Push to Fire: Alternative Music Webzine

Push to Fire Interview: My Passion
Push to Fire interviewed My Passion, in February to ask him about their UK tour, fashion and life on the road.

Hey guys. First of all could you tell us who you are and what you do in the band?
Hey Laurence René here I sing and front this monster called My Passion. Jonathan Gaskin - Drums, Vocals and electronics. John Be - Guitar and Simon Rowlands, Bass.
How would you describe your music to someone who had never heard it before?
My Passion is pretty unique; it's energetic, full of passion and pretty much grabs you and pulls you into its world or sends you running and jumping off a cliff. It's rock music with dance and electro elements along with a punk energy and attitude. It’s definitely a modern sound and something for people to fall in love with. We are kind of an alternative to all other music around right now...
When did the band get together and how did you all meet?
The band is built from friendship, I think thats what gives us such a strong base. We met as we were growing up and we shared our influences with each other and in bands previously learning about music and the world. Then 2 and a half years ago we decided to create My Passion to wake everyone up and start exciting people again... it doesn't happen enough these days and I think My Passion could be what the world needs to lift them from dark times.. So yes it's a collective joining of friends with the same drive and ambition to entertain, thrill and shock people.

My Passion press shot

How is the current tour going? What's it like touring with Innerpartysystem?
This tour has been huge so far! Most of the shows being sellouts from 250 to 800 people a night. It's still intimate enough for a hectic atmosphere as well. Innerpartysystem have a great live show and the nights have been very lively even though we have been opening the shows. The crowd is mainly different from previous tours with a more male mid 20s crowd but its been amazing seeing that we also appear to these guys as well as a younger more female crowd as well. It highlights what we truely believe, that My Passion has a huge appeal to all kinds of people. It just feels really fresh for us guys onstage and other people seem to be picking up on it.
What are the three main things you have to have whilst on tour?
1) Showers are pretty important! When you have a show everyday and jump around as much as we do its important to keep fresh ha! So Travelodges are our home for the next few weeks!
2) Phones and laptops to contact back home and make sure we dont lose each other! I guess before modern technology people would send messengers and sometimes we have to resort to that.
3) Sharpies are pretty important to sign these ace new posters and to generally give people a lasting memory of the night! Sharpies can write on any surface, I dont know what people did before sharpies... probably used inferior felt tips. Dark days.
What's My Passion Fashion?
Its basically our merchandise brand. We have developed it alongside My Passion and it has allowed us to live our dreams and advertise the music at the same time. Some bands just sell a t-shirt at a show but we have taken it further and built it up along with a big online store thats always active and featuring new goodies. It's all run and designed by us so we can keep it unique and fresh for everyone. It's another way to become part of My Passion.
Would you say that your fashion style is just as important as your music?
The music is what matters. Without that there would be no basis to build all the extra parts of My Passion onto it. The look is just something that goes alongside the music and the lights/ stageshow. We don't like doing anything half heartedly and we want to offer people the full package. Getting dressed up to perform also helps us get in the right frame of mind to entertain and if you feel good then it helps you be at your best. People can always use the excuse of style over substance but that's shit. With My Passion everything is important and when people come out to see you you want to put in your all to give them a fantastic night. Sometimes the image might work against us from those with closed minds but people who keep their eyes and ears open will get to experience this.
Which bands/artists do you particularly admire and why?
We love music from all genres like anyone it depends on our mood and how we are feeling at the time. We have always been influenced by bands that are unique and stand out from any trends of the time. Some of favorites are The Cure, AFI, Smashing Pumpkins, Thrice, Muse, Bowie as well as dance and electro, punk, metal and indie that isn't shit.
You have a huge fanbase. What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you?
Wow ha yeah it's growing! It gets crazier each day. Last night i got given a girl's corset.. I'm not sure whether I was supposed to keep it on a shelf in my room or wear it on special occasions.. I recently had an eBay sale and people bought things I didn't think were sellable including one shoe lace and my first car key...
Which bands are you currently enjoying? Recommend us some awesome music!
Well we haven't had a lot of time to catch new music so its mostly been Innerpartysystem's set each night! We'd recommend you see those guys live and their lasers. We also supported one of my favorite bands at the end of last year called The Faint and you have to listen to them!
What are My Passion's plans for after this tour?
We have a single called 'Thanks for nothing' coming out very soon as well as a video for our follow up single called 'Never Everland'. Both of these are from our debut album 'Corporate Flesh Party' which is out in May. We never really have time off there will be lots more touring in March, April and May as well as festival appearances in the summer. We are hooking up with Red Bull for a hotel jam which is broadcast on the internet! There's lots of exciting stuff happening in our world.
It's a bit late for new year's resolutions now, but if My Passion can achieve one amazing thing this year what do you want it to be?
We don't really believe in the resolution thing. We're always doing all we can to be the best we can and to achieve our dreams. We feel lucky to be in the position we are in as well. The main big event of the year has to be our debut album its something we've been working towards since we started so to release that will be a big occasion - it's something we're very proud of and we want everyone to hear it.. We also dream of taking this show to the rest of the world. Places like Japan and the USA. But that might be later this year and into the next.

Thanks to Tara for sorting out the interview to us and the band for taking the time to answer our questions. Check out www.mypassion.co.uk and myspace.com/mypassion for more info and tour dates. Also go and have a look at www.mypassionfashion.co.uk for the band's official merch. We recommend you catch the band live at one of their forthcoming shows!!

Push to Fire Interview: My Passion Push to Fire interviewed My Passion, in February to ask him about their UK tour, fashion and life on the road.
Hey guys. First of all could you tell us who you are and what you do in the band? Hey Laurence René here I sing and front this monster called My Passion. Jonathan Gaskin - Drums, Vocals and electronics. John Be - Guitar and Simon Rowlands, Bass. How would you describe your music to someone who had never heard it before? My Passion is pretty unique; it's energetic, full of passion and pretty much grabs you and pulls you into its world or sends you running and jumping off a cliff. It's rock music with dance and electro elements along with a punk energy and attitude. It’s definitely a modern sound and something for people to fall in love with. We are kind of an alternative to all other music around right now... When did the band get together and how did you all meet? The band is built from friendship, I think thats what gives us such a strong base. We met as we were growing up and we shared our influences with each other and in bands previously learning about music and the world. Then 2 and a half years ago we decided to create My Passion to wake everyone up and start exciting people again... it doesn't happen enough these days and I think My Passion could be what the world needs to lift them from dark times.. So yes it's a collective joining of friends with the same drive and ambition to entertain, thrill and shock people.
How is the current tour going? What's it like touring with Innerpartysystem? This tour has been huge so far! Most of the shows being sellouts from 250 to 800 people a night. It's still intimate enough for a hectic atmosphere as well. Innerpartysystem have a great live show and the nights have been very lively even though we have been opening the shows. The crowd is mainly different from previous tours with a more male mid 20s crowd but its been amazing seeing that we also appear to these guys as well as a younger more female crowd as well. It highlights what we truely believe, that My Passion has a huge appeal to all kinds of people. It just feels really fresh for us guys onstage and other people seem to be picking up on it. What are the three main things you have to have whilst on tour? 1) Showers are pretty important! When you have a show everyday and jump around as much as we do its important to keep fresh ha! So Travelodges are our home for the next few weeks! 2) Phones and laptops to contact back home and make sure we dont lose each other! I guess before modern technology people would send messengers and sometimes we have to resort to that. 3) Sharpies are pretty important to sign these ace new posters and to generally give people a lasting memory of the night! Sharpies can write on any surface, I dont know what people did before sharpies... probably used inferior felt tips. Dark days. What's My Passion Fashion? Its basically our merchandise brand. We have developed it alongside My Passion and it has allowed us to live our dreams and advertise the music at the same time. Some bands just sell a t-shirt at a show but we have taken it further and built it up along with a big online store thats always active and featuring new goodies. It's all run and designed by us so we can keep it unique and fresh for everyone. It's another way to become part of My Passion. Would you say that your fashion style is just as important as your music? The music is what matters. Without that there would be no basis to build all the extra parts of My Passion onto it. The look is just something that goes alongside the music and the lights/ stageshow. We don't like doing anything half heartedly and we want to offer people the full package. Getting dressed up to perform also helps us get in the right frame of mind to entertain and if you feel good then it helps you be at your best. People can always use the excuse of style over substance but that's shit. With My Passion everything is important and when people come out to see you you want to put in your all to give them a fantastic night. Sometimes the image might work against us from those with closed minds but people who keep their eyes and ears open will get to experience this. Which bands/artists do you particularly admire and why? We love music from all genres like anyone it depends on our mood and how we are feeling at the time. We have always been influenced by bands that are unique and stand out from any trends of the time. Some of favorites are The Cure, AFI, Smashing Pumpkins, Thrice, Muse, Bowie as well as dance and electro, punk, metal and indie that isn't shit. You have a huge fanbase. What's the craziest thing a fan has ever done for you? Wow ha yeah it's growing! It gets crazier each day. Last night i got given a girl's corset.. I'm not sure whether I was supposed to keep it on a shelf in my room or wear it on special occasions.. I recently had an eBay sale and people bought things I didn't think were sellable including one shoe lace and my first car key... Which bands are you currently enjoying? Recommend us some awesome music! Well we haven't had a lot of time to catch new music so its mostly been Innerpartysystem's set each night! We'd recommend you see those guys live and their lasers. We also supported one of my favorite bands at the end of last year called The Faint and you have to listen to them! What are My Passion's plans for after this tour? We have a single called 'Thanks for nothing' coming out very soon as well as a video for our follow up single called 'Never Everland'. Both of these are from our debut album 'Corporate Flesh Party' which is out in May. We never really have time off there will be lots more touring in March, April and May as well as festival appearances in the summer. We are hooking up with Red Bull for a hotel jam which is broadcast on the internet! There's lots of exciting stuff happening in our world. It's a bit late for new year's resolutions now, but if My Passion can achieve one amazing thing this year what do you want it to be? We don't really believe in the resolution thing. We're always doing all we can to be the best we can and to achieve our dreams. We feel lucky to be in the position we are in as well. The main big event of the year has to be our debut album its something we've been working towards since we started so to release that will be a big occasion - it's something we're very proud of and we want everyone to hear it.. We also dream of taking this show to the rest of the world. Places like Japan and the USA. But that might be later this year and into the next.
Thanks to Tara for sorting out the interview to us and the band for taking the time to answer our questions. Check out www.mypassion.co.uk and myspace.com/mypassion for more info and tour dates. Also go and have a look at www.mypassionfashion.co.uk for the band's official merch. We recommend you catch the band live at one of their forthcoming shows!!