INTERVIEW: Amos Ender discuss origins and influences alongside new single ‘Red Suitcase’

After breaking through with their brilliant debut single ‘Tailspin’ earlier this year, fast-rising duo Amos Ender are back on the grind once again to deliver their anthemic new single ‘Red Suitcase’.

Exploring another heady dose of driven alt-rock aesthetics for their newest outing, ‘Red Suitcase’ sees them continue their upward ascent with style and aplomb. So with the new track doing the rounds, we sat down with them to discover more about their origins and influences over the years.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

Muse. Watching their 2007 HAARP tour concert at Wembley stadium will forever be a turning point in my career. To see Matt so deftly and dramatically orchestrate such an incredible night of rock was beyond inspiring and unforgettable. I always come back to that show, it’s never left my jogging playlist, and it was the first time I realized it was never the studio album that I wanted – I wanted the live recordings, the extended outros, the spontaneous interactions with the crowd.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

Queen, Muse, U2, Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters – I’m most drawn to the anthemic or arena genre of rock. I love watching concert videos from festivals or stadiums and imagining being privileged enough to one day lead such a huge group of people in the unifying joy that seems to happen only through music. No other experience can compare, and in my opinion, rock is the “fullest” genre when it comes to the gamut of emotions that we long to express to one another.

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

Early on, my love for music was formed by acoustic/alternative bands such as Jack Johnson, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional. I think the way I approach lyrics and melodies is still influenced by some of those softer genres. Nowadays, I’m drawn to alternative and indie bands like Twenty-One Pilots or Arctic Monkeys, metal and post-hardcore bands such as August Burns Red, and will always have a few film scores/soundtracks and musicals in my rotation. 

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

A connection between me and the riff or melody that gets deep enough that I can no longer put it into words. I could tell you it’s an angry riff, or a melancholy melody, or a riff you want to dance to, but I couldn’t tell you why. That’s what I’m looking for whenever I’m in the studio, perhaps spending a few days on just a small part of the riff or melody until it feels like it’s something bigger than I’m able to explain or understand.

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

Getting to see someone else connect to something I’ve poured my heart and soul into (and feel deeply connected to myself). It’s hard to explain, but their joy/emotions somehow increase my own joy/emotions in that moment beyond what I ever experience in the studio alone. 

For example, last summer we were at an outdoor bar and a storm was rolling in as we were coming to the end of our set. One of our tracks, Bent, has this part where there’s a chant in response to the guitar riff. I went out into the seating area and stood up on a picnic table, still playing the riff, and led everyone in the chant, thrusting our fists into the sky as if challenging the storm to try and stop our show. The storm blew over us and we were able to finish our set, and I’m convinced it was due to our unified fist pumps into the air that scared it away. I’ve never experienced Bent like that, and don’t think I ever will again. That’s the ephemeral beauty of live music.  

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

Getting to put on our own show for the first time – it was at a venue of a friend we know, and we were the only band, so it meant we had a true sound check and rehearsal, could set up lights and stage props, had a full-on intro track where we went up on stage, and knew that everyone there that night was there to see us, which gave a lot of confidence and joy that we typically didn’t have. 

How would you define success as a musician?

That’s a hard question. My best attempt would be: producing music that you feel like there’s nothing you could’ve done more to make it better, and that enough hard work has been put into it that you can – with a clear conscience – be proud of what you’ve created. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

The idea that “you should love every minute of your work” is a lie. That advice has helped me to have so much more patience to know that the parts of being a musician that I love will always require doing things I don’t love, and I need to trust that those “boring” parts will someday pay off.

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Listen to Amos Ender’s new single ‘Red Suitcase’ below.