We caught up with Exeter based hard rockers LOSING VICTORY, see how we got on....
Losing Victory is a female-fronted rock band formed by Kate Martin (vocals), Peter Sheridan (guitar), Chris Quinton (guitar), Mike Ollier (drums),and Maria Kosma (bass). Boasting high energy vocals, the Exeter based five-piece will have you tune your air guitar and lose yourself in authentic original grunge-inspired rock.
We hoped to catch up with the band before their show at the Cavern in Exeter but sadly, I was unable to get to the show, instead, we caught up with them via good old pen n' paper (okay, email!)
We chatted to them about musical influences, super-groups and what they all got for Christmas, read on to see how we got on....
We know you're a five piece, female fronted hard rock band based in Exeter, tell us something about the band (or a member) that not many people know?
We get asked about our band name a lot but what not many know is that before we came up with this oxymoron, we almost named ourselves Flagship Monkey.
Who would you say are your musical influences?
There’s so many.... When it comes to lyrics/vocal lines Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Korn, Sevendust...
In terms of sound it’s varied. The newer the songs, the more you’ll find elements of thrash and prog metal bands, Megadeth, Pantera, Machine Head, Opeth, Metallica…
Being made up of 5 members, do you all share similar tastes in music or do you each bring something different to the table? Does this sometimes cause conflict in the way that the band sounds or is that always a 'team decision'?
Mike: Our tastes appear to be sort of similar, but there are variations. If anything, I’d say Kate is the odd one out, because you can find recurring themes of thrash, prog etc in the rest of our playing. I don’t think it leads to conflict though. Sometimes I think my playing could be too ‘metal’ (\m/) but then I’m sure someone would tell me if that was so.
Kate: Yeah, it’s all good. \m/
Desert Island Disc time, name 3 albums that you will never tire of listening to....
Kate: Yeah there’s no way we’ll all agree on this one! We’ll pick five...“Home” by Sevendust
Chris: Psychostick - IV: Revenge of the Vengeance!
Maria: Blackwater Park by Opeth!
Pete: Metallica Black!
Mike: I want to bring Blackwater Park by Opeth as well, but if Maria has it, we can share, and I’ll bring Heritage. Only joking, I’ll bring, well, any Opeth album. They’ll all good.
What would you say is your biggest claim to fame (in a musical sense)?
The biggest thing that’s happened to us is this year is having been featured on BBC Introducing and scoring a record deal with Sound Hub Records. Let’s see what 2016 will bring! Oh and yea, we’ve grown a curiously big following in the Philippines somehow...
If you could support any band on tour, who would it be and why?
Maria: Since two band members were wearing Metallica jumpers when we were asked this question, we should go with Metallica.
Kate (whispers): Foo Fighters
Mike: Spice Girls!
Describe a typical 'Losing Victory' live show....
You should always expect some good energy on stage, depending on venue size / location there may be some jumping and improvised choreographies, random musicians joining the stage, some exclusive guitar solos and at least one guy with a camera shouting “HELL YEAH” (that’ll be one of our groupies.. he’s quite tall and brings us drinks from time to time. He’s harmless really)
When we headlined at Payhembury in the Park we switched guitarists’ midway through the set for the heck of it.
Which of the many social media channels would you say have assisted you the most in getting your music out there to the fans?
Facebook has helped us share our music and videos. It’s the easiest way for us to connect with our fans. Albeit we do prefer just talking to people instead of focusing on social media all the time.
If we didn't have the internet, what would be your approach to reaching out to as many people as possible?
Busking!! Flyer drops, local radio. Mike’s drum kit is already acoustic so he’s set for busking!
Let's imagine for one minute that you borrowed Doc Brown's Delorean Time Machine and you could travel back to a live show in the past, which band/act would it be and which gig would it be?
Wow – ok that’s a tough one and we have so many different thoughts in the group about this… From Apr 21st & 22nd 1999 watching Metallica perform over 2 days with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra to any Pantera gig from their good days after “Far Beyond Driven” to Donington Monsters of Rock 1987 and Nirvana’s last concert ever on March 1st, 1994 in Munich, Germany..
Mike wants to focus on the future and see Rush before Neil Peart retires.
You've been asked to provide 3 bands to headline at Glastonbury 2016, who are they going to be?
Mike: I guess this would mean that I know the headliners before the tickets sell out (don’t get me started on the ridiculousness of Glastonbury)? Rush, Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott will come back from the grave) and Elvis Costello.
You released your most recent EP 'Break' in the summer of 2015 and it sounds so much heavier than your previous offering 'Slaves to Grey', will the next EP be bordering on Death Metal or are you happy with the 'heavyness' of your sound?
Kate: It’s getting heavier, isn’t it? We are definitely experimenting with heavier riffs and a lot of metal. The next single we’ll release will have more 'oomph'. It’ll be heavier than what you’ve heard from us so far, that’s for certain.
Mike: It’s all about combining that heaviness with the groove man, a la Lamb of God.
Christmas has just been and gone, what did Santa bring you all?
Chris: Not much.
Maria: Chocolate and Lego
Pete: New guitar, early 2000's Musicman JP6 that is like a talisman of godhood. (Actually birthday present to self but hey close enough).
Mike: Lego, CDs.
Kate: Nothing too exciting. I must have been a naughty girl.
If you could create your very own 'Supergroup', who would be in the band? (they can be alive or dead)
Mike Portnoy on drums, Flea on bass, Dimebag Darrell lead guitar, Mikael Akerfeldt guitar and vocals and Michael Jackson dancing next to them
We're always on the lookout for new bands to feature on the site, please would you give us 3 that we should be looking into?
Southern Storm, King Creature, Monolith
2016 is just around the corner, do you have any gigs/festivals lined up already?
We’ll be kicking off the year with a gig at the Cavern on Jan 7th with support from Southern Storm and Super Fuzz. We’ll then be busy prepping for some studio time but we’ve applied to some festivals so watch the space!
Any new year’s resolutions? How long do you think they'll last?
If you really want to change something, just do it. No need to wait for New Years!
When can we expect new material from you?
We’ll be recording our first official single and video with Sound Hub Records in late January so you’ll see a new release in spring 2016!
We'd like to thank the band for taking time out to answer our questions, we wish them every success for 2016 and promise to get to one of their shows...soon!
In the meantime, check out their social media channels, they're all listed below, just point and click.
Social Media
Interview by Steve Muscutt