Crimson Moon: How did the band get started?
Ben: Gaby and I have been friends since we met at band camp as teenagers. I moved into a spare room in her apartment in Brooklyn after I finished college and we started the band soon after that.
Crimson Moon: What kind of music do you play?
Gaby: Some kind of blend of indie, shoegaze, and dream pop, I think.
Crimson Moon: How has the band response been?
Ben: People have been really receptive so far, which is super encouraging and we’re really grateful.
Crimson Moon: Where did the band name come from?
Ben: We were working on our first demo but we didn’t have a name yet for this project, so we spent a while combining words we thought were interesting until we got something we liked. One night I saw a bottle of honey mustard sitting on a table, and the band name suddenly clicked.
Crimson Moon: Introduce the band members.
Gaby: I sing and play rhythm guitar and piano sometimes, Ben plays lead guitar and keys sometimes, David plays bass, and Ian plays drums.
Crimson Moon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Gaby: We have an EP called “Shard To Shatter”, a single called “Skinless”, and two demos.
Crimson Moon: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
Ben: Our most recent release is the single Skinless. On it we took some big swings and experimented with noise and ambiance in ways we haven’t before, and leaned more into our punk influences.
Crimson Moon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Gaby: Ben and I write music and I write the lyrics.
Crimson Moon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Gaby: I largely aim to tackle the difficult topics that I feel we prefer to run from or repress, but I really hope to bring solace to those who may be going through something themselves.
Crimson Moon: Has the Covid Pandemic impacted the band at all?
Ben: Quite a bit. We formed shortly before the start of the pandemic, and had just begun playing live shows when everything got canceled. We spend the better part of the pandemic focusing on writing and home recording, but now that we’re all vaxxed and venues are open again, we’re hitting the live scene again!
Crimson Moon: Do you have any side projects?
Ben: David has a to-be-titled metal project that we all play in, but on different instruments than we do in War Honey. David sings and plays guitar, I play bass, and Gaby drums.
Crimson Moon: What is the music scene like where you guys are from?
Ben: We’re from New York City, so there’s a lot going on at all times. There’s way too much happening to keep track of everything, but I see that as a good problem to have.
Crimson Moon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Gaby: My favorite band is Modest Mouse, I think Isaac Brock is a genius. I have backgrounds in hardcore drumming and classical singing, which I feel seeps into the sound. I also love Leonard Cohen and Florence + The Machine.
Ben: My biggest influences on guitar are probably Frank Zappa, Kevin Shields, Yvette Young, and Jimi Hendrix, but my favorite band of all time is the Pixies.
Crimson Moon: What is the band like when you play live?
Gaby: We definitely have a heavier sound live than what we’ve done in the studio thus far. We’re thinking our next recording might mimic the live sound more.
Crimson Moon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Gaby: Nope, but we hope to very soon!
Crimson Moon: How has the fan response been to the band?
Ben: So far, very positive. We’re building a base faster than we expected in a pandemic, which has been awesome and humbling to see.
Crimson Moon: What made you want to be in this band?
Ben: I’d always wanted to play in a texture-driven indie rock band, so this band perfect opportunity to explore those sounds.
Gaby: We’re also all great friends and have lots of fun together.
Crimson Moon: If you weren’t in this band would you still be involved in the music industry?
Gaby: Yes, of course. We’ve all been in other bands before this, and we’ve been lucky enough to find a project that works for us, but I’m sure we all have every intention to keep going as long as we can.
Crimson Moon: As a musician what advice can you give to fellow musician just starting out?
Ben: Try your best to create something new, not recreate something someone else did.
Crimson Moon: What does the future hold for the band?
Ben: Hopefully, an alien invasion and full-length album.
“Thanks again for interviewing us!
Best, -Ben and Gaby.”
Contact them at:
https://warhoneyband.wixsite.com/webpage
https://www.facebook.com/warhoneyband
https://www.instagram.com/warhoneyband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd-3Zn6Nx1ORlRnpphHHw1A
