Getting to Know… Standing Crew | Interview 🎤

In the 341^st Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Finnish hard rock band, Standing Crew.

“You can hear Nordic moods, cause we are from Finland, and we are fighting with polar bears every day.” Very, very interesting, 🎙 Standing Crew! Like our many other Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on the self-described “hard rock band with punk vibes.” Standing Crew provides insight into their genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Standing Crew: Interview No. 341!

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

We are hard rock band with punk vibes. We got influences from 80’s – 90’s hard rock bands, with modern day spices. Of course, you can hear Nordic moods, cause we are from Finland, and we are fighting with polar bears every day.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Standing Crew form and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

It started as a two man therapy project, when Jay and TJ went to our rehearsal room trying to spend some time (and drink few beers). They made a few demos, and it started to feel that this stuff should turn to a band. After couple of lineup tryouts, they found 3 other great guys to join in a band. But, of course, when everything seemed to go well, there came changes to the lineup and the COVID 19-shutdown. Now the band has developed into 5 Finnish guys trying to maintain rock n roll clichés, which was our vision at start. And, of course, we wanted to spread our music to people.

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?

Not really. Well, our music has been listened to more than we could have expected. And of course, with success, we want to go even further.

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

We are not trying to make music, which sounds like someone else. But 80’s – 90’s hard rock bands with clichés and sounds inspired us. Someone says that we sound like Mötley Crüe, someone says even Motörhead. At the gigs we play songs from Billy Idol, Black Sabbath, Hanoi Rocks etc. So, of course, these bands have an influence on their own songs as well.

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.

Someone wanted encore!!! Well, we start our set with 🎵 “Paranoid.” It’s the same thing as 🎵 “Free Bird” here in Finland. And the audience gets confused when they no longer know what song to expect during the rest of the set.

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?

I think it’s our latest release 🎵 “Burn in hell (like me),” cause its first official single with our new front man, Mr. Fire. It’s like new start for the band, so it’s very important to all of us. And we have to say 🎵 “Freak Accident” also. That’s the song which the audience knows best we think. And it’s fun to play in gigs… a slightly calmer song, which nevertheless rolls forward with full steam.

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

We are doing almost all things ourselves. Recording, mixing, mastering, video production, band art as album covers. Now we have great help from Sodeh Records with marketing stuff, production etc. And that helps us a lot.

Closing out, what is Standing Crew currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

Now we are promoting our latest single 🎵 “Burn in hell (like me)” but we are making new stuff as well. Next single should be out at end of March or start of April. Later this year we should release full length album… fingers crossed.. Every one also asks us about Only Fans, and we have already planning some stuff with greased iron bars…

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

Thanks a lot & keep on rolling!!!

Follow… Standing Crew: Instagram • Facebook • Spotify • YouTube

Getting to Know… Standing Crew: Interview No. 341 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Standing Crew; Tumisu via Pixabay]