Despyre | Matt Connarton Unleashed

0:00 Speaker 1: As I like to say. If that doesn't get you move in check your pulse, you might be dead. That is so good. That is faithless. The band is Despire, and we've got Rob, the vocalist from Despire here on the line with us.

0:10 Speaker 2: Rob. Rob.

0:11 Speaker 1: How do you say your last name?

0:12 Speaker 2: By the way, Melvagna, Well that's the americanized way in Italy, the g is silent Melvano.

0:20 Speaker 1: Oh, Melvano. Okay, all right, very good, very good. By the way, is it just you r Do you have any of your bandmates with you or are we just talking to you right now?

0:28 Speaker 2: No, it's it's just just me right now. Sorry, they're all listening on the link.

0:33 Speaker 1: Oh okay, okay, cool, well, yeah, welcome to the show. Like I said, I love that track. And is this so the name Despire? That's a Is that a combination of despair and inspire? Is that correct?

0:46 Speaker 2: Yes, it is. You know, we wanted to take the two emotions of you know, the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs, you know, and kind of put it together and you know, come up with that made up name there. But you know, we because everybody goes through that, you know, and that's kind of what leads you to either be successful or you know, to deal with your problems in life, right you know, so we wanted to take those two emotions and combine them right.

1:16 Speaker 1: Right now, that makes sense. And you guys have been together since twenty fifteen, is that right?

1:22 Speaker 2: Yep?

1:22 Speaker 1: So I love it.

1:23 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, we we've played with each other before this. You know, we've all been very good friends in the industry, and we've played in formations of other bands, and then then we happened to get together and stuck jamming and writing some music. And one of our earlier songs, which is on our first EP, Black, the song is got in the hands of Joey Z from Life of Agony, who reached out and said, you know, I like this, what are you guys doing? I'd love to record some of your new stuff, and hence that's what led to our first DP Irritation, which Joey's from My Fagne produced, which inevitably got us signed to Pavement Records.

2:05 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, I mean connecting with Joey Z. That's uh. You guys got off to a great start early on. That's that's amazing. Life of Agne, Agony of course, such a great band. But oh that's that's uh so cool. I mean you probably learned a lot from him, I would imagine, Uh yeah, you know what.

2:24 Speaker 2: Was great was you know, I was a Life of Agony fan, you know before that, and I learned a lot from him, not only in the studio but just in general in life itself. You know, he's a very down throat guy. We became friends, you know, so it was a big eye opener on how things had done in an industry and how he brought out, you know, certain aspects of the band and recording. You know, we just worked well together.

2:54 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And then now tell us about so present day Faithless. I know that's the newest that came out pretty recently, right, the new single Faithless.

3:06 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you know we aren't with Pavement any longer. You know, things happened in twenty twenty with COVID. You know, the band itself went through a lot of changes and unfortunate deaths. In our first drummer passed away, and then family members, mothers, fathers. After COVID, and then I had a health scare. I was diagnosed with cancer, went through my treatments and in this process a drummer that was with us. We had about seven songs that we had written, so Griffin went in the studio recorded the drums because we you know, we knew that we were going to be coming back out once I got to clear and okay, you know, we started recording some songs and it was time to release them, you know.

3:54 Speaker 2: And now we have big news coming up in the upcoming weeks. We have some offers on the tape that we will be announcing shortly for these upcoming singles that will be released.

4:05 Speaker 1: Oh, excellent, excellent. As far as the cancer, I mean, you're you're you free and clear now clear of it?

4:13 Speaker 2: Yeah, right now. I reached one hundred perc REMISSIONO. So things are looking good, you know. And it it just made me stronger as a person and to move forward, you know, and do what I love.

4:25 Speaker 1: Yeah. Oh, that's good for you. I'm glad to hear that. Wow. Yeah. And you guys have been through a lot, I mean obviously. Yeah. It's interesting how COVID even even now in twenty twenty six, it it comes up in a lot of conversations on the show because it just affected so many people. And you know, when you're when your whole thing is especially if you're playing live music, you know, it really it really affected.

4:51 Speaker 2: Uh and that's everything exactly. That's kind of what happened. You know, the momentum of the band was really going well, and uh, you know, the world stopped. Yeah, and we're not Metallica, you know what I mean. So it's like starting over again.

5:04 Speaker 1: Absolutely, especially where you are too, because you're in New York and and uh man, I mean New York City really got hit hard. Well, I mean that was that was really for a while. That was kind of the epicenter in the country for for COVID nineteen. It just just just awful. Are you guys ever everybody who's in the band now, are you all from New York? Uh?

5:26 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're all from Long Island, New York. You know, like I said, we've been brothers forever. You know, it feels like, you know, it's like having another marriage. But we're all great friends. You know, we're all within you know, a half hour of each other. Yeah, a couple of guys live very close and then the rest of us are within twenty minutes of a half hour of each other. And then recently we just announced that the newest member, our newest drummer. She is incredible. Bobby Dima went through a lot of auditions and drummers and she just is filling the gap and bringing a whole new energy to the band.

6:06 Speaker 2: So, you know, I just wanted to give a formal welcome to her on the air.

6:10 Speaker 1: Oh very cool. Yeah, congratulations to her. That's awesome. That's awesome. Do you feel like, I'm curious, being from New York and such a part of the scene there, do you feel like New York has shaped your sound because it's such a rich history of heavy music coming out of that area. And we had a actually just recently, we had Frequency Overload on the show, and you know, they're from there obviously, and they're amazing. But I mean, does do you think is there I guess what I'm trying to ask is is there a New York sound as far as heavy music, like what you guys are doing.

6:43 Speaker 1: Is there a New York sound? And are you what you do?

6:47 Speaker 2: It's a great question because I actually think there is, you know, and it goes way back to the days of you know, when the thrash metal and s female, when you had like bands like Anthrax, and then the hard course s with like Biohazard and Life of Agony, you know, and Sheer Terror and all these bands that came out of the area. And then of course there was the glam movement too, you know, New York Dolls and Kiss, and so I think the East Coast in general, New York area and up towards your area, it's it's a it's a different roarer, more in your face, I feel, style of music, you know.

7:26 Speaker 2: So yeah, I do think even though music has changed tremendously, and and the scene itself has changed tremendously, not just here in New York but throughout the United States. You know, in the old days, there was so many clubs and everybody came out to see music, and that was the only way was to go to see bands live. You know. Nowadays with social media and YouTube, you don't have to go anywhere. You know, everything's there right the ship to your thing is. But I think that you definitely can tell the sound of our music and where we're from geographically.

7:58 Speaker 2: So I do do feel that there is a certain and sound it comes out of New York. It's the aggression, it's the in your face, you know, and then just the way of living out here, the fast paced and of society in general, and people are so stressed and it comes out in the music.

8:16 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, What is your so for the track Faithless, which which again I love it, it's just so good. Is this part of a larger project now? I mean, do you have a because there's so many different ways to release music now. Is is it part of an EP or an album or are you just releasing singles at this point? What's what's kind of your your plan?

8:39 Speaker 2: Okay, so you hit it on the head. I mean like music has changed, you know. No longer are the days of where I can run to the store and I was waiting for that Iron Maiden record to come out, hit the album cover and I wanted to read the liner notes and you know, immerse myself in it while I was into music. So, you know, people unfortunately, people's attention span is a lot less nowadays, and they want not so much instant gratification, but they want to hear a song and they want to move on to the next you know, band and put it in their playlist.

9:10 Speaker 2: So we what we plan on doing moving forward right now is we will be releasing singles as they come up, and then as we finish writing them, and then our plan is once we release these next group of writings that we had, we're gonna put together an EP or an album of them, so everybody can get it as like a special order or through a company or whatever. This way they can have everything encompassed in in a CD vinyl. But the initial release is going to be based on singles. You know, everyone of Thespire songs, aside from the first couple albums, they each song is different, you know.

9:55 Speaker 2: So if you think a listen to our songs when we write, they will have a different feel, different emotions, or a different story to tell. Okay, I think we did that intentionally. We didn't want to be auditional. This album sounds like this. The new single that will be dropping the beginning of August and of July is a total different sound for us. It's still heavy and it's dark, but it's different. It's in a different direction from the rest of the music that we have out.

10:22 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, Yeah, you're your trajectory as far as the singles, and then eventually, you know, they coalesce into an EP. That's that's how a lot of artists seem to be doing it now too. It's kind of the kind of the inverse of what it used to be. You know, when I was growing up, it was you know, a band might release a single for an upcoming album. Single goes to radio six eight weeks before the album comes out. Then the album comes out, and then if everything goes well, you know, there might be a second single, there might be a third single.

10:50 Speaker 1: But now a lot of artists are doing it, you know, the inverse of that, like you described, you know, you release a series of singles that will eventually coalesce into an EP or an album. Just kind of the and it you know, and it makes sense. You know, you got to feed the algorithm. You got to keep people interested and uh.

11:05 Speaker 2: Exactly, yeah, you have to be relevant. You know, you have to keep it exactly what you said. You have to keep it rolling. You know, a good a good food of thought is you know, every five to six weeks if you can, you know, if you have the music written, you know, try to release something. You've got to keep yourself in everybody's face, right, And that's kind of how the music business is now. Yeah, it's not a collective work because an album people aren't going to listen to it unfortunately for you know, another two years.

11:36 Speaker 2: So you got to keep yourself relevant by throwing things out.

11:38 Speaker 1: Yeah, and what's the live, uh kind of touring situation for you guys, because obviously you're in an area where, uh, you know, there's there's such a great array of venues you can play out. Imagine, you know, it's such a vibrant scene there in New York. Are you guys playing out a lot? Are you doing a lot of shows? You're going on tour? What's what's been happening there?

12:00 Speaker 2: Well, we so before all this happened, you know, we were ramping up. We did a tour of Boba Flex and then we toured Canada and the Northeast with Life of Agony. So we were ramping up and we were just about ready to do a European leg and get into the festivals. And then, like we were talking before, Bam COVID hit. So our trajectory now is we're we're building up the fan base. If a good tour came up, you know, obviously it would be on the table, but we are really looking for a lot of like fly dates.

12:35 Speaker 2: We're trying to get into the festival scene. You know, we do want to actually come up to your area. We're looking into New Hampshire. We have right now, we're all working on dates in New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina. We have a show which is our comeback show on Long Island October sixteenth in New York. That's a Friday night. That is our next show that we have on the books. Yeah, you know, that's kind of where we're looking to be right now. The scene here, you know, and I'm sure it's it's kind of like that everywhere.

13:11 Speaker 2: Unfortunately for original music, it's it's very hard. It's not like it used to be. Every club, every bar wants cover bands and tribute bands now taking nothing away from those bands. You know, the club owners they don't care anymore honestly about promoting original music. It's all about, you know, the money and how what they can put in their pockets and how many people you can get through the door, and you know, and it's changeable. Back in the day, I'm sure you remember in the eighties. I mean, people went out to see music they didn't know.

13:44 Speaker 2: They wanted to reach out and find new bands and new things that would turn them on. And it's kind of not like that anymore. So you have to your job as someone in a band is a lot harder now, you know, from from my perspective.

13:59 Speaker 1: Yeah, well now you're competing with so much. You know, you're you're competing with Netflix and and uh and YouTube and and uh, you know, and and gaming and and all of it. There's there's so many things now. There's a lot more things that you can do at home now, uh, instead of going out that you couldn't do before. So so that's that's always a challenge.

14:23 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, that's like what I said before. You know, people don't need they don't have to go to see a band. You know, radios are put on YouTube. They could sit in their house, not spend any money and watch a video of the band live or a live stream and there it is. Yeah, which to me takes away from the whole purpose of live music. I like the vibe with the audience and the sound of a bass drum just like crushing your your ribs, and when you're there, it's like you can't experience that sitting in your living room exactly.

14:54 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, I agree. I agree. So October sixteenth is the next show for you guys. And you've got some other opportunities coming up. It sounds like, so that's that's great.

15:04 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're we're working on a lot of opportunities that will be announced in the upcoming weeks. So we'll be around Okay, you know we're gonna be heading out there and then especially going into next year, in the next festival season, you know you'll be seeing this fire a lot more.

15:20 Speaker 1: Oh, fantastic, fantastic. In a in a moment, we'll we'll let you go and we're gonna play. I've got another track here that I'm gonna play at the end of our conversation, Blue Sky Reborn. You've got a this is really and this show is a different side of you guys. Great song, but you've also got a guest vocalist on this.

15:43 Speaker 2: Yeah, so Alicia Rose. You know, I thought that she had the perfect voice. She's a she's a local musician from our area, and she has a great tone to her voice. And the story of Blue Sky I felt in the band members in the band, we all discussed this and we felt that it would fit perfect with what we were looking to do. So the original song Blue Sky, which is on our EP, it was written based on. Unfortunately in my life I had about seven times happened to me. I had to deal with suicide. So when the song was written, it was about the what the people who are left behind have to deal with and how you need to find ways of moving forward.

16:26 Speaker 2: That's kind of what the song is about. And now it's also taken on if a loved one has passed, you know, how do I get through this? So we wanted an answer to that, you know, we thought, let's do this acoustics, show a different side of the band and show someone which is her part answering back to you when you're asking them. You know, I'm looking searching for blue Skies. You know, I miss your voice, and now this person is answering you back and kind of saying, look, everything's okay, nothing was your fault, but I'm here for you.

16:56 Speaker 2: So that's kind of what Blue Sky Reborn is about.

16:59 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, yeah, it's a it's a great song. And by the way, did you say so seven times you've you've dealt with the people you know who've committed suicide.

17:11 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, and they between family members and very close friends. You know, it's uh something, Depression is real, you know, a lot of times you don't you don't know it. With the people that are going through it, they kind of just do it, yeah, you know, and it catches it by surprise, you know. But there are places out there, people to talk to, you know, and and thank god I have music and and you know, that's one way myself and the band members can talk about things. But hopefully it touches something and someone else and they're able to hear something and it helps them.

17:51 Speaker 2: Part of being an artist, you know, you want to help people. But unfortunately, yes, I had, I had to deal with that. I don't I don't want to deal with it anymore, but you got to find way to continue.

18:01 Speaker 1: Absolutely absolutely, And no, and I like what you said about depression too, you know as someone who I myself. I mean, I'm not suicidal, but I do deal with depression. And it's you know, mental health is something that a lot of the stigma has gone I think is a lot of the stigma has faded, but it's still something that we probably don't talk about enough.

18:20 Speaker 2: And yeah, it's you know, people deal with anxiety and depression and the way society is and the best thing to do is find an outlet you know, ending your life is not the answer, right because life is beautiful, you know, as there are things nature, you know, the materialistic things in the world don't mean anything, you know, family, health, you know, and being able to just experience what you have and the good things in life, you know. So there's so many ways you could talk to your problems out nowadays, you know, So don't be afraid to ask for help, right.

18:58 Speaker 1: Right, very well, well said, very well? Said uh, Rob, before we let you go and we're going to hit that track. But where's the best place for people to go online to keep up with everything that Despire is doing.

19:10 Speaker 2: Dispire dot com is our website, but really social media yeah, Facebook, Instagram, you know, those are the best place. We have a social media presence. You know, we send out newsblasts, we're always posting, so you'll definitely be able to find Aspire. You know, you can google our name, you'll see all kinds of things about us. Yeah, we're on Spotify, all the major digital networks. You can you can download our music YouTube, so where around?

19:43 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, Well that's another thing that's really changed, huh from before I it used to be social media. It changed everything.

19:50 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh yeah, it's it's crazy and we we again, you know, I'll even I'd like to speak to you about it another day too. We do want to come up to New Hampshire. We actually started looking into it, so maybe we can sooner than later get ourselves up there and and bring our crazy show. Because a Thespire show is not just five guys and I want to say four guys and a young lady up on the stage. We put on an event because we come from the Iron Maiden. You know. To me, when you go see a band live, the music, yeah, you know, we want the music to be good, but do you want to shape reality?

20:26 Speaker 2: You know, you want to come see a.

20:28 Speaker 1: Show exactly That's what we do. Oh yeah, oh hell yeah yeah.

20:31 Speaker 2: Hopefully we'll be seeing you up in New Hampshire, in that New England area real soon, I hope.

20:35 Speaker 1: So I would love it. I would love it absolutely. All right, Rob, we'll let you go. We're going to hit that track Blue Sky Reborn. But thank you so much for joining us, and thank you for being flexible about the the WhatsApp and the phone line and everything. We appreciate that as.

20:48 Speaker 2: Well, no problem, Matt, and I want to thank you for your time and having to spire, you know, grace your airways and to speak with us. I appreciate it.

20:59 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely no, we appreciate you. Rob. All right, thank you so much, and I'm sure we'll talk again soon.

21:05 Speaker 2: We will, all right, see you that everybody, by bye?

21:08 Speaker 1: All right. That is Rob from the band Despire and again this track shows a different side of the band and their sound. But this is really good. This is Blue Sky Reborn with Alicia Rose is also on the track singing this is really good. Check this out.