Formed back in 2010, British band Modestep is a musical project that has morphed and shaped along the way. Led by brothers Josh and Tony Friend, the two unify the concept that music should not have limitations as they mix styles varying from Rock to Dubstep, to Electronica, and everything in between. Breaking through big time in 2013 with the chart topping record Evolution Theory, now in 2015, they push their talents to no levels with the powerful record, London Road. Gaining experience in a live band format, and finding a solidified lineup, Modestep is only scratching the surfaces of their potential at this conjecture in their career. Recently we sat down with Josh Friend for a closer look at the evolution of Modestep, the process behind London Road, plans for the future, and more.
CrypticRock.com – Now, you began the band approximately five years ago. In that time, you built a pretty strong following. First tell me, what was the initial concept behind the music?
Josh Friend – I do not know, to be honest with you. It was kind of a natural thing. It is like music we enjoyed and all of our influences; we just kind of wanted to make something irreplaceable using all of our influences, and it was fun to watch live. That is pretty much where it started from; was just hearing Dubstep for the first time and really wanting to push what we thought could be done with it. We heard how relative it was to other genres we liked, like Metal and Rock. We just felt like there was a unity that needs to happen between the two and thought we would give it a go.
- A&M
- Self-released
CrypticRock.com – The band does combine a variety of styles between Dubstep, Hard Rock, Dance, and such. Do you yearn to continue to explore different genres or are you trying to refine the style you have right now?
Josh Friend – Yes, I think with our newest album, the whole point of that record is really to refine what we are about and to find our sound. I feel like we did it in this last record. I think, going forward, we are just going to try and push that sound and really turn it into our own thing so people can hear it straight away and recognize it as us.
CrypticRock.com – Absolutely, and your debut in 2013, Evolution Theory, was very positively received. Like you said, you just returned with this new record, London Road, in May. What was the writing and recording process like for this new record?
Josh Friend – It was really long. We knew that we had a learning curve ahead of us. To get the kind of quality of record that we really wanted to make, we knew it was going to take a lot of time. The main thing was that it was a two year process of writing, recording, producing, pre-producing, and reproducing. There was no real structure to it; we wanted it to be as natural as possible, collaborate with people in a really relaxed environment. Just vibe as long as we can until the record was complete, and that took two years. We worked solidly for sixteen months of that. I feel like we achieved what we wanted to achieve with it. The process was just go at it and see what happens.
CrypticRock.com – Well, the time you put into it certainly shows in the music. It is a very varied record and well-balanced as well. It is definitely a progression from the last record. Was it your objective to interject this more melodic Hard Rock sound into the music?
Josh Friend – I think because we have been touring for so long, and touring with a live band; touring with heavy guitars, a live show was a lot heavier than the first record was. I think an objective for us was to make sure that this record really represented our live show as well as possible. People would come and see us play and then be able to take a record home that kind of reflects the energy that they saw and the sound that they heard. I think that was kind of our aim to make everything seamless. Everything from our live show, to the videos we put out, and everything has a common theme for people to be able to recognize it. Yes, that was our objective.
- Max Records
CrypticRock.com – It worked well. As stated, it was a very well-balanced record. Another thing about the record is it shows a variety of emotions as well. Emotion in music is essential for it to be effective, obviously. With that said, your voice is also more dynamic than ever this time around. What was the process in preparing your voice for this record?
Josh Friend – No preparation, to be honest with you. I just wanted it to be just more truthful to the Rock influences I have. I do a lot of improvisation in our live show. It is reminiscent of the improvised that happens in the UK a lot. Yes, I just wanted to go with that, something that was more anthemic and easy for people to sing along to but, at the same time, a lot more musical foundation. I felt like on the first record, we played to the crowd a little more and that was a lot easier and dumbed down versions of what we were doing. We just wanted to avoid that at all costs, try to bring the same message across slightly more tasteful, make sure the influences we have taken from our musical upbringing, and push those forward.
CrypticRock.com – That is the exciting thing about watching any artist progress from record to record. If you are staying in one place and you are not progressing,then what is the point. You want to continue to go in the direction that you set out to be.
Josh Friend – Exactly, and I feel like we really did for this record. If I could play myself the record that we finished with when we first started, I think I would be really happy with it. It would really reflect everything we intended with setting out to do this.
CrypticRock.com – That is great to hear. This time around, you added two members to the live band. You have Kyle Deek and Pat Lundy, how have they helped the band’s chemistry?
Josh Friend – It has been amazing, to be honest with you. The previous members, as much as I love the boys, they were very different people to my brother and I. Their musical tastes were very far from me my brother and I. They had not really heard of Dubstep, or Drum and Bass, when they joined the band. They joined, basically, on their pedigree and their own instruments. That worked for a certain amount of time and touring, but when it came time to writing again, we really wanted people with a musical background similar to us.
Our new guitarist, Kyle, comes from a very similar band that plays a mixture of electronic stuff like Dubstep and Drum and Bass mixed with Hardcore, so he is the perfect guitarist for us. Pat, our new drummer, has come from a band called Funeral for a Friend, who is very well-known in the Rock world. He is also a massive fan of a lot of UK genres, Grind, Drum and Bass, and earlier Dubstep as well. It was just great to all be able to communicate on the same vibe. Everyone understands the final goal the same way and there is no friction at all in any way. We are all family and it feels like this is the first real, proper band lineup for Modestep. It feels like it has gone from being a two-piece with two extra guys who play with us to a strong four-piece.
CrypticRock.com – That is great, obviously when you have that well-rounded band, one imagines writing the music has to be a lot easier as well. You have more people to collaborate with and more people on the same page as you.
Josh Friend – Exactly, and when people are on the same page, it creates a really nice vibe in the studio and there is real positivity. You get things done quicker because everybody is excited to do it. There is not this frustration of one person having to agree because they want to keep the other person happy. That is no way for anyone to work. I always feel like the band situation should be 25%, everyone’s opinion should make up the final decision.
CrypticRock.com – Exactly, it is good to have that equal opinion in there. Now, you were recently in the USA for a string of tour dates. How did this American tour go for you?
Josh Friend – I was really stoked. Obviously, we have not been here in two and a bit years now. We knew there would not be as many people coming to the shows as there would have been if we continued touring all the way through those two years. The vibe has been really surreal; a lot more atmosphere and involvement from the people there. Even though there were less people there than there was when we played Webster Hall three years ago, I felt like the vibe was so much better, and everyone comes to appreciate the music. They are not there because it is fashionable anymore; they are not there just because they have seen a funny video on Youtube go viral. They are there because they love the music, and that to me is the most humbling, amazing experience. We really did not get that last time we came to America.
CrypticRock.com – Well that is great and hopefully the band will be back for a more extensive tour on American soil in the future. Speaking of musical influences and such, a honed ear could get the inclination that you have an influence from Muse. Is that correct?
Josh Friend – Abso-fucking-lutely I do! I love Muse and Matt Bellamy; totally hit the nail on the head.
CrypticRock.com – Yes, Muse is an excellent band. Tell us a little bit more about your other influences.
Josh Friend – Well, I grew up on an amazing amount of Motown, which I think gave me my love of music in the first place. Stevie Wonder was my idol growing up as a kid. I do not know if it reflects in our music whatsoever, but that guy got me into music big time. On this record, our influences come from a lot of the earlier and more underground Drum and Bass, like Taxman and Original Sin. I really like vocals from people like Jeff Buckley, White Stripes, N.E.R.D, things like that. It is kind of quite varied, but quite a British sound to a lot of it. Even though N.E.R.D does not fit, it kind of has rifts and stuff that I think could be played by a British band. Bands like Arctic Monkeys, Marmoset, Rage Against the Machine, Pink Floyd, Burial as well. It comes from all over the different genres, but I feel like they are all just really good musicians and they all make a kind of similar vibe in all their music as well.
- Motown
- Warner Bros.
CrypticRock.com – That is a very broad range of music, which is excellent. It is good to have a goal in mind with music. Good music is good music, that is what matters.
Josh Friend – That is what we try to get across the most in our music and our live show, that you do not have to pigeonhole yourself into one small pocket of one small genre. Music can work in so many different ways, so many untried and untested ways. Open your mind, because there is a lot of similarities in music that has never really been crossed over before.
CrypticRock.com – That is extremely true, absolutely. Now, I have one last question for you pertaining to movies. We cover Horror movies on CrypticRock.com, besides all types of music. If you are a fan of Horror films, do you have any favorites?
Josh Friend – Yes, I do! House of 1000 Corpses (2003) might be one of my favorites. Evil Dead (1981), that kind of funny Horror and weird Dark Comedies, I am a fan of. There is a TV series from the UK that was out in the early 2000s called Jam by a guy named Chris Morris. That is my favorite Horror TV series of all time.
- New Line Cinema
- Lions Gate Films
CrypticRock.com – Interesting, many will not be familiar with it because, obviously, it has not aired here in America.
Josh Friend – It was barely popular in the UK. You might have to find some dodgy sites to find that one, but yes, amazing. Honestly, it is the most terrifying, weird, strange Psychological Horror TV show you will ever see in your life. Very weird, very British.
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