ROCKwell Unscene Magazine catches up with Spiders Kiss for an indepth chat.
For readers who might be meeting you for the first time — how would you describe your band’s sound and personality?
Cameron Kincaid: Oh sure, well, we range anywhere from a dark metal sound to ghostly acoustic, but I feel like overall we maintain a creepy atmosphere visually and sonically. It’s funny, we’re pretty lighthearted comedic people but you look at what we make, and I don’t think you’d ever know.
You’re a character/story-driven band. Can you walk us through the world you’ve created and how it ties into your music?
Cameron Kincaid: We have a lot of big ideas; I can tell you that much. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy, gothic Victorian aesthetics, or Celtic history and mythology, you’ll be a fan of what we have coming up. At a glance right now, we just have some small, short-form content on Instagram and TikTok, but it ties into a bigger story we want to tell. The timeline really isn’t visible yet but very soon the story is gonna start making a lot of sense.
How did the band come together, and what was the spark that made you decide this was the project to pursue?
Sam Purdon: Well, we were just two high school friends who came together in our senior choir class who both had a massive love for music and a lot of similar traumas that we bonded over. After graduation we started toying with a few songs Cameron had been working with and found we clicked really easily, almost like we could read each other’s minds.
What artists or bands inspired your early sound, and how has your style evolved since then?
Cameron Kincaid: In the early days it was much more alternative, we used to describe ourselves as Radiohead mixed with Pearl Jam and a splash of Rex Orange County. Now, we still enjoy writing some of that alternative melodic style, paired with our heavier metal influences like System of a Down, My Chemical Romance, etc.
How did you first hear about America’s Next Top Hitmaker and what motivated you to enter?
Sam Purdon: Funnily enough we were actually attending the Danny Wimmer festival Sonic Temple when we got an ad for the contest. We believe heavily in the cause they support and were drawn to the amazing opportunity to potentially play Global Citizen Fest and knew we had to throw our hat in the ring.
Being a Quarter Finalist is no small feat — what was your first reaction when you found out?
Sam Purdon: We were beyond ecstatic and just so blessed to have been supported that far, it warmed our hearts to have that kind of rallying force!
What was the most challenging part of preparing for the competition?
Spiders Kiss: Balancing the preparation with maintaining our identity and energy. It was a huge push, but worth it.
How has the contest experience shaped your vision or momentum as a band?
Cameron Kincaid: Entering the contest gave us a second wind to continue our efforts as a band in a period where we had slowed down dramatically. It reinvigorated us to continue working behind the scenes as well as drove us to start establishing our online presence more consistently.
Did the feedback you received change anything about your creative process?
Sam Purdon: Most definitely, our outlook on how we’ll be proceeding from here on out was definitely shaped by the contest. We’re hungry for growth and we’re here to put the work in.
If you could go back and do one thing differently in the contest, what would it be?
Sam Purdon: I think we would adopt that growth mindset much quicker and utilize that drive to bring people to our campaign.
Are there any new songs, albums, or videos in the works that fans can look forward to?
Cameron Kincaid: We’re so excited about our upcoming album Arachnophobia, which will be accompanied by our first cinematic short film that officially ties the storyline universe into the music.
Looking ahead, what’s your goal — the “we’ve made it” moment for you as a band?
Sam Purdon: A massive goal for us is just being able to perform for an amazing group of dedicated fans who connect personally with our music and our story. The connection and love is really important to us and if we’re able to connect with even just a handful, then we’ll have made it.
Have you considered collaborations — and if so, who’s on your dream list?
Cameron Kincaid: We have a lot of respect for some of the other younger artists of our age, and would absolutely love to work with Cloudyfield, she is incredible, and we really love her sound!
Are there any experimental sounds or visuals you’re itching to explore?
Sam Purdon: Absolutely, we’re massive fans of the darker, slightly mysterious sounds that goth and death-rock music use and are exploring mixing that into more of a traditional metal style. I think we’ll see a lot of that fusion as we progress.
If you could tell your fans one thing to carry with them until your next release, what would it be?
Spiders Kiss: There’s always more than meets the eye, glance too quick and you’ll miss it. Always stay curious!
What’s one question you wish more interviewers would ask you — and how would you answer it?
Cameron Kincaid: Well. That’s tough. Honestly, I’d like to be asked the most unhinged philosophical questions that come to mind. Those are always my favorite, and I will always answer either as genuine or as ridiculous as possible. Depends on the weather.
Finally — describe your band’s mission in one sentence.
Spiders Kiss: To be able to tell a unique story and share our art while cultivating a community of love, camaraderie, and family.
For the original article with Spiders Kiss visit HERE
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