Interview with XIII Doors

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

 I grew up in a very musical family, my dad bought me my first guitar when I was 4 years old so it’s always been a part of my life really! I honestly don’t know what I’d be doing today if it wasn’t for music…I have a brief stint of wanting to be a soldier in my teens but I’m not sure that would have gone down too well with the family!

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

 I love hiking and travelling…I’ve got two dogs and I really like getting out with them when I can (we’ve got some great forests near where I live). I also love reading and philosophy. In terms of creative influence, I think the travel and reading broadens my view of the world which I’m sure has some sort of affect.

How long has your band been around?

 Some of the demos have been around since 2015, but as a unit we began recording in 2021 and finally started releasing music in 2023!

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We’re based in the West of Ireland and it definitely had an influence on our sound. Some of the tracks on the upcoming album feature traditional instruments. In general, I feel the Irish people have a love for melody and music…We’ve had some dark periods in our history and I think the fact that you could always turn to music has really become a part of the Irish psyche.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Unfortunately, we don’t really have a great story for this! The name has been around since 2015 and it was just something that we thought was cool at the time. Growing up in number 13 on the street probably had some influence.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

 Our first few shows will be announced soon for 2024!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

 The Royal Albert Hall would be an amazing place to play!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

 Oooh that’s a tough one…I’ve got a weird taste in music so it would probably have quite a mix of acts. In terms of what would fit with us on the bill, I think XIII Doors, Alter Bridge, Nickelback and Mammoth WVH would be a really fun show.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

I distinctly remember something an old teacher told me when I was in school: “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard”. I think it’s really important to realize that things in the world of arts aren’t linear, there might never be a moment where you “make it”. Just try to be authentic, build relationships with people and continue to work hard. Music is a vocation that you really have to love. But if you do love it, anything is possible!

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

 I would tell myself to start writing sooner. When I was a teenager I felt I wasn’t a good enough guitarist or singer to write my own stuff yet, but you only get better at writing with practice!

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

 On the upcoming album, I think “See How You’ve Come So Far” means the most to me…Once it’s released I’ll let you know why!

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

 I love Unleash The Beast…when I initially came up with the riff I wasn’t able to play it, so it’s always a fun challenge.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

 A lot of the songs on this record came together from old demos that me and Ed had. We would compile different riff ideas, chorus sections etc until we had a song that we thought was great. Some of the stuff was also written on the fly when in the studio…there’s nothing like a deadline to get the creative juices flowing!

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

 We like to be as positive as possible. Yes, bad things happen in life but how you face them has a massive impact on how much they bother you. Our music aims to inspire people to live the lives they want to lead!

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

 Generally, no! The only time that might happen is when messing around with lyrics and we generally go with majority rule.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 We just released our 2nd single Unleash The Beast. We’ve got some shows to announce for next year that we’re really looking forward to and we’re hoping to have our third single out in January!