HOLD THE MUSTARD PRODUCTIONS: All about Fear the Possessed Before the Show

Vancouver-based metal skull-smashers Fear the Possessed will be opening up a night of metal mayhem at the Chill House Studio this Saturday, with the last Hold the Mustard show of the month being one you won't want to miss out on. 

The band will be performing a set of intensity and heavy music to start the night off with a bang. Supporting bands like Omniesia and Terrifier is no easy feat, but Fear the Possessed were the best possible choice for the rugged bill of the night.

For those who haven't heard of the band yet and need some convincing to go to the show, you can find exclusive never-seen-before information on the band below the cut. 

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Q: What is your role in the band like? Introduce yourself for those who don't know you yet.\

A: Well hello there, my metalheads and music friendlies. My name is Garrett Keeping, and I am the founding member and vocalist/frontman behind the project Fear the Possessed. I write all the lyrics and melodies. I help produce some of the riffs and structures of our songs. I'm in charge of all the branding, T-shirt designs, and social media output. This whole project is my baby and my vision. I am very lucky to have a group of talented artists who also believe in the overall vision.

Q: Where does Fear the Possessed originate from as a band?

A: Fear the Possessed originates from the Fraser Valley. I'm from Maple Ridge. Our main guitar player, Brennan Hiles, is from New Westminster. Our current bass player, Brian "Beav" Waddell, is from Surrey, and Scotty, our drummer, is also from New Westminster.

Q: How long have you been making music for?

A: I am 43 years young, and I have been making music and art intentionally for the last 20+ years. Before that, I would play instruments, paint, and draw casually for fun.

Q: What makes being in a band worth it for you?

A: Well, honestly, being in a band is challenging. If I'm being realistic, there are many obstacles and disappointments, and it's a gosh darn miracle that any band survives for any length of time. But many of them do, and the reason for that is there's nothing like creating great music with cool people and then delivering a solid performance on stage.

When you work with really talented people, you feed off each other. You come up with an idea, they make that idea better, then someone else makes it a little better, and then you record it, and it's magic. Then, hopefully, you can translate that live. We might be able to change someone's life just through some lyrics or even the music we make. It's also that rush you get on stage. As a vocalist and frontman, I lose myself in those moments. It's fun. It's so fun. I get to be someone else completely for our set.

Q: What are some of your most cherished memories from performing over the time that you have been working with Fear the Possessed?

A: Well, again, if I'm being honest with you, Fear the Possessed has only played a handful of shows, even though we've been around for almost two years.

I would say the first show we played stands out the most. We played in my hometown of Maple Ridge at the Haney Public House. This is not a venue that typically hosts metal, yet they allowed me to bring an unknown band in for its first show in what is essentially a dance and DJ-style venue. Half of Maple Ridge showed up, and it was awesome. Everyone was wearing our merch. It was very humbling, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.

Q: Is there anything you wish you had known before becoming a musician?

A: No, because I might not have started. Lol. It's expensive, and it's an insane amount of work. Just kidding. Kinda.

Actually, I'm realizing that I'm not as much of a musician as I am an artist, and that's what I wish I had learned—or accepted about myself—sooner. That all of my methods of creativity and who I am as an artist are real. I've learned that I'm very similar to many other world-touring, established artists and musicians. I always thought you had to be super special to make it or to be a "real" artist, if that makes sense. This is going to sound cliché, but be yourself, because you might be onto something. I've read so many memoirs and listened to so many podcasts, and I'm delighted to realize that I have very similar creative methods to some of my favorite artists.

Q: What can people expect from your performance at the Chill House?

A: Something they'll remember. Definitely.

We're trying to add more melody, singing, and a performance and stage show that's worth seeing. There are a lot of bands out there, man. You've got to find a way to cut through.

Q: Is there anything new you're bringing to the table for your performance that people should be aware of?

A: Actually, yes. We might be introducing a new bass player at the end of our set. Hopefully, we will have our stage show ready. We'll be starting the set with a new song.

A few things, actually.

Q: What's in store for the future of the band?

A: Actually, this is a pretty loaded question, but we'll spill the beans for you here and now.

We will be replacing our bass player and drummer after this show. They have been fantastic. Our current bass player, Brian "Beav" Waddell, is from the Devin Townsend Project, and our drummer has played with Bif Naked, Strapping Young Lad, and is the current house drummer at The Roxy Cabaret. These guys are seasoned veterans. They helped us build what we have. They simply do not want to play shows all the time anymore. They've done it all. They wanted to help us get started. Now we will be replacing them with members who want to play more shows and push Fear the Possessed forward. It's actually going to be awesome. It's all amicable, and it's all totally fine. Beav and I also have another project that we will be announcing later this summer.

Q: If you could describe your sound in only ONE word, what might that word be?

A: THICK.

Q: Is there anything you look forward to most when it comes to playing at the Chill House?

A: Yes—all ages!

I am a sober artist in recovery, and the club scene is what it is. But to be playing in front of kids? That's awesome. I feel like they might appreciate it even more. The kids, man! We've got to get them into heavy music before Taylor Swift gets them.

Q: What do you bring to the stage the most?

A: Energy.

Q: What is the creative process of the band like?

A: Ummm... well, our mean guitar player, Brennan, writes the riffs. Then he brings them to us, and we produce them. I write all the lyrics and vocal structures.

Then our engineer, Brendan, and I listen to everything, peel back the layers, rearrange, and polish it. Beav also helps produce us. There's a lot of home studio demoing before we take it to the big-boy studio. As for my personal creative process for lyrics, it involves a lot of walking in the forest by the river and hashing out melodies. Sometimes I don't even speak actual English—I just make noises and turn them into words later. Sometimes a song lyric or idea comes to me immediately. This often happens in the shower, for whatever reason. It's important, in my opinion, to stay connected to the satellite and the Creator through sobriety. This is my personal preference. If I am under the influence of any substance, I am disconnected from my source. All my best ideas come when I show up, when I am disciplined, and when I respect the art and the process. When I do that, I am given fragments of gold.

Q: Lastly, what is one piece of advice you would give to any aspiring artists out there?

A: Just don't give up. And make sure you're doing this for fun. Because if you're trying to make money at it and trying to get famous you're already doing it wrong.

Make great art. Don't give up. Don't listen to the haters. Be supportive of others. If you're meant to be incredibly successful..? Then that is the byproduct of something miraculous and precious.

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Don't miss out on your chance to catch the band live in Chilliwack when they hit the Chill house stage this Saturday! This show is sure to be a heavy-hitter, and it's certainly going to be unforgettable. 

Show hosted by Hold the Mustard Productions, for booking information and inquires, contact holdthemustardproductions@gmail.com

For interview requests or questions, comment directly here or seek the contact form on the site.