Raw and Real: The Forensics' Authentic Indie Vibe
Written by: Freya Zaidi
Meet The Forensics - a dynamic quartet consisting of Liam, Jamie, Jordan, and Dan - burst onto the indie music scene, fueled by a shared passion for music and an unwavering drive. What began as Liam's solo endeavor soon evolved into a powerful foursome, with Dan and Jordan joining the ranks, breathing life into their sonic exploration.
Guided by the hand of producer Tom Hale, The Forensics have fearlessly embarked on a journey through the bustling realm of indie music, carving a distinctive path for themselves. Their live shows are a true embodiment of the infectious energy that mirrors the magnetic allure of their music. Once you step into their world, you'll find yourself irresistibly drawn into their tracks, losing yourself in the captivating soundscape they create.
What sets The Forensics apart is their unwavering passion for their craft. While they harbor ambitious dreams and aspirations, it's their genuine love for the craft that shines the brightest. This profound connection with their art allows them to create from a place of authenticity, where each note and lyric resonates with raw emotion. It's this sheer joy and dedication that infuses every melody with a remarkable energy, making The Forensics a band that not only performs music but lives and breathes it, captivating hearts with their sincere approach to the indie music scene.
Embark on this journey with us as we had the chance to delve into The Forensics' journey, influences, aspirations during a conversation with Liam.
Could you introduce yourselves and give us a glimpse into how your band came together? What motivated you all to form the band?
We are Liam, Jamie, Jordan and Dan
Liam was originally playing as a solo artist after leaving university and when moving back home got back in touch with Jamie who he went to school with and they decided to try out playing Liam’s solo ideas as a duo before eventually asking Dan and Jordan to join as a band. We then decided that we wanted to switch the dynamic from a solo artist with backing band to a full and equal band
How do you capture the essence of your recorded music during your live shows? What can audiences expect from your live performances?
We always write songs from a perspective of playing them live. So when we head into the studio with an idea of a song to record the bones of it are what we have been playing live. We then add some more bits in the studio and we adjust from there so our fans do tend to hear our songs go on a journey and develop the more we play them
Your fan base must be growing. How do you engage with your fans, both online and at live shows?
We come from quite a small town and the demand for indie bands has been low for such a long time but we feel like recently there’s been a resurgence of people wanting to go out and watch a band they’ve probably never heard of. We try our best to let them know how much it means to us and how grateful we are for their support and we’ve been able to build some really good relationships with our fans by doing that.
Bands naturally evolve over time. How do you feel your music has progressed since your formation, and what can fans expect from your future releases?
I think when we first started recording our music we weren’t really sure who we were or what we wanted to sound like as we have so many big influences on our music taste. We’ve found that working with a producer who we really trust and enjoy working with in Tom Hale has allowed us to push our boundaries and be a lot more open with our writing. This has helped the songs get more of a raw feel to them.
Are there any dream collaborations or local artists you'd love to work with? Additionally, what are some dream venues or festivals you aspire to perform at?
Liam is a huge fan of Johnny Marr from The Smiths and sent him a DM asking him to join us on stage at our gig at Night and Day Cafe in Manchester to play our cover of Bigmouth Strikes Again. We’re still waiting for a DM back though!
I think for any British band festivals such as Glastonbury and venues such as Wembley are always on the wish list.
Touring can lead to some memorable experiences especially when opening for people like The Snuts and Andrew Cushin. Can you share a particularly funny or heartwarming story from your time on the road that reflects the band's camaraderie?
Not a particular story as such but when we were given the opportunity to support bands such as The Snuts and Andrew Cushin there’s always an element of being starstruck and not knowing how to be around them but they were extremely friendly, down to earth people as well as their teams and they made us all feel very at welcome at their shows.
What would you say is your favourite/ most memorable show or venue thus far ?
Our most memorable show would be our headline gig at our local venue The Ferret where we supported Andrew Cushin. To see someone like Andrew sell that venue out as the support band and then to have a sell out for own headline gig there really made us feel like we were reaching a higher level in our career.
The indie scene is characterized by DIY spirit. How do you handle the responsibilities of self-promotion and artistic creation?
The promotion aspect is really hard as we all work full time jobs and want to focus on creating as much as we can but we try to just be ourselves and keep a natural flow to what we do with promotion
What do you see as the next chapter for your band? Are there any upcoming projects, tours, or aspirations you'd like to share?
We’ve got more music recorded and we’re hoping to close out the year with a good run of shows too!
The concept of "making it" in the music industry varies for different artists. What does success mean to your band, and how do you measure it?
We would ideally just like to be in the band as a full time job! We’re working class lads who love music so just being able to quit the day job and do what we love is the dream!
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Before we wrap things up, let me share a little tidbit that stood out during our conversation. The Forensics each have their unique pre-show rituals, which perfectly mirror their individual personalities. When it comes to Liam, for example, he cranks up the energy dial with a dose of music magic. He blasts some upbeat tracks and passionately belts out the lyrics, not only priming his vocal cords but also riding the adrenaline wave that comes with impending showtime. What's intriguing is Liam's choice to step onto the stage with a clear head, skipping the traditional pre-show drink. It's a deliberate choice aimed at keeping the performance crisp and intense, ensuring that pre-show rush isn't diluted in any way. A refreshing approach in my humble opinion.
As we conclude our conversation with The Forensics, it's abundantly clear that their passion for music is the driving force behind their artistry. This band's story, deeply rooted in camaraderie and an unwavering love for sonic exploration, is only just beginning. Their dedication to the craft is palpable, and it's something to behold. We can't wait to witness them scale new heights in the music world. Be sure to follow them on their social media channels and delve into their music; it's a journey you won't want to miss. The Forensics are a testament to the boundless joy of creating music, and they're here to take us all along for the ride.
Twiter/X: @Forensicsband
Instagram: @forensicsband