Page 9 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 110

BV110 pg 04-09 Kris Barras Band Interview.qxp_BV110 pg09 12/06/2024 22:07 Page 6

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of people that connected with that, because so the album came out, people started listening to “Who knows? I’m a fairly impulsive person.
many people have lost a parent or loved one,” it and sharing it, the buzz online just went crazy There might come a day when I decide I’ve had
he says. “I lost him to a really short battle with and it was just amazing to see. We were watch- enough, but I do this because I enjoy it. When
cancer and I think cancer has affected pretty ing it there in real time. And yeah, it was just in- the day comes when I no longer enjoy it, that’s
much everyone in some way, shape or form, and credible. And then, obviously, we went in at No. when I’m going to stop. It’s a very, very tough in-
a lot of people can relate to that. I definitely like 4 in the midweek charts. But then, that gets an- dustry. It’s very tough on a lot of levels… per-
writing songs that people can relate to. I just nounced on the Monday and the official charts sonal level, it’s such an intimate thing, writing
don’t take the viewpoint of that’s what I’m setting are on the Friday, but then the streams get songs and putting them out in the world. It’s a
out to do. I do this because I love it, and people added as the week goes on, so you get the big very, very personal thing, so you’ve got that as-
connect with that, and that’s great. That’s a dou- artists, it’s really hard to compete with them be- pect to it. So, if, maybe, you do get any knock-
ble bonus for me. And that feels more sincere cause they get so many streams. You get Olivia backs or whatever, it does always feel a lot more
that way. I think people, hopefully, they think I Rodrigo and The Weekend, every week, they’re personal than, maybe, other stuff. And, also, fi-
come across as very real and very honest. I around 5, 6, 7 in the charts for albums that are, nancially. It’s very, very tricky to make it work fi-
think, sometimes, I’m too honest, the stuff I write like, two years old. Because they get so many nancially. We’ve all got to do other things
online, but yeah, if I can inspire anyone, great.” streams, they’re still up there. There’s kind of a alongside the music to try and keep it going,
It's a shame that Kris’s father is not around benchmark to get into the top 5, you’ve got to even at the level I’m at now. Sell 800-1000 tick-
to witness some of the magical experiences and beat those two – which we managed to do. ets around the country, different venues and
achievements that are starting to come in for Yeah, it was amazing. We got number 5 and it’s stuff, and I still have to work alongside it. That’s
Kris, not least reaching number 5 in the UK absolutely mind-blowing. I never, ever thought not enough to be able to support me full-time.
charts, battling it out with the likes of Beyonce we could achieve anything like that. So, yeah, it But, like I said, I still enjoy it. Once it gets to the
and Linkin Park. was great. Watching everyone, like I say, rally stage that I don’t enjoy it anymore, then I’ll move
“It’s incredible,” says Kris, when he thinks of behind it. You get the midweek position, but it’s on and do something else.”
the chart position. “We kind of had our fingers really hard to stay there, to get the daily sales to Well, we hope that Kris keeps on loving
crossed for a top 10. That was the silent aim be- stay up there, but to see everyone rally behind what he’s doing – because we definitely do, and
hind the scenes: ‘We really need to push for a it online, sharing it, was great.” hope that he continues for a long, long time to
top 10 on this album.’ It kind of got to a couple come.
of weeks before the release and we weren’t sure oing back to ‘Fall To Fly’, Kris sings ‘Did
we were going to do it. But, then, once the Gyou think I would just give up?’. We end Visit www.krisbarrasband.com for more info.
album came out, things just kind of went crazy. by asking if his plan now is to continue writing
We were judging it off the pre-orders, which and performing music and never giving up when Words By Shari Black Velvet
were decent, but weren’t putting us in that kind it comes to music.
of position for a high chart position. I think, once “I won’t say I’ll never give up,” Kris replies. Photos By Dean Chalkley

KRIS BARRAS BAND