If you're new and notable, AFGM wants to talk about you. These guys are no exception to the formula. Anu Beginning has been on the scene since 2008 and are full steam ahead with their music and touring. I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with these guys over a month ago (River Rock, Chatham-Kent, ON) and they rocked the joint! Guitarist/vocalist Aaron Barry was kind enough to sit down and hash out a few questions together.
First off Aaron, thank you very much for taking the time to sit down and answer some of these interrogation questions (haha). Lets start with some basics. Who are you guys? Where are you from and who is in the band?
We are a group of five guys who, over the past 4 or so years have been making music. The band is Matt Saunders on lead vocals, PJ Kellestine on guitar, Brandon Morphy on bass, Aaron Webb on drums, and my self, Aaron on guitar and vocals. We began the band way back in 2008 in a little garage in Charring Cross, just outside of Chatham, and we have since located to to the big city...and by big city I mean London.
I find that in order to find out what you (as a band) are about, we need to look at some roots. Where are you influences coming from (band and/or musician)?
As far as roots, it honestly is different for each guy... like drastically different, but I honestly think you can hear some of everyone influences in the music. There is this huge punk rock vibe from Webb (we actually have super similar taste as far as that goes), as well as a big love for breakdowns. Brandon is into a lot of the Rise Records bands, the synthy tech metal stuff, Matt listens to a lot of Underoath, more of the southern metal kind of stuff....and also Fallout Boy hahaha. PJ and I grew up outside of London, so we were both really influenced by a lot of local London bands, like The Soap Opera Coma, Shotgun Rules and Capeside, he also listens to a lot more of the technical fast melodic metal. I am a huge pop-punk fan, like MxPx, Blink182, I love 80's like WHAM and Yes, but as far as vocally I get compared to Coheed and Cambria a lot, and you can definitely hear that influence. But basically we roll all that up and try to make mold it together.
Whats ANU been up to as of late?
It's almost more like what HAVEN'T we been up to? In the last 4ish months we wrote and recorded a new EP (which will be out very soon), shot a music video, and started playing shows again. We took a lot of time off to get our things together and in order, and now we are super excited to begin releasing things!
I see some photos from a music video scene. Whats going on there? Any details to give such as release date, where was it filmed, who's doing the production, etc?
Exactly what it looks like! I ruined my Christian heritage by filming a music video on Easter Sunday and not going to church! Hahaha. Over our entire ''career'' we've been so lucky with people helping us out, and allowing us to do expensive things for free or little cost because they believed in our band. For the last 6 months or so we've been shopping around for someone to do a video with us. It's obviously not cheap, there is a lot of pre and post production to do and it's kind of gruelling, so by nature it costs a good chunk of money. We, being in a band, and like most bands, have no money. So, by some amazing stroke of luck, we were approached by a student at Fanshawe College in London, taking film, who wanted to do a video for us. We agreed, and, that as they say, is that. We will be releasing it soon, and are super excited, it looks unbelievable. These guys were so awesome to us, and so fun, and they have talent beyond what I can imagine. Check them out: www.youtube.com/ThePitApeture.
Have you ever been at a show/played a show where your music and sound was vastly different from the other bands on the bill? If so, What was the crowd reaction and how easy did you feel playing on that stage versus stages shared with similar genre bands?
It happens a lot actually, because we don't really fit on metal shows, because we are to poppy, and we don't fit on poppy shows because we are too metal. For example of the spectrum, we've played with Faber Drive, Stereos, The Johnstones.....Dead and Divine, Protest the Hero, Baptized in Blood. We never really ''fit'' and any shows. We usually just do what we do, and if the people who are to ''brootal'' hate us because we're poppy, then that's how it's going to be. We just usually try to win people over by looking like idiots on stage. We're pretty comfortable on either end of the spectrum though. I love heavy shows, and I love poppy shows.
Where do you guys see yourselves in five years? Any big aspirations? Any mega festivals you would love to be a part of?
That's a tough question. In one form or another making music for sure. With this band...who's to say, a lot can happen in 5 years. I can guarantee we'll all be doing something musical. As far as big aspirations....I'd just like to take this band as far as we can go. I've never really been someone who aspired to get a record contract, which is, I'm sure, what a lot of folks say. I figure if it happens, it happens, but I'm not going to give up if it doesn't.
As far as festivals, I've always wanted to play Warped Tour Canada. I think most bands doing the kind of stuff we do aspire to that.
(Photo courtesy of Zoe Germain, 2012)
If you had to summarize Anu Beginning in one or two words, what would you convey to onlookers or aspiring fans?
That's a really good question. Maybe ''Standing Firm'', we've always prided ourselves in doing what we believe in, no matter what people tell you to do, or say about you. We know who we are and what we stand for.
Odd question but I ask this of every band. Since there is an onslaught of bands and styles out there where some musical styles will mesh and/or clash with each other. What seperates your music and style to any other act out there. Basically, what do you offer to fans that no one else can bring?
We play heavy music with pop sections. It's been done, we aren't innovators. What we do offer is a fun live show...and by fun, I mean we are ridiculous. I think when it comes to offer something different it comes to us as people. We are the real deal, we are genuine dudes. We're not gonna go hide in our van, load in late, be pre-madonna's. We know, if it wasn't for fans, we'd be doing this for nothing. We've always said we don't have fans, we just have friends. everyone who we've talked to at shows, any bands we've played with, people we've met, we're friends with. I may not remember your name next time we come through your city, but I will remember your face.....and likely hug you. That's just who we are.
(Photo courtesy of Zoe Germain, 2012)
Best city/venue you have played thus far and why?
Tough question. We've been given the opportunity to play a lot of festivals with amazing bands all over. Always a good time. As far as single show goes though....I don't know, I can honestly say anytime we've shared the stage with amazing bands, who are good friends with us, like The Jettison Commitment, Searching for Satellites, Assassinate the Following, Oceanborne....the list goes on...always a good time....but as far as venue goes, we've played some wild churches....one had a ball pit and slides! The Music Hall in London is sweet.... we've played some punk rock bars that have super cool vibes. City wise....hmm...I love playing my hometown of London for sure.
For fans to follow up on your guys, can you give us some media links?
Website: www.anubeginningisaband.tmblr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnuBeginning519
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AnuBeginning519
YouTube: www.youtube.come/AnuBeginningRock
Booking/Management: anubeginningisaband@gmail.com
And now for some fun, random questions that every musician likes to answer!
If you could have a single guest member on an upcoming album, who would it be and why?
Wow.... the obvious answer for me would be Claudio from Coheed and Cambria, although my hometown roots would make me chose James McLeod (from Searching For Satellites) who used to be in this amazing London band called The Soap Opera Coma, who opened my eyes to music when I was in my early years, or Casey Baker who was the singer for Sleeper Set Sail, a wicked wicked band from St Catherines. Or Lemmy. Thought I'd just throw that in the mix.
If you had one band who you would be honored to share the stage with, who and why?
So many bands. We've gotten the opportunity to play with a ton of bands I've looked up to over the years. But as far as bands we havent' played with.....Coheed...obviously, Alexisonfire.....man.... there was a band called Shotgun Rules from London, who are long broken up, but they were one of the big reasons why I wanted to be in a band, and my goal was just to open for them.... they were broken up by the time this band became serious, but if they ever got back together, for sure, I pick Shotgun Rules. I changed my answers. At The Drive In. Hands down. Sorry every other band ever. Or Glassjaw.... dang it, so many!
Covers are always fun to do when your jammin out in the studio, any songs in particular you guys like to play and have fun with or is it all original material?
If you know me, you know I'm really not good enough to play other people's songs on guitar, so we rarely play covers. We did record a cover of ''Peanut Butter Jelly Time'', that for whatever reason, was one of the biggest things that helped us begin gaining a fan base..... we also used to play ''Teenage Dirtbag'' by Wheatus, which I still love to jam. But other than that, it's pretty much all business.
Favourite band/album of 2012 so far?
Every Time I Die: Ex Lives. So good. A bunch of our friends are putting out new tunes this year that are so good, and I'm sure will become my favourites of 2012: Hello Amora, The Jettison Commitment, Foxfight, Baptized in Blood, The Lakeside Is For Killers and so many more!
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Once again, I want to thank Aaron and all the guys from Anu Beginning for taking the time to answer these questions. Be on the lookout for these guys as they are constantly touring around Ontario and may be at a venue near you very soon.
UPDATE: Anu Beginning has released their music video they have been previously working on. Nonetheless, check out "Good Heavens":
Cheers!
Great job Andrew!!!!
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