What is Mount Olympus?
The Mount Olympus Interview with AP
It was just earlier today that news of a new band called Mount Olypmus reached the modern rock scene, and normally news of a new band would be greeted with "Ok? Are they good? Maybe I'll listen to them ehh.... After I eat this donut". In other words any old band doesn't get attention. Mount Olympus would be just some band that maybe a few people had heard of if it wasn't for who two of it's members are. The roster for this band that calls themselves a "manband" includes Matt Collins and Vin Peters of Reported Failure. What the? I know. That's what we were thinking of. So we got to sit down with not just Matt or Vin but all six of the men in this "manband".
I think the question everyone wants to know is what is Mount Olympus? and that's a big question so maybe we'll break it down into more than one question. First I think we should tell the people who each of you are and some background.just where your from and what instrument you're playing.Matt: Hello. The name's Collins. Matt Collins. I'm from California. I play the bass.
Wil: hello... I'm Wil Reasons. I live in London. It's a little town in England. You might get that much from the accent. I like to sing.
Vin: I play guitar. This is Vin by the way. I live near Matt.
Derrick: My name is Derrick Goddard I play the drums and I'm from New York City
Hugh: Hey folks. I'm Hugh Keeley from Liverpool. I like to sing. Do some guitar playing too. Just a bit of shredding if you're into that type of thing. Maybe some singin too. Whatever floats your boat.
Danny: I sing. Oh and my name's Danny. I live in LA.
Ok. So that's who's part of this. Now how did it all come together?Vin: I'll take this one if you dont mind.
Hugh: Have at it
Vin: Well it was me and Matt in the beginning. We've made oh five, six albums with RF and we decided it was time to try something new. We meet loads of musicians doing what we do. Some of them are just super cool and you remember them. That's where Hugh, Wil, Danny, and Derrick came in.
Matt: Seems about right.
So you could call this a side project from Reported Failure?Matt: If side project implies we're just screwing around and not giving this our full effort relative to the effort we'd give something with Reported Failure then no.
Vin: I think what Matt means is that this is just as serious as anything we've ever done.
Just one more question directly related to RF and then we'll get back on point, but I think the fans want to know how this is going to work with RF and they want to know the future of that band.Vin: Well Darkness is done. It's going to be in stores in probably a week maybe two. Then we're going on Carnival of Sounds until September.
Hugh: And with carnival of sounds some of us are actually tagging along. Because some of the new RF songs have so many instruments, I'm going to be working some pianos during Reported Failure's set and I know Danny and Wil are coming and might do backing vocals. Derrick will probably come along too just so that then we can really write songs for this band while RF is touring.
Matt: And after September were all gonna have some down time. Billie is going to Seattle because he's finally gotten joint custody of his son. KC is going to spend time with his family. Don't know what Robert's doing yet, but me and Vin are doing this. After they've had some downtime RF should come back with another kickass album.
Alright. With that said what is the purpose of this band? Are you writing an album? Are you going to do a tour? *All of Mount Olympus look around at eachother hoping it isn't them that has to answer the question. Then they start laughing*
Hugh: Dont look at me to answer I'm just here to look pretty
Danny: aah. I guess I'll take this one. We've no idea.
Matt: He's right. We've got no fucking idea what were doing.
Wil: Well we kind of do. We know were writing songs. Vin is working on getting us onto his label. If that happens we'll no doubt be releasing some singles. If we get enough worthy songs we'll probably have an album or EP out in a couple months. Most likely an EP.
Derrick: And we're going to play live. We'll have a brilliant setlist of a whole bunch of songs. Maybe do a little organized tour or just random shows.
Vin: Basically we know we'll be releasing something and touring but we dont know what how or when.
Ok. You're going to release some singles. We know this will be rock, but what exactly should fans expect your material to sound like?Wil: Well for starters were all going to do some singing. That's where the idea of a manband comes from. Little gaybait boy bands ... Well in them all the five or six twelve year olds in them sing. We're like that in that we'll all sing except we're artists and they're just bloody mannequins.
Vin: Yeah we'll all sing. It'll be a bit less artsy than the latest RF stuff. By that I mean less violins horns and pianos
Matt: It's kind of going to be a throwback to really glammy rock. At the same time we're going to avoid any cliche lyrics that are associated with that genre and of course it isn't 1985 so it wont sound like it is but so far what we've played the guitar tone really reminds me of that
Hugh: I know that lots of people who will hear this interview are Reported Failure fans. I think our songs are going to be a bit more upbeat. Maybe just as heavy but a little less depressing. We can bring their fans to maybe a different sound. It isn't punk, it isn't metal or hardcore and it isn't pop. Maybe it's poppy metal. I dont know what the hell it'll sound like. Damnit just wait and hear the songs.
Danny: I think maybe what Hugh is saying is we dont just want some emo melody or a vicous mosh pit. We want some people to start dancing to these songs and then get knocked over by the mosh pit.
You've got a couple of weeks until Carnival of sounds starts. What are you doing until then?Hugh: Having a few pints.
Wil: Right, well were all hanging out at Matt's beach house.
Vin: Like Hugh said were getting wasted and playing some acoustic guitars.
Danny: Yeah. We're just chilling out and getting to know eachother more. Working on some material and spending Matt's money
Matt: Fuck you didnt you hear I'm being fined by the FCC? Go by your own beer I owe a hundred grand.
*All of Mount Olympus turns to Matt laughing*
Alright. The name. Mount Olympus. Why is that the name of your band?Matt: Because it's where the gods lived in greek mythology and we're the gods of catchy hooks, shreddage, belting, mosh pits, and guyliner.
Derrick: Matt phrased it oddly to make us seem extremely conceded but that is the idea.
Hugh: I'd say it's kind of more because the gods always came down from mount olympus and fucked shit up. I mean that in a somewhat good or epic way. And as a band we want to come down into this music scene and do just that.
So at least some of you have the egos of big rockstars?Matt: Yes.
Hugh: I dont know about the ego, but the ridiculously good looks yes
Vin: I'm just here to make melodies
Matt: No Vin. You came here to fuck bitches
Wil: I'll get the massive ego if our singles go to number one.
Derrick: I'm just keeping the beat
I think that's a good place to cut off. Good luck on this quest. We'll all keep our eyes out for these singles. 