The No Label Needed Contest & Series is a collaboration between Metal Insider and Scion to give one unsigned artist an entire DIY music industry education and launch a release without the help of a label. We’ll be posting features and updates on the contest & series periodically on Metal Insider. Find out more about No Label Needed here.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at each of the No Label Needed finalists. Today, we’re featuring Giants Among Us.
Formed in 2008 in Phoenix, the band is comprised of Tyler Shoff on vocals, Kohl Beebe on bass, Matt Rourick on keys, Daniel Hernandez on drums and Winston Weems and Cory Hibbert on guitar. Hernandez took some time aside from campaigning for the lead in public votes to answer a few of our questions.
Why should people vote for your band?
We believe that people should vote for us because music is each member’s main interest. We love listening to all types of music, learning from it and incorporating it into our music. We like make sure that our music has a lot of energy and that we give the crowd something to headbang or dance to.
What has been your most challenging moment as an unsigned artist?
Being that we formed while some members were in high school, it was hard to get the funding to get the equipment needed, to get out of town/state to play shows during the week due to work and school and to build a big fan base and stand out from all of the many other local bands.
Who’s career do you admire?
As a band, we admire The Black Dahlia Murder’s career after seeing their Majesty DVD. We strive to put on an incredible live show as they do, and we just like to kick back and hang out with fans. I think we all pretty much worship Whitechapel’s music and their career, also.
What is the scene like in your home town?
For a while, the west valley of Arizona had a great scene, then it started to die down. Recently, there have been a few bands putting the heartbeat back into the scene, bringing kids out to shows more often and selling more merch and CD’s. There are many new bands forming every month.
What metal trend would you like to see end?
I would like to see the “social” trend die out. The trend of people going to shows not to see the bands performing, but going just to fight people or hang out. Shows are definitely a place for people to hang out with their friends, but they should also go to support the bands, have fun and dance. Not prove how tough or how cool you are.
Public voting for the No Label Needed Contest & Series presented by Scion runs through March 8. Visit the No Label Needed microsite to listen to Giants Among Us and the 19 other finalists and cast your vote!
