April 2021

HOMETOWN

Amsterdam

YEAR FORMED

2018

BAND MEMBERS

Jan Bijlsma (bass)

  Noah Grim (guitar)

  Robert Spaninks (drums)

  Jasper roelofsen (vox)

*Jasper answered these questions.*

SORRY, BUT WE HAVE TO ASK … WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOUR BAND NAME?

It came out that way! We were searching for a way to explain the driving factor behind our band, our music has always been very close to our hearts, we write about things that really matter to us, but that we believe also really matter to a lot of people. We were searching for a way to explain what could combine the elements of, hardship, love, trust, friendship and perseverance. That's when we decided all of these combined could be seen as: The Last Element – When we are together, we are stronger!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEONE WHO HASN’T YET HEARD YOUR MUSIC?

We want to say we sound like The Last Element, that makes us unique! Each of our songs is packed with heartfelt lyrics and vocals, backed up by heavy and epic guitar and bass grooves. With killer drums laying the foundation for it all. There is a lot going on, but it has a distinct sound that blends perfectly. I think most of our fans will easily recognize us among the many bands. Furthermore we focus on the music, we believe it’s a story we tell about everyone, we write music most can relate to and understand. It’s not about us, it’s about you!

HOW DOES THE BAND FLESH OUT A SONG FROM START (IDEA IN YOUR HEAD) TO FINISH (RECORDING)?

The start of a song can be a piano melody or Noah writes a killer hook, or Jan has some killer loops, it’s all possible we always just take it from a certain vibe and build on that. After that we just let it flow! But from there we really start looking at the song as a whole, what the best fit is for the melody, the vocals etc. It's a lot of fine tuning! We really want the songs to turn out as good as they can be, sometimes that means rewriting large parts, sometimes it means we just shelve it for a year or longer and get back at it when we have inspiration again. When everything is recorded and we have the right parts then we jump into mixing which is the hard work of Jan en Noah mostly, and me and Robert just complaining about stuff ;)! But in the end that’s what really works for us!

WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BEST SONG YOU EVER RELEASED, AND WHY?

Hmm tricky, I would always say new songs cause you are still so invested and working on them right now, but from current song roster, it might be Damaged, the song itself isn’t really that popular, but I feel like it has all the elements (;D) to be one solid rock anthem. The lyrics, the flow, the parts it’s all there! We might redo it one day to mix it better and let it shine a little bit more. But yeah for sure check it out and really listen to the lyrics.

ANY MUSIC VIDEOS PLANNED OR IN PRODUCTION?

Yeah Actually! We got one coming out for our new song "Cut it off" I think it should be done in a week or so! So stay tuned on our youtube channel :)

LET’S GEEK OUT FOR A SECOND … TELL US WHAT YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PIECE OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT IS RIGHT NOW.

Haha well I sing so for me it’s simple, it’s my Slate VMS I love it, it’s perfect for my voice :D

WHICH MUSICIAN OR BAND INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

Hmm a hard one, in our genre it would be Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon, but we listen to everything and even golden oldies can really inspire us. In the end we just try to make what we love not trying to fit a certain mold or sound.

AN ALBUM THAT’S HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOU.

Roots from Sepultura, I remember getting that baby… I was blown away.

VOCALIST YOU ADMIRE THE MOST?

Damn there are so many!! But I fell in love with Chester's voice a long time ago, he can do it all, heavy screams and pure pure melodies. Freddy is another favorite, I mean that guy even live it’s always spot on, I saw his documentary and right up until the day he died he just kept making songs and his voice still sounded strong. Immense respect.

ROLLING STONES OR THE BEATLES?

Beatles for sure, I mean it’s just better in every way, the stones are good songwriters for sure, but beatles have them beat on all fronts.

IF POSSIBLE, DESCRIBE WHAT PERFORMING LIVE FEELS LIKE FOR YOU.

I just sink into it, I really put my all into the lyrics and really go back to the feelings I felt when writing and experiencing them. Mostly after a show I’m totally drained, but I love it, it let’s me dive deep into the soul reason why I started making music and the response of the fans is always amazing.

IF YOU WERE SECOND ON A THREE-BAND BILL, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU LOVE TO BE SUPPORTING AND WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO OPEN FOR YOU? [GOOD CHANCE TO PLUG A NEWER BAND YOU REALLY LIKE]

We would love to support BMTH, I think that would be such an amazing package!! Then to open a cool local band is Life’s electric, they also fit the bill perfectly! Damn that would be an epic show, we’d just be hanging in the crowd enjoying the amazing bands almost forgetting we need to play as well ;)

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR FANS GET FROM YOUR MUSIC? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE THEM TO KNOW?

Each of our songs are inspired by life, my life mostly, but honestly it’s not about me it’s about you! The people listening to it, cause I’m pretty sure each of us has had similar feelings and can relate. In that way I want people to get what I got, a reason to always aim for happiness, something to hold on to. For me that’s writing music, being with loved ones and feeling free. Our music aims to be all of that within songs, we try to translate those feelings into music. We want to be honest and clear with people, but also be a lifeline, something to hold on to always!

MOST DON’T ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT ... CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN. CLOSE YOUR EYES AND VISUALIZE WHAT YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR ULTIMATE SUCCESS. WHAT DO YOU SEE?

World stages, epic music festivals, and platinum records !! Haha yeah we like to dream big! I think we have music that can really go big, it all depends on the right moment and right songs, we just keep working hard until we realize the dream one day. I mean the best thing that could happen would be a show were all the fans are singing along, that feeling would be crazy.

WHAT ARE YOU DETERMINED TO SEE HAPPEN FOR YOUR BAND IN THE NEXT YEAR?

We hope to have some cool shows again, it’s been such a long time, even before covid the drummer broke his leg so we were out of it, then covid started and now it’s been so long…. So yeah we can’t wait to have some cool shows again.

Another thing, we really want to have more songs hit editorial playlists on spotify and apple and the likes. We’ve been pretty lucky with landing a couple of them, we would like to continue down that path, cause each time it feels great to be on a list among the biggest bands, really fires our spirits to not only be on the playlists with them, but also on festivals and shows.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUED MATERIAL POSSESSION?

My 2 kitty cats :D !! haha yeah honestly I would always pick them… but another thing might be, the hard drive of my computer, all the recordings everything is right there, so yeah losing that would suckkkk.

IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR “GO-TO” PLAYLIST RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS WE’D SEE?

Ok my playlist is honestly epic but never ending, i'll give you a quick taste: Cane Hill, I Prevail, BMTH, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Kingdom of Giants, Slaves, Blessthefall, Spiritbox, Don Broco, ERRA, Periphery, Architects, the color morale, Currents, Too close to touch, well you get the drift…

BEST BAND NAME YOU EVER HEARD?

Falling in reverse, I just like it, it’s cheeky.

VINYL RECORDS, CASSETTES, CD’s, OR DOWNLOADS?

Downloads for sure, like to keep it all in a list and listen on shuffle, can’t do that with anything else.

AN ALBUM YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF LISTENING TO.

Mechanical Animals by Marilyn Manson, it’s just timeless, another one would be Three Dollar Bill by LB Honestly they still sound sooo good even after more then 20 years.

WHAT SONG ARE YOU CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH?

"Talk To A Friend" by slaves, I can have it on repeat for hours, it’s pure brilliance.

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