INTERVIEW: FOREIGN HOME
Interview done with Chris Davis
Childhood friends Deric Williams (Lead Vocals, Guitar), and Daniel Clark (Percussion, Drums) formed as Motive for Movement in 2005. The past seven years have brought them lineup changes, countless shows/tours/ festival dates, multiple albums (Including their 2010 self-recorded/produced full length "Our Concrete Neighbors,” mixed by Mike Majors), and a considerable progression of sound. They changed their name, this year, to Foreign Home to better represent where they are going instead of where they’ve been. Foreign Home’s newest release is their “How Strange the Night EP.” It was produced/mixed by Costa Stasinopoulos at Blackwatch Studios (Norman, OK) and The Church Studio (Tulsa, OK) and Mastered by Mike Marsh (Phoenix, Two Door Cinema Club, Klaxons) at The Exchange Studio London. With a belief that there are only two kinds of music, good & bad, Foreign Home isn’t afraid to draw from and incorporate any style of music into their genre-bending tunes. Finding influence in everything from surf music to progressive rock, post-punk to pop, the guys of Foreign Home (Deric Williams, Daniel Clark, Tobie Munroe, and Chris Davis) have set out to redefine what American Indie can be, and succeeded.
First off tell us a little bit about yourself and the band. (How did you know you wanted to be a musician/ How did the band form ect.)
My name is Chris Davis and I play bass in a band called Foreign Home. I joined the band in 2007 when they were an already established band called Motive for Movement. After years of honing our songwriting and finding our sound we changed our name to Foreign Home and are releasing our debut EP “How Strange the Night”.
Foreign Home has new music coming out soon. How are your feelings towards the album/release? What do you hope people take away from this album?
The release is one we are really proud of. The songs on it are nearing two years old, but we haven’t tired of them yet. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work with some phenomenal guys at the best studios in the state. I think it’s a solid debut full of songs that showcase our diversity and songwriting strengths.
Do you have any music videos in the works?
We have two in the works. One for Catholic Guilt, which we shot and is still in pre-production. Hopefully that one will see the light of day very soon. The other is for Paper Leaves, and we aren’t sure when that may be ready for release. It is half animation and very tedious, so I’m unsure the status at this point.
How would you describe the music scene in Oklahoma/ the Midwest?
There is a great sense of camaraderie amongst most artists and bands here in Oklahoma. We have a lot of great talent, especially with bands like Other Lives getting a lot of attention and Broncho not too far behind them. Midwest mentality seems to be pretty family like, and a lot of us like it that way.
What’s song holds the most meaning to you? Why?
That is a tough one. I wasn’t the primary songwriter on any of the tunes on “How Strange the Night”, so I don’t hold much attachment to them in a sense. I would probably have to say “About A Bear” means the most to me, and probably the whole band. It’s a very personal song dealing with loosing someone very close to you.
What song or songs would you say represent your band the most?
It’s very tough to pin down. I am not sure there is one safe bet that portrays us the best, as we offer quite a bit of variety. There is a new tune we are insanely excited about called “New Positions”, and I feel like at this point as a band that one blends what we’ve been doing the best.
What/ who do you look to for inspiration?
As far as playing bass goes, Justin Chancellor, Flea, Sting, and Mark Stoermer have had a giant impact on how I view and play my instrument.
WHY do you play music?
For the babes, right? Just kidding. I cannot speak for every member of Foreign Home, but I play music to fulfill my soul. It’s the one thing I am 100% passionate and adamant about. We all have a purpose, and this is mine. It’s about as simple as that.
Is there a moment that sticks out in your head that made you realize that this is the perfect job for you?
I’m not sure if there was a collective moment for me personally. I’ve played bass and written songs for the past decade, so I think it’s just what I am meant to do.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where's one place you would like to either play a show at again, or play it for the first time?
We’ve played a lot of numerous shows, but nothing in my mind at least sticks out as something I’d want to do again. A friend of mine was having dinner with Hellogoodbye last week and they were talking about how they’d trade every Warped Tour date for the worst stage at Coachella. At this point I think we’d all agree and would love to play something like Coachella, Leeding and Reads, or Glastonbury.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned working in the music industry?
Nobody is going to do anything for you. It’s up to the artist/band to write great songs, market themselves properly, and sell their product. It can be a fickle industry, so the DIY method is still the best route. Putting your all into the music and doing everything in your power to make something of yourself as an artist is very admirable, and the right person may notice and help you to make it to the next level.
What would your dream tour lineup be?
Foals, Metronomy, Minus the Bear, Friendly Fires, Wild Beasts, and Mew.
Lastly, if you could have one wish for this band what would it be?
My wish is that we can continue to write great tunes that we and other people enjoy. At some point if we can start touring consistently, playing festivals, and maybe breaking even on our endeavors, then I think we’d all feel very accomplished. We feel blessed to do what we do and that we’ve come this far.