In this interview, I was able to catch up with Frank Clifton Herring & Vlad Gurin of the U.S. based Heavy Metal band Messenger to ask the band a few questions about their latest album 'In To Win'.
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with your band:
(Frank & Vlad) Thank you for having us.
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the band?
(Frank & Vlad) Simply, we love to listen to music and we love to play music. The band was formed to reach our world with the message of Christ that we carry in our hearts.
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Frank & Vlad) Frank began writing songs and then started searching for members for the band. Vlad joined as the guitarist in the fall of 2008. We are the main songwriters for the band’s original music.
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Frank) I (Frank) started a solo project writing songs from a rock perspective. One day I shared Christ with a co-worker at my day job. Afterwards, the co-worker said, “Frank, you & I are messengers in this world.” I took the idea and ran with it.
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you all use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad uses PRS, Music Man and Gibson guitars, We used Fender and Music Man basses on the project. Frank plays Fender American Standard Dimension 4 & 5 string basses live. Some guitars are used for certain playability, some for tone.
(Jacob) Do you all have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad loves photography and reading. Frank likes video editing and deep sea fishing. In all of those ventures, we can find beauty and it inspires creativity.
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing the members of your band along with your band's sound?
(Frank & Vlad) We have some accomplished musician friends and we listen to a lot of musicians & bands from all genres. But we play and record what we like. We also feel it is important to stay current with the state of the art and the science of recording & playing.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've had to overcome as a band?
(Frank & Vlad) Every band has challenges. One challenge we experienced was introducing our songs to an audience that might not be open to a message like ours. We then started to play certain venues; Metal, Rock and even Dance bars, festivals and restaurants, including our music in the repertoire while performing cover songs. People came to respect our musicianship and are more open to appreciating our original songs.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about your musical direction on this latest release?
(Frank & Vlad) In comparison to the first two studio efforts, songs in “In To Win” have more parts, so they are bigger in scope. Some songs are heavier in tuning and longer overall. We also made an emphasis that the songs would be melodic and memorable.
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Frank & Vlad) Yes and then some. As we were going along with the project - starting with pre-production through all of post production - ideas expanded & evolved. So it became something more of a musical marvel than our initial concept. God blessed it.
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform and why?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad and Frank both agree, "Take Flight". It has a gentle start and then grows into a huge Rock theme lyrically & musically. It is very original and has such a beauty of sound & message that it makes us thank God for giving it to us.
(Jacob) Was there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad remembers while engineering the recording of vocals, he was pushing Frank to do more vocal takes. Frank found it beginning to be a challenge and started whispering into the microphone - and thus Vlad’s headphones - calling Vlad a “slave driver”. Vlad had a chuckle at that.
(Jacob) Can you help me understand the meaning behind the albums artwork with the fiery bird?
(Frank & Vlad) The Fire Hawk means so many things. It provokes a phoenix-like rebirth idea. It evokes freedom, drive and energy toward victory. It makes us think of ‘Take Flight that is a song referencing the flight of birds. And we have so many birds used in this album also. Some are metaphors, others are sound effects. It just makes sense.
(Jacob) Where was the album recorded and who mixed & produced it?
(Frank & Vlad) Our own recording house, Studio Vovka, has been developing since 2011 while working on “You Choose”. It has now expanded to a full recording, mixing and mastering facility. The singer, Frank Clifton Herring and the guitarist, Vlad Gurin, wrote the songs & music and also produced the album - including all recording, mixing & mastering.
(Jacob) Who did the album's artwork?
(Frank & Vlad) Frank designed the cover and did the layout for both the 6 panel CD wallet and the CD on-disc printing.
(Jacob) At this time, are there any plans for future projects in the works?
(Frank & Vlad) At this time, we are just happy to be finished with this project. Though we have some ideas for future endeavors; cover songs, a live CD/DVD, we just want to recover from the work on this and make the most out of promoting “In To Win”.
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about this release and am looking forward to hearing more from the band in the future.
(Frank & Vlad) Great! Thank you for your insightful and curious questions.
MessengerMetal.com, Facebook.com/MessengerMetal, Twitter.com/MessengerMetal
(Jacob) It's so good to finally be having this interview with your band:
(Frank & Vlad) Thank you for having us.
(Jacob) So, can you give us some insight into what got you involved in the music industry and what is the ultimate purpose of the band?
(Frank & Vlad) Simply, we love to listen to music and we love to play music. The band was formed to reach our world with the message of Christ that we carry in our hearts.
(Jacob) Who was the founding member(s) and when did the band officially form?
(Frank & Vlad) Frank began writing songs and then started searching for members for the band. Vlad joined as the guitarist in the fall of 2008. We are the main songwriters for the band’s original music.
(Jacob) Can you shed some light on where your band's name came from and what is the meaning behind it?
(Frank) I (Frank) started a solo project writing songs from a rock perspective. One day I shared Christ with a co-worker at my day job. Afterwards, the co-worker said, “Frank, you & I are messengers in this world.” I took the idea and ran with it.
(Jacob) What brand of instruments do you all use and why do you prefer that specific brand over another?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad uses PRS, Music Man and Gibson guitars, We used Fender and Music Man basses on the project. Frank plays Fender American Standard Dimension 4 & 5 string basses live. Some guitars are used for certain playability, some for tone.
(Jacob) Do you all have any hobbies outside of music that help to rejuvenate or inspire creativity within your music?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad loves photography and reading. Frank likes video editing and deep sea fishing. In all of those ventures, we can find beauty and it inspires creativity.
(Jacob) Are there any artists that have played a part in influencing the members of your band along with your band's sound?
(Frank & Vlad) We have some accomplished musician friends and we listen to a lot of musicians & bands from all genres. But we play and record what we like. We also feel it is important to stay current with the state of the art and the science of recording & playing.
(Jacob) What is the biggest problem that you've had to overcome as a band?
(Frank & Vlad) Every band has challenges. One challenge we experienced was introducing our songs to an audience that might not be open to a message like ours. We then started to play certain venues; Metal, Rock and even Dance bars, festivals and restaurants, including our music in the repertoire while performing cover songs. People came to respect our musicianship and are more open to appreciating our original songs.
(Jacob) Can you go into some detail about your musical direction on this latest release?
(Frank & Vlad) In comparison to the first two studio efforts, songs in “In To Win” have more parts, so they are bigger in scope. Some songs are heavier in tuning and longer overall. We also made an emphasis that the songs would be melodic and memorable.
(Jacob) Do you feel like you achieved what you set out to accomplish on your latest project?
(Frank & Vlad) Yes and then some. As we were going along with the project - starting with pre-production through all of post production - ideas expanded & evolved. So it became something more of a musical marvel than our initial concept. God blessed it.
(Jacob) What is your favorite song to perform and why?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad and Frank both agree, "Take Flight". It has a gentle start and then grows into a huge Rock theme lyrically & musically. It is very original and has such a beauty of sound & message that it makes us thank God for giving it to us.
(Jacob) Was there any special or funny moments during the recording process of the album?
(Frank & Vlad) Vlad remembers while engineering the recording of vocals, he was pushing Frank to do more vocal takes. Frank found it beginning to be a challenge and started whispering into the microphone - and thus Vlad’s headphones - calling Vlad a “slave driver”. Vlad had a chuckle at that.
(Jacob) Can you help me understand the meaning behind the albums artwork with the fiery bird?
(Frank & Vlad) The Fire Hawk means so many things. It provokes a phoenix-like rebirth idea. It evokes freedom, drive and energy toward victory. It makes us think of ‘Take Flight that is a song referencing the flight of birds. And we have so many birds used in this album also. Some are metaphors, others are sound effects. It just makes sense.
(Jacob) Where was the album recorded and who mixed & produced it?
(Frank & Vlad) Our own recording house, Studio Vovka, has been developing since 2011 while working on “You Choose”. It has now expanded to a full recording, mixing and mastering facility. The singer, Frank Clifton Herring and the guitarist, Vlad Gurin, wrote the songs & music and also produced the album - including all recording, mixing & mastering.
(Jacob) Who did the album's artwork?
(Frank & Vlad) Frank designed the cover and did the layout for both the 6 panel CD wallet and the CD on-disc printing.
(Jacob) At this time, are there any plans for future projects in the works?
(Frank & Vlad) At this time, we are just happy to be finished with this project. Though we have some ideas for future endeavors; cover songs, a live CD/DVD, we just want to recover from the work on this and make the most out of promoting “In To Win”.
(Jacob) Thank you for your time and thoughtful responses to each and every question. I am excited about this release and am looking forward to hearing more from the band in the future.
(Frank & Vlad) Great! Thank you for your insightful and curious questions.
MessengerMetal.com, Facebook.com/MessengerMetal, Twitter.com/MessengerMetal