Formed in 2024, influenced by the haunting landscapes of nature with lyrical introspection, their sound weaves sludgy riffs with mournful melodies, inspired by themes of existential dread, decay, and the passage of time.
-Interview- (10/19/24)
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? How did the name "the forest forgets" come about and is there any meaning to it?
We initially formed out of dissolution. The Forest Forgets came into fruition during the collapse of a band known as Afterimage, which formed at Keene State four years prior. I’d say the transfer of energy was seamless and we had something to prove. After finding Brennan, our friend and new bass player, the ball instantly got rolling. We rented a space in a storage facility and started practicing three nights a week. Most of our musical language was developed in the context of jamming. Despite being the new member, Brennan fit right in and quickly found a groove that complimented the bands initial direction perfectly. We had a few goals in mind when we were writing. We wanted songs to flow, breath, and crush. We’re all fans of bands that have the creative dexterity to keep listeners actively engaged in their songs through the use of contrast.
“the forest forgets” as a name derives from a proverb that James brought to the table; “the axe forgets but the tree remembers.” It felt poignant, and topical to our regionality in New Hampshire. We just changed the phrasing so it rolled off the tongue better. It also tied into the existential themes that were the catalyst for this band. To do something creatively fulfilling with what little time we have to exist, that is the entire reason why we decided to take this leap of faith and create a new band. It all seemed cohesive, consistent, and emotionally vulnerable. That is the best place to be when you're trying to develop art.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
I want a listener of our band to know that we genuinely care about every single second of every single song that we’ve written. Whether that be a groove-based chorus, or an atmospheric passage. It was all developed, recorded, and performed with nothing but honesty and a creative desire to explore a personal unknown.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
I think we’re a little bit of everything that we all enjoy. ISIS, Mastodon, TOOL, All Them Witches, and The Cure. I think those bands all sparked something in us, in one way or another. I would say melody and softness is very integral to our sound. I think that’s one of the things that makes us unique in the genre. We have harmonies over passages that may typically have no vocal at all. Harsh and angular sounds combined with shoegaze wash and arpeggiated chords. It’s just a crockpot. It feels like there’s a lot to explore in this area, it’s rather inspiring.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
All Them Witches, Mastodon, and Sumac. I think they are a great summary of what we’re trying to go for musically. They’ve all been an inspiration towards the creation of this project.
5. What's your thoughts on AI generated music?
Like many new technologies that come into the consumer consciousness, I think that it’s still relatively unknown and not fully realized. The lawsuits set in place by major artists in order to attain control of their likeness are telling enough. But in terms of small acts such as ourselves, I think it is out of our scope to worry about such a dilemma. I also think many people are extremely skeptical about the long term goal of such a technology. If it aids in the creation of a human thought, well that is an entirely different conversation. But to have an AI create a song from scratch, with no real human input besides the programming, that isn’t anything attractive to us. Why would you listen to a song that no one bothered to write? Art is uniquely a shared human experience that I don’t think should be diluted by technology but instead, in a best case scenario, enhanced by it.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Metal/Post Rock?
I believe this is currently the best time to make any music in any genre. But in regards to our sound, the accessibility and distribution of post metal has never in its history been this prevalent. The internet has “opened Pandora's box,” in a sense. But of course, with everything, there are downsides. Due to the even playing field, the musical landscape may now be a little bloated, or oversaturated so to speak. In my opinion however, that critique is rather pessimistic and relies on a cynical perspective. In this day and age, more people than ever get to make the music they want and have a platform to do so. The potential to be heard is a gift I think people more than often forget to appreciate.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in New Hampshire?
It seems to us that the heavy music scene in most of New England, but predominantly southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts, is definitely Hardcore dominated. Places like Lowell are huge hotspots for Hardcore bands and as such, many shows, especially amongst college kids, are exclusively Hardcore. We hope to carve our own path stylistically, but do recognize the cultural importance of this scene and its impact on music as a whole.
8. What’s your take on the royalties that streaming services pay out to artists?
It could be better, but it could also be worse. You have to pick your poison. Platforms like Spotify give you benefits beyond measure, such as exposure and reach to a potential audience. For a young band, the pros outweigh the cons, because we don’t make any money doing this to begin with. So for us, it’s a win-win scenario. I think the conversation changes when larger acts are in question. Especially bands that have been around long enough to see the change of the market. It appears many hallmark bands now make all their money off of merch sales and touring. Whereas before, album sales made up a decent percentage of the profit. So I can understand why the royalty payouts may appear to be a slight. Compared to years past, it’s chump change for them. But for us, we’re just happy to be given an opportunity to be heard, as I said before.
9. What’s next for the forest forgets?
We’re going to play shows, put some boots on the ground, and earn a reputation that garners curiosity.
10. Any shoutouts?
Eric Sauter, Fredo Benavides, Aaron Turner, Cooper Fitz, The folks at Weedian, and Martin Harvey Olson
