Getting to Know… Famous Strangers | Interview

In the 464^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Edmonton, Alberta band Famous Strangers.

“Some days it’s metal. Some days it’s blues, rock, or even weird techno beats. There are no rules, and that’s what keeps it alive.” Rock on, Famous Strangers ! In response to our first burning question, the band adds, “[Live], we pour our guts out, and people feel that. We want the audience to feel like they’re part of it, not just watching.” We get the inside scoop on the Edmonton, Albert band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… Famous Strangers: Interview No. 464!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Famous Strangers distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Famous Strangers is four very different people coming together to make something unpredictable. We don’t follow a formula. We write based on how we feel in the moment, and we aren’t afraid to take left turns. Some days it’s metal. Some days it’s blues, rock, or even weird techno beats. There are no rules, and that’s what keeps it alive.

Live, we bring everything we’ve got. Full energy. No pretense. We pour our guts out, and people feel that. Whether we’re hitting hard or slowing it down, it’s about connection. We want the audience to feel like they’re part of it, not just watching. That’s where the magic is.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Famous Strangers form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

Jeff and Beej started playing together almost ten years ago. A lot of the early Famous Strangers material comes from that period. They were building the foundation long before the rest of us joined. Braden came in next, and then Amanda got the call to jam some covers. Nobody expected it to turn into a full band, but that session sparked something real.

We didn’t start with a detailed plan. We just clicked. The vision back then was simple — play, write, and enjoy it. But it grew fast. A few weeks turned into months, and before we knew it, we were building something bigger. The goal became clear: make music that’s honest and hit the road with it.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or perspectives changed since you first started? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

The dream has always been the same. Play music full-time. Make a living doing what we love. That hasn’t changed. But over time, we’ve all grown up. We’re more focused. We know what it takes now. It’s not just about jamming and hoping for the best. We’re treating it like a real operation, a band, a business, and a lifestyle.

For some of us, this is twenty years in the making. There’s no backup plan. We want to record, tour, build a catalog, and reach as many people as we can. We’re not in this for short-term attention. We’re building something that lasts.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences, and how are they influential?

Our influences cover a lot of ground. Amanda grew up listening to Pink Floyd, The Doors, Nightwish, and Tool. Jeff credits his dad for putting a guitar in his hands and says hearing “Fade to Black” changed everything. Beej and Braden bring their own mix of punk, metal, and classic rock into the room.

We’ve also mentioned artists like Judas Priest, Etta James, Gojira, In Flames, and Muddy Waters. What ties it together is that all of these artists were fearless. They wrote and continue to write with conviction and never watered it down. That’s what we’re chasing too.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative. 

In order to tell you these stories, we have to preface this by saying that Famous Strangers is very serious about the music and the business. We are committed, focused, and we work hard. Although we like to let loose and have fun, the crazy party days are few and far between now. But having said that, here is some crazy stuff from the past.

Amanda: Most of the wildest stories come from my time in a previous band called The Order of Chaos. I honestly cannot share the craziest ones in an interview. Maybe one day I will write a book. But here is one. Amsterdam. Red Light District. That tour was something else. We played Turock Festival in Germany, and one night, we went into a bar, partied all night, and came out to broad daylight at 9:00 AM.

Another time in Belgium, we were at this amazing bar and ended up getting way too many free beer samples from the bartender. If you know anything about European beer, you know how strong it is. We got back to the tour bus, and it was chaos. People were puking, pissing, and trashing the place. I ended up cleaning the entire bus by hand with sanitizer and lemon because I thought we were going to get kicked off. That tour taught us a lot. We were young and reckless, and we definitely lived up to the name The Order of Chaos.

Jeff: Famous Strangers is still new, so the wild stories are just starting to build. But with the energy and chemistry we have now, there is no doubt more is coming. We are just getting started. But if Amanda’s past is any sign of what’s to come, we’re in for some wild rides ahead (Laughs).

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Jeff says “LSC” is the one. It’s the track that captured our sound the way we always imagined it. It’s loud, emotional, and has all the elements that define who we are right now. The production hit the mark, and performing it live feels like setting something loose.

Amanda’s favorite is “Rain.” It’s our blues track. It gave her space to show a different side, more vulnerable, more controlled. It was the first time she felt herself slow down and pour all of her emotion into something soft and raw. Playing it at the May 10 Starlite show was a turning point.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Famous Strangers? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Amanda: I’ve been DJing at a strip club for over ten years. That’s my job outside of the band, and it helps pay for the music and everything else that goes into being an artist. I’m also a big hippie. I hug trees — for real. I don’t care if people walk past me and think it’s weird. If I feel like a tree needs a hug, I’ll stand there and do it for 30 seconds or longer. I’ve read that if you hug something or someone for more than 30 seconds, your energy starts to sync up. I believe in that. Right now, I’m also studying herbology online, which is blowing my mind. I’m learning about the plants that grow naturally around us and how they’ve been used for healing. I think it’s important to reconnect with that knowledge. Nature is medicine, and there’s so much beauty in learning what this land can do for us when we pay attention.

Jeff: My life revolves around music. Outside of the band, I work in sound and production. I’ve had the chance to mix monitors for Zakk Wylde and run front of house for bands like Unearth, which has been an amazing part of my career. Just last night, I ended up doing sound for the main act as their sound guy was out ill and that band was Godspeed You Black Emperor. I also love to cook. That’s something that brings me peace. On top of that, I know how to build houses and do just about any type of construction work. And I can draw, it’s something I do when I need to reset or just zone out.

As a band, I think we’re still discovering what all our hidden talents are. Everyone brings something different to the table.

Beej: I started out in jazz. I won Best Drummer in my class at JazzWorks in 1991 and played my first jazz festival at the Yardbird Suite. I also studied piano through the Royal Conservatory up to Grade 5. I guess you could call me a multi-instrumentalist of sorts.

What is Famous Strangers currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

We just released the video for “I’ll See You in the Stars,” and it’s getting a great response. We’re also finishing the video for our next single, “LSC,” which is already recorded and ready to hit. That track shows a whole new side of Famous Strangers, and we’re stoked to put it out. Live-wise, we’re coming off our biggest headline show yet at the Starlite Room in Edmonton. Next up, we’re hitting Decimate MetalFest, Armstrong Metal Fest, and Loud As Hell. We’re also planning a Western Canada run with Grave Mass and continuing to record more material. The engine’s running full speed. We’re just getting started.

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.