Out With the Old, in With the New: On From Graves New Single "Incantation," and Starting Fresh
From a musician's point of view or any artist, we all want to make it and be the very best versions of ourselves in the process. But sometimes things do not work how we thought they would turn out, so we search for other alternatives to keep that dream going. We can easily throw in the towel and say " This is where it ends. I'm done." But some of us have it in us to keep going. Some of us have that drive to push just a little bit harder till we find something that sticks. This seems to be the case with a new metal band from San Antonio, Texas, From Graves, and their new single, "Incantation."
Coming from the beginnings of another band Torn Between Tides, this would soon kickstart another vision for their new up-and-coming band, From Graves. Deriving from influences such as metalcore, industrial, and black metal, From Graves plans to take it one step further with a forthcoming EP, and this single is nothing but a taste of what this band is bringing to the table this year. The San Antonio natives are here to explain more about their newest single and what it's been like to start over fresh with a new perception in their arsenal for the new year.
From Graves ‘Incantation’ single cover art
How did From Graves come to be? What was the thought process behind it?
Jonah: From Graves was formed through a rebrand of our old name Torn Between Tides and I personally joined the band after the original formation of TBT. Eventually, most of the members from that era quit and I was left with the choice to either keep the name someone else made or do something that was 100% us, so I chose to move forward with a new name and whole new vibe.
What was the music scene around you at the time when you began to make music? I know Covid is also a factor, so you can also approach it from that perspective.
Jesse: The music scene for me (and I think for all of us) back then was based around a famous venue in San Antonio called The White Rabbit. Being in different bands back in the day and playing packed shows was how we all grew up as young musicians.
What was the recording process like for "Incantation." I know you only had one other single before this, "Shadows," back in 2019. How was that different from that previous single?
Jonah: The recording process for both singles have been drastically different. For "Shadows", we worked with Christopher Mora (Warhorse Recordings) in San Antonio and it was a very quick, to-the-point, in-and-out session, so to say, because we did sit in on that song for a while when we went to go record it.
Now, for "Incantation" and the rest of the EP, we're currently working on, we're working with Ramon Villarreal (ex-Upon a Burning Body) at Dark Tone Audio in Houston, TX. It has been a great experience so far because we have a lot more time to spend writing, dissecting the songs, and putting it all together to make sure we have the best product we can deliver. It's overall just a super relaxed environment to work in as well. Lots of Whiteclaws have been devoured there, haha.
Since you guys are still fairly new, I know there is certain competitiveness to get "one leg above the other" so to speak, when it comes to making music, people will notice and will actively engage with you on social media platforms. Have you felt that pressure yet or is it too soon to tell?
Alex: Yes and no - in our music scene every band is continuously growing and are stepping out of comfort zones to push their name out there via social media platforms whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok now. Every band has its strategy, it’s just a matter of how you market the band towards the demographics being chosen.
Where are you coming from lyrically with your latest single, "Incantation?" I know you guys recently came from a band name Torn Between Tides. Instrumentally, I hear a lot of nods to metalcore, industrial, and black metal. Is that the product of that new vision you are trying to achieve?
Jonah: Yes, that was definitely part of the vision! What we've achieved so far is a perfect blend of our influences and we made it a point to take the music in a heavier, darker direction. Lyrically, this song touches on the inner battles I struggle with being someone that's affected by depression. It's about dragging yourself into a dark place and trying your best to get yourself the fuck out, so I suppose it's sort of like an opposing conversation between yourself and your "devils" that you live with.
What is it like working with Wayne Fau? Knowing the guy personally, I feel like he's a great guy to be around in general. What has that experience been like?
Jonah: Wayne has been a super great helping hand and also a great person to go-to for any sort of resources we needed to complete our vision. He and I have gotten pretty close, so I also consider him a dear friend. He's just overall great energy to be around.
What did 2020 change for you creatively as an artist? How were you able to include this in your single?
Alex: I would say 2020 allowed everyone to work at more of the marketing of their bands/own self artist name. People saving money from going out were able to finance their bands more in many areas: music videos, singles, cover videos, and more. This year has definitely allowed people to network even more than before.
What are your plans for this year?
Jesse: Since COVID is still a thing and we're not entirely sure if live music/touring will be coming back any time soon, we're planning on spending the rest of the year recording and creating all kinds of new content. Keep an eye out for our debut EP release in Fall 2021!
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us about our new single!