Interview: The Download Tapes – Seething Akira

Seething Akira made their Download debut playing The Boardie Takeover at The Doghouse stage on Wednesday 9th June.  The event marked the culmination of a rise to power brought about by their happy blend of metal with danceable grooves. That chirpiness extends off stage as well with the six piece never taking themselves too seriously. In an interview of firsts Aggy Gillon makes her Devolution interview debut chatting to the Portsmouth mob about festivals, influences and which of their songs they like to play live.

Can I get you guys to introduce yourselves and what you do in the band?

Kit: “Yeah so we are Coheed and Cambria *all laugh*

We’re Seething Akira and my name is Kit I do vocals”.

John: “I’m John I play guitar”.

Charlie: “I’m Charlie and I do Vocals too”.

Simon: “I do the other guitar”.

Spud: “I’m Spud I play bass”.

Stu: “I’m Stu I play drums”.

So, there’s quite a few of you…

Kit: “Too many!”

Have you all always been friends? How did you guys all get together, whats the story?

Kit: “I think just like Pokemon, you eventually just got to catch them all! So it started essentially Charlie was making a project and I joined very very early, and then just as time has gone on we progressed. We got drums involved, guitars and bass. Then another guitar because one is not enough”.

Charlie: “We originally didn’t have drums at all we had processed drums on the PC. So we moved on to a live drummer and really got that understanding of that live sound. That was then we just multiplied because we love that big live sound”

This is your first ever Download, what’s your thoughts? As they say, you’re losing your Download virginity that must be quite exciting!

Kit: “Its mental to be honest. There’s three things on my bucket list and this is one of them”.

John: “I think this is a bucket list for all of us”.

Charlie: “100%, it’s been years of coming and watching bands. It’s one of those ones where you’re looking and thinking I want to go up and do that at some point”

So how did you guys get involved with playing the Takeover at the Doghouse?

Charlie: “That was the boardie takeover competition. We have applied a couple of years in a row. Then eventually they called us up and said you got the spot. It was meant to be down to like 400 I think, 400 applied and went down to like 20. They got us on a zoom call with another band and basically told us we were down to the final 20. Then at the end of the conversation, they told us actually that’s rubbish, you’re playing! We went absolutely ballistic! I literally jumped out of my chair”.

We’re not surprised! For those who don’t know, how many albums, EPs, etc have you guys got released so far?

Stu: “We have released two, right?”

Charlie: “Two full albums so far”

Kit: “We dropped a brand new single earlier this month and were trickling out another release”.

Have you guys done many other festivals?

Charlie: “We did Bloodstock last year, Sophie Stage. We previously done Metal to the Masses so we played the New Blood stage a few years ago. So we have done festivals in Belgium and Techfest. We have done a few festivals”.

Is Download the biggest highlight?

Charlie “It’s hard to say right because all festivals are all equally awesome. I love them all and I would like to play them all again”.

Kit: “There’s different things for me so it’s not what’s best or what’s worse. I love Bloodstock as it has the whole family nature. I love Techfest because there’s such a community. Download for me is just the pinnacle as it’s one of the first festivals I went to properly, it’s a fucking huge brand name. Of course, I want to do this. Since 2004 I have been coming to this festival. It has been many many years and now we’re here. We made it!”

Yes! You guys made it. We love that. Feel so proud for you guys especially after hearing all of that.

Charlie: “There will be tears later”.

Have you got any tours or shows coming up after this?

Charlie: “We don’t have any tours but were off to Belgium soon. We have Techfest In July. In August we have Hammerdown at Rebellion the venue”.

Are you here all weekend then?

All: “Yes!”

Have you got any particular influences that have played a part in forming Seething Akira?

Stu: “Probably for me its Bring Me The Horizon, the new stuff”.

Charlie: “I’m a massive Deftones fan, that’s one of my musical influences”.

We love that there’s six of you and you all have such good energy together.

Charlie: “The problem is we can’t get a word in edgeways because Simon just keeps on talking! its so annoying”

Out of all the songs you guys have, what is your favourite?

Kit: “Its got to be Land Down Under by Men at Work…Oh, you mean one of ours! I have favourites we play live and favourites that way have recorded”

How about live then?

Kit: “Oh live, erm…The cover always goes down well

John: “For me, Kenneth Dopeland”.

Charlie: “My favourite is a track called Gravity, people just seem to really like it. If the people out there are liking it then I’m over the moon”.

Simon: “For me, it’s ending on Smile Thief, the crowd goes nuts and we go nuts”.

Spud: “I think I have got to say as well it’s probably Smile Thief. It’s such an aggressive, no-nonsense, vitriolic song. It’s such a great way to end the show”.

Stu: “Our new single Punishment Instructions”

Is there anything you guys would like to say to your fans?

Charlie: “Yeah, what the f*ck is wrong with you? *all laugh* There’s proper bands that do proper stuff out there”

Kit: “To be honest we are grateful for every single one. I love every single one but you are mental. Were just six random geezers that are in our 30s now”

Thank you so much guys, you’re the first band I have ever interviewed at Download and it’s been a pleasure!

“You’re the first person to interview us at Download! Fist pumps all round!”

Seething Akira – Facebook

Interview by Aggy Gillon.  Photos by Gary Trueman