Mit ihrem neuen Album „Greetings from Suffocate City“ erschaffen The Funeral Portrait nicht nur mitreißende Hymnen, sondern auch einen Zufluchtsort für Außenseiter und „Weirdos“. Im Interview spricht die Band über den kreativen Prozess, spannende Kollaborationen und ihre Mission, eine sichere Gemeinschaft für ihre Fans zu schaffen. Sie erzählen euch außerdem von der Entstehung des Albums, dem wachsenden Erfolg von Rock und Metal in den USA und ihren Plänen für die Zukunft.
Frontstage Magazine: Your new album is out! How does it feel to finally share this project with the world?
The Funeral Portrait: It’s surreal, honestly. We’ve been hard at work on this record for the better part of half a decade now. To have the fruits of our labor finally available for consumption is almost hard to to really grasp. We hope everyone connects with it the way that is best for them.
Frontstage Magazine: Your band represents outsiders and „weirdos.“ How is this attitude reflected in your music and creative process?
The Funeral Portrait: We, the band, are weirdos. We write for ourselves first & it will naturally represent others like us. Authenticity & honesty are prime goals for us in creating, always.
Frontstage Magazine: You talk about creating a „safe community“ for people who feel lonely or lost. How do you convey this message in a genre like hard rock, which is often dark and aggressive?
The Funeral Portrait: We think that those ideas aren’t mutually exclusive. You can make dark, aggressive music & still provide a message that is about security & community. We want kids to come to our show & know that they can be their 100 % authentic selves, & that expressing yourself can sometimes mean expressing aggression. That’s ok too.
Frontstage Magazine: Your album is full of exciting collaborations, such as with Spencer Charnas and Bert McCracken. How did you approach these collaborations, and what impact did these artists have on the songs?
The Funeral Portrait: The collabs are all so unique & each one have their own story of how it came to fruition. We look up to & enjoy all of these artists, so having them work with us on these songs is an honor. We definitely feel it elevates each of the respective tracks above what they were without the features.
Frontstage Magazine: Is there a particular songwriting philosophy or approach you followed while working on this album?
The Funeral Portrait: We wanted to make something for our younger selves. Something that speaks to the strange, weird, & otherwise unusual people who struggle to fit in. That was always our North Star.
Frontstage Magazine: The title of a track like “Chernobyl” stands out. What is the meaning behind this song, and how do you translate such a strong image into music?
The Funeral Portrait: It’s about being in an relationship with someone who is emotionally unstable, trying to manage when they’ll next „meltdown“ & the fallout of that event. The fear that any moment they could snap.
Frontstage Magazine: You perform at major festivals like Aftershock and Louder Than Life, which provide a massive platform for hard rock and metal. How do you feel about the current development of the hard rock scene, especially in the U.S.?
The Funeral Portrait: Rock & Metal are bigger now than they have been in decades! These festivals are a great opportunity to expose new fans to smaller acts, as well as pay homage to the massive headliners. Rock is on the rise, undeniably.
Frontstage Magazine: After this album and the upcoming tours, what can we expect next from you?
The Funeral Portrait: Hopefully more tours & more music. Ideally it doesn’t take almost a decade for the next record!
Fotocredit: Aaron Marsh
