• Hi! Can you tell me about OLD MOON and your previous musical experiences?
Hello, this is Michael Priest, Thank you for having me.
Old Moon is a band made out of emotion and impulse. It was formed as a place to give heavy things a place to live rather than carry those things. It's an outlet.
It's very different from anything I've done musically in the past. Much more personal and vulnerable. It's metaphoric but also very transparent.
My previous bands were almost always fun and while the music was relatable for some; it was always a very different context of lyrics and meaning.
• Why did you choose your band name, how did you form, and what led you to play the genre(s) you do?
The name Old Moon is a metaphor for "living in the past". If a new moon represents new beginnings, we're the opposite.
I've alway been a fan of melodic death metal as well as melodic and atmospheric black metal. For Old Moon I wanted to find a balance between the two.
Something that spoke with emotion through the music.
• Can you tell us about your latest record - Home To Nowhere?
Home to Nowhere is for the listener as much as it is for myself. I know some people out there don't have the feeling of "home" or not belonging.
This album is for them as much as it is for me to express it. It's deep. It's dark. It's raw. If that reflects with the listener that means everything.
• What kind of feedback are you hoping to receive for your album?
Home to Nowhere is for the listener as much as it is for myself. I know some people out there don't have the feeling of "home" or not belonging.
This album is for them as much as it is for me to express it. It's deep. It's dark. It's raw. If that reflects with the listener that means everything.
• Do you plan to embark on a world tour in the future? Do you think touring the world is an option available to every band, or what does a band need to do to achieve this opportunity?
Touring is something we absolutely want. We would be grateful for a world tour. At the moment we have shows confirmed in Finland and are making plans next year, hopefully for some more countries and festivals. But I think it's important to keep a realistic mind about what is possible. Without a great amount of support touring is very difficult. Also very expensive.
As much as I would like to say it's an option for every band, it's not. The music industry is a meticulous beast that can turn on you in a second. Both in a good way and bad.
For a band that wants to tour, not even just world wide, they will either need to do all planning, booking and cover all expenses themselves or have a label that isn't afraid to help support the band more than just releasing the music.
• Do you believe in a heavy music scene without money?
That would be a dream but unfortunately everything in the world cost something.
• What are your thoughts on online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free, and if so, why?
I've given away plenty of my music for free. Mostly to people that have supported me and seen my music grow. There have been a few rare occasions that I've received a message from fans that have touched me and I've sent them something. I don't care too much about music being shared online but also hope that if the artist comes to play a show in the listeners city that they would give some support in some way.
• Who are your musical influences? Did you ever imagine your band could become as famous as your favorites?
I dream of it of course but I try to not let it consume me. Things for Old Moon will happen as they're meant to. If we get to that kind of level I would be honored and grateful. Not really for the fame part but more so that we left such an impact on people that they helped the band grow to that kind of level.
I started listening to a lot of Swedish death metal at a pretty young age. Dark Tranquillity was the first metal band I discovered. They opened the door for the Gothenburg sound for me and that expanded quickly to a whole world of beauty and chaos. I stuck with Swedish metal for a long time before it expanded to other countries. The next big one I would find would be Insomnium's "In The Halls of Awaiting". Music for me grew even more since that discovery.
• Have you received formal music education? Do you think it's an important factor?
I've had no education for music at all. It's basically just been trial and error from the start. While I think some kind of teaching for it would have been and can be very useful, it's possible to not have it.
• How do you balance your music with other obligations such as family, job, etc.?
Music revolves around my life in every way. I drive tour buses for other bands and artists so music basically never stops for me.
• How do you deal with mistakes during a performance? Do you get nervous before a performance or competition?
Mistakes happen. Best way to deal with them is to not get stuck on it at the moment. Move on and come back to it later and use it as a lesson.
I almost always get nervous. Definitely have some stage fright.
• What's next for your band? Thank you!
Plans right now are the album release on May 8th of course. After that we have some summer shows:
May 11 Portland, Oregon
June 6 Tampere, Finland
June 12 Lojah, Finland
June 13 Helsinki, Finland
July 24 Bremerton, Washington
Hopefully, we will be adding a few more for the summer.
At the moment we're looking at possibilities for an EU tour for next year.
Thank you for having me. Take care.
