An Interview with Losing September

An album release from Losing September, hits pretty hard and does so with a heavy-handed alternative rock approach that brings on plenty of edginess along with thick melodies and anthemic choruses that breed a fists-in-the-air aesthetic both musically and lyrically.

Everything Will Be OK is a record that tracks and throughout those 10 pieces of music, you get a lot of different sides to the songwriting and approach, along with some deepening meaning and sentiment behind certain tracks.

The guitar tone across the record is always spot on, giving it a thick undertone but also a sharp overtone so that it packs quite a punch but also has that, again, melodically driven feel.

The record starts with 'Bite Right Back", which is a song that delivers some of the best staples that you hear across the record itself with a bit of cinematic underbelly reaching into expansive and heavy alternative rock soundscapes, unique instrumentation, and vocals that are right in your face and robust so that you're paying attention to the performance but also the lyrics.

Throughout the record, you hear a slew of influences coming into play, even punk rock along with some thrashier styles, and it's all very radio-friendly, even when it's super high energy.

Tracks like "Curse The Sky" deliver a bit of punk rock approach that leads into more of a halftime and open-ended chorus that is emotionally intense and invested, but that is a huge attribute to this record as a whole.

There's a lot of authenticity behind these songs. There's a lot of emotional build and backbone that these songs lean on, and in a way, they almost connect with each other.

Perhaps this is a concept album of sorts.

Either way, you're getting plenty of heavy rock that is not just driving but honest and often paints quite vivid pictures for you to pick up on as songs unfold.

The whole record is quite intense and very impressive, but one of the most important tracks of the entire thing is the title track itself, "Everything Will Be Okay".

This track has some outstanding riffs and guitar work with powerful vocal harmonies and just a massive intensity through the entire thing, and you can feel that in your bones when you listen to it.

This one does have a lot of emotional value attached to it, and its story is unbelievable.

The song is about Kyal Sin, a Taekwondo champion who worked as a singer and dancer, but also had a lot of expression towards her beliefs.

During the 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat, Kyal showed support for an arrested civilian leader and the ruling of the National League for Democracy.

March 3rd, 2021, Kyal was part of a protest in Mandalay wearing a black T-shirt with the words "Everything will be Ok", which, over time, actually became iconic.

She was on the front lines during this protest and pulled off some amazing feats, including opening a water pipe to allow protesters to wash the tear gas from their eyes and even tossing tear gas back at the police.

Although she encouraged other protesters to take cover while live shots were fired, she was shot and killed during the protest herself.

The picture of her wearing that t-shirt is something you can easily look up and probably have already seen.

That picture itself is what's iconic, and hopefully, this story helps paint a bit of a picture as to the story this track is telling.

I think it takes a lot of guts to write a song about this and do it right and this was beautifully done again, with powerful tones and energy that really send that message through, tell the story right, and come through with an impact.

This was an unbelievable song and is, in my opinion, the best track on the record.

Again, the entire album is outstanding and does show different sides of the songwriting approach and blending heavy rock genres together to create something with its own atmosphere.

I suggest listening to the whole record in one shot, but I also suggest starting with the title track so that you can get a sense of the intensity and impact that some of these songs are going to have.

We had the chance to interview Bruce Fane, the songwriter behind the project.

Here is what happened.

Buzz Slayers: So let's talk about the Everything Will be OKalbum! 

This was an amazing release! The record was a blend of rock styles and had layers to it! Where did this record come from?

In 2020 we did a promotional tour of Japan, Thailand, and Myanmar. We performed with the Myanmar and Eastern Asian famous band “Idiots “ Wai Mon Oo or otherwise known as Raymond developed a very good friendship. Raymond and our Ambassador/Manager Jerry Chambers set up our tour of Asia. Making us the first American Band to perform in Myanmar. In 2021 the Military coop changed everything for the worst. Since then Raymond and Jerry have passed. It is sad and tragic. So many lives were changed. 

Buzz Slayers: With the focus on the title track being about Kyal Sin, this is a situation that must have hit you pretty hard. Did this inspire the entire record?

Yes the death of Kyal Sin and the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi inspired and ignited a nation to resist and raise awareness about these crimes against humanity. The resistance is still alive they just have been run off into the jungles. 

Buzz Slayers: I am hearing several approaches on this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Queen, Pantera, Metallica, Nirvana, Pearl Jam , Slipknot are a few. I’ve always been a huge fan of Frank Sinatra and Elvis. Classical music has always been a common theme throughout my life. I studied Vocal Performance in the classical department in college. That’s how me and my lead guitarist Nick Foreman met. So many different genres. I enjoy. When I was a kid punk rock influenced me heavily.

Buzz Slayers: This was a huge album! Did it take you long to put it all together? Also what are you performing on the release?

We started working on it in 2021. So it took us some good time to put it together, then a little over a year ago I was in an accident, and was in a wheelchair for 6 months, so that slowed down the release. On a couple of the tracks we worked with some of our band mates from Myanmar. Bouncing tracks back and forth took time especially with the coop limiting their internet access. Some names can not be listed for their personal safety, but I would like to give a shout out to Willie Strike from the band “Strike” for performing with us.

I’m performing on vocals, bass, acoustic, rhythm guitar, drums on 6 songs, piano, cello on a song. Being the songwriter it’s sometimes easier to track the stuff I’m hearing in my head, but I love collaborating with other musicians. Especially my long term business partner and bandmate Nick Foreman. I let him handle all the Leads. He plays cello, violin , and piano on the album. He also plays through a Leslie Organ on a song. Carter Little Performed drums on “Curse The Sky”, and MK Ultra rapped on “Crimes Against Humanity”. 

Buzz Slayers: Are you doing any touring in support of this?

We are negotiating some festivals in the summer and fall. Our Manager Jerry Chambers was setting up a tour back to Asia in Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines in January, but he passed away in Thailand this spring while setting it up. We are still in negotiations with some of the booking agents.

Buzz Slayers: Is there anything upcoming?

We just got done playing a festival at Pierre’s in Forte Wayne hosted by Dante from the Movie Grandmas boy. We have a Festival we are playing in Muncie on July 12th. So far we will be featured with the Mike Martin band, and many more at that event. 

Buzz Slayers: Who is in your headphones right now?

Bring Me the Horizon, All That Remains, Ozzy, new Pearl Jam, Gojira , Of Mice and Men, Beartooth. Random playlists . Classical playlists featuring Beethoven, Stravinsky, Hugo Wolf, and Mozart. Those are my four favorite composers. 

Buzz Slayers: What can you say people can expect on this release?

A lot of raw emotion driven with heavy, but subtle guitar riffs and melodic vocals painting a picture of a fight to stand for justice and some of the awful unfortunate tragedies that occur because freedom is always gained at a cost, and we must never stop fighting for it.

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?

Without you we are nothing. We can not do it without you. Please keep listening. We Love You All. Keep rocking what’s left of the free world, and if you are not free….We Must Rock Harder!

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