Brit alt-rockers Calm For The Restless are gearing up for the release of their debut album Finish What You Started on August 24th. We asked the band to take on our A-Z challenge so that we can get to know them more!
A song that made you want to make music?
Plug in Baby by Muse. It’s a song that just makes you want to pick up a guitar. Would be amazing to have the same effect on a fan.
Best rider you’ve ever had?
Blue M&Ms
Craziest thing you’ve experienced in the band?
A fan losing a tooth in a mosh put during one of our shows
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“I’m gonna build a legacy and live in all your memories”
Easiest song you wrote?
“The Destination” (opening track from Finish What You Started) – simple but effective.
Favourite song in your set?
It’s a tough but we reckon Years (final track on album)
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Matt Donnelly – the drummer from Don Broco. Surprisingly, it’s his voice I love. Think he does some great harmonies that would work well with our stuff.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Remembering to bring earplugs to gigs. There’s always one!
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Leon (vocalist) climbed Mt Kilimanjaro recently. We were working on an idea to use some of the video footage for a music video for ‘Chase a Life‘ (second track on the album).
Jokes you have in the band?
One that fans will know is that we can’t start a show until has their thumb raised in the air. Behind the scenes, whenever any of us mention a girl that the other guys haven’t met we ask the question “Have you? Would I?”. I think you can fill in the gaps here.
Key to writing a song?
Patience. When Leon and Martin wrote Years they had written about 4 minutes of music until Mart revealed the only bit that he liked was the very first chord! Leon was fuming. The first chord stayed on but the rest of the song was scrapped and rewrote everything else.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
It’s about to happen. Have a show planned in Amsterdam in a few weeks. We’ll be setting off from Stevenage and drive to Folkestone, cross the channel then drive through France and Belgium to reach The Netherlands. Google tells us it’ll take 6 hours 47 minutes. Challenge accepted.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Enter Shikari – they’re from Hertfordshire as well and Leon and Mart used to watch them performing in pubs in their teens (for free mind).
To see that they’ve reached where they are now just shows you what hard graft can do for you.
New band you’d recommend?
Berries – they’re an all-girl hard rock band that supported us at a gig in St Albans once. Absolutely brilliant.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
It would be an honour to open for the band that was responsible for our inception.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Continental Europe – it’s all driveable but varies so much in terms of landscape, culture and people. It would be an amazing experience.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Finish what you started.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
As well as being a well-known saying, it’s a nod to our first EP “We Started a Fire” as well as a statement as to where we are as a band years later. We made the album as a sort of landmark for ourselves. It has the feeling of a concept album in a way – the story of the band itself.
See us live at?
The Waterhole in Amsterdam.
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
On the whole absolutely, there are still some great songs coming out but they are fewer and far between. Modern music often feels stripped down and made for short-term enjoyment rather than something that is relevant decades on. Older music was something that was relatable to anyone at anytime. That’s something we want to bring back.
Unusual merchandise?
Leon: An artist friend of ours shared the concept drawings of an inflatable balloon of my head that he wanted us to promote. Sometimes at night I can still see it floating.
Variations you’d like to do of any of your songs?
We once played a hilarious Jazz version of ‘Chase a Life‘ in practice and I genuinely enjoyed it.
What do your fans mean to you?
The reason we keep going.
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band related injuries?
Mark (bass) had a hernia operation once, he was gigging the very next day at the Rhythms of the World.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Leon’s but he’ll have you believe that society put him up to it.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
A Lion obviously. Have you not been listening to anything we’ve said?