I recently had a conversation with John Taylor, lead vocalist for straight edge hardcore band FocusedxMinds. Here's what we talked about.
Sean Brannon: So tell me how FxM got started.
John Taylor: FocusedXMinds was started by Andrew Meier (guitar) and I. We were in a real fastcore style band called Armada. He played guitar and I played bass. We had always talked about how cool it would be to be in a more straight forward hardcore band, and just never got around to actually doing it. Last August we went to This is Hardcore [fest] in Philly and after seeing so many cool bands, after Mindset's set I went outside and asked Drew when we were going to start a youth crew band. He brushed it to the side and after ten minutes i asked him, "Seriously when is FocusedXMinds practicing?" So we got our bass player Brian in on it and then last our drummer Chris.
SB: What are some of FxM's biggest influences?
JT: Lyrically I would say just the frustration I personally see in my daily life. Whether it's on campus or seeing kids complain about their situaions on the internet while never changing it. Nothing I right about isn't something I've seen or I'm feeling. Music wise I know as talked about brotherhood, mental, Go it Alone. Just really solid Straight Edge bands. We just want to play fast, fun, wild hardcore
SB: I first heard you guys on bandcamp.com. What influenced the decision to post the "straight edge overload" demo there?
JT: Honestley, I tried to make a myspace page like four times. It wouldn't name the page right and you couldn't change it, it wouldn't let me delete it, it wouldn't recognize my email address. it was a mess. So we bailed on it hard, we knew a couple of bands that had used bandcamp as a means of streaming their music so we just threw it up.
SB: You guys were recently signed to 6131 Records and almost immediately started recording an E.P. Tell me about how all that went down.
JT: Yeah, I mean it was wild. We cut that demo in November and in December we were in talks with Joey [Cahill] from 6131 about doing a seven inch. I just heard what actually happened when we went out to Cali and I met Joey for the first time. I guess Walter from Rotting Out heard our demo at one of his friend's houses and approached Joey about us. I guess he said something about us just being a really solid straight edge band. Joey jammed our demo for a couple weeks and then finally decided to email us.
SB: That is wild. Cutting a demo and getting a call from a legit label a month later. That is a rarity man.
JT: You're telling me. That doesn't happen to bands from Midwest hardly ever, especially out of Milwaukee. We were lucky and we're still so grateful even now.
SB: That doesn't happen to bands from anywhere.
JT: That is true, but it's hard to argue that bands from the coasts seem to have an easier time getting hooked up with labels a lot quicker because that is where the majority of the big labels are.
SB: So, you mentioned that you recently came out to Cali. Let's just get it out of the way. What happened to the van?
JT: It was an electrical fire that started on the 405 in LA. We pulled over because it hurt to breathe, and by the time I got out of the van the front end was on fire. Both bands lost a lot of stuff and it was so surreal. I think we might have grabbed more of our stuff but that doesn't happen to real people. It did.
SB: The van incident happened on a Friday right?
JT: Yeah the day of our Santa Barbara date.
SB: You guys had 3 shows that weekend and didn't miss one. How were you received by the kids here? And did they seem to know about what happened with the van?
JT: We actually had 4 dates there, they were Garden Grove, Santa Barbara, San Francisco, and Pomona. All of the shows were a blast but the San Fran and Pomona dates were wild. over 100+ kids at both. There was a stage, kids were diving, moshing and singing along, it was perfect. Yeah it seemed most everyone at the show knew about what happened. Thanks to the internet word spread quickly and I think a lot of kids just came out to help us out which we appreciated so much. As for not missing dates Joey and hid girlfriend Nicole, as well as Nate (the vocalist of Sleepwalkers) drove us and Swamp Thing around the rest of the dates to make sure we didn't have to cancel any dates.
SB: That's awesome. I have noticed that the hardcore scene is the same wherever you go. If help is needed you can bet hardcore kids will do what they can to help.
JT: Yeah I definitely agree with that.
SB: You guys are on this years sound and fury lineup. How does it feel to be part of that lineup?
JT: It's really awesome. Last year Drew and Brian when out with Expire and they said it was awesome. Sound and Fury has always been one of the best hardcore festivals in the country. I've always wanted to go, and for my first time being a part of it, is beyond surreal.
SB: So what can we expect from FxM in the future?
JT: A lot more touring, we have a full month to do the east coast and the south with our dudes in Bent Life. We also have something in the works for the North West in the fall. Once this record comes out we're also going to start writing for our first full length. More straight edge, more hardcore, more parties.
FocusedxMinds is currently working on a 7" entitled "Stay Focused" that will be released soon on 6131 Records. You can find them on facebook, just search FocusedxMinds. Follow them on Twitter @FOCUSEDXMINDS. They are playing this years Sound and Fury festival and will be touring most of the summer. Make sure you check them out when they come through your town.
