Q&A with Firethorn

ES: Who are your musical influences?
F: The band has a wide range of musical influences, from artists and bands such as Led Zeppelin, R.E.M. Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins, Keane, and Michael Jackson to indigenous African music.

ES: What have you learnt from past artists in your field?
F: The most important lesson we have learnt from artists in our field, be they local or international, is that in order to be a genuine artist and to have authentic success, on any scale, one has to be true to one's vision as an artist and follow that vision and be
sincere in what you do while working hard at your craft.

ES: What do you hope to achieve with your music?
F: All artists to some extent want their work to touch as many people as possible and in this regard the band wants its music to resonate with as many listeners as possible in a positive and moving way. Hopefully with our music we can gain some recognition for what we do.

ES: What motivates you all to keep playing, when things become difficult and challenging?
F: It can be very difficult for artists to stay positive and motivated when so many factors can deter you from your artistic pursuits. The best way to stay motivated is to trust that what you do as an artist has merit and can speak to people in a powerful way but the biggest motivational factor has to be the love of playing and creating music.

ES: If there's one boundary or misconception you could knock down about being musicians, what would it be?
F: There are so many misconceptions. One that should be knocked down is that being a musician or any artist for that matter is an inferior lifestyle or career choice. Making a full-time career out of one's art is out of reach for most artists but that doesn't mean artists are less important to society than say doctors, teachers, lawyers or engineers.