKIN TAYLOR, Chris Motionless, Oli Sykes, Tim Henson
(Jonathan) ⁃ Brian Wille of Currents
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
(JP/Joseph) – Growing up our home lives weren’t the best, we have a lot of financial struggles and in school we got bullied a lot for being different. We were the outcasts in our schools and honestly made our best effort to fit in. Our dad was the one who truly inspired us to make music, he taught us almost everything we know and he is also our #1 biggest supporter. We always found passion in sound/music and it made us feel something that other things did not. So we started writing music together about our problems in life such as bullying, poverty, body dysmorphia, etc. hoping that others who are struggling in the same category can come to us as a safe space, hoping they can also find peace knowing they are not alone.
(Caleb) – My parents played a lot of music when I was a kid. We listened to lots of Paul Simon and stuff like that, and it really stuck with me, even before I knew anything about instruments or composition. I continue, and will continue to make music mainly for it’s cathartic/therapeutic qualities. I’m a very physical player, and swinging my bass around onstage makes me feel like there’s nothing wrong with the world.
(Zack) – I’m not really sure what led me to music as I started at a pretty young age. My parents used to say I would see people playing guitar on tv and I would always say I wanted to do that. My main source of motivation comes from the inspiration of watching the guitar players I’ve idolized growing up and wanting to get on that same level
(Joseph) – My brother forced me into a band with him (Laughs) , and I want to continue to make music with the hopes of being able to do what I’ve seen all these other bands my whole life, whether or not that’s making a good living off of it, touring, playing bars, playing stadiums or just being able to make an impact in someone’s life
(Jonathan) I have been listening to and playing music since I was a young kid. My dad especially loves music, and that passed right on to my brother and me. What motivates me to keep making music is the feelings you can convey through song. Music has always been a source of happiness for me when things get hard, and I want to be that outlet for other people as well.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
(JP) – Personally I like to write when I’m in a really bad mental place, I’ve noticed that doing so can really make the demons come out and I write a lot of material that is way deeper and darker but truly comes from within.
(Caleb) – I generally program scratch drums, then record guitar, then bass last. I try to completely finish a song before presenting it to the band. After that we’re all free to tweak and change parts as needed until everyone is satisfied.
(Zack) – I tend to write best when I’m in a good headspace alone but it’s always really fun to write with the band and get new perspectives bounced around
(Jonathan) ⁃ We work best writing individually or in small groups and then having everyone add to it, play off the idea, and add their own flare.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
(Caleb) – We have an awesome fanbase. We see them online a lot, commenting on show announcements saying that “Devitalized better get on this shit!” Warms our hearts. We also talk a lot with them at the shows we play. The way we see it, If you’re not onstage, you’re a fan, and standing side by side with a stranger who’s wearing your shirt while a band you’re playing with rips up the stage is an experience you can’t put a price on. But the easiest way they can connect with us is simply coming to a show, DM’ing us on any virtual platform or even simply streaming/sharing our music, our music is for everyone and our lyrics are to help resonate with those struggling with the same issues we do.
You can find us on the usual social media spots, we put a lot of work into being present and consistent online. But for an old fart like me, find me at a show and we’ll sit down with a few beers and talk some death metal.
(Jonathan) ⁃ We connect with our audience through our lyrics and our message. Everyone is going through something and you are not alone in your struggling. We feel your pain and our music is for you. The best way for our audience to connect with us in coming to our live shows. We give it our all out there and the energy the crowd gives back to us is unreal.
https://linktr.ee/devitalizedma
https://www.instagram.com/devitalizedma/
https://www.facebook.com/DevitalizedMA/
What’s next for you?
(Caleb) – We’re getting ready to do our first record, we’ve been working hard brainstorming, recording, re-recording, and checking our work twice. We have several killer shows lined up with both local and national acts that we are really looking forward to.
I have several solo projects as well. Real nasty, brutal shit, and every couple of months I’ll put out a short release for free online.
(Jonathan) ⁃ LP and hopefully a mini tour this summer!
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
(JP) – You always have a place in this world even if it feels like everything is crumbling at your feet.
(Caleb) – Pursue happiness with diligence.
Bio:
This teenage band from Massachusetts are striving to make a difference with their multi-genre blend and heavy-weight lyrics. As a band of self-titled “outcasts,” Devitalized come from a background of bullying, abuse, poverty, addiction and mental illness. Their music features rebellious themes blended through crushing deathcore breakdowns and melodic choruses.
