Fahrenheit 43

Meet The Band:
Richie: Lead Vocals/ Acoustic/Piano
Elmo: Drums/Percussion
Grant: Bass/Backing Vocals
Sparty: Lead Guitar/ Backing Vocals

"Many newborn babies have been sacrificed to the God's of Rock for this career to flourish.  I had to write my name in blood and pledge my soul to the devil in order to get a pass for my band." Haha.

That is just one of the many precious gems that Richie gave me, in fact his entire interview was so just so perfect that I find myself fighting the urge to quote it in it's entirety. 

Fahrenheit 43 is a band from Melbourne, Austrailia (my first international interview, woohoo), they've been together for about four years and play their own form of radio friendly pop rock music that boasts a sense of urgency and depth, combined with mature lyrics left open to any interpretation.  Musically, the guys come from totally different backgrounds, each finding its way flawlessly into their own.  Richie told me that he and Elmo come from similar upbringings, not ever really belonging to one particular genre.  "We were just children of music our whole lives, I mean, we still laugh about having both made out with girls listening to '50 Candles' by Boyz II Men, haha." Sparty loves John Mayer and a lot of other really bluesy soulful guitars but can get right into progressive rock bands like Angels and Airwaves, and the Foo Fighters.  Grant comes from a more hardcore background, he brings a lot of the harder, edgier sound to Fahrenheit 43's music, Richie described him as a "musical encyclopedia."  The guys named The Dangerous Summer as the band they would most like to share the stage with.  I'm just getting into The Dangerous Summer myself but I couldn't agree more that AJ's lyrics have a sense of urgency and knowledge to them that is absolutely captivating. 

"I try to find appreciation in everything I hear, I think we do that as a band constantly, it's definitely a key to evolving and staying relevant."

I wasn't shy about telling Richie that his interview was one of the most perfect I've gotten so far, when I asked him what inspires him, the answer he gave made me melt:

"Seeing art that comes from the fucking heart!  To see music played from the fucking heart!  It gets me hard and makes me want to flip the bird at the world and say 'fuck you!"  We found the secret to life....find what you love and do that forever."  (Richie, I'm officially putty in your hands, haha).

A year from now the guys of Fahrenheit 43 want to have their debut album out and begin recording their sophomore album with Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Dangerous Summer, Heroes For Hire).  "The band is in a position to really start heavily touring and ultimately we want to bring our sound to the US and really start working that territory; but you've got to own your own city first- so really, a year from now, we want to be one of the most popular bands in Melbourne."  As for Richie, the end all be all of his music career involves creating something that helps develop and grow this scene.  "I have a real passion to see people play from their hearts.  I'd want to be involved in a mentoring sense, perhaps a small record label.  We'd invest entirely in the artists we believe in.  Many times, that's all it takes for someone to really flourish, just to have that one person that really believes in them."

I've started asking bands how they respond to the hate, I've seen how hard it is for some people to understand the life these guys have chosen, nearly giving everything up to persue a dream, the answers to this question are some of the realist I've ever gotten, here's Richie's:

"Firstly, in life, and it doesn't matter what you do, there will always be haters.  There will always be people who will want to secretly toast to your failure because not everyone has found what they love.  Not everyone will respect you for trying to make a living being an artist.  The ignorance of humans is that they will hear music on the radio or see music videos on TV and only see that.  They don't see the years and years of work that needed to happen to get to that point.  Some people need to come to that realization on their own.  All you can do is keep working hard, let your haters become your motivation.  Let them remind you why you still wake up everyday to live your dream.  The people around you eventually witness the the work ethic and commitment you have to your art.  So it's a matter of earning that respect and working your ass off.  If you're not the best, you've got work harder than the best."

He thinks he talks too much, but couldn't you just let him talk all day long?  The passion that I got to witness just from reading one email is astounding, now listen to their music and it'll blow your mind.

"Music is a cruel mistress and she will never ever share you with anyone or anything else.  You're a fool to believe you can- your talent, your playing, your writing, and your career will all suffer.  She will make sure of that...but in the end, if you believe in yourself and each other, and you do it honestly, the dream will manifest itself into a reality."  The guys of Fahrenheit 43 are married to the music, for better or for worse, but that's what makes it so perfect, that kind of passion is intoxicating, and it's something we could all use a little more of.  These guys are doing big things, mark my words. 

p.s. I'm a smart girl but 'Fahrenheit' has to be the hardest world to spell ever, I think I misspelled it EVERY time I wrote it!

To LIKE Fahrenheit 43 on Facebook click here!

To FOLLOW @Fahrenheit43 on Twitter click here!

To browse their youtube channel click here! (there is a precious video of a giggly Richie in the morning, just saying)

To visit their official site: www.fahrenheit43.com