The Hotseat: Aaran McKenzie of While She Sleeps
on July 8th, 2012Later this month, UK up and comers While She Sleeps will hit Australia for the first time joining House Vs Hurricane on their album launch tour. Whilst here, their debut album ‘This Is The Six‘ will be released via Halfcut / Shock. We grabbed bass player Aaran McKenzie this week to answer our Hotseat questions. Expand this post to take a read and re-cap their tour dates. Tickets are on sale now.
THE BASICS
Name : Aaran McKenzie
Band : While She Sleeps
Job In Band : Bassist
Website Address : Wssofficial.com
HOME
Hometown : Sheffield
Hometown is best known for : Being the city of steel!
Best venue in your hometown : Corporation
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : Every Time I Die at The Cororation were amazing!
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Our “The North Stands For Nothing” release show at The Plug
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? We’ve been mates in school for years and played in various bands. Then one day Mat, Sav and Sean decided to practice together and form a band. I later joined down the lineup and played as While She sleeps for about 3 years before our old singer left and Loz took over as head honcho!
How long has the band been going? While She Sleeps has offically been a band since Febuary 2006.
Any particular story behind the name? It came from a women’s magazine. Haha. It was a story of a wife chopping her husbands gonads off while he was sleeping. So we changed it to While She Was Sleeping. Then eventually came up with While She Sleeps.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… We released the title track to our upcoming debut album ‘This Is The Six’. It’s a track about the fans and not taking bullshit and to live your life! It also has a video with massive flames that looks cool as fuck haha.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? We recently won Best British Newcomer at the Kerrang Awards!
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? I was about 13 when Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park came into my life and just loved how powerful these kind of songs were. Got a lot of energy out. I was instantly hooked!
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Oh god. Well when me and Sean were about 14 we started a band called Maximum Volume. We played Pop punk. How embarrassing.
Most prized music related item you own? My K award!
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Out partying most likely! Occasionally go out and skate. That’s about it really.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… Knowing I’m gonna be with all my dudes causing carnage!
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Knowing Sav will snore his bollocks off every night!
ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Vodka!
Favourite place you’ve toured, and why? Europe is amazing. The people look after you really well over there.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? This years Download! Was after the Kerrang Awards and it was a killer show! Everyone was on such a high!
Got a favourite song to play live? ‘Dead Behind The Eyes’ for me at the moment but it always changes.
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? I stage dived at last years Graspop from a 6ft’ish high stage and a 5ft gap and nobody caught me! Haha. It was like Jack Black at the start of School Of Rock but on a much larger scale. I was alright though, just hurt my pride haha.
Any pre-show rituals? Stretches and beer.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? The hangovers! But you just gotta man up!
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? Kiss – Love gun
Last album you acquired? Summerlin – You can’t burn out if you’re not on fire
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Architects – The Here and Now.
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Feed The Rhino. Their new album is fucking killer!
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? Coming to create carnage in Australia, our Headline UK tour and the release of out first full length debut album ‘This Is The Six’! August 3rd yo!
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Would love to try our own take on Hybrid Theory by Linkin Park. Massive tunes on that!
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? Comeback kid to do ‘This Is The Six’ would be interesting
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? There’s not many bands I haven’t seen that I love. Playing a lot of festivals you get to see a shit loada bands all the time. Wouldn’t mind seeing Sum 41.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? House Of Blues!
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? The Chariot! Would love to rock out with those dudes! Although their bassist has big boots to fill!
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. ?This is always a tough one! But I’d The Chariot and Darkest hour.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? Pre-order our ‘This Is The Six’ album now!
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WHILE SHE SLEEPS – This Is The Six
In stores Friday August 3rd via Halfcut / Shock.
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HOUSE VS HURRICANE
THE “CROOKED TEETH” TOUR
JULY / AUGUST 2012 with Special Guests
WHILE SHE SLEEPS [UK] – NORTHLANE – HEIGHTS [UK]
Thursday, 26 July – The Tempo Hotel, Brisbane (18+)
Tickets available from Kill The Music, Sunflower Music, City Beach and Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Friday, 27 July – Paddington Community Hall, Brisbane (AA)
Tickets from Kill The Music and Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Saturday, 28 July – The Hi-Fi, Sydney (LIC/AA)
Tickets available from thehifi.com.au or 1300 The HIFI & Moshtix outlets including Resist Records, Utopia Records & Red Eye Records
Sunday, 29 July – Oasis Youth Centre, Central Coast (AA)
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Tuesday, 31 July – Musicman Megastore, Bendigo (AA)
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Wednesday, 1 August – Bended Elbow, Ballarat (AA)
Tickets available from Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Thursday, 2 August – Fowlers Live, Adelaide (LIC/AA)
Tickets available from Moshtix on 1300 438 849, moshtix.com.au or Moshtix outlets including Clarity Records & Venue*Tix on (08) 8225 8888 or venuetix.com.au
Friday, 3 August – EVs, Croydon (AA)
Tickets available from Fist2Face or Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
Saturday, 4 August – The Hi-Fi, Melbourne (18+)
Tickets available from thehifi.com.au, 1300-THEHIFI (843 443), and Polyester Records
Sunday, 5 August – Phoenix Youth Centre, Footscray (AA)
Tickets available from Fist2Face or Oztix on 1300 762 545 or oztix.com.au
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