by Anabel DFlux
– Sr. Photojournalist —
Fate DeStroyed is a brand new powerhouse to hit the Los Angeles music scene- founded by Franccesca De Struct, Fate DeStroyed “is breaking new ground with a fierce new take on the Metal status quo. With influences ranging from Deftones and Trivium, to Nine Inch Nails, Fate DeStroyed is a female fronted audio assault combining raw emotion, visceral guitars and driving synths to leverage the gap between the hard-hitting 90’s Industrial and Modern Heavy Metal.” With a brand new single “Break Free” having been released on May 3rd, now was the perfect time to catch up with the frontwoman and pick her brain on this profound new project.
Hardrock Haven: Hey there! Thank you so much for chatting with me today, how are you?
Franccesca De Struct: No, thank you for having me! I’m doing really well… things have been phenomenally busy but in the best possible way.
Hardrock Haven: Tell me about Fate DeStroyed. How did this project come to be?
Franccesca: I moved to LA to pursue dreams of being a bass player in a successful band. I got to do some really fantastic things playing bass for bands, and during that time, I started learning how to write my own music. So in between shows, and work, and life, I started putting together songs, not really thinking much of it. It was for ME, you know? A way to let out the feelings I had in a meaningful, productive way. In any case, after I had gotten a few songs together, I started to realize that maybe something could really come of it and decided to put my energy into getting talented, driven people together to help me turn the music into a reality. I met Jonni (my guitar player) and eventually all the right pieces came together with Nathan and Ben joining the team. Having this random group of people from different backgrounds, who all share the same drive to make music, come together to make the band a reality has really been something special.
Hardrock Haven: What is your musical background?
Franccesca: Music has been a very important aspect of my entire life. My stepfather worked in the music industry and so music has always been there. I started off playing in jr high band, then I played all through high school. I picked up the bass when I was 14, and that is what I originally moved to Los Angeles to do. Singing isn’t new for me, but fronting a band definitely is (laughs).
Hardrock Haven: Let us chat about the most important element- the music. How would you describe Fate DeStroyed’s sound to people?
Franccesca: That’s really a good question because it’s difficult to pinpoint. I would say we are a dark, emotionally driven band with a good mix of melodic beauty and unsettling grit. The music is heavy, but with synth-driven overtones. It’s a good middle ground between metal and Hard Rock.
Hardrock Haven: Why do you gravitate towards this heavier genre of music, what draws you into it?
Franccesca: For me, like most people, music is an expression of feelings that I couldn’t get out any other way. I like music I relate to, I like music that makes me feel something and makes feel connected to other people who feel the same. I love the intensity, I love the aggression, I love that it feels so authentic to the human condition.
Hardrock Haven: How did you meet your bandmates?
Franccesca: I actually had a different incarnation of this project back in 2016 and Jonni Law (guitar) played shows with me back then. I took a bit of a hiatus from music for a while, but 2017 I made some changes in my life and decided it was time to get serious about getting my music out to the world. I knew that if I could show people a taste of what I had to offer, that finding the right people would be much easier. I filmed a music video for the single “Break Free” with Matt Zane, posted the teaser and told everyone I knew that I was looking for members. My former drummer Josh introduced me to Ben (Drummer) and Nathan (Bass) was suggested to me by a friend as well. It took a long time to find the right people, but I am so happy I found the bandmates I did.
Hardrock Haven: I hear you have some new music coming up. Can you tell me about the production? The writing process?
Franccesca: I had actually written the basic structure of what would later become break free for the band I with which I was playing bass. It was a bit too heavy for the band, so I worked on it myself, recorded a demo at home and I brought it over to my best friend Carlton Bost (of Orgy and Berlin). Carlton is an amazing producer, and as close to family as someone could be. We worked on the single and a couple other songs together. He helped me get it to the level I wanted, and now it’s out in the world. The band is working on our first EP, which will be a mix of songs we are writing together and the songs that I wrote individually.
The writing process is such a cathartic, rewarding experience. It’s very hard to describe the feeling of having an idea and then painstakingly finding a way to express that complex idea in a song which is only 3-4 minutes long.
Hardrock Haven: What can fans expect from a live show?
Franccesca: I really can’t tell you how important having an interesting, engaging and energetic live show is to me. I feel like having a memorable, well thought out, the visually stunning stage show is what separates bands that will be, and won’t be successful. We are just now in the first stages of designing what exactly we want in our live show; but I can tell you that it will be exciting, it will be heavy, and you will remember us.
Hardrock Haven: I hear you have a music video releasing soon with Matt Zane. What can you tell me about it? Is there a story to it?
Franccesca: The music video for Break Free was an insanely amazing experience; but also a really stressful one. It was the first time I had ever had to coordinate something like that, and there was so much I wanted to express in the video that nailing down the perfect combination of elements was really overwhelming. Thankfully, Matt Zane is amazing, and he walked me through the process and helped me realize my vision one step at a time.
The video has some surprises – so I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that it closely reflects the lyrics in the song. Break free is about the struggle in all of us, between who we are and who we want to be; or between who we are, and who we think we are. I try to explore both sides of the story in the video.
Hardrock Haven: What is your outlook on the music industry today?
Franccesca: I think, like most people, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it’s amazing to constantly have so many bands and such good music all ready for immediate consumption at all times. I love that now, you don’t have to be on the biggest label to get your music out there because there are so many communities online who are supportive and share music with their friends. On the other hand, with so many bands putting out music, it’s harder than ever to stand out. The competition is very intense, and the measure of success changes all the time.
Honestly, though, I think that as long as people continue to support music, continue to go to shows and buy merch and albums from their favorite bands, that there will always be an industry; it may just have to change its M.O. to survive in a world that is changing so rapidly.
Hardrock Haven: What are your goals with this project?
Franccesca: My goals are to share our music with as many people as possible, travel the world, make something meaningful that people relate to. I would love to share the stage with bands I grew up with; and if I ever got to the point of success where I could help other musicians realize their dreams, then I want to do that as well. I have big dreams, but they have to be – otherwise I wouldn’t work so hard.
Hardrock Haven: Any words for your fans before we conclude this interview?
Franccesca: Thank you to anyone who takes a moment out of their day to listen to us, share our music, follow what we do. Thank you to everyone in my band for working so hard, and thank you to all of my amazing and supportive friends who have helped this idea become a reality. There is so much more to come and I am so grateful you are a part of it.
Hardrock Haven: Thank you!
Connect with Fate DeStroyed Here:
http://fatedestroyed.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FateDeStroyed/
http://www.instagram.com/fate_destroyedband
http://www.reverbnation.com/fatedestroyed
