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Follow Me Dark is an Independent alternative rock/metal band from Grass Valley/Nevada City, CA. Raw, jagged, sweet, unforeseen consequences. Here is Follow Me Dark vocalist/guitarist Stephen with all the info:
What are the origins of the band, how long have Follow Me Dark been playing together?
Stephen (vocals, guitar) and Elliott (bass, vocals) began jamming together in 2018 when we worked together at a taphouse. Our friend was initially recruiting us into an “old-school Muse cover band” but said friend rarely made it to practice so the two of us just started playing a random mix of covers and riffs. Around this time Sean (guitar) entered the picture, and the three of us immediately had three or four songs we cobbled together from different riffs we all had been working on. We were playing with a drummer who had a weird situation going on with drugs, so we struck gold when Jim came aboard as our new drummer, this would be early 2019. The four of us had an immediate chemistry and were playing shows within a month.
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe Follow Me Dark?
Our music has elements of post-rock, alternative metal, and prog – we kind of consider ourselves alternative rock because we feel we are in the lineage of 90s rock bands that fused a lot of genres and still made accessible music that was also deeply emotional and occasionally challenging. We like to cover a wide range of emotional territory in our songs and sets. Our albums certainly take the listener on quite a journey.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?!
I still remember the feeling of that wall of guitars when we go full-throttle. It was a surreal moment because for me (Stephen) that first show felt like an arrival into a sonic world I had long dreamed of.
The new music scene is bursting at the seams at the minute with fresh talent, in what ways do you feel that a band has to stand out to build a name for themselves?
For one, have great songs. A lot of music out there rides more on style and vibe, which are important, but if you don’t have memorable songs, it becomes a fleeting experience. Also, play great shows – especially if you are an all-analog rock band like we are. No computers, no backing tracks, no synths. The live music experience is still something that’s totally one of a kind and very needed in today’s world. You have to think about why you’re doing what you’re doing. We get a lot of fulfillment from the creative process, and from building community with other creative folks. I think there is more need for those initiatives than for the music itself, to be honest.
What are you working on at the minute that people can check out?
Our new single “Acid Desert” came out recently on streaming services and we made a cinematic music video for it which can be found on YouTube. It’s the first track of our new album “Far From Any Shore”, which is a concept album based on the Hero’s Journey material collected by Joseph Campbell. The album puts the listener in the headspace of someone setting out on a quest into the unfamiliar, to face the inner demons and come back transformed. So “Acid Desert” covers the moment of departure and entering the unknown, and our video uses a lot of epic locations from the area where we live (Nevada County, California) to create that feeling. The album was produced by us with Chris Tabarez (Boz Scaggs) who is a Grammy nominee and an unbelievable talent. He has become a friend and brother and really pushed us into new territories as songwriters and performers.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel you would be best suited to open for?
Sonically, I’d say we are closest to maybe Deftones, Failure, Floater, a hint of Mogwai. We love the sweet spot between metal and indie, with an emphasis on emotional music that’s also catchy.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
Spotlights come to mind – they are an incredible three-piece that kind of blends doom metal with gothic alternative, but are very unpredictable, and very ambitious. They are the kind of band that, if they blow up, we will regain some hope in humanity.
What are your first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
I think all four of us are emotional, kinda nerdy guys who became immersed in music at a young age as an escape into a bigger, more expansive consciousness. I definitely loved albums at a young age, especially albums that presented a cohesive listening experience. So that is a passion project for us – to keep the album format relevant and current.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
Jim and I went to the Smashing Pumpkins/Stone Temple Pilots tour. All of us go to support the local bands here in Grass Valley as often as we can – Weapons of Jones, Bodhi DuLac, Beau Askew, Michael and the Machines. There’s a small but loaded scene here.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
Our message is unity – our music finds common ground among various genres, and we as people are good listeners. We are not a political band, so I think our hope would be we are part of a larger movement that brings people together no matter their background or worldview.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
I have many Jethro Tull albums on vinyl and they are a secret influence on the band!
What new music have you been enjoying so far this year?
There’s a Chicago band, Sapphire Sun; their guitar player was a buddy of mine in high school and their album just came out like last week. It’s brilliant – very much for fans of Alice in Chains, Days of the New, that kind of thing. I’d also shoutout Spotlights’ “Alchemy for the Dead” as one of the best front-to-back listens of recent memory.
What does 2024 hold for Follow Me Dark?
We are releasing more singles from our album shortly, and the full album will be out later this year. We are excited to get the concept on its feet and play immersive shows that have the arc of the storyline built into the setlist. So look for us touring around California and beyond in the latter half of the year.
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We are most active on Instagram and YouTube, but can also be found on all the different sites. You can find links to everything at https://linktr.ee/followmedark so check that out!
