KINGDOM COLLAPSE – A CONVERSATION WITH JONATHAN NORRIS

Jonathan Norris is the dynamic lead singer of the band, Kingdom Collapse. The group is a powerhouse foursome based out of Texas that have taken the world by storm. Besides Norris, the band is comprised of David Work (Guitar), Aaron Smith (Bass) and Elijah Santucci (Drums). Their sound is a ferocious mixture of nu-metal and harmonious melodies.

Kingdom Collapse have released a series of audacious singles and E.P.s in the last few years. “Unbreakable” was a staple on Sirius’ Octane all last year. This year they followed up with the edgy “Save Me From Myself”. Their newest offering is “Break Free” which delivers explosive vocals and profound musicianship. “Suffer” is another killer track that features emotive vocals, sublime guitar riffs and a monster backbeat. The band is constantly on tour and has shared the stage with such artists as From Ashes To New and Saliva.

The following is a casual conversation Jonathan Norris graciously granted AMP.

AMP: Your music has a brazen metalcore sound yet still has a melodious ambiance. How do you balance the two?

JONATHAN: For us, the two elements come naturally. Each one seems to settle right in place. How I write a song is chorus and melody first. It’s like a singer/songwriter technique. i work on the skeleton of the song to the point where it sounds good stripped down. I want to make sure that it keeps its sound even when you play it on one guitar or a piano. When I add the song’s theme and energy, that’s when the heavier feel comes in. When you add the the two, you get Collapse.

AMP: Your songs seem to resonate with humans with social frailties and people on the fringe. Do you feel that Kingdom Collapse gives them a voice?     

JONATHAN: Absolutely! Everything I write about comes from a real experience in my life. I tend to write about hard times that eventually have some sort of resolution. I feel the songs give a voice to the people who are going through rough times because they can relate. It’s a form of catharsis.

AMP: Tell us a little about your recent single, “Break Free”. What might a fan or listener miss on the first or second time they listen to the song?

JONATHAN: Um! That’s a good question! With this song in particular, I used a lot of descriptive vocabulary. I took this approach to make it as illustrative and visual as possible. The tune is about being stuck in a situation. The air is being sucked out of you. I guess it all depends on what the listener is focused on. If it’s the music, they may miss the overall theme. If you follow the lyrics, you get it a bit sooner.

AMP: How would describe the band’s work ethic?

JONATHAN: We have been touring non-stop nine out of the last ten months. Probably six or seven separate tours in that stretch. We got off the last tour yesterday and we are leaving for the next one in an hour. There was two weeks off from our previous tour and our manager said: “I need the next two singles before you leave”.

Sure enough, five days before we left, I struck gold with “Break Free”. We finished it up and sent it to Octane. They loved it. We ended up releasing it on the tour. Since we are independent, we can release things when we want which is a blessing. We are constantly pushing it hard. We don’t want to lose momentum. That truly describes our work ethic. Go, go, go as hard as we can.

AMP: What is the best and worst parts of being a musician?

JONATHAN: There are so many great things about it. It’s cool to be able to play music, write songs and do shows. It’s great to be able to connect with people and possibly change their lives. The worst part is the fact that life on the road can be a little rough. At our stage, we don’t have a bus. It’s just a van and trailer. For example, sometimes we have to wash our clothes at some random laundromat 45 minutes before we load in at the venue. Eating Mcdonalds and drinking whiskey. It can be stressful but all the pros make it worth it.

AMP: What is the question you always wanted an interviewer to ask and what’s the answer? Conversely, what is the one question you are tired of answering?

JONATHAN: I don’t know. Let me think about that! I like the questions about the songs because that is who I am. The songs mean a lot to me. Questions about the substance behind the tracks are what I really enjoy. On the flipside, I field questions where it is obvious the interviewer hasn’t done much research. They get the name of the band wrong or ask a question that really doesn’t pertain to us. I have to act like I didn’t heat it and just follow through.

AMP: The band has opened for a bevy of a-list major artists. Who is the one act you would love to support?

JONATHAN: I may get some pain for this but all is good. When Creed get back together, I would love to play their “Reunion” tour. Growing up I loved everything they did. That would be on my sentimental bucket list.

AMP: Best song to play live?

JONATHAN: It gets back to the idea about substance meeting music. When we play “Unbreakable” the crowd seems to really connect and come alive. When we play in front of a new crowd, “Unbreakable” is the song they seem to recognize the most and suddenly they get into the band a little more. From there the party seems to escalate. It’s definitely our favorite song live but we try to one up that with every new song we release..

AMP: What can your fans expect from the band in the next few years?

JONATHAN: Us not letting our foot off the gas. More music and bigger tours. Writing new songs that mean something. Kingdom Collapse’s spirit is extraordinary. We will never stop.

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To learn more about Kingdom Collapse, Check out the Website!

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Stream music:  Spotify / Apple Music

Purchase: Amazon 

 

 

 

 

 

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