My Passion - Image Copyright of Marianne Harris

Originally published on July 21st 2009 one of our most popular posts was riddled with font errors, old pictures, mis-alignment and general annoyances. However, today I finally reached boiling point. After pouring a cup of Coffee I started to rejuvenate an old interview with one of today’s hottest bands….

*Bear in mind this interview was conducted last-year so not all of the information may still stand*

1. Undoubtedly the majority of rockers will have heard of My Passion by now. Yet, for those who still haven’t, what are your main goals as a band?

My Passion for me is an alternative to everything else that’s going on. It’s fresh, it’s exciting and the sound is unique. It’s not for everybody but for those who it does capture it is almost a lifestyle and it demands a whole lot of devotion.

Like everything with my passion nothing is half hearted its all pretty full on. The goal of the band is probably no different to that of many other aspiring musicians, to be heard by as many ears in this weird world as possible and to gain love from a proportion of those. To affect those listeners lives in a positive way and for us to continue to love this and to take it worldwide.

2. Are any of the songs based on real life experiences?

Of course they are built on experiences which you gain from just being here so there is a lot of real life but of course there is an element of storytelling and fiction. I think there are plenty of bands telling people exactly how it is but we’ve always been more fond of songs that might not be quite so obvious at first glance.

We’re only a young band but I think so far on our adventure we have experienced a lot, seen a many of places and a fair few bizarre things. It’s a different way of putting things there are anecdotes, cheeky innuendos and ideas that people can make their own with their own take on the world. We’re not opposed to taking things from the real world and reforming them in our own world everyone has dreams and everyone has nightmares.

3. You guys have just completed a massive U.K tour. What’s been your favourite part about it? And how was it having ‘Members Of Me’ for support?

That tour was a huge occasion for us! The celebration of all that we had achieved so far and of course the release of our debut album. Night after night we were made so happy by the amount of people coming out just to see My Passion. We had to step back and take a look at what had begun to build; it was like wow after all this work some excitement is really starting to build here.The favorite show had to be the finalé in Camden town where we chose to bring our electric rock show to a huge church and put on a show that no one would forget, to sell it out and get the praise we did just made it even better.

We had a few supports across the tour, each act different and that worked really well. The Members of Me guys fitted in perfectly and we got on really well, just so fun to be on the road with and that’s what you need when touring for so long. We have been building up over the last few years dedicating our lives to this so to invite some new bands like MOM, Firetone & Summerlin out on the road with us we felt like it was a great opportunity for them and helped us stay fresh at the same time.

4. With My Passion being nominated for ‘Kerrang Best Newcomer’ what does it mean to the band receiving so many votes off your devoted fans?

Well a year ago we didn’t even feature in the music press. It’s likely that we still wouldn’t, had it not been for the fans of this band. It started at the end of last year when we got voted at the top of the readers’ polls in the top mags and that was like our announcement and it was really unexpected. Since then it has continued to grow and to now receive a nomination and a table at the grand Kerrang! Awards is a big moment in our history.

I think the bands involved in this form the new wave of exciting UK rock music and the award could really go to any of these bands. Whatever the result it’s a bit of a victory for the fans showing that together they have a pretty big voice and can help put a band into the spotlight and we thank them for that.

5. My Passion  have recently shook hands with ‘THE AGENCY GROUP’ How’s it the band itself and your devoted fans?

This is really great news for us and for the fans! It means My Passion will be able to get to places that people keep calling out for us to return to. It means a whole lot of touring planned which we thrive on. It also means that a world of support opportunities have opened up with many of our favorite bands already represented by the agency group.

Of course becoming part of this is also some recognition for where we sit in the scheme of things and as kids we dreamed of being a professional band out touring with our best friends playing music that we love, that dream is actually happening and it feels really good for everyone involved.

6.  Now for a question that’s sure to be plaguing many Passion fans minds…..

John Be - Image Copyright of Jodie Cunningham

Are you still going to be playing  small venues such as ‘Mansfield’s Town Mill’?

We will always make sure we are covering different areas of the country, we really don’t know to what size it will grow and how fast. I don’t think My Passion is a cool band it’s sometimes not something people accept instantly. There is a lot of hard work yet to do and we hope everyone comes along with us to continue the adventure. The stuff that has been achieved in the last few weeks is the culmination of 3- 4 years hard work so sometimes it can seem overnight but it really isn’t. It’s something we’ve had to really work at and we’ve had to carve out our own following and path amongst everything during tough times. We have an amazing time even so.

I’ve always been a fan of small clubs even though we think My Passion definitely thrives on the big stage and all that comes with it. So there may be a time in the future where we return to small clubs for something special. At the minute we don’t know where My Passion will land this Autumn but we aren’t setting ourselves any limits and at the same time we aren’t discounting the places we have played in the past!

7. And last but not least. What are My Passions plans after the Kerrang awards?

We have a couple of one off shows supporting an American band called family force 5 which is an opportunity for people to see the band on the only dates in the summer. We have a Swedish festival and trip to Berlin in Germany too. Alongside all this Day Of The Bees will land as a single with a video that has just been playlisted for Kerrang TV which is a new thing for My Passion.

Come September the plan is to get very busy touring out on the road but at the moment people just need to keep a look out for news on that. It’s more of the same hectic My Passion schedule really and we can’t wait! thanks!