by John Kindred
– Publisher —
Chris Musser band From Ashes to New is currently on tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, and In This Moment. Musser discusses the upcoming release of the bands new studio album, Day One, the group’s influences and the band’s relatively new arrival to the music scene …
Hardrock Haven: Hello Chris thanks for taking the time to talk with me today. Your band From Ashes to New is fairly “new” to the music scene … where are you guys from? How did the group come to fruition?
Chris Musser: We are all from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and we all had our different bands over the years and played shows together in our local scene and surrounding states. But eventually all those bands fell apart and then i started focusing on my art career and my other job at the time, restoring airplanes.
So when Matt came to me with the idea for From Ashes to New I wasn’t so sure if I wanted to do it or not. But Matt eventually won me over, I put my art on hold and we started finishing up the five songs on our first EP. Then one after another the rest of the guys started falling into place, we all knew each other so we all clicked immediately. We never really planned for this to grow into what it is now. I had just planned on selling our music online and playing locally again. But the fans spread it like wild fire and next thing I knew here we are leaving our comfortable lives behind and going into the unknown after the dream that we all had been working for for so many years.
Hardrock Haven: How did you guys come up with the band name?
Chris Musser: The name From Ashes to New came from a song lyric that Matt and I had from a previous band that never really went anywhere. But it kind of symbolizes the fact that all of our other metal bands burnt out over the years, and we all pulled together to make this new combination or cross breed of different genres. This Metal Rock Cocktail!
That’s where it kind of came from but what it has come to mean to me now is that this life is full of people place situations that eventually no longer suite you and you have to be conscious of when your being held you back, and be aware of when to move on. I like to try to not burn bridges in the process but some situations you got to make sure you don’t relive those mistakes so sometimes you got to burn the bridge to start a new!
Hardrock Haven: Earlier this year you released the Downfall EP. For those new to From Ashes to New can talk about the groups influences.
Chris Musser: Matt is the Rap guy he is the one with the Hip Hop influence, I have listened to some Rap in my life such as DMX, Busta Rhymes etc. but Rap was never a big influence for me. A few of my influences are Alice in Chains, Pantera, Sevendust, Alexisonfire, glassjaw, 36 Crazy Fists and Of Mice & Men.
Hardrock Haven: How did those influences shape the band’s sound and identity?
Chris Musser: I think having so many people in one band with so many different influences really brings a lot to the table, a lot of different options and minds to bounce ideas off of. We just sit down and write music that we want to hear.
Hardrock Haven: How did you land a recording contract with Better Noise Records?
Chris Musser: Our management helped us land the record deal with Better Noise.
Hardrock Haven: You are currently on tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, and In This Moment. How has this experience been for the band?
Chris Musser: Yes we are currently on tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach and In This Moment. It has been an amazing experience and we are so grateful to get this opportunity to share the stage with amazing bands! If you have not seen any of these bands live you are missing out.
Hardrock Haven: Looks like your full length debut will be released in 2016, what can fans expect?
Chris Musser: Yes our album “DAY ONE” will be released in 2016, we tried to not stray too far from what our first EP was but I think we have all grown as musicians and song writers and i hope that that shows through on this album.
Hardrock Haven: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, anything that you want to add that I didn’t ask?
Chris Musser: I just want to say that we owe everything to the fans and really appreciate all the support that they have shown us throughout the life of FATN. Everyone is doing a great job at requesting our new single “Through It All” on Octane SiriusXM and local FM radio stations. It’s really with their help spreading the word to everybody they can that has gotten us to where we are today and we are forever grateful.
Visit the band online: http://www.fromashestonew.com/
