Interview: Famous Strangers (Written)
Hard rock and heavy metal band, Famous Strangers, are always busy with a drive to succeed that puts many other bands to shame. In this interview we get to know them a little better.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
We are Famous Strangers, a hard rock and heavy metal band based in Alberta, Canada. The band was born out of a shared drive to create something real, something heavy, and something that actually means something. Each of us came up playing in different bands, learning the ropes in our local scenes, grinding through small venues, jam spaces, and chaotic shows. After years of that, we finally found the right lineup, and it all locked into place.
Our sound blends classic metal and rock influences with a deeper emotional edge. It is heavy, but there is soul in it too. You can hear touches of eighties metal, alternative grit, and modern weight, but at the end of the day, we just play what feels honest. We are not interested in chasing trends. We follow the energy and make music that hits you hard.
Since forming, we have been writing nonstop, building our live show, and releasing music that reflects who we are. We produce our own videos, book our own gigs, and promote the hell out of everything ourselves. This band is our full-time obsession. We are all in, and this is just the beginning.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
We tell people we are a hard rock, heavy metal band with soul. That is the baseline. But there is more to it than that. We have roots in classic metal and eighties rock, but we do not stay in one lane. There is emotion in what we do. There is melody, groove, grit, and atmosphere. Sometimes it hits hard and fast, sometimes it pulls you into something darker or more reflective. We write what we feel, and we are not afraid to dig deep or get weird with it.
3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
Right now we are doing all of it. New singles, music videos, recording, planning, playing live, writing, deg, promoting. It never stops and that is how we like it. We are deep in the middle of pushing our single LSC, getting the video ready, prepping our May 10 headline show at the Starlite Room, and building out a bigger experience every time we hit the stage.
Beyond that, we are working on stage design, show production, and new merch. We are constantly jamming, writing, and experimenting with ideas. We are also out ing our local scene, going to shows, and staying connected to the community that helped build us.
This is not just a band. It is a full-time machine. Every day we are working on something to push it forward.
4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?
What makes this moment exciting is that everything feels fresh, but focused. We are a new band, but we are not new musicians. We finally found the right lineup, and it is locked in. This is the group that is going to take it as far as it can go. Everything we are doing right now feels like the start of something real.
The response we have been getting has been unreal. Whether it is from fans, friends, or other bands, the has been powerful. People are showing up, smiling, headbanging, and telling us we surprised them. That kind of hits hard.
There is hunger in everything we do right now. We are building momentum fast, and we are ready for it. Every day with this crew is exciting because we know we are in the right place at the right time, doing exactly what we were meant to do.
5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.
A lot of work has gone into getting here. This is not just a band we threw together. It is something that has been building through everything we have lived, everything we have learned, and every setback and win that led us to this point. It is not just a project. It is the result of a lifetime of playing, growing, and refusing to quit.
Each one of us has our own story, and the road that brought us together was not simple. There are chapters, turning points, and moments that could fill a book for each of us. But somehow, all of it led here. That is what makes it mean so much. This band is the result of everything that came before it, and now that we have it, we are not taking it for granted.
What it means is still being written. We are just getting started, and the real story is happening right now.
6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?
Making music has been everything for our mental health. It is not just a hobby or a job. It is survival. For most of us, if we did not have music as an outlet, we honestly do not know where we would be. It gives us a way to deal with the noise in our heads, the weight of the world, the pressure that piles up day after day. When we play, it clears space. Whether it is three minutes on stage or hours jamming in the dark, it is one of the only times everything else shuts off and we can actually breathe.
For some of us, picking up an instrument is how we process the day. If we are angry, it gets poured into a riff. If we are sad, it becomes something melodic and real. If we are feeling good, the energy comes through loud and clear. Whatever we are dealing with, it goes into the music, and in return, it gives something back. It keeps us balanced. It keeps us grounded. It helps us keep moving.
Music has always been there, even when nothing else was. Some people escape by racing cars or hitting the gym. We write. We play. We plug in and lose ourselves in sound. And through that, we find ourselves again. It is the best thing we have ever had for our minds, and we owe it everything.
7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?
One of the best things about this band is how easy it is to create together. From day one, writing and jamming has felt natural. There are no fights, no weird tension, no one clinging to their own ideas or trying to control the sound. Everyone in this band is open to trying something new, to letting a song evolve and take shape together. If something does not feel right, we drop it and move on. If something rough comes in, it turns into gold once all four of us put our hands on it. That kind of creative trust is rare, and we know how lucky we are to have it.
But outside of the music itself, the challenges are real. Every single one of us works jobs to the dream. We are grinding, balancing late nights and early mornings, trying to keep the lights on while pouring our energy into something that matters to us. That tension is always there. You are creating with everything you have, but you also have to clock in somewhere else just to survive. It gets frustrating. Sometimes all you want to do is play, write, and record, but the day job calls and you have no choice but to put the dream on hold for a few hours.
At the core of it, this is the biggest challenge we face — being full-time musicians in a world that rarely pays musicians what they are worth. We are not chasing fame or fast money. We just want to be able to make music and pay the rent. That is it. That is the goal.
And the truth is, Famous Strangers only exists because of everything we have overcome in our past musical lives. We have all been in bands that fell apart, played shows that went sideways, trusted the wrong people, and hit walls that felt impossible to get through. This time, it feels different. This is the first time it feels right. This band is the result of years of lessons, failures, and hard-earned perspective. That is why we are locked in now. That is why this means so much.
8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?
Handling the online side of being in a band is one of the most unexpected challenges of modern music. These days, you are not just a musician. You are expected to be a full-time content creator, brand strategist, editor, promoter, and entertainer. That shift can be tough, especially when all you really want to do is focus on writing and playing music. It is easy to lose sight of why you started doing this in the first place when every platform is demanding constant output.
We are all still figuring it out in our own ways. For some of us, posting content and staying active online does not come naturally. It is draining. You can feel like you are talking into the void just to hit some imaginary quota. But we are adapting. Amanda has taken on a big role in creating video content and bringing personality into our posts. She has a real feel for that side of things and has helped keep the momentum going when the rest of us might have hit a wall.
At the same time, we knew we could not handle it all alone. That is why we brought on a social media manager. Having someone help guide our strategy, plan content, and keep everything consistent has been a massive relief. It gives us room to focus on the music, the shows, the writing, and everything that makes the band what it is. Without that , we would be buried in content deadlines and algorithm pressure, instead of actually making art.
It is not that we do not care about the online side. Of course we do. The likes, follows, and reach matter if you want to build something sustainable. But they are not the only thing that matters. We remind ourselves that social media is a tool, not the finish line. What matters more is building a real connection with people through music. If we stay focused on that, the rest will follow.
9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?
To keep this part of the journey enjoyable, we try not to overthink it. Whether it is playing shows, making videos, doing interviews, or posting online, the key is to stay grounded and why we are doing it. It is easy to get caught up in chasing perfection, trying to make everything look polished, sound perfect, or fit into whatever trend is going on. But that is not who we are, and it is not what people connect with anyway.
The most fulfilling moments come when we let go of all that. When we are just being ourselves, raw and honest and sometimes ridiculous, that is when the real connection happens. People do not want a filtered version of a band. They want to see something real. And the more we lean into that, showing our personalities, our humor, our flaws, our weirdness, the more fun we have doing it. And the better the response has been.
We have learned that vulnerability is not a weakness. It is actually one of the strongest things you can show. People relate to that. They do not care if every post is perfect. They care if it is real. If we are having a good time and being sincere, people feel that. And if we are faking it, they feel that too. So we make it fulfilling by keeping it honest, keeping it light, and ing that none of this works if we are not actually enjoying it ourselves.
At the end of the day, it is music. It is expression. It is connection. You have to protect that joy or it all turns into just another job. And none of us started this to clock in and clock out.
10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help you?
If you want to us, the best thing you can do is show up and get involved. Come to the shows, buy the merch, stream the music, and help spread the word. Merchandise is one of the few ways the money goes directly to the band. Every shirt or hoodie you pick up helps us cover gear, gas, recording costs, and everything else it takes to keep this going.
You can find all of it on our website at www.famousstrangersband.com. We also have music available for purchase on platforms like iTunes if you want to go that route and us directly.
Another big one is social media. Following us on Spotify, Instagram, YouTube, and everywhere else may not feel like much, but it makes a huge impact. Promoters, venues, and booking agents look at those numbers when deciding who to book. Every follow, like, comment, and share helps us build that momentum and get our name out there, especially when we are trying to play out of town or reach new people.
It might seem small, but it all adds up. And we notice it. We appreciate every bit of we get.
11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?
To be honest, there is not really an outside of music for us. Music is how we live and how we unwind. Whether we are jamming, writing, rehearsing, or just hanging around gear, it is where we find peace. Practice itself is relaxing. It clears your head. The second we plug in, the rest of the world gets a little quieter.
Jeff’s house has basically become Famous Strangers headquarters. That is where we rehearse, write, cook, eat, hang out, and plan. It is the band’s heartbeat. A lot of our downtime is spent together there, sharing meals or just chilling after a session. Food is a big part of our routine. We love to eat, we love to cook, and it brings us closer together in between the heavier parts of the work.
Outside of that, it is pretty simple. Amanda hugs trees. Braden watches movies with his cats. Jeff spends time with his dogs. Some of us zone out to stand-up comedy or just crash with a movie when we need to reset. But even then, it usually ties back to music. We are also out at shows ing other bands and staying connected to the scene. That is a huge part of who we are.
At the end of the day, music is not something we step away from. It is the foundation. It is where we find focus, relief, and each other. There is no clean line between work and rest when you love what you are doing. And that is exactly how we want it.
12. Where can people find you?
You can find us everywhere online. Start with our official website at www.famousstrangersband.com — that is where you’ll find all the latest updates, merch, show dates, and more.
We are also active on social media. Follow us @famousstrangersband on:
We post regularly, so if you want to keep up with what we are doing, that is the place to be.
Our music is streaming on Spotify, and you can also find our latest videos on YouTube:
• “George” Official Video
• “I’ll See You In The Stars” Official Video
If you want to catch us live, head over to Bandsintown to track tour dates.
Whether it’s streaming a track, watching a video, or coming to a show, every bit of helps us keep doing what we do.
