Getting to Know… Into the Unknown | Interview

For Interview #30 in the ‘Getting to Know…’ series, The Musical Hype gets the goods from Into the Unknown, a rock band comprised of ‘varied influences.’

Amazingly, we (The Musical Hype) are up to 30 – 30 interviews that is!  That’s right, Into the Unknown, a British rock band comprised of various influences, provide us with Interview #30 in our Getting to Know… series.  Into The Unknown is made up of three distinctly different core members, hence the ‘varied styles.’ Those three members are vocalist Luci Holzlova, guitarist Ryan Atkins, and bassist/producer Rupert Withers.  Without further ado, we get the scoop from Into the Unknown!

Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype (BF): Let’s get this started off right. For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Into the Unknown distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Into the Unknown: I think what makes us stand out from other bands is our line up, due to us starting out as a three-piece and building to what we are today, we are very aware of what goes into our sound and each element that creates the overall song. With our edging backing and melodic singing, we set ourselves apart from other bands. Listen carefully to some of the tracks, and you might catch some interesting countermelodies or backing vocals going on!

BF: Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did your band form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

Into the Unknown: The story began when Rupert met Ryan through another band project, it was clear that we worked well together and decided to start other recordings. Ryan originally did some session work for a pop artist Rupert was working with at the time. When this fell through due to the singer having other commitments, we didn’t want the songs we had created go to waste and therefore, sought after Lucie (Who was a singer of the Ryan’s other band at the time).

Once Lucie started to sing and we saw what we were creating we just continued to produce song after song and once we had an album’s worth, we all sat around and decided what to do with it… This was when ‘Into The Unknown’ was born and put all of the songs together to produce Out Of The Shadows. Since this point we have had a clear vision of becoming live and using covers to warm up. Eventually we started to put our own spin on these and this is where Other Side Of The Wall was created and obviously, this was recently released as an EP.

BF: Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Into the Unknown: When we first started, it was some friends recording music together, it was only when we had the songs together for the album that our perspective changed into ‘let’s get this out there and get shows going.’ We never thought about being a live band but now, this is what we are aiming towards, having taken on new members so we can fully capture our sound and essence.

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

Into the Unknown: I think this question also relates back to the first, all the band members come from such different aspects of music that it also what sets us apart. Rupert comes from a more symphonic rock background, whilst Ryan is more your classic line up of AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Guns and Roses and Lucie… Well, she likes musicals, and is generally a pop fan. Having all of these mixed together sure does make an interesting mix! I think they are all influential to our instruments and background, Rupert (also being a producer) loves to create and balance all of the elements that goes into symphonic rock. Ryan and the classics are just learning what was hard and fast, how to find a formula that works and stick with it! And Lucie just loves to sing and perform.

BF: 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.

Into the Unknown: We’re going to be careful here, and think it best not to answer … mainly because Rupert used to work with Saxon, and as you probably know, Spinal Tap was in part based on Saxon, and he says that if anything, Spinal Tap was understated rather than exaggerated, so we just can’t top any of that (or want to, to be really honest!!!)

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

Into the Unknown: I think the most fun song we recorded was “Wanna Be Like You” from our covers EP. I mean, performing your own stuff is fun but there was something about this, the energy and playfulness of the song just made it something else. I remember Lucie singing this in the studio and laughing so hard because she couldn’t stop dancing to it whilst singing!

BF: Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Into the Unknown: I think it’s safe to say we are all fairly normal people. I think the only one with a shady side is possibly Rupert who has a skillful hand at archery which led him into having a few cross bows laying around the house!

BF: Closing this thing out, what is Into the Unknown currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

Into the Unknown: Well… Wouldn’t you like to know! We are currently gaining members to get out and do our live shows (Our debut was an acoustic show for 2,000 people) but we feel the full band is what we need to do so. Other than this, there might be a possibility of album number two in the works…

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

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