What are your names?
Jordan Wright, Andrew Leigh, Lacey “Nova” Ammar
What is the bands name?
City Of Sound
How did you come up with the bands name?
I was in Chicago, and while walking around the city, I found myself recognizing all the different people that were passing by me. I started thinking about what they would say about their story, if I asked them to tell it. I started thinking about the kingdom of God and what that means to me, the hope it gives me, and how I want everyone to experience hope no matter what their story. To speak hope, show hope, and be hope. There was a cosmic connection that I started to have with the city and it’s people, I began seeing people from a created point of view instead of an existing point of view. It increased my capacity for grace, compassion, and love. I realized that so many people have never even experienced what it means to be fully-human. To strip themselves of all insecurities, ideologies, and bias. To see each other as apart of this beautiful city, and treat each other as such. That’s what I want City of Sound to do, provide a space for people to see each other as human, that no matter what their worldview is, they find a connection through our music, and choose to BE hope. I think the meaning of City of Sound is quite simple, if you can be hope, others will learn to be free.
What is your genre of music?
So far stadium rock is what a lot of listeners have called us
Give us a little bio about you as a band and individuals.
Jordan’s story started 8 years ago, starting this idea City Of Sound. He knew that he wanted to make it a band some day, but just had to find the right people for it. 7 years later he found Andrew, who became the right hand man for all things!!! He is a crazy good producer and guitarist! He’s been doing music in some way for the last 10 years. Then Jordan met Lacey at a fight gym (yes, an actual fight gym) where she was competing (still does) and Jordan found out she was an unbelievably talented violinist. He immediately approached her about joining the band and she did!
Describe each other in two words.
(Jordan describing) Lacey- galactic elf
(Andrew describing) Jordan- unflinchingly driven
(Lacey describing) Andrew- Warm Intelligent
Tell us more about your music.
No matter what sound we bring or what lyrics we write, we always want our music to take courage to write. We want it to be honest, and at the very end of each listen; bring hope.
Your set to release a new EP ‘Silent Empire’, tell us more behind the naming of the EP.
I was trying to think of how to write a project as a social commentary; about how I see our society today all while speaking life into our current culture. As I was writing it, I realized that I had all the same issues that I kept writing externally about, but wasn’t acknowledging them internally. It hit me that the greatest hindrance on the state of our society is our unwillingness to self-reflect. I asked myself, “How many issues could I solve by simply looking at myself? How could I possibly write about the problems in this world without facing them first within me?” I realized that I was just as big of a problem as the problem I saw in our society. If I did not have the courage to write honestly about my own self-reflection, then I had no place in commenting on the state of our society. Silent Empire goes thru the process of self-reflection. A process that should always end in hope, and action.
Describe each track in two words.
Apartment Diaries (demos):
Afterglow – hold ground
I For One- Be Hope
Wasteland- continue on
The Show- trust
Wake Up – self-reflect
Silent Empire EP:
Silent Empire- honest courage
Race To The Sea- admit truth
Madhouse- embrace chaos
still writing current songs 😉
What was the writing process like?
I always take my time with our songs, songwriting should always take courage, so sometimes it takes a while to convince yourself that you actually want to say what you truly believe. Also, it should take courage not in how you write about something else, but in how honestly you are willing to give yourself over to it. I like to make sure every line, and every moment serves a purpose that will speak life into whomever is listening to it. To make someone want to be hope. It must have purpose. It must do something.
What was the recording process like?
Well, our demos were recorded in an apartment, and I don’t mean like an apartment studio, I mean like a small-corner with a 100 bucks worth of equipment. Now that we have our own studio though, we can really go deep into our EP Silent Empire and really challenge ourselves creatively. The whole EP will be recorded, mixed, and mastered by us.
Are you signed?
No, we have chosen to take this path independently, and so far we are really happy about it! We have absolutely nothing against record labels, I was just blessed to be able to fund our journey thru my songwriting for other artists. It’s amazing to have complete control over your destiny.
Your FIRST show is headlining Molly Malone, how did that come about ?
I started sending our music to promoters last week and they started booking us right away! It was so exciting to see the response we got, so then a promoter called us and asked us if we’d like to promote, and of course we had to take that opportunity for our FIRST SHOW! We have been incredibly blessed.
What can we expect from you guys on the night?
Each of us really believes in simply being ourselves when we perform, it immediately disarms everyone in the room and allows everyone to feel free. You will see a lot of freedom that night, each of us in our own way. I’m usually bouncing off the walls and screaming at everyone lol! Andrew will be rocking out super hard on his guitar. Lacey will be dressed up like a warrior-princess with crazy hair, ready to go to battle lol!
Any inside info we can give your fans about the set list?
We will be playing all the songs they have loved, and it will have lots and lots of power. There’s is nothing I love more than an epic symphony, and that is what we will try our best to bring, but with rock music. We are coming to blow the roof off.
where can tickets be purchased?
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-sound-live-tickets-33648841591
TICKET PROMO VIDEO IS HERE AS WELL! CHECK IT OUT
Will there be merchandise to purchase? (I think beanies would be cool!)
YES! and I AGREE, I am finally getting our brand new logo THIS WEEK and I cannot wait! We will definitely have merch, and have even more at our upcoming shows!
Do you have anymore shows coming up after?
YES
Viper Room- 06/12
The Roxy (w/ East of Eli)- 07/29
Where can tickets be purchased?
Viper Room will be free!
The Roxy- http://www.goldenvoice.com/#/event/334873
Who are your influences?
Jordan- Myles Kennedy, Marty Sampson, Zeppelin, Queen, Muse, Chevelle
Andrew- Bon Iver, U2, M83, Mutemath, Daft Punk
Lacey- Muse, Evanescence, classical music
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Working on our second or third album, touring the world and loving on people.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Lacey and I train A LOT in a lot of martial arts. Lacey and I talk Star Wars, LOTR, and anything epic or fantasy based. I love anything outdoors, (as do Andrew and Lacey) Andrew is always working on something and always hustling, or he is outside somewhere with his wifey. (he’s the cutest dude ever) Lacey does so many crafts it’s not even funny! I love to be active….I also have a guilty pleasure for horror movies.
Where would your dream venue to play in your hometown?
Jordan-I would LOVE to play the Chicago House of Blues, the Palladium (in Carmel my hometown), or somehow Chicago Theater.
Andrew- The Fillmore (Denver)
Lacey- No idea
Would you be up for collaborating with an unsigned artist or band? If so how can they contact you?
Yes, for sure! Our email is thecityofsound@gmail.com just shoot us a message!
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
O man, none of us even have an answer for that lol!
Where is your dream festival to perform?
Lollapalooza
Glastonbury
What made you go in to music?
I suffered an injury that kept me from doing what I loved (competing in martial arts) and I thought about the military, but I didn’t know if my injury would keep me from that also, then I sat down at the piano one day and just started playing. I immediately fell in with what music can do.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Jordan- All it takes is a choice, a split second in your existence, to choose love over fear.
Andrew- Never be afraid to be yourself.
Lacey- Life is happening for you, not to you.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not just about the industry also just as an artist/band?
Sometimes listening to criticism is the best thing for you, don’t think that staying who you are means you can’t grow into who you could become.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Speak life, choose love, and beat your dreams into submission.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
The people
Lyrics
Those performing with you
The purpose
To speak life and hope
You come off Tour
1/ Where is the first place you go?
HOME
2/Who is the first person you see?
Wifey
3/What is the first thing you eat.
Pizza, Ice Cream, Chew Sprees, Oreos, all the things
You have to perform one country for the whole year, where would it be?
Can I say anything else other than the good ole US of A???
Where is the best place to go in your hometown for new visitors?
In Carmel Indiana, it’s definitely Handel’s Ice Cream.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
YES!
Instagram:
City Of Sound
Jordan Wright
Lacey Ammar
Andrew Leigh
Twitter:
City Of Sound
Jordan Wright
Lacey Ammar
Snapchat:
cityofsound
Neide Paixão
April 20, 2017 at 10:53 pm
Great interview! Keep spreading the love and hope! Love you guys!