On day two of KNOTFEST I had the pleasure of seating down with lead singer Jake of Canadian progressive metal band – ONI.
Gloria (GV staff): Good morning, please introduce yourself for our readers at Go Venue.
Jake: What’s up, I’m Jake from the band ONI, we are here at Knotfest in San Bernardino, CA 2017
How many times have you done Knotfest?
Jake: This is my second time here in San Bernardino, and my third time over all.
How did you enjoy performing this morning? It’s a bit cold and cloudy, how did that go?
Jake: Yeah the weather is nice, it was great, I couldn’t move around as much as I wanted to because I didn’t want to slip, its kinda wet but I mean it was fun.
Tell me a little bit about the band for those who are not that familiar with ONI yet. How did you come up with the name?
Jake: The name ONI is a demon from a Japanese myth and were a metal band, we like to keep things heavy.
Ok, now your album “Ironshore” what was the process of bringing this album together like? What did you enjoy most about the process?
Jake: I would say I enjoyed the whole process, its hard for any artist to pick a specific part they enjoyed. Maybe the most enjoyable moments is writing the album. Everything else was fun and super smooth.
Are you exited to see anyone perform today?
Jake: Yeah, I just saw Upon a Burning Body, Stone Sour, but I’m really just exited to see everyone, but if I don’t see everyone that’s O.K. too I’ve seen almost all these band before. So if I don’t see everyone I’ll just grab a beer or something and catch up.
So Jake, tell me what were some of your musical influences for creating ONI?
Jake: Bands like Chevelle, Alternattellive Rock, I like a lot of Death Metal too, Death Core, Thrash Music, Cannibal Corpse, Punk Music, Pop Punk, just a big selection of music a bit of everything. For my clean vocals I took some points from Chester Bennington, Jared Leto, and my band they love like the nerdier shit like, they like everything were not like “we want to be like this band or that band” we like what we like and thats cool.
After Knotfesare you guys doing any more shows in California?
Jake: Not for like 8 months, after this were going to take the time and write an album and record it. I have no plans till next summer, going to have some cool family time.
So you probably been busy since the begging of the year then?
Jake: Yeah, we been playing a lot of shows. This time last year we played well over 100 shows, so we just need some time off and write new shit.
What is your favorite thing about touring with the band?
Jake: I like to play live thats my favorite part, actually touring kinda sucks because I don’t talk a lot and I’m very picky about what I eat, I don’t eat any dairy or any fried food. It’s a lot of responsibility so I really don’t fucken like touring but I love playing the shows. I’m pretty well traveled so traveling for me its kinda what ever. I just miss my kid and thats when I want to go home.
So it’s more like being home sick for you? Some like the tour life some don’t.
Jake: Yeah, yeah, some like it more than other, I have a pretty good life at home. But that’s not the case with everybody so some people try to run away.
You mentioned your kid, would you like your kid to take on the musical career and follow your steps or whats your outlook on that?
Jake: I mean if she wanted too, I wouldn’t force that on her but if she wanted to thats o.k.
Do you have any advice that you would like to give to new comers in this whole music scene?
Jake: Its hard man, there is not much advice that you can give except for like sale your soul to your guitar or drums, I mean I can say all this shit to you and it might not change anything for these guys.
If you weren’t in a band what other avenue would you have taken?
Jake: I would probably be in film, I like film a lot, probably doing documentaries or something like that, I’m an arty fuck so yeah.
Well, Jake thank you for your time and wish you the best.
Jake: Yeah thank you.
– Gloria Skulls
ONI ONLINE
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