AWAKEN is an Alternative/Hard Rock band that brings an ‘in your face’ experience that will leave you wanting more. Bringing powerful melodies mixed with hard hitting guitar riffs and thought provoking lyrical material. Awaken is composed of Chad Griffin on Vocals, Dustin Simpson on Guitar, Chase “Sludge” Reagan on bass, and Jimi Wilkins on drums.
AWAKEN have released their next single “Stained Glass” from their upcoming album Monsters and Machines due out in 2021. Having signed with TLG Entertainment the band continues to take each track and raise it another level. Having set course with TLG Entertainment with their first single “Behemoth” AWAKEN defines their sound and deeper-reaching lyrics higher and higher as “Stained Glass” proves. AWAKEN is powerful rock that surges onwards and upwards.
Check the music video for “Stained Glass” from ‘Monsters and Machines’
Please tell us about the history of AWAKEN. How did you meet? How did the band form? What is the meaning of the name AWAKEN? How was it chosen? What was the first AWAKEN show like?
Chad and Dustin played together in different bands with a few name changes. Grew up writing together since high school. Decided to go on the road to make it more serious and full time and joined up with drummer Jimi, Chase played in a band called the Protest that we toured with. Long story short, he parted ways with that band for personal reasons and ended up with us years later to replace our previous bass player that had moved to Florida. The name came about when we had just changed the name we had come from we had to a longer name with the word Awake in the title when we met up with new members and the person designing merch suggested shortening and we liked the idea of something that was 1 word and stood out with a powerful message to itself and it stuck.
Please tell us about your new album ‘Monsters & Machines’. What is your writing process? What was the recording process like? How long did it take?
It all actually came together pretty quickly. With things being shut down and not as much to be able to do… we were able to meet up over the weekends for 5-6 weeks and write and record the whole record. It was a very different but fun process. We feel personally, that it is our best work… and we are our own worst critics. We hope the fans will enjoy it and feel that way as well.
What is your favorite song from ‘Monsters & Machines’?
We all have different ones. Each one has a special place. I think “The Dessert” is one that is a huge stand out for most of us. It’s the ending ballad and has a totally different feel than the rest of the record. “Dramatic” may be the best all-around track though. There is a lot that stands out to us. Sometimes that question as like asking you to pick your fav kid. Ha, it’s something you never really want to do.
Tell us about your most recent single “Behemoth”?
Behemoth is a song about calling out to God to help fight off the inner demons that keep trying to surface through human struggle.
Who would you list as your biggest musical influences? What are your favorite songs?
We have a ton of influences musically and lyrically may be different… but anything from Sevendust, Living Sacrifice, Killswitch Engage, Chevelle, Demon Hunter, Linkin Park just to name a few. We each have different ones individually.
What are listening to currently?
Right now the new 10 Years, Fit For a King have been spinning a lot along with shuffling through random other stuff, ha
How would you describe your style?
Melodic hard rock with a mixture of elevator music to throw you off. 😉
What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
The message within each song while hopefully having a few riffs stuck in your head.
You know that when releasing new music or any art to the public, everyone becomes a critic. Do you read all the press your music has received? If so, how does it affect you?
So far we have been blessed with a lot of it being positive. We know the negative will come and we take constructive criticism well. We just use it to try to make us better.
If it is not constructive we just ignore and don’t let it get to us.
When you are playing live, do you get nervous? Have you ever had a moment where you flubbed a musical part and found yourself lost? When this happens, what do you do?
No, to the nervous part… always more excited. yes, we mess up parts all the time. We just get right back on like nothing happened. You just can’t make it obvious, ha.
Playing live, you are on stage giving a part of yourself to the crowd. Does it annoy you that you look up and see smartphones recording the performance? Do you feel it takes away from the experience for the fans? Also, does it take away from your part of having to play?
Honestly not really… it is the times we are in now. We’ve been guilty ourselves recording bands we like. It doesn’t affect anything we are doing.
For someone that has never seen AWAKEN perform, describe your live show.
Passionate and intense. We try to give it everything and leave it all on the stage. We feel if you are just going through the motions, there is no reason to be up there.
What’s the craziest thing that’s happened on tour?
Too many to narrow it down to just one thing honestly, ha. Definitely good times though.
What plans do you have for the future?
New music, more videos, dropping the album, and seeing what happens and where the music takes us. We will be promoting one single at a time until the album release early next year.
If music did not happen for you, what was your backup plan?
We all do things outside of music. Not sure what is considered a backup or a main any more as long as we keep pushing forward and giving it 100 at anything we do career-wise, family-wise, and life in general.
What would you like to say to all your fans out there?
We can not thank you enough for your support and we truly love each one of you. You are our friends and family, even if we don’t know who you are on a personal level. Keep doing what you do. Keep sharing our music with friends. You are what is keeping us going!
