Dying Habit are an intriguing new rock band with a cool sound, as displayed in their new release, Directions. If you liked the track and want to find out more, check out our interview below!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a track titled Directions, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the song?
I think we’ve always been wanting to write one of those huge sludgy 90s influenced rock riffs that just hook you in immediately and Directions was just that. A massive infectious riff offset by a more melodic catchy chorus, we just kept it really simple because it was clear the tune had a massive force just with the primal ingredients. We like to leave the lyrics open to people’s interpretation but the general theme is of toxicity and toxic relationships and the effect that has on someone. Something we can all relate to.
How has the reception been so far, and where can Directions be purchased?
The reception has been really good, we’ve had good feedback from all over the world, it’s a lot of peoples first introduction to the band so hopefully it’ll set things up for what we have to come. You can stream or purchase the single at all the usual places – Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music… it should be everywhere.
Do you have any more singles planned for release soon?
We do, there will be another single – in early 2023 – called Puzzles. I think anyone who enjoys Directions will be in for a treat, it’s still heavy and intense, but perhaps a little more musical.
Are there any plans to release an album or EP?
The goal is to get an album out at some point, the EP format always feels a little unfulfilling, crafting a whole album gives a much better showcase of who a band really are. We know we have around 80% of an album written at this point, so with a little more writing, we will be ready to go.
What is the composition process like for you?
The songs start as a guitar and a vocal, and then we take them to the rehearsal space and jam them out, it’s always important everyone brings their stamp to a song. So even if the spark is brought by the initial idea, having four people work to make that into the final product is always more rewarding. It’s a real collaborative effort.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
The pandemic actually ended up being ok for us. We had just lost a bass player and the band was going nowhere at the end of 2019. Luckily, we had been just jamming and recording ideas before the pandemic hit so when lockdown started, we decided to record an album remotely ourselves. This became Until the Air Runs Out, which is available online. It’s a little rougher and looser than the material we are playing now, but it was a great project to do while we were all locked away and we are still proud of what came out of it.
Your music has elements of hard rock, alt rock and grunge. What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?
I guess the bands we grew up with such as Therapy? Faith No More, Smashing Pumpkins… a lot of the alternative 90s stuff. More recently I have enjoyed some of the more prog influenced bands such as Karnivool. There’s still good music out there, but not so obvious if you only listen to the mainstream stuff.
You’re from Anglesey. What is the music scene like in your part of the world?
It’s not a massive scene to be honest! That’s one of the drawbacks with living away from the big cities. Although you do have nicer scenery and a quieter way of life
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Nothing confirmed at present, but we will be playing shows in North Wales and perhaps the North West soon, so keep an eye on our social media for updates,
Any last words for the fans?
If you like what you hear please pass it on to others who may like it to! Give us a follow on our socials, get the word of mouth going, and if we are playing near you come and see us – if we don’t all support the underground live scene then it will die out. We do it because of the love of music, there’s no money in it but there are talented musicians out there giving their soul and making good stuff and it needs supporting.