Just Another Sunday… Sort Of.
My usual Sunday consists of playing World of Warcraft, slobbing around with the animals and waiting for a vegan roast dinner cooked by Mum. This Sunday was a little different.
Instead, I found myself in Birmingham about to do my first filmed interview for Riff & Respawn with Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada. As you do. I’d been stressing for weeks about the equipment, setting it up, finding the venue and figuring out where to meet Jimmy the tour manager.
Pretty much everything that could possibly go wrong had already happened in my head. Jimmy and Good As Gold had been absolutely brilliant in giving me the confidence to do this.
To them I was essentially some random person with no proven experience interviewing anyone on film, yet they gave me the opportunity without question. That meant more than they probably realised. But anxiety doesn’t really give a shit about any of that does it?
I hadn’t stayed in a hotel away from home in two decades, I’d barely ventured beyond local gigs and I’d never been to this venue before. My agoraphobia has improved massively but the fear of stammering and feeling like an imposter was still very much there. Would the equipment work?
Would I somehow manage to cock the whole thing up? The funny thing is, speaking to Mike was probably what I was least worried about.
Originally I’d been scheduled to interview Jeremy DePoyster but he’d unfortunately developed a sore throat and understandably wanted to save his voice for the show, so plans changed and Mike stepped in.
I’d watched quite a few interviews with Mike beforehand and one thing that really stood out was how openly he spoke about his own anxiety.
Obviously our experiences are a bit different, he’s a musician performing in front of thousands of people and I’m over here wondering whether my camera is going to record anything, but that overwhelming feeling of impending doom that comes with anxiety and panic attacks was something I could relate to.
I put my questions together based on my research, things I genuinely wanted to know and of course the intention of making him laugh because that’s just how I am. I had a slightly ridiculous opening question about The Devil Wears Prada film and Meryl Streep. Was I nervous about saying it?
Absolutely. But I thought fuck it, if that went down well then we were probably going to have a good interview.
A Tour Bus, a Suave Tour Manager and a Reality Check
After arriving at Moor Street station I wandered down to the venue and found myself standing next to a massive black tour bus with The Devil Wears Prada across the front. I was waiting for Jimmy who, as it turns out, is a very suave individual.
I even messaged him afterwards to say I wasn’t expecting someone quite so suave to be meeting me. He remained entirely professional and didn’t acknowledge that particular observation. Fair enough really. What a cool dude though haha!
While I was waiting I met a fan called Jack who was hoping to get some vinyl signed. We got chatting about the band and what their music meant to him and before long Giuseppe the drummer came out and signed them for him. What an absolute star!
Jack also recognised me from my posts in The Devil Wears Prada Facebook group which was a really strange moment for me. I’d spent so long worrying about the interview that I hadn’t really considered what it would feel like to be there as press. And suddenly there I was.
Camille and the members of Novelists were wandering around in their normal clothes and everyone I came across was genuinely lovely.
I’d even Googled pictures of everyone beforehand because my memory is absolutely terrible, but I hadn’t expected to find myself casually surrounded by musicians before they’d even gone on stage. Usually from a fan’s perspective everyone is hidden away on the tour bus or in the green room.
Yet here they were wandering around like normal people. Really fucking lovely normal people too! I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d somehow ended up somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be.
I’m usually the fan looking up at the stage, not the person waiting to interview someone who’s about to be standing on it. But standing there looking at that massive tour bus with the band’s name across the front, knowing exactly why I was there, it finally started to sink in. **Holy shit.
I was actually about to do this!**
Welcome to Band Land
Jimmy took me through the metal gates that mark where normal civilisation ends and band land begins. It was crossing that threshold that made everything feel real very quickly.
I immediately switched my auto-human on because internally I was absolutely panicking. It’s a bit like my phone voice, where I can hear what’s being said and respond but don’t really have much input into what actually comes out of my mouth LOL.
I did my usual thing of apologising for who I was and warning Jimmy that I probably wouldn’t be very professional. He reassured me that Mike was genuinely lovely, but the internal panic continued regardless.
Jimmy left me to set up my equipment in the dressing room for the smaller venue. I’d been worrying about where we’d sit and what the lighting would be like.
Turns out there were three black sofas and pretty much everything I needed for a decent interview setup.
I even made use of an ironing board. Professional journalism at its finest.
I’d arrived half an hour early specifically to give myself plenty of time to get everything ready. I’d JUST got my equipment out of my bag when this beaming smile appeared through the door.
IT’S MIKE!
I wasn’t even halfway through setting up and there he was, sitting on the sofa waiting for me!
He was at least 15 minutes early and I’d only been given a 20 minute interview slot through his PR company Good As Gold.
I was absolutely shitting bricks, rushing to get everything ready while Mike sat on his phone for a bit and made conversation with me as I attempted to look like I knew what I was doing.
Naturally I started explaining how I was probably about to fuck the whole thing up with my anxiety and stammering. I hadn’t really been around people for 20 years apart from my Mum and my animals, and let’s face it, they don’t often have much to say back to me haha!
I’d even practised the interview with Mum beforehand, who made a surprisingly good stand-in for Mike. Honestly, maybe she should do the interviews in future!
Mike was quiet but kind, incredibly polite and reassuring. A real gentleman.
He was so softly spoken compared to his screaming on stage that it took me a moment to register that this was actually the same person!
It was the final day of their European tour and he seemed a little tired, which was completely understandable, but he never let that affect our time together.
Eventually I sat down, got him to check the microphone (asking a singer to do what he does every bloody night, oops!) and prepared myself for the question I’d been dreading asking in case it went completely tits up.
Meryl.
Meryl fucking Streep.
I’d decided to open with a joke about The Devil Wears Prada film and ask Mike what it had been like working with Meryl Streep.
And thank fuck, it landed!
He played along, responded in kind and giggled.
He’d seemed quite introverted in the interviews I’d watched, but now we were laughing together. And apparently my way in was Meryl fucking Streep hahaha!
Finding My Feet (And Apparently a New Tech Guy)
After the first question I realised I was actually really comfortable talking to Mike.
Most of the interview became ad-libbed, reacting to his answers and asking things that naturally came up rather than just reading questions from my notebook.
Every laugh and every time he said I’d asked a good question gave me more confidence. Hearing him talk about his passions was pretty awe inspiring too.
There were moments where he’d casually mention friends in other massive bands and internally I was screaming, I KNOW OF THEM! I LIKE THEM!
But I somehow managed to keep the fangirl contained. Mostly.
I found myself sinking into the sofa and leaning into the conversation. People had told me to treat him like a normal person and to be honest, he is. He just dealt with my shit as it came haha!
Although there was one moment where I thought the entire interview was about to go tits up.
The DJ next door suddenly decided to start playing music at a volume that I can only assume was intended to reach the International Space Station.
I was absolutely shitting myself.
I wanted to stop the interview and shut the door but didn’t want to interrupt Mike while he was speaking.
I must have glanced towards the door because Mike immediately went, “Loud...”
And then he got up and shut it himself.
I SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT!
So now the bloke I was interviewing was sorting out my technical difficulties too.
I told him he could be my tech guy for future interviews. Might be a slight issue with his touring schedule though.
Flowers for The Devil Wears Prada
Now, the roses.
With their latest album being called Flowers, I’d decided to bring something along for the band.
Not just any roses either, LEGO roses!
I’d brought one for each member and when I gave them to Mike his entire face lit up.
He seemed genuinely overwhelmed and told me how much he loved them. He even mentioned having a buddy who was really into LEGO and how he couldn’t wait to show him.
It wasn’t a quick “yeah thanks” before moving on. He spent time talking about the gifts and seemed genuinely moved. It felt more like giving a friend a birthday present than handing something to a musician I admired.
Hearing him say “Cari” in his American accent was another slightly surreal moment.
Not only had he remembered my name instead of treating me like random interviewer number 213738127389, he actually made me feel important.
Whenever we spoke he made me feel like I was the only person in the room.
Which, admittedly, I was at the time.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
He had this warm, beaming smile and a calming presence, which is quite something considering he’d probably been shattered after weeks of touring and had been handed the interview at the last minute.
Maybe I Actually Belong Here?
I can’t remember Mike’s exact words when we finished but he told me he couldn’t believe it was my first interview and commented on how much work and research I’d clearly put into it. I’d even remembered when he got married.
Which was quite impressive really considering he hadn’t remembered himself haha! Leaving that room I felt disbelief, a massive sense of achievement and this strange feeling that maybe I was meant to be doing this. I’d written about music as a teenager but never really felt part of the industry.
Until now. I couldn’t have asked for a better person for my first in-person interview. I can only hope future guests are half as patient with me as Mike was! But the biggest surprise actually came later that night.
I bumped into Giuseppe, The Devil Wears Prada’s drummer, and we got chatting about the interview. He told me that Mike had come away absolutely beaming, which apparently wasn’t something he usually did after interviews. I was genuinely stunned.
Here I’d been worrying that I’d blagged my way into something I had no business doing, and the bloke I’d interviewed had actually enjoyed himself. I felt incredibly thankful. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit proud of myself too. I’ll allow myself that one.
Oversize – Not Your Average Support Band
I’ll admit I’d never heard of Oversize before seeing them on the poster for this gig, so I was going in completely blind. But holy shit, what an introduction! Their energy was incredible, especially considering it was a Sunday night and they were the first band on.
The singer told us that this was actually the venue where he’d first started performing with the band and now here he was, back in the same place for the final night of an epic European tour. What a lovely full-circle moment!
He reminded me a little of an Oasis frontman, both in his style and some of his singing, which I really liked. Not necessarily what I’d expected from the opening band on a Devil Wears Prada tour but it worked! The guitarists were absolutely going for it too.
Long hair flying everywhere, huge energy and some proper shredding. I particularly loved the guy with the tinted specs who reminded me of Rory Rodriguez. I spent a good portion of their set thinking he looked familiar before realising why haha!
What impressed me most though was how comfortable they looked up there. Sometimes you watch a support band and there’s a bit of a school talent show vibe. They come on, play their songs and disappear without much interaction. Not Oversize.
They were chatting with the crowd, getting people involved and even had pits going despite plenty of people probably not knowing who they were. They performed like they were headlining Download, never mind being first support on a Sunday night!
There was no sense that they were just there to fill a slot. They genuinely looked like they belonged on that stage and were determined to make the most of every second.
I caught up with the singer and guitarist at their merch booth afterwards and naturally my first question was whether they played video games. Of course it was. Turns out they both massively game and the singer actually works in the games industry as his day job!
We got chatting about Resident Evil and horror games and I immediately decided we needed to arrange an interview. Because apparently I can’t even attend a gig without finding more people to talk to about gaming haha!
Both of them were genuinely lovely and I’m really excited about hopefully working with them on something for Riff & Respawn. I’d absolutely see Oversize again and I’ll definitely be checking out more of their music. Not bad for a band I’d never even heard of a few hours earlier!
156/Silence – The Cool Fucking Dudes
Now THESE were the cool fucking dudes. I’d heard friends talking about coming to this show purely to see 156/Silence and after watching them I can completely understand why. The red lighting, the singer in his cap and shades leaning over the mic stand, the whole dark aesthetic.
These guys just looked like they belonged there. They had that proper don’t give a fuck energy and you could tell they were absolutely used to doing this. From the moment they started it felt like they owned the stage.
The vocals and screams were en pointe and the whole performance just oozed confidence. Not in a narcissistic, overindulgent way either. More like they knew they could bring the fucking metal and were quite happy to demonstrate exactly how. And fucking hell, they did! The pits were WILD.
The red lighting worked brilliantly with their darker sound and while they did interact with the audience, the music and their presence did most of the talking.
They treated the crowd like everyone had turned up specifically to see them and judging by the reaction they were getting, you could almost believe it! I was so impressed that I ended up buying one of their T-shirts alongside my Devil Wears Prada one.
And that’s when I discovered something I absolutely loved. The lead singer was running his own merch booth! Not just sitting there looking cool and signing a few vinyls either.
He was taking payments, checking what sizes were available, writing down what had sold and generally running the whole thing on his own. I’d gone over to introduce myself while buying my shirt and there he was, doing the actual admin side of touring. What a fucking legend!
It’s quite hard to believe that the bloke calmly keeping track of T-shirt sizes had been bringing the absolute DOOM just a few minutes earlier. No being too cool to muck in, just getting on with it and meeting fans.
Musically, Product Placement was a particular highlight for me and I’ve definitely come away wanting to hear more. I’d absolutely love to see 156/Silence do a headline show, although to be honest, after that performance I feel like I already have!
And because apparently I have a one-track mind when it comes to combining music and gaming, I asked whether he played video games. He does. Of course he bloody does! So now I need to find an excuse to interview them too. Honestly, at this rate I’m going to need a bigger notebook.
A Drummer, a Kratos Lookalike and a Proper Conversation
Before Novelists took to the stage I found myself chatting to Giuseppe from The Devil Wears Prada. Yes, the drummer of the actual headline band was just casually hanging around watching the support acts. HOW COOL IS THAT?!
You’d think he’d be tucked away somewhere mentally preparing for the show but there he was, enjoying the music like everyone else. We ended up having a surprisingly deep conversation about the interview with Mike, touring and his place in The Devil Wears Prada. And naturally, gaming.
His wife streams on Twitch and was actually live playing a dressmaking game while he was preparing to go onstage! He was checking in on her and talking about how supportive she was of his career, which I thought was genuinely lovely.
He told me it was their tenth anniversary and he’d received the call to tour just two weeks beforehand. Rather than being upset, she encouraged him to go because of how many people wanted to see him perform.
We also talked about the emotional weight of being in a band whose music has helped people through some incredibly difficult times. Giuseppe explained that hearing people’s survival stories can sometimes be quite heavy to take in.
Not because he doesn’t want to hear them but because of how much those experiences mean to the people sharing them. He remembered what it was like to be the fan standing outside waiting to get a vinyl signed and wanted to give people the same kindness he’d have appreciated himself.
We even ended up talking about therapy. He told me he’d been himself and naturally I replied, “ME TOO!” Honestly, I was having a therapy discussion with the drummer of The Devil Wears Prada outside a venue in Birmingham. What even was this Sunday?!
He said he wanted people to understand that he’s just another dude who happens to have a different job to them. And that’s exactly how he came across. There were about six hugs and plenty of fist bumps too!
We bonded over drumming too, since I play myself, and discovered our shared love of gaming. Apparently one of his mates had even made a picture of him looking like Kratos from God of War. Naturally, when I got home I had to make the Pam from The Office “They’re the same picture” meme.
It would’ve been rude not to.
Novelists – All Hail Queen Camille
I’d actually seen Camille earlier in the afternoon wearing a hoodie and grabbing things from the tour bus. The other members of Novelists had wandered past too, saying hello and generally being lovely.
But seeing them casually walking around earlier did absolutely nothing to prepare me for what they were about to do onstage. Giuseppe had already warned me that Camille had a HUGE voice. He wasn’t wrong.
She appeared in this gorgeous bright pink floaty tulle dress and I immediately joked that I’d had to change because we’d turned up wearing the same outfit. Awkward really. But fucking hell, what a presence! Camille was an absolute QUEEN.
Not in the sense that she was ruling over the rest of the band either. She was involving everyone, dancing with them and having just as much fun interacting with her bandmates as she was twirling around the stage herself. And the guitarists looked like they were having the time of their lives!
There was so much energy and genuine enjoyment between them that it was impossible not to get caught up in it. I’d never actually listened to Novelists before this gig, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect.
After Oversize and 156/Silence I genuinely hadn’t expected a band quite like Novelists to be on this lineup. Their sound felt almost operatic and classical at times, with Camille’s incredible vocals soaring over the music before switching into some absolutely fantastic screams.
It was such a contrast to what we’d heard earlier in the evening but somehow it worked brilliantly. She brought some serious girl power to the night without taking anything away from the rest of the band. I loved that. The audience clearly knew what they were in for though!
They absolutely LOVED Camille and matched her energy throughout the set. The pits were chaotic, people were completely invested and the band were giving just as much back. The musicianship was incredible too, especially the guitar work and solos. And then there was one of the guitarists.
Now, I don’t mean this in a bad way whatsoever but he looked like a rock and roll Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII. At one point our very own Cloud Strife actually sat down to play a riff. Because apparently standing up was no longer sufficient for that level of shredding.
I came away genuinely excited about them. I’ve already started exploring their music and added a few songs to my iTunes library, which probably tells you everything you need to know about whether I’d see them again. Absolutely fucking yes. And as for Cloud Strife? Well, I’m not going to lie.
I fancied the absolute pants off him. There. I’ve said it. Professional music journalism, ladies and gentlemen.
The Devil Wears Prada – Flowers, Feelings and Fucking Hell
Before The Devil Wears Prada even came onstage there was already some entertainment.
Their sound guy was shouting something along the lines of “GO THE PACKERS!” and I’d heard the band were all in the green room watching the game.
Someone standing near me immediately shouted, “NOOO, WE’RE TRYING TO AVOID THE SCORE!”
Oops hahaha!
Meanwhile, I was having my own slightly surreal moment.
While the support bands had been playing, Mike had liked my picture of him on Instagram and Giuseppe had followed me.
There I was, standing in a crowd full of people waiting to see The Devil Wears Prada and the actual members of the band were casually appearing in my Instagram notifications.
WHAT EVEN IS MY LIFE?!
I’d spent the afternoon talking to Mike and now I was about to watch him do his actual job. I was getting emotional before they’d even appeared.
The room went dark.
The spoken introduction to Flowers started coming through the speakers, the woman’s voice filling the venue and building the anticipation.
And then...
THEN THEY CAME ON.
Flowers was the first song and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better opening.
It’s one of my favourites from the new album and suddenly it felt incredibly poignant for so many different reasons. The meaning I take from the lyrics, the interview with Mike earlier that day and everything I’d experienced just getting to this point.
It all sort of hit me at once.
I started filming and immediately realised I’d completely abandoned any attempt at being a professional journalist.
Because I was BELTING the words out directly into my phone camera.
Did I care?
Not one fucking bit.
I felt alive.
I was standing there completely alone, knowing nobody in the crowd but somehow knowing the man standing on the actual stage.
What an absolutely surreal feeling.
I had literal tears in my eyes and was silently praying that my waterproof eyeliner was actually going to do its bloody job.
Birmingham, You Absolute Animals
From the moment the band appeared, everyone went fucking WILD.
The pits were enormous and Jeremy was encouraging every bit of the chaos.
Honestly, Jeremy was the Greatest Showman in that room.
He was absolutely the life and soul of the performance, leading the crowd with so much energy and enthusiasm that you’d never have guessed he’d been struggling with a sore throat earlier in the day.
This was the final night of their European headline tour and you could tell how much it meant to them.
And Birmingham was absolutely delivering.
Jeremy even told us that this was one of the wildest crowds of the entire tour.
And I believed him!
We were singing every word back to him and the pits were relentless. Nobody on that stage was giving us anything less than everything they had.
Giuseppe, You Absolute Machine
Now, as someone who plays drums myself, I have to give Giuseppe his own little moment here.
His drum solo.
FUCKING HELL.
I’d been chatting to him earlier and now here he was demonstrating that apparently he’s some sort of eight-limbed drumming machine.
Before launching into it he even gave us a cheeky little lift of his shirt to show off his abs.
Because why not?!
And then he absolutely went for it.
There’s hand-eye coordination and then there’s whatever the fuck Giuseppe was doing behind that kit.
I recorded the whole thing and when I watched it back I realised I’d audibly said “BRUH...” several times.
That’s apparently the level of intelligent musical analysis you can expect from Riff & Respawn.
BRUH.
Mike Hranica – From Gentleman to Absolute Chaos
And then there’s Mike.
What a babe.
Watching the softly spoken bloke I’d interviewed that afternoon turn into this absolute force of nature was surreal.
But the lovely thing was that his personality still came through.
His little “thank you!” and “cheers mate!” comments in his faux English accent were absolutely adorable.
It was so much fun to watch.
And the MOVEMENT!
For someone who’d spent weeks touring Europe, I have absolutely no idea where he was getting his energy from.
THE BOY MOVED!
Seriously, whatever special tonic he’s drinking, I’ll have some please.
He was clearly meant to be on that stage.
His screams alongside Jeremy’s clean vocals were incredible and the contrast between the two worked so well live.
I haven’t been this impressed by a gig in a long time. It genuinely took my breath away, although some of that might have been the screaming and singing along at the top of my lungs. AUDIBLY.
Ritual was another massive highlight for me.
The whole experience felt like the most incredible legal high I’d ever experienced.
I don’t do drugs so I’ve no idea if that’s what they’re like, but honestly, I think I’ll stick with this version.
Johnathan Versus Gravity
Now, I can’t possibly write about this gig without mentioning what happened during the encore.
Poor Johnathan.
As the band came back onstage, he managed to slip in the dark.
And I don’t mean a tiny little stumble either.
I’m talking full Bambi-on-new-legs territory.
Limbs everywhere.
It probably didn’t help that he was wearing a white top, making the whole thing particularly visible as he went sprawling.
BLESS HIM!
I’d have probably run offstage crying but he styled it out and carried on rocking like an absolute professional.
I actually caught up with Mike after the show and mentioned it.
He told me he was NEVER going to let Johnathan live that one down.
LMAO.
Sorry Johnathan, but I don’t think you’re escaping that one anytime soon.
One Last Song, One Last Memory
As the show drew to a close there were some genuinely lovely moments.
The band spoke about mental health, thanked the other bands who’d shared the tour with them and reflected on what the experience had meant.
And suddenly it hit me.
It was ending.
Which seemed ridiculous because I swear they’d only been onstage for about six minutes.
Apparently time moves differently when you’re having the absolute time of your life.
And now it was almost over. I was gutted, but proud to have witnessed The Devil Wears Prada get the reaction they deserved.
Sometimes you go to gigs where the audience is a bit flat or the atmosphere never really gets going.
Not this one.
Birmingham absolutely fucking delivered.
From the first word of Oversize to the final chord of The Devil Wears Prada, the crowd gave everything.
And the bands gave it straight back.
I’ve been to a lot of gigs over the years but this one was different.
This wasn’t just another Sunday night watching some bands.
This was a core memory.
One Last Goodbye (And a Very Long Journey Home)
After the show I headed back towards the tour bus. I’d told Giuseppe earlier that I’d come and say goodbye before they left and I wanted to make sure I did. Before long I spotted the man himself trundling up after his post-show shower.
“HERE HE IS!” And there he was, probably absolutely fucking knackered but still stopping to chat. He told me “this is the glamorous bit” as he trekked back and forth collecting his things. The poor sods had to travel overnight to Heathrow for a 7am flight back home. It was already midnight!
I really hope they managed to get some sleep on that bus. There were a few more hugs and fist bumps before I said goodbye and waited for Mike. He appeared shortly afterwards and we had another lovely chat.
“Carrrri, you didn’t have to wait out here!” He sounded like a mate concerned about me standing outside at midnight. I told him Mum was back home looking after my reptiles and would probably kill me for leaving her in charge of the animals while I’d been away. Jokingly, of course!
She was actually incredibly proud of me and I don’t think either of us could quite believe how far things had come. From being wheelchair bound to standing beside the wheels of a tour bus. What a fucking journey. I wished Mike a safe trip and gave him a hug.
I hadn’t waited around just to have another fangirl moment. I wanted to say goodbye to people I’d connected with and respected. They’d made me feel part of the Prada family rather than some random journalist who’d turned up for 20 minutes with a microphone and a bunch of LEGO roses.
It felt sad, like leaving behind this cool new group of friends I’d made in the space of one Sunday. Maybe I won’t connect with everyone I interview quite like this in future, who knows?
Honestly, if someone had told me beforehand how this whole day was going to go, I wouldn’t have believed them. Even if they’d shown me the bloody videos!
One More Signature, One More Goodbye
Eventually I tootled off towards the gates and found Jack, the fan I’d met earlier in the day. He was still waiting for one final signature on his vinyl. Jeremy. The final piece of the puzzle!
I decided to wait with him and he kindly offered to walk back to our hotel together afterwards since it was dark and we were both staying in the same place. And then... THERE HE WAS! Jeremy came out and spent time chatting with both of us about the show and our lives.
He even apologised for not being able to do the interview earlier and thanked me for his rose! He was warm, chatty and clearly made for the limelight. Watching him with Jack was especially brilliant.
Here’s someone who’s just finished a huge European tour, probably exhausted and facing an overnight journey home, still taking the time to make someone’s night. And Jack finally had every member’s signature on his vinyl! Mission accomplished!
We wished Jeremy a safe journey and wandered off happily towards the hotel. I’d told each of the band members that I’d see them next time. And I genuinely believe I will.
This Is Where I’m Supposed to Be
I’d gone to Birmingham worrying about whether I had any business calling myself a music journalist.
And I came away having interviewed Mike Hranica, laughed with musicians I’d admired, talked about mental health and gaming with Giuseppe, met some incredible new bands and witnessed one of the best live performances I’ve seen in years. But more than anything, I’d been myself.
Not pretending to be some polished professional. Just me. And the people I met seemed to appreciate that. You can’t manufacture moments like these. You can’t force genuine connections or pretend to be someone you’re not and expect people to respond to it. Everything about this night felt real.
From the ridiculous Meryl Streep joke to the LEGO roses, the hugs, the conversations and the absolute fucking chaos onstage. And quite frankly, the next bands I meet have got a VERY fucking high bar to reach if they want to stand alongside the boys of The Devil Wears Prada.
Musically and otherwise.
This is where I’m supposed to fucking be.
