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Interview with
MIKE CRAIG (vocals)
from
FAREWELL TO FEAR

(23rd July 2022)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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About FAREWELL TO FEAR

Their first full-length album New Blood, produced by Brett Hestla (Creed, Dark New Day), generated an incredible three singles on Sirius XM’s Octane channel, a rare feat for an unknown band. As well as landing them at #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Rock Singles chart and #8 on iTunes Rock chart, their debut album also earned them direct support from Howard Stern, including the rarest of moments on Stern’s show… airing an entire song as opposed to the normal 20 second snippet he usually shares. That track, a cover of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’, recently eclipsed 2.5 million streams on Spotify.

Inspired by the overwhelming success of New Blood, FAREWELL TO FEAR released the LegacyEP, allowing them to seamlessly merge their skills and styles together to create heavy rock songs that deliver a strong punch to the gut, while staying melodic and delivering impactful lyrics hitting all ranges and octaves.

Shortly following Legacy, the band released their Voices album. Voices was produced by Damien Starkey (Burn Season & Puddle of Mudd) and elevated the bands’ sound to a new level. Expect no stone unturned with this album! The highly anticipated single ‘Underneath my Skin’ landed at #29 on the Billboard Rock Indicator charts. The single sent a powerful sucker-punch with its message of love and obsession. It moves as an emotional gut-wrenching song that will inspire the devil within.

The band wasted no time spreading their new sound with the masses at various rock festivals, touring with artists such as Fozzy, Like A Storm, Palisades and Flaw throughout North America and Canada, including joining Chris Jericho/Fozzy and friends performing on the ‘Rockin and Wrestling Rager at Sea’ cruise.

Staying true to form, FAREWELL TO FEAR immediately went back into the studio amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to release the ever timely single ‘I Won’t Be Your Tragedy’ which quickly shot to #21 on the Billboard Rock Indicator chart and eclipsed over 100K streams on Spotify in 3 months.

FAREWELL TO FEAR is set for an explosive 2022 and has already been invited to perform at the Rebel Rock Festival in Orlando, with Five Finger Death Punch, Limp Bizkit, I Prevail, Sevendust and many more!

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Mike Have you always wanted to be a musician?
Yes!

When did you get the song writing bug?
I suppose I had the itch to start writing was in middle school.  I started out as a drummer then switched to singing and writing original music in High School.

How did the band come together?
The band initially came together in 2010, we met through mutual friends at a business conference LOL. Since then the band has gone through various member changes, it’s a tough game staying the course in this industry for extended time periods.  

Is there someone who is a “driving force”, or do you all make decisions together?
Jimmy, Jeremy and myself have made the majority of the decisions in years past but we all weigh in on the important decisions that need to be made.  Inclusion is important, I believe that we are all equal. 

You have been dubbed Active Rock but how would you describe your sound? 
I think we have been dubbed “active rock” because our first 2 record’s, New Blood and Voices were written for the newer rock crowd and we were focused on modern rock radio. That being said our sound is very diverse and is always changing. Why do you think people resonate with your music?  I believe our lyrical content is relatable on many levels to many people.  Our songs are ambiguous in nature giving the individual listener the opportunity to relate to a song in their own way with something personal happening in their own life.  We always have had a positive slant to our messaging which defines the bands name FAREWELL TO FEAR, It’s more of a philosophy and mantra more than a band name.  Fear is the ONE thing that is standing in the way of whatever it is you want or desire. Get in the habit of saying FAREWELL TO FEAR on a daily basis and live a happier more fulfilling life. 

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
This would be a LONG list!  So many great artists!  Zeppelin, Journey, Iron Maiden, Faith no More, Alice In Chains, Fates Warning, Queensryche, Metallica, Anthrax, Lamb of God, Gojira, etc……

Your new album POLARITY has just been released/! Describe its origin and evolution.  
Polarity was 2 years in the making! It was the first time we wrote entirely for ourselves, getting back to our roots.  We wrote with no particular formula or rules for what is acceptable today.  IF we wanted odd time changes, we did it, long ripping guitar solos, we did it, basically we did what we felt at the time.  We wanted to have fun and write for what made us happy.  We figured that if we were happy with it then others will dig it as well. This album is truly one you can listen to from start to finish and never get bored. 

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Any tours or events coming up soon?
We are working on tours as we speak, stay tuned!

What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?  
I’m most looking forward to the future, I believe we are just now figuring out who we are as a band and truly feel that we haven’t even scratched the surface of our potential.

How has COVID affected you to date?
Honestly, COVID hasn’t had a major effect on the band considering we are all from different cities or States so we are used to working and writing together from a far. The being said it has certainly taken a toll on touring and live events.

What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?  
Fortunately, we all have other income sources, business and or jobs / careers. It’s sad to say but it’s extremely tough in today’s music business for the artist to financial self-sustain themselves and their family via music anymore.  

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?  
Iron Maiden! To me they are “as good as it gets” and have mastered their craft, not to mention how cool it would be to fly from city to city on Ed Force One! 

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
To stay relevant and continue to put out material that matters and that people draw inspiration from.  This is our legacy and we want our music and message to live long after were are gone. 

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience?
Feeding off of the crowds energy and knowing that they are having just as much fun as we are.  It’s hard to explain the feeling, it’s amazing. 

What’s been the career highlight so far?  
Wow fortunately we have had many! I guess being on the Howard Strern Show was a very surreal moment for us and really had a massive impact for us in the beginning. 

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Operation Mindcrime by Queensryche
Artist – Iron Maiden
Movie –  Fletch
Place to visit – Italy
Venue to play – Machine Shop
Food –  Sushi
Drink – Cold beer
Person in History –  Jesus
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  My Guardian angels on my right arm 

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Stream/buy ‘POLARITY’ HERE

POLARITY
Track Listing

Powertrip
Brainwashed
Played Again
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Weight of the World
Fall in Line
Forgive it All
Falling
Crash and Burn
Surprise! You’re Dead! (Faith No More Cover)

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Follow FAREWELL TO FEAR
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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Press Release 5th July 2022 (below)

FAREWELL TO FEAR
release new album
‘POLARITY’

OUT NOW!

US rockers FAREWELL TO FEAR have released their new album POLARITY via Crusader Records, available now on all digital platforms.

POLARITY is the 3rd full-length album by FAREWELL TO FEAR and first album release with Crusader Records. The title says it all. POLARITY pulls roots from a variety of rock genres giving the listener a rollercoaster ride throughout. Heavy, melodic, raw, nostalgic, thrash, gritty, emotional, angst and even modern could be used to describe this album.

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“The gloves came off when we started writing ‘Polarity’, no rules, no formula. We wrote what we felt and what moved us in the moment. Lyrically, the album draws on many emotions and feelings that we all have shared over the last crazy few years, and as true to form, a message of positivity and hope in the darkest of times.” – Farwell to Fear

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ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK

POWERTRIP 
A “banger” with a unique blend of classic thrash and modern active rock.  Lyrically the song touches on the being caught in the grip of those with on a Power Trip.

BRAINWASHED
Melodic and as heavy as they come! This track features heavy, grinding guitars and a thundering rhythm section, coupled with haunting, spine-tingling vocal melodies that elicit the deepest of emotions.

PLAYED AGAIN
‘Played Again’ takes the angst of all the experiences of feeling used and channels them into a fist pumping anthem. Slashing guitar riffs compounded with lead singer Mike Craig’s Pantera-esque vocals punish the listener. Crank this one and feel empowered!

IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES
This track hits home for all of us at one time or another. As we reflect back on our lives, we contemplate the choices we have made, the chances we didn’t take and the pain of regret. This hard-hitting anthem is a huge wake up call, we only have one life to live, let’s make it count!

WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
Depression is real and “Weight of the World” touches on this reality for so many. This track is laden with emotion and energy.

FALL IN LINE
‘Fall in Line’ hits hard and gives the listener a taste of thrash nostalgia, drawing inspiration from Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeath and Death Angel. Heavy rhythm section and scorching guitars throughout!

FORGIVE IT ALL
This track is a modern active rock anthem to all young rockers dealing with so much struggle today. Life is too short to hold grudges and be disappointed. FORGIVE, live life and be happy.

FALLING
Everyone falls victim to darkness and depression. ‘Falling’ delivers the message that you are not alone and this feeling won’t last forever. The track features a powerful vocal melody, heavy riffs and duelling guitar harmonies on top of a thundering rhythm section with a slamming groove.

CRASH AND BURN
This one tackles the love vs hate we see in society today. As a collective, the choice is ultimately up to us to determine our outcome and unfortunately we have seen the scales tip in favour ofhate. “Love is stronger than hate and we can certainly make the change.”

SURPRISE! YOU’RE DEAD!
Farewell to Fear present their version of the Faith No More classic.

Stream/buy ‘POLARITY’ HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB