Present yourself to the readers
I’m Justin Stephens - I sing and play guitar. Ralf Hünefeld plays guitar and synth, Gabriel Brero plays bass and Sebastian Hilgetag play drums.
What’s the story behind A CHASM HERE AND NOW ?
It’s our first album - the thing which made us. For me it’s almost like our first novel - it has a strong beginning, middle and end, changes mood, tempo and momentum along the way and builds up to a big crescendo to finish. I’d been thinking about and planning this band and this album for a long time. A lot of the subject matter is pretty dark, but rather than dwelling in melancholia, we turn it into an energy and a cathartic release.
Who composes ?...How does it work in the band ?
The ideas start with me. I’ll write and record demos and then take them into the rehearsal room where the four of us can work on them together and see what happens. With this album, everything remained pretty much as I wrote it, but I’m interested in experimenting more between the four of us for the next one.
Who writes the texts ?..What are they talking about ?..How does inspiration come ?
I write all the lyrics. Like the music, they can arrive in my head at any time. Sometimes, once I’ve written the first line, the rest just follow automatically, whereas other times I need to take more time for the ideas to coexist in my head, so I can find the right words to describe them. There are no rules and I have no control over when the ideas come. The subjects they cover are essentially different sides of the human condition - from the daily battles we all fight, how we perceive ourselves and others, depression and finding new perspectives for fighting it to anything else that drives the heart and mind.
Why the name WIRES & LIGHTS ?
It comes from Edward R. Murrow’s famous speech in 1958 to the Radio-Television News Directors Association, challenging the industry to use its power and potential for the good of society. He ended his speech with:
“This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it’s nothing but wires and lights in a box….”
Wires & Lights encapsulates the aesthetic and feeling I had when I envisioned this band and as soon as I heard it, I knew it was the band name.
What are your personal musical tastes and your influences ?
I grew up on late 70s/early 80s post-punk, alternative and pop. Unlike later decades, it included pretty much everything you could imagine. Music should move you and there was an energy and spirit that grabbed me and shaped me. I’ve always gravitated towards music that does that and always will.
In studio, what was the atmosphere for your album ?…etc.…
Recording the album was an incredible experience - this had all existed in my mind for a long time before we could make it real, so when the four of us were in the studio making it all come to life, it was intense and rewarding in equal measure. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so intense and so relaxed at the same time. I’d visited the studio in advance when looking for the right place, and I immediately got a good feeling there, so it was an easy choice and the right one.
How does it work for the great design of the CD ? and why this title ?
The artwork was done by Jen Black, a good friend of mine. I had a vague concept in my mind and we spent some time exchanging ideas and exploring possibilities. Once we’d settled on the idea, I looked for locations in Berlin where we could take photos and my first choice was the right one. I wanted us to capture it in the failing light of a winter afternoon and it worked perfectly.
The album title comes from a line in “Dead To Us” and I think in a lot of ways it reflects the mixture of themes covered on the album and the current state of the world.
How was the shooting of the clip SLEEPERS ? and why this choice ?
With each of the videos, we gave the director (Hannes Greve) the song and lyrics and let him interpret them for himself and form a concept for the video. For “Sleepers”, it was the same. We filmed the indoor scenes with us on one day, and the outdoor scenes were filmed later.
As for why - Hannes’ idea was that the man you see wandering the city is a personified “Sleeper”, clearly on the edge of insanity. You don’t know who he is or where he comes from, but something has happened to him and he’s battling his demons.
I like the fact that you’re kept guessing what’s going on and what will happen next. It’s abstract and can be interpreted in different ways, which makes a music video far more interesting in my eyes.
What are your projects ?
Only this. This is the band I always wanted and I’m giving it everything I have.
What do you expect from the future ?
I have a lot of hopes, but no expectations - I have no idea what will happen and I refuse to worry about things I have no control over. We’ve made an album we’re truly proud of - that’s what counts. We’ll do everything we can to get out and reach as many people as we can and see what happens.
What's your motto ?
If you’re unsure which path is the right one to take next, choose the bolder option.
Website to remember
wireslights.com
facebook.com/wireslights (@wireslights)
instagram.com/wireslights (@wireslights)
What would you like to say to the readers ?
Thanks for reading, join us on Facebook and we’ll be announcing tour dates there soon.
Thanks for the upkeep
Hugues B.
