In today’s A-Z challenge, we asked InTheosis to take on our A-Z challenge and tell us all about themselves!
A song that made you want to make music?
Jon: Hearing Until it Sleeps by Metallica when I was 11 or so. I’d never heard a guitar tone like that before – I started playing my grandpa’s old nylon string straight away.
Best rider you have had?
Jon: We have a beautiful venue in Brisbane, Australia called Fortitude Hall. I was working as MD and guitarist for an Australian band called BlissnEso, the rider was amazing with an assortment of all kinds of foods and alcohol. They took good care of us.
Craziest moment in the band?
Jon: We haven’t had many opportunities for this as we live on opposite sides of the world but the way we met and became friends was unusual. We met at a mutual friend’s bucks party, doing a pub crawl in Drammen (Norway), and connected straight away. I drank too much and lost my phone and Peter graciously helped me find it – poor guy, helping this drunk Aussie he just met find his lost phone!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Jon: I really dig Peter’s lyrics for our next single called “Purge(d)”:
“Under (the) intense pressure of our lives
The formation of something deep inside
Invisible, concealed, out of sight
Fumbling in the pitch dark night”
It’s based on a biblical motif found in 1 Corinthians 3, Mark 9 and elsewhere. It’s the idea that we must all face a purifying “fire” that burns away the darkness in us that causes us to hurt others and ourselves. However, I think it’s also a useful allegory for suffering in this life – it has the capacity to burn away the ego and its vices.
Easiest song you wrote?
Jon: Purge(d) came together pretty easily. Can’t wait for people to hear it!
Favourite song in your set?
Jon: we haven’t played live yet as we’re on opposite sides of the globe. Maybe one day depending on how this project goes!
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Jon: Chino Moreno
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Jon: remaining focused and consistent
Interesting fact about one of your members
Jon: Peter used to run a business importing fruit from Africa.
Jokes you have in the band?
Jon: we take the piss out of me being half Swedish, growing up in Skåne. I’ll be honest, the skånsk dialect is not the prettiest but it has its charm…
Key to writing a song?
Write something you’d want to listen to in your own time.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Jon: I haven’t toured outside of Australia. My focus is production rather than shows these days. Peter has toured internationally though with Extol.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Jon: At the moment probably Mateus Asato as a guitarist and Paul Meany as a producer. Nolly as a mix engineer.
New band you’d recommend?
Jon: Vower, Rabea Massaad’s new band. Strongly influenced by Karnivool who are one of my all time favourites.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Jon: Silent Planet, I love their music, message and they seem like great guys.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Jon: Europe
Quote that you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Jon: “If we do not transform our pain, we will most assuredly transmit it—usually to those closest to us: our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and, invariably, the most vulnerable, our children. Scapegoating, exporting our unresolved hurt, is the most common storyline of human history” – Richard Rohr
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
Jon: the title (Purged) captures the topic well.
See us live at?
Jon: social media once we organise remote live recordings
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Jon: the industry was better in many ways but not necessarily the music. I love, for instance, just how blurred the lines are getting between genres these days. Sleep Token is a good example of this.
Unusual merchandise?
Jon: it’s pretty stock standard right now
Variations you’d like to do on one of your songs?
Jon: I’m a sucker for ballad versions of heavy songs, so expect some of that in the future.
What do your fans mean to you?
Jon: it’s been amazing watching so many people embrace such a new band. At first I was worried since InTheosis is quite different from Extol (Peter’s main band) but everyone’s been really supportive.
X-rays or any other treatments needed for band injuries?
Jon: Nothing from InTheosis but I did have to get my shoulder checked out once after a gig because I got overly confident and thought I could leap over a friend tackling me in a game of informal rugby at the venue. I realised very quickly as the impact caused me to flip mid air that it was a stupid decision.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Jon:probably mine
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Jon: Polar bear