This Burning City are an alternative-hardcore band hailing from Gananoque, Ontario, Canada. Our Music Editor Lorna Holland caught up with the boys for a chat.
Hi! Would you like to introduce yourselves?
Hey there! We’re This Burning City from Gananoque, Ontario. Our band name sucks and our music’s not much better! Hahaha just kidding.
How did you first become interested in music?
We all became interested in music at a pretty young age. I can’t really vouch for everyone else but I know I personally can say that it’s always been a part of my life. I think everyone kind of has dreams of being a rock star while listening to their favourite band… We just took that extra step and formed a band.
How did the band come about?
Most of us met in grade school way back in the day and found ourselves liking similar music. After going to a Dead and Divine show, we grabbed some instruments and started getting together to jam. Eventually we found our direction and started playing shows and events, eventually picking up Nick on bass much later in college. We didn’t know what to expect back then, or the amount of commitment and time this would end up taking, but we love every minute of it.
Who are your musical influences?
Without a doubt, our major influences are The Chariot, Dead and Divine, Every Time I Die and Stray From The Path.
Which of your songs is your favourite?
Personally, my favourite song is ‘Feed The Machine’. I love how fast-paced it is, all the little guitar tid-bits that are tossed in, and on our recorded version we feature an outstanding vocalist named Todd Barriage.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
Well lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Oh Sleeper, Fit For A King, and La Dispute. I know we’re pretty stuck in our ways and listen to the same stuff day in day out. But sometimes we do try new stuff.
What’s your favourite lyric?
Well we used to have a shirt with the words, “You may be starving the hungry but you’re feeding the flame” on it so I’m just going to go ahead and say that’s probably the one. That’s from ‘Feed The Machine’.
Describe your music in 3 words.
Chaotic, heavy and diverse.
Why did you choose your name?
We chose This Burning City out of a need for a name. Way back when, This Burning City was going to be used as a song name but because we didn’t have a name, we thought it sounded pretty cool and decided to stick with it. Nowadays we realise the mistakes of our past and how naive we were. But hey, we’re stuck with it and in the end it’s about the music not the name.
What are your most and least favourite things about being in a band?
My favourite thing is meeting new people, playing new places and making new friends. You get to share your art with the world and see the world appreciate it back. My least favourite part is all the money involved, all the scummy people out there ready to use you for their own benefit, and the tendency of other artists to lash at your neck to try and get ahead.
How do you get inspiration?
Well, I think we tend to get our inspiration from going to shows. Whenever we seem in a creative rut, we hit up a show and watch some of our favourite bands play and it tends to make things start moving again which is pretty awesome. I know whenever we watch Prophets play it’s like a whole new world of writing happens.
What are your interests outside of music?
Well Steve, our vocalist, likes games and hanging with friends. Jobin likes to make various forms of art and is a superhero by night. Mitch likes to cook and be a taxi service for everyone in Gananoque…
Make sure to check out This Burning City on Facebook to keep up to date with everything TBC related!
Are you a fan of This Burning City? Let us know in the comments below!
