40 Sons

June 3, 2010

40 Sons wants your vote.

The modern rock band, comprised of Stoney Creek and Mountain residents, is deep into the biggest battle of the bands in their short careers.

The group is a finalist in Hard Rock Cafe's Ambassadors Of Rock Battle Of The Bands. They're battling for a spot on the same bill as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Pearl Jam in London.

"It would mean everything to us (to win)," said Cristiano Andreatta, 40 Sons' drummer. "Obviously, Paul McCartney's one of our idols, and so is Stevie Wonder, and Pearl Jam's an amazing band."

"We just know if we got out there that we'd impress enough people to do something with this band and get to the next level. We're really confident about that."

Andreatta, guitarist Mike Szpakowski, and bass player Graema Hawkins knew each other while attending Bishop Ryan. After auditioning six or seven singers, they found Mike Repic, who was a student at St. Jean de Brebeuf at the time, to front the band.The quartet started writing their own material and "things started picking up," said Andreatta. 40 Sons won a couple of radio contests and was named the Spring Music Festival Breakout Band of the Year in 2006, which led to an opening spot at the 2006 Ozzfest tour.

"We were opening up for Ozzy at 18, so that was pretty cool," said Andreatta. Since then, 40 Sons has shared the stage with April Wine, 54-40 and Econoline Crush. Following the release of Madness, their first full-length release, in January they've been touring out west and in Northern Ontario. Right now they are writing more material and playing around the Hamilton area, including a show June 10 show at This Ain't Hollywood.

To vote for 40 Sons, go to battle.ambassadorsofrock.com/40sons . The contest ends June 7. - Hamilton Community News

January 1, 2012 - Teresa Difalco

Enjoy this installment of Musical Notes, with Angelo Noto Campanella as he reviews 40 Sons

I first saw the 40 Sons perform at a Christmas benefit put on by one of Hamilton's musical legends Sonny Del Rio in 2010. I recorded one of their songs at this event and posted it on my facebook page with this little blurb:

"40 Sons performing Dec 5th/2010 Young guys with lots of energy....they got it!!! youth, energy, swagger,good musicians, great voice.....if this group can stay together for the long haul they'll be going places...."40 Sons""

The comments I made back then still stand and I believe that they are on the cusp of something big. They recently released a song called "Hurricane" which is being played on network tv during promos for the Ontario Hockey League and on Spike Tv for the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

The 40 Sons began in 2004. They had a gig booked before they had a singer or any songs written. Mike Repic was recruited to do the vocals. They wrote 5 or 6 songs, decided on a name for the band an hour before the gig, "40 Sons and Daughters" which was later shortened to "40 Sons". When asked what's it take to get to where you are now, Mike Szpakowski - guitar and vocals, said "Perseverence, hard work, sticking with it even when you get shot down by people. If somebody knocks you down you just gotta work harder." I then asked if they had a plan that got them to where they are now - Mike Szpakowski - "Well yeah, but it's changed 50 times". Mike Repic - "Every weekend it changed" LOL. MS - "We have certain goals we want to achieve but alot of times things come up, sometimes good sometimes bad, but that's life."

I had a chat with Mike Repic a week before this interview. We were discussing music from the past, he then asked me a question that stumped me. Mike asked "What new music do you like?" I thought about that question for a long time and finally came to the conclusion that the new music I like is what I've been hearing coming out of Hamilton, one of those bands being The 40 Sons. The members of the band are : Cristiano Andreatta on Drums, Link Andrews on Bass guitar, Mike Repic on lead
vocals and Mike Szpakowski on guitar and vocals. I caught up with the band at one of the local pubs on Augusta street in between sets.

Q. What role has the city of Hamilton played in your musical career?

MR - "Motivated us to get out"....LOL..."I love it and its home. I love the people...I think anywhere you live there's a motivation to leave home, especially as a musician. We've toured and every time I come back I'm happy I live here"

MS - "The music scene is building(in Hamilton), there's bands to look up to and bands to have friendly rivals with"

MR - "It's a big city. There's tons of loyal fans. The fans are amazing here. The other night(gig at Corktown) there were so many faces I didn't recognize singing all our songs"

MS - "It's definitely a dirty rock town"...LOL

Q. What would you say makes your music so unique/stand out?

MR - "In tiny ways I could compare it to stuff on the radio but nothing....for me, when I put on the radio and "Theory of a Deadman" is on, oh that's a band that sounds like this band and that band, and I don't think that we really have that. No one confuses us with anyone else. We all have our own style."

Q. What's up next for the 40 Sons?

MR - "We've been recording a full length album for about a year, just over. It's been a long long road. We're hoping to release it in February and then go on a tour.

MS - "And also the "Hurricane" (song). The premise for that was given to us by this guy, Showdown Joe, who works for the "UFC" (ultimate fighting championships), sportscaster commentator and has his own radio show. Try to think of the mind of a fighter and what they go through"

MR - "I've never been given a premise from anyone and told to "write about this". So it was a step in a much different direction than I usually take to write lyrics but it was fun."

MS - "That song is being used for the OHL(Ontario Hockey League) for their promo's for the whole year. It's great 'cause the NHL is out so it'll get a lot more air play."

MR - "It'll be on Leafs TV and Spike TV and maybe TLC....LOL"

The 40 Sons will be performing December 14, 2012 at The Casbah in Hamilton. If you would like to hear some of their music and find out more about them, follow the links below. - The Hamiltonian

Since forming in 2004, Southern Ontario band 40 Sons has won over audiences nation-wide with their guitar-heavy modern rock songs while supporting the likes of Default and Thornley. The group is getting set to release their self-titled record on February 26.

40 Sons member Mike Spik recently spoke with Here Magazine about the group’s upcoming record:

By the time a band hits their 3rd record, they are typically starting to come into their own in terms of sound. Do you notice this with your upcoming album?

I think every time you finish an album you say to yourself, ‘This is it; this is totally us,’ because at the time it is you. It’s captured the place you were at in your life as a band and as people, right at that moment. I feel like we have just gotten a solid grasp in what we set out to do. When I listen to this new album, I get more excited than I have ever been about the band.

In terms of songwriting, what were the most noticeable changes from your previous release [2010’s Madness] to your upcoming album?

I think we have matured a lot as people and musicians. We’ve become a lot more in tune with each other. That’s a great part of being with the same guys for eight years; it becomes second nature. The problem with the last record was that we recorded it in too many different places over too long of a period so it didn’t have the right flow. This one took a long time but we never lost focus of what we were doing.

You’ve had the fortune of having some of the band’s songs used in high profile places such as UFC Events. Did you ever have any reservations about going this route with the band’s songs?

As long as you’re writing good music with integrity and that you personally feel something from, you’re not selling out. The idea of selling out is that you are changing your art and getting paid for it, which is not the case with us at all. We ended up writing Hurricane, the first single off the new album as the theme song for Showdown Joe. There was no exchange of money, we did it just because he was a friend who happened to love the band. - The MusicNierd

May 28, 2010

Modern rock band and SOCAN members 40 Sons have earned a spot as one of 10 finalist groups (and the only Canadian finalist) with a chance to open for such headliners as Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Pearl Jam at the Hard Rock Calling festival, which takes place June 25-27, 2010, in London, England's Hyde Park.

More than 100 bands entered the Ambassadors of Rock Battle Of The Bands at Hard Rock Cafes all over North America, and Hamilton's 40 Sons were chosen as one of the 10 best. Now it's up to a public vote on the battle of the bands website. The winning group will receive round-trip airfare to London, four nights in a first-class hotel, $300 US per band member spending money, and the chance to rock thousands of fans at a high-profile music festival.

40 Sons came together in the spring of 2004, playing alternative rock that combines melodic vocals, pulsing rhythms and strong guitar riffs. They've won several previous honours, including the Roger Spring Music Festival Breakout Band of the Year in 2006; Local Group of the Year at the 2007 Hamilton Music Awards; and the title of 2008 Canadian Bodog Music Battle Champion. - SOCAN

40 Sons : Seven thousand Canadian bands entered. After 6 rounds of competitions across Canada, Bodog Music narrowed down the Canadian Finals to 12 bands. Only one band could come out victorious at Jeff Healey’s in Toronto in front of a panel of music industry judges, and that band was 40 Sons. “This Ontario band has it all – talent, passion, polish and charisma. We can’t wait to see what this band full of fresh young music talent has in store as Canada’s Bodog Battle Champion.”(Bodog Entertainment)

Hard rock band 40 Sons arose from the steel city of Hamilton Ontario. Mike Repic, Graeme Hawkins, Mike Szpakowski, and Cristiano Andreatta came together in the spring of 2004 and began creating there own style of alternative rock by combining melodic vocals, pulsing rhythms and heavy guitar riffs. In March 2007, FSD released there second EP, “The Monsters’ Face” to much critical acclaim. Based on the strength of the album and their intense live performances they were named Local Group of the Year at the 2007 Hamilton Music Awards, adding another honor to there short career which includes the Roger Spring Music Festival Breakout Band of the Year in 2006, an opening spot at the 2006 Ozzfest tour, runner-up at the internationally known Toronto Indie Week, and two other Hamilton Music Award Nominations including new artist of the year and metal album of the year. They have toured all across southern Ontario and Eastern Canada and continue to develop their exciting live show and incredible music.

Now as the Canadian Bodog Battle Champion, they have utilized the talents of acclaimed producer Carl Jennings of Westmoreland Studios and famed mixing engineer John Nazário of Iguana Studios, to create a new EP which is the band’s best work to date. With this new recording come new opportunities and new goals; watch out because they are on their way... - The Lethbridge Albert Beat

“There may not actually be 40 of them, but this song still kicks.” Alan Cross. (102.1 The Edge)

"There guys are the next Billy Talent!" (Todd Shapiro, 102.1 The Edge, The Dean Blundell Show)

“Great charisma, great performers, these guys should be playing the ACC!” Rudy Blair. (680 News)

“This Ontario band has it all – talent, passion, polish and charisma. We can't wait to see what this band full of fresh young music talent has in store as Canada's Bodog Battle Champion.” (Bodog Entertainment)

“Being a rock band that is not only successful but respected at the same time is usually a position held by those who are so confident in their craft that they can showcase it anywhere. Since 2006, this is what Hamilton hard rockers 40 Sons have been able to do, and do well.” Adam Grant. (VIEW Magazine)

“It's nice to see a talented band seeming to be musically reaching their full potential. I think this album (Madness) is a document of their talent, and 40 Sons are ready to do big things.” Adam Morrison. (Explore Music)

“Since their inception in 2004, 40 Sons has become one of the most popular rock bands in Hamilton, building the much-coveted ''loyal fan base'' that many bands only dream about.” James Tennant. (The Hamilton Spectator)

“A band rich with individual musical influences, this coupled with their hard work ethic and ability to write a great pop melody and make it sound heavy make them a great young band to record. Always open to new ideas I saw their songwriting chops and live performance skills ramped up considerably in the short time I worked with them.” Dale Penner. (Paradise Alley Studios) - N/A

“There may not actually be 40 of them, but this song still kicks.” Alan Cross. (102.1 The Edge)

"There guys are the next Billy Talent!" (Todd Shapiro, 102.1 The Edge, The Dean Blundell Show)

“Great charisma, great performers, these guys should be playing the ACC!” Rudy Blair. (680 News)

“This Ontario band has it all – talent, passion, polish and charisma. We can't wait to see what this band full of fresh young music talent has in store as Canada's Bodog Battle Champion.” (Bodog Entertainment)

“Being a rock band that is not only successful but respected at the same time is usually a position held by those who are so confident in their craft that they can showcase it anywhere. Since 2006, this is what Hamilton hard rockers 40 Sons have been able to do, and do well.” Adam Grant. (VIEW Magazine)

“It's nice to see a talented band seeming to be musically reaching their full potential. I think this album (Madness) is a document of their talent, and 40 Sons are ready to do big things.” Adam Morrison. (Explore Music)

“Since their inception in 2004, 40 Sons has become one of the most popular rock bands in Hamilton, building the much-coveted ''loyal fan base'' that many bands only dream about.” James Tennant. (The Hamilton Spectator)

“A band rich with individual musical influences, this coupled with their hard work ethic and ability to write a great pop melody and make it sound heavy make them a great young band to record. Always open to new ideas I saw their songwriting chops and live performance skills ramped up considerably in the short time I worked with them.” Dale Penner. (Paradise Alley Studios) - N/A

“FSD, FSD,” was the chant that charged the electrified atmosphere in Toronto’s live venue Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse. 40 Sons and Daughters is what FSD stands for, and the noise was about the national finals of the Bodog battle of the bands.

While there was a blizzard outside, 40 Sons and Daughters put on a hurricane inside. The band’s explosive performance of hard, yet melodic alternative rock songs with powerful vocals, took not only the highly engaged audience, but also the judges by storm. “We have some of the craziest, most supportive fans I’ve seen for an underground band and they are a huge reason why we are here,” the appreciative lead singer Mike Repic says.

Alternative rock band 40 Sons and Daughters succeeded and were crowned the national winners of the Bodog battle of the bands. All together 900 bands across Canada signed up for this battle. 40 Sons and Daughters will proceed to Los Angeles this summer to be part of a reality TV show in which they are going to compete against world wide national winners for a $1 million recording contract. About winning, Mike Repic says “I didn’t quite believe it at first. They called our name and the whole place just erupted. Through the hysteria I couldn’t quite gather my thoughts to realize what had happened, it was very surreal.”

This is only one of the achievements, 40 Sons and Daughters made so far. In 2006, the band played Ozzfest, sharing the stage with bands like Ozzy Osbourne, System of a Down, Disturbed, and Atreyu; and they were named the Y108 and Rogers Spring Music Festival’s Breakout Band 2006.

40 Sons and Daughters have released two albums so far. The first album is titled ‘Paint the Sky’ and the current release ‘The Monster’s Face.’ For more information and to find out when 40 Sons and Daughters are playing in Toronto, visit http://www.myspace.com/40snd.


September 7th, 2008
Categories: Magazine, Music . Author: Melanie Schade - Area Magazine

Abigail Cukier
Aug 4, 2006

When tickets went on sale for Ozzfest in Toronto, members of 40 Sons and Daughters snatched them up and planned a trip to see the July 25 show.

Little did they know that on July 27, they would be performing at Ozzfest in Buffalo, NY.

The founder and star attraction of Ozzfest, Ozzy Osbourne's hits include Crazy Train and Mama, I'm Coming Home. Launced in 1996, it is the longest running and most successful music festival of its kind and since its inception has sold over five million tickets.

40 Sons and Daughters won Y108's Get Hammered Indie Showcase this month to earn a slot at the all-day concert featuring rock bands including System of a Down, Ozzy Ozbourne and Black Label Society. Ozzfest alumni include Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath.

"It was amazing. Being on the big stage, being backstage. We had the whole rock star experience," said band manager John Parente, 17. "We met the other bands and we waved at Ozzy. We couldn't get near him, his security was so tight. But just being there was awesome. It was a dream come true."

40 Sons and Daughters includes drummer Cristiano Andreatta, 18, bassist Graeme Hawkins, 18, guitarist Mike Szpakowski, 19 and singer Mike Repic, 19.

John, Cristiano, Graeme and Mike Szpakowski attended Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School together, graduating this past June. They began to form the band in spring 2004 and auditioned several vocalists until finding Mike Repic.

The band combines alternative rock with heavy riffs and melodic vocals, with influences

including Alice in Chains and A Perfect Circle.

The group recorded a demo, which earned them a spot on the Top 20 Indie bands list on Triple X Hardcore Radio, as well as Track of the Day, Best Guitars, Best Vocals, Best Drums, Best Bass and other honours from Garageband.com.

The band also has two songs moving up the Hard Rock and Alternative Rock charts on Garageband.com.

40 Sons and Daughters released a seven-song CD April 7 and also won Y108 and Roger's Spring Music Festival's Breakout Band of 2006. Along with the title, the band won studio time, which they will use to create another recording next month.

The band also won Y108's Get Hammered Indie Showcase after submitting three original songs and a press kit to the station, which features local independent rock bands every Wednesday night at 10:30 p.m.

"We received more than 70 entries and our listening panel, which included people from the recording industry and the station's music director, picked five finalists," said Y108 program director Derm Carnduff.

The top five performed at Big Buck's in Burlington July 23. Another panel picked 40 Sons and Daughters to win.

"All five were great, but they had this stage presence, this natural kind of rock show stage presence," said Mr. Carnduff. "It was cool to see, especially guys their age.

"They're a really nice bunch of guys too, so I was glad we could help them have this experience at Ozzfest they will never forget for the rest of their lives."

As part of their prize, the band will also play at Y108's Rock n' Roll Picnic at Gage Park this Saturday. The family event will also feature Thornley, April Wine, Jeff Martin, Tom Wilson and others.

After that, 40 Sons and Daughters will continue to maintain their website www.myspace.com/40snd, play at local bars, as well as in areas including Toronto and Burlington, while hoping to catch the ear of a record label.
- Stoney Creek News

January 11, 2008
James Tennant
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 11, 2008)
When musicians win an award, there can be any manner of reasons -- skills, sales, politics, networking -- any of these could come into play.

When you win a "peoples choice" award, however, you win because people voted. Usually, that means they like you.

40 Sons and Daughters came away from the 2007 Hamilton Music Awards with the prize for Local Group of the Year by Peoples Choice. In other words, people 'round these parts like them.

Since their inception in 2004, 40 Sons and Daughters has become one of the most popular heavy rock bands in Hamilton, building the much-coveted "loyal fan base" that many bands only dream about.

"Our fans are just like our best friends," says drummer Cristiano Andreatta. "I think when there's a time when they have to do us a favour back, they'll do it because of that, you know?"

It would be wrong to suggest that 40 Sons and Daughters won just because they're nice guys, though. There's obviously something in the music -- as evidenced by their recent success in the BODOG Canada Battle of the Bands. After passing through the first two rounds in St. Catharines, 40SND is off to round three at Healey's Roadhouse in Toronto on Feb. 14.

In the past, the band's audience tended to be younger, and the group gained much of its popularity playing all-ages shows. As time has passed, however, the band finds its fans' average age moving both upward and downward, encompassing both the all-ages scene as well as the regular club-going crowd.

"It's cool to see when we're playing a show and you see the fans ranging anywhere from 15-year-old kids to 34-year-old parents," says Andreatta.

One reason for the band's wide-reaching popularity is that it has blended so many styles of heavy music while avoiding the more annoying elements that blight the hard-rock landscape these days. Too many bands feed on the leftovers of past musical movements, regurgitating the tuneless posturing of nu-metal or the power balladry of third-generation grunge. It's difficult to spot too many direct influences in the band's sound, and this works to its benefit.

"So many people ask us what our influences are," says Andreatta, "and we can't tell them because we don't know. We listen to so much different music."

James Tennant is program director at 93.3 CFMU - The Hamilton Spectator

31.45% - Thornley
20.96% - April Wine
8.06% - Tom Wilson
4.83% - Idle Sons
0.8% - Rocketface
33.87% - 40 Sons & Daughters

- - Official Poll results from Y108.ca - www.Y108.ca

40 Sons And Daughters won the People's Choice award for LOCAL BAND OF THE YEAR at the 2007 Hamilton Music Awards. - The Hamilton Spectator

Abigail Cukier
Mar 23, 2007

With listeners downloading singles off iTunes and the radio industry expecting at least nine per cent fewer listeners over the next decade, it is becoming more difficult for bands to break out.

"Record companies are having a very hard time these days and are not signing new rock acts like they used to," said Derm Carnduff, program director for Y108. "As a result, and I feel in a beneficial way, the independent rock scene is full of bands with very professionally recorded product. Bands still have to have a great passion for what they are doing and a great work ethic to play live shows, to make new fans one at a time at a grassroots level.

"With that being said, the internet and Web sites like MySpace certainly make it easier for bands to make their music available to the entire world."

Since MySpace's launch in January 2004, more than three million artists have used it to share information about themselves and share music.

English pop musician Lily Allen is the model user. Even before her debut album, "Alright, Still," arrived in US stores this year, Allen was an Internet sensation. Fans discovered her music on MySpace and spread the word. Today Allen's MySpace profile says fans have listened to her music nearly 7 million times on the page.

Local band 40 Sons and Daughters seem to be on track to make it work in this kind of climate.

The band's MySpace page has had more than 31,000 views and the first single from their new CD, Green to Black had more than 1,500 plays in two weeks.

Fan comments were positive and enthusiastic for their first three singles.

Those singles are also on Garageband.com and have received positive ratings.

"It's very encouraging to get feedback that supports what we've worked so hard to accomplish," says bassist Graeme Hawkins.

The band will release its full CD The Monster's Face today (March 23) at the Underground in Hamilton.

Drummer Cristiano Andreatta, 18, Graeme, 18, guitarist Mike Szpakowski, 19 and singer Mike Repic, 20 have been recording the CD since last fall.

They had several songs finished prior to going back into the studio. Then producer Paul Roussel came into the picture.

"He told us what was good and flat out told us what was bad. We had to come up with new parts, ideas and rethink a lot of our songs, but in the process of doing that, we really developed what it was we were trying to accomplish," Graeme said. "So by the time we went into the studio we were a well-oiled machine, we had been playing and rehearsing these songs for months and when we got into the studio everything went off without a hitch."

John, Cristiano, Graeme and Mike Szpakowski attended Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School together, graduating last June. They formed the band in spring 2004 and auditioned several vocalists until finding Mike Repic.

The band combines alternative rock with heavy riffs and melodic vocals, with influences including Alice in Chains and A Perfect Circle.

Last July, 40 Sons and Daughters won Y108's Get Hammered Indie Showcase to earn a slot at the Ozzfest music festival in Buffalo, including bands like System of a Down, as well as Ozzy Ozbourne.

The group also earned a spot on the Top 20 Indie bands list on Triple X Hardcore Radio, as well as Track of the Day, Best Guitars, Best Vocals, Best Drums, Best Bass and other honours from Garageband.com.

The band also won Y108's Get Hammered Indie Showcase after submitting three songs to the station. The top five performed at Big Buck's in Burlington last summer and another panel picked 40 Sons and Daughters to win.

In the fall of 2006, 40 Sons and Daughters placed second in the rock genre at the Toronto Indie Music Festival.

"It was very exciting to place second, given the fact we'd never played the Toronto market before. We didn't expect to go that far our first time there," Graeme said.

Band manager Johnny Parente's said these accolades make his job easier.

"Promoting this band is probably a bit easier than some other new bands because so many people I contact have already heard of them," he said. "Being new to the industry, I have tried to make contacts to help get the band's name recognized. Graeme does a lot of work as well, trying to promote the band, which is good because it helps keep the band directly involved. But there's so much more to learn."

Mike Repic writes all of the band's lyrics, while Mike Szpakowski brings most of the main riffs and musical ideas.

"When we start jamming a new song, Cristiano and I will bring new elements to the song that were never imagined at the outset," Graeme said. "We all just keep pounding away at it until we get to the end and everyone's happy. Sometimes it goes on for weeks."

But band members agree their favourite thing about music is the way it makes them feel.

"It's been said many times, but a good song really can evoke such emotion that it could move you to do something, whe - The Stoney Creek News

By Adam Grant
Aug 21-27

Being a rock band that is not only successful but respected at the same time is usually a position held by those who are so confident in their craft that they can showcase it anywhere. Since 2006, this is what Hamilton hard rockers 40 Sons and Daughters have been able to do, and do well. That summer, the band won a Y108 sponsored talent search, and as part of their prize were given an opening slot on that summer’s Buffalo, NY Ozzfest tour stop — not a bad step up from the local small club stages they were used to performing on.
Since this point, the 40SND — Mike Repic (vocals, guitar), Mike Szpakowski (guitar, vocals), Graeme Hawkins (bass) and Cristiano Andreatta (drums) — have been capitalizing on that moment of momentum, and turned it into a variety of high end opportunities. Firstly, in 2007 the guys released their second EP The Monster’s Face and parlayed that effort into an entry into the 2008 Canadian finals of the Bodog Battle of the Bands. As one of 7,000 groups that entered the competition, 40SND survived several elimination rounds and eventually beat out over a dozen fellow semi–finalists to take the title.
What this victory got 40SND was an enviable spot on Bodog’s International Finals television program that’ll not only force bands to write and perform at their best, but also take part in several reality TV–friendly based competitions. The 10 finalists from around the globe will head down to L.A. this fall to compete for the $1 million recording contract with Bodog, and an opportunity that’s worth way more than the dollars and cents involved. “We have to use everything we have. Obviously the music speaks for itself, but [it helps when you can say] ‘do you want to listen to my band? We did this…’ It gives a huge push for people to actually pay attention, which you kind of need now because no one gives a crap about music right now it seems,” says Repic when speaking about Bodog opportunities, as well as the importance of young bands attaching such accolades to their fact sheets. “We do have to focus on the business angle, but we’re still grounded. We don’t know too much about the industry.
“We’ve been really conscious about that for the past year since we released The Monster’s Face — thinking about business and stuff like that,” he continues. “It has nothing to do with songwriting; we just want our songs to get better all of the time and make our records and live shows kick ass. The focus is always on the music.”
Repic sounds quite confident and at ease about what this second Bodog opportunity could do for his band. What is for sure though, is that winning this competition would make life for 40SND that much easier. Right now, they have no other label support and are paying for everything out of their own pockets.
However, to keep things fresh, 40SND will be releasing a new four–song EP on August 23 that they’ve made with the assistance of musician/producer Carl Jennings (Freedom Train). While Bodog is still months away, Repic is hoping that this sampler will not only provide more exposure for the band, but ultimately help them reach the next level. If anything’s guaranteed though, it’s Repic’s confidence in where his band’s creative direction is going. “I don’t think it sounds like anything on the radio today, but I think it definitely has a place there. It’s very ‘radio,’ but it’s still us and very edgy — we still kept our dignity; we didn’t go all Simple Plan or anything,” offers Repic about the new tracks. “It’s [a lot to do with] the people we worked with also. We knew what we wanted to do, but they brought it out of us as well, especially working with Carl. He has an incredible ear, and the second anything clashes or we want too much stuff, he was like, ‘it sounds great the way it is, let’s not muddy things up.’ With our first album — track after track — we just muddied it up like crazy, then the last one we didn’t do that at all and it seemed too bare, but I think this is a good medium.
“If we put something out now and took a whole new direction, it might throw a lot of people off,” he adds. “We have a few hundred fans in Hamilton, but I think with this sound it could attract thousands and actually capitalize on the momentum and take it a million times further.” - The View Magazine