THE LAST MARTYR
Answered by Monica Strut (vocals)
Q1. Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for the site! If our readers are unfamiliar with you, what can they expect to hear when they listen to The Last Martyr? What are some of the primary influences the band draws from?
Some pretty chaotic, dark and electronic-fused metal! We’re influenced by a lot of different genres from metalcore to nu metal and EDM but we think fans of bands like Spiritbox, Wargasm, Poppy and Bring Me The Horizon usually vibe it.
Q2. Can you provide a little more context on your “origin story”—where you’re from, when you formed, what made you want to pursue making music?
I’ve always wanted to pursue music to help people in the way that music has helped me in my life. I’ve been writing lyrics since I was in primary school and performing from a young age and I just never imagined doing anything else with my life than performing. I studied music in uni and was in various bands.
In 2017 I relocated from Sydney to Melbourne. Lockout laws had decimated Sydney’s music scene and I felt there was nothing left there for me anymore. I met Ben (guitar) on Melband but he ghosted me soon after haha. He was focused on a different project but later hit me up out of the blue right when I was starting to give up on ever finding a project here. We realised pretty quickly how similar our goals and ideas on how to grow were so things clicked pretty easily. I think within a week of forming we had a band name, several demos and a solid plan for the launch of the project.
Vin started as a fill-in drummer for our first ever video, Into The Black, and we somehow convinced him to stay and when our original bassist left to move to Japan, Ricky was a natural fit already being in our circle of friends a highly experienced bass player and vocalist.
Q3. You just released the single “Burn It Down.” Can you tell us what the song is about and what you were going for sonically?
Burn It Down is about wishing humanity could start again with what we know now. It focuses mainly on inequality, specifically when it comes to women, but I know many people will be able to relate to the anger and weighty-ness I tried to express through this track. It’s meant to be a powerful rally cry but also has some darker vulnerable moments.
Q4. Last year you released “Sugar.” Can you tell us about that song lyrically and sonically?
Aside from Burn It Down, Sugar, was the most vulnerable song I’ve written. It speaks to the numbing experience I had on anti-depressants which no one warned me about. It was a really confusing time as I felt like I had to choose between being unhappy or being emotionless. Sonically, it was one of the first tracks we really got quite experimental in terms of electronics and using as many different vocal tones as I could to convey the story. I am still so in love with the sweetness (no pun intended) of how the chorus sounds.
Q5. How would you say your sound and perhaps the band in general have evolved since you started?
We started off in a very metalcore bubble. We never had rules for this band, we just liked music that was heavy and melodic. I was learning to scream as the band started so personally, the harsher vocal elements really have evolved over our discography in quite a noticeable way - one that I’m super proud of! But musically, we’ve not been afraid to draw more on electronic and off-kilter influences as the band has progressed. We want to push boundaries and never do the same thing as we’ve done before so writing is always a scary but exciting time.
Q6. What are some of the most fun/coolest shows or tours you’ve been a part of?
There are so many that come to mind but the two standouts would be doing 3 shows in little more than 24 hours with Black Veil Brides last year would be up there as well as the run we did with Sunk Loto who are such legends in the heavy scene - Ben and Ricky were especially beside themselves when it came to those shows.
Q7. Is there something you’d like to see more of in the scene, whether it’s actions, sounds, anything else?
I think the equality issue in the Australian heavy music scene is still one we need to keep pushing. Some festivals do an acceptable job, others seem oblivious. It’s a hard sell because most bigger heavy bands are all male. But without exposure to bigger audiences, like those at festivals, how do we expect younger bands with women in them to grow? This is not the only solution, but I think it would contribute in a big way. Bands like Redhook, Yours Truly, Stand Atlantic are absolutely killing it right now and I’m so in awe of everything they’re achieving. I want to also shoutout Reliqa, Vilify, Krave, Aurateque, Torizon, Wicked Envy and Live Like Animals who are some friends of ours that we are really excited about.
Q8. What’s on the horizon for The Last Martyr?
We’re supporting Hanabie on their Good Things side shows in Melbourne and Brisbane then are headlining a local festival called Sanctuary on 9th December in Frankston. Get tickets here - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1140355
We’ve been working on new music for release next year as well, so we’re really excited for what the next 12 months holds!
