-Interview- (7/30/24)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? How did the name "Hopes Avenue" come about and is there any meaning to it?
We all have always had a great interest in Music since way back in School, Dennis (lead singer) and Jamie (Guitarist) were always in high school bands together, they recruited Will (Guitarist) later on once at college and Michael (Drummer) shortly after that. We always approach a new song not really wanting to tie it to a certain genre, freedom in writing always brings out the best we think. The name 'Hopes Avenue' is pretty simple, it comes from the street we all stayed on at one point or another in a village in Scotland.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
We feel we write songs/lyrics that lots of people can relate to, we want to build a strong connection with listeners and see if we can connect with them emotionally.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
We would describe our sound as Post Hardcore, with some pop-punky choruses, low tunes guitars with a flavor of synth to spice it all up
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
I don't think we could agree on just 3 but since it's Michael writing this I'll say: Electric Callboy, Architects and Bring me the Horizon (we can dream right?)
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
In terms of complete AI generated music, we don't see a place for it in the industry, music is all about being creative and working out ideas. Of course as the technology advances, it could be an issue to artists in the future.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Post Hardcore?
Post Hardcore is in a great spot at the moment! It's growing well with bands like Dayseeker, Rain City Drive paving the way for other artists worldwide. We like to think we fit right in here where we can go heavy or we can go more melodic.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in Scotland?
Post Covid the scene in Scotland is starting to get back to what it was like. Glasgow is our "home" so to speak and we always get a decent turn out there, plenty of awesome bands coming out the local scene at the minute as well.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
It's a hard one, streaming services offer a great way for small bands such as ourselves to be heard by new listeners all the time so it is alot easier to grow in that aspect. But, obviously think all bands would agree that the cut we get from our own music is terrible. Before streaming services I remember it was 99p for a single in the UK, a think we get 0.002 of a pence for every stream so it doesn't really stack up.
9. What’s next for Hopes Avenue?
We have a lot of new material in background we're working on and hope to release an EP later in the year, trying to grow on the success of our latest release 'WALK AWAY'. We are also targeting to play some festivals next year and are readying some applications to be sent out by the end of the summer. Other than that we want to keep growing and staying active on socials and try get out and play some new places up and down the UK or further a field.
10. Any shoutouts?
Just keep up to date with us on all socials! @HopesAvenueUK on everything! Instagram/Tik Tok/Twitter and YouTube!
