So yeah, getting to interviewJames Hart was something I actually created this blog to do (him and Jordan Buckley) but never did I think I'd ACTUALLY get to, never mind getting to do it within 5 weeks of starting this thing.
It was Eighteen Visions last year that pretty much changed my entire outlook on music and frankly life as a whole; I remember when I started listening to "Vanity" and it totally changed what I wanted in a song, the lyrics were incredible and told a real-feeling story, the sound jumped from ear-bleeding heavy to pop-music soft, and the film-like ending to the song, like a credits card or whatever made the track feel like something much more than just a song.
A few weeks later, I ended up turning to music, most especially Eighteen Visions for comfort and I found it in their back-catalogue. Every song was different, every album took apart a new genre of Rock, with the only thing staying constant being James' incredibly meaningful lyrics.
After Eighteen (sadly) called it a day James started up a new project almost immediately, Burn Halo. I spoke a good bit about Burn back on the interview with Joey Roxx (you can read it here) so I'm sure people know how high I am on this band and how I think it’s a travesty how they still aren't the top Rockstars of today. Now recording their third album, James was super nice enough to take the time and let me do a small interview with him.
Hope y'all enjoy it!
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I am a huge fan of all your work, especially Eighteen Visions, a band that I’ve loved since the second I first heard “Victim”, and once I started looking through past albums I really grew to love every track, every album brought something totally different to the table, each one revolutionising a different rock genre. I ended-up growing somewhat connected to many of the tracks and lyrics cause of things I was going through last year, so I do want to say thanks for that.
Though now you’re the lyricist and singer of Burn Halo, a band that I also love and hope for nothing but great things to happen to. Frankly I believe you guys should be massive, your sound calls for it, and I really hope the latest album finally propels you guys into the rock stratosphere.
Questions;
I always ask this, but what bands are some of your influences (musically and lyrically)? Are your influences for Burn Halo different from those of when you were in Eighteen Visions?
Generally. Yes. I've never abandoned any of the influences that inspired me with 18V. For the most part, it's all music I've grown up on. Different eras of rock and metal. When I started BH I kept those same influences, but was also inspired by country and pop. I wanted to go a different route with the first album. With Up From The Ashes I wanted to gradually get back to what I was doing in 18V on the last 2 albums we did. With this new BH album we are working on, I feel I've come full circle.
Through your career you’ve never stuck to one sound, every album you’ve appeared on has changed it up; which album do you feel was the closest to your own personal ideal sound?
You've got to change. You've got to progress. No one wants to stand still. Whether it's music or their own personal life. I feel like the album that was most "me" would be a toss up between the last 18V album and the last BH album, but I do feel like this new one we're working on is a healthy combination of both of those albums.
In the same vein, out of all the songs you’ve written and recorded, which was your favourite and which are you most proud of?
I'd say it would be "Threw It All Away" and "Stuck In A Rut" off of the last BH album. "Threw" is just one of those songs that just came together in all the right ways. Everything about that song is so powerful to me. "Rut" isn't my favorite, but I'm most proud of it because it has a major pop element to the writing. Everything with that song flows really well and I feel it's much harder to write a great pop/rock track with tasteful and meaningful lyrics than some heavy rocker that might be more fun to play or listen to.
How does being a relatively new band in the ‘Digital World’ of now compare to when you and Ken started Eighteen back in the mid-90’s?
It's so different. Selling albums has never come easy. I feel if 18V had the resources when we first started that bands do today it would've been a different ball game for us and every other band. Touring was harder then, the promo was less and the fan knowledge of that brand of music wasn't even close to as mainstream as it is now. Kids can buy the album now with a click of a button. It was all on cassette, vinyl and then cd back then. It made having the physical product so much cooler. You were forced to buy the music. Now you can download it for free. Just grab a song here and there. It's strange.
Lately the new Burn Halo album seems to be well into production; what do you look to for inspiration when it comes to writing lyrics for a new album? Does being a Christian and Straight-Edge bring-out anything lyrically for you?
Yes my personal life influences me a little bit, but I'm more inspired by the people and things I see around me. I'll take someone's life into perspective that I might be very familiar with. Put myself in their shoes and write a song as if it is actually me going through those things. Living that life. It make's it a bit more relatable.
How has the writing process differed on the new Burn album compared to the previous two? The last record (‘Up From The Ashes’) there was more of a complete band, whereas the first one (‘Burn Halo’) was almost all your own work.
We've been sending a lot of stuff back and forth. Making edits and changes that way. I'll demo vocals whenever we can get together. It's nice though having a couple of great guitar players writing killer riffs and guitar solos. Something that I didn't have a whole lot of with the first BH album.
One of the things that’s being boasted most about the new record is it’s heaviness, with you having filled in for Danny with Asking Alexandria late last year, did this help get you back into that place of heavier music? Also, did playing those shows make you miss that scene at all, a scene that a decade ago you were helping create?
It helped a little. I was already there mentally. Playing it lve just solidified what I wanted to do. Of course it made me desire to get back to the days where 18V was at their peak, but I'm on a different path now. I don't know much about that scene now. I do like some of those bands, but I miss out on a lot of it. I had also gotten together with Keith from 18V a while back and written a heavy track. Mostly screaming with a melodic chorus. I liked the way it felt. We had talked about going heavier when we were doing the last BH album. I knew I wanted to get back to what I was doing with 18V and I feel I've accomplished that with this new material.
Staying with that scene, back in the day Eighteen Visions were known for using movie references in their music; samples in tracks, song titles and even a cover of the original Manchurian Candidate theme (“There Is Always”). Why did you guys chose to do this, and do you think incorporating some of these aspects could work for Burn Halo?
It's just what bands did back in the day. I don't know why really, but it was just the way of things. I'd rather write my own score or musical section than use a sample now.
What are some of your favourite tracks to play live right now with Burn Halo? Are there any Eighteen Visions tracks that you’d like to tackle some day with the dudes in Burn?
I like the heavier stuff. I could go down the list of the entire "Ashes" album. We did at one point do a couple of 18V songs. Mainly "Victim" and "Tower of Snakes." It was fun for a minute, but I don't think I'd do it again.
As well as music you’re also an accomplished hair dresser, regularly posting images on your Instagram and Facebook of your incredible work. Has beauty always been somewhat of a passion of yours, or was it sort of a fall-back in case the band thing didn’t work out?
The complete opposite. I started my career as a hair stylist when 18V was a part time, local gig. The band started to grow, time started to free up for the others and we started to tour more than just 2 months a year. It was nice to have something to fall back on which is why I'm doing what I'm doing now. Music is fickle. You have to rely on others for your success. It's unstable. At my age, stability is nice.
Last question, what can we expect from the new Burn Halo album? Will it be the album where Burn Halo finally takes over the world?
A great, diverse album. The album I should've made after the last 18V album. Just 7 years later. As for wether or not we take over the world, I've come to the conclusion that it is completely out of my hands. That's up to everyone else to decide.
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This was my most favourite interview to date, not saying getting to interview Trevor or Joey was not awesome, but its not every day that you get to interview your idol and someone that has changed your life forever. Doing stuff like this was the reason I started this blog, and getting to speak to these dudes is literally a dream come true for me.
James was super nice and super quick with the answers too; I for real hope the new album fucking kills and takes Burn Halo to where they deserve; on top of the Rock Mountain!!
Hit these guys up on their Facebook page, and keep posted for new info on Burn the forthcoming album!
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