Metal Monday: Reinventing the Paris hardcore scene with Danforth (Q&A)
posted in: Artist Features • Features • Rock
Though the appearance and sound of hardcore music and hip hop music have very striking differences, they share some common ground. Stemming from political frustrations, these genres were born and raised in the underground music scene. Paris-based Danforth are looking to close this style gap even more with their destructive hardcore sound mixed with their distinctly hip hop-styled vocals. The band is on a mission to make it to the top, leveling crowds and venues in their wake of brutality and destruction.
MtD: First off, why Danforth? Where does the name stem from?
D: Danforth comes from Bill Danforth, the famous 80s old school skater. He had an hardcore way of skating, and we have the same feeling when playing our music. Most of us come from skate, as you can see.
It’s also both common family name and original name for a band.
MtD: Okay, so you you guys are somewhat of a supergroup that formed in the wake of a few other bands. How did Danforth come together?
D: At first (2003) Danforth was Tit at drums, Stefan and Asmok at guitars, they have done the instrumental soundtrack for the Seat AutoEmocion TV ads. Then Sid (Les Tambours Du Bronx) came at bass and Zoom at voice. In 2005 Sly (coming from Covenant, famous Paris Hardcore band in 90s) took the mic and brought his hXc and hip hop style and influences. 2006 saw Alex from Covenant, Streetlaw and 91AllStars take the bass, and this is the actual formation.
Danforth is pure chaos live
MtD: How many of those projects are still going, and is Danforth only a temporary band until you guys go back to your other projects?
D: Danforth is in no way a temporary band but a main project. There’s two projects still in activity in parallel of Danforth: Blazcooky (Tit’s other band, more punk) and 91AllStars (Alex’s other band). The 1st album work in progress, and a full-3D clip (yes, like Toy Story but not for children!) on Predator will be up for the end of 2009!
MtD: So, given your other bands and influences, Danforth is considered street hXc “ what exactly does that mean?
D: The voice of Danforth is a urban one, this cash talking and hip hop style of the band coming from the street culture mixed with Hardcore, punk and metal give street hardcore as we name it. Think about E.Town Concrete for example.
Crime In Hell, Familia
MtD: Is the street hXc a big scene of music in Paris?
D: As every underground scene is, it’s full of life and energy, with many other bands also linked to hardcore and metal, but in France it’s not really a big scene as you mean it. It’s more a mentality and a way of life and doing music for us.
MtD: Alright, so one last question, a bit off-topic: If you could play a show with any two other bands (alive or dead, together or broken up) who would it be and why?
D: Body Count and Biohazard! Because they are icons of the meet between metal and gangsta hip-hop.
We could have answered Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Skarhead, Walls Of Jericho and many more from European scene as Knuckledust, No Turning Back, Final Prayer… but we already played with them!
Hear some of their tunes from the latest EP, NO FEAR 2 BLEED below. If you want a sneak peek at their live show, check out their Germany Tour 2009 video.
If that piqued your interests, check out some of the stuff they’ve worked on: Demo OpusOne in 2006, Destroy The Past (sold out split CD with 91AllStars, now available online again on iTunes, Amazon and so on) in 2007, Paris Rising (split CD with Hardside) in 2008, and NO FEAR 2 BLEED, EP Digipack out in 2009 available online on our Big Cartel site and many hardcore distributors worldwide.