SET FOR TOMORROW – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Thriller Records has snagged another up and coming metal artist who will rock the musical spectrum. Set For Tomorrow is a Richmond, Va based ensemble that has just been added to the label’s roster. Their sound is a hybrid of aggressive metalcore riffs and melodic hook-driven choruses. Set For Tomorrow blends several genres in a pot in order to create a truly singular groove. The band consists of Eyker Cruz (Vocals), Mikey Canoy (Guitar/Vocals), James Lovato (Guitar), Brendan McGlathery (Bass/Vocals) and Sean Williams (Drums). The one formable aspect of Set For Tomorrow is the fact they are ever evolving. They are constantly pushing the envelope.
Set For Tomorrow have just released a new single via Thriller. “Someone Lonely” is a prime example of the volatile intensity Set For Tomorrow discharge while still remaining melodically accessible. The production is polished but the song still exudes an extremely raw feel. Cruz’s vocals carry a death charge filled with passion while the guitars shine with a dynamic propulsion. The backbeat is fantastic. In addition, Thriller added “Someone Lonely” to a reissue of Set For Tomorrow‘s EP, Arcs, which was self released earlier this year. Another top tune from Arcs is the driving “Doom + Gloom”. It explodes with unadulterated angst. Set For Tomorrow are ready for world domination, today!
Eyker Cruz from Set For Tomorrow was kind enough to sit with AMP for this all-inclusive interview.
AMP: How did the band get together? What’s the story behind the formation?
EYKER: The band originally started with Mikey! And then he sort of met us all along the way through local shows/gigs. I remember actually meeting Mikey for the first time when I went to an “Emo” live band Karaoke night and Mikey was working at the venue! I covered “A Boy Brushed Red Living..” by Underoath, Mikey came up to me and said we should collab sometime, and then it just went from there about a year or so later.
AMP: What bands or genres influenced you growing up?
EYKER: My parents are from Puerto Rico and Panama, so I grew up on Salsa and Disco, and then got into Rock when I was put into guitar lessons. So my influences are all over the place, from artists like Bee Gees and Willie Colón to bands like SYCAMOUR, The Plot In You, and Underoath.
AMP: How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard your music?
EYKER: Modern Alternative Metal
AMP: Do you write music collectively, or does someone take the lead?
EYKER: Primary writers are typically Mikey and myself. James also is a big contributor but he’s not always available for our writing sessions, and then Sean likes to sauce things up once the ideas have been more developed! Lastly, we all collectively critique the music to get it over the finish line!
AMP: What kind of themes do you explore in your songs?
EYKER: I typically try to write introspectively about things I’ve gone through. I recently had a big change in my living situation and it inspired most of the music lyrically we’ve released from “ARCS”.
AMP: Where do you find inspiration outside of music, books, movies, etc.?
EYKER: Myself and Brendan are pretty into Anime/Manga, most of the guys in the band play video games. I’m also into comic books and all sorts of things like that.
AMP: How do you balance the heaviness with melody, and technicality with emotion?
EYKER: We don’t really ever aim for a certain amount of “heaviness” or melody. Typically we just try to view the track objectively and figure out what all it needs to deliver the overall vision/vibe!
AMP: Your new single is “Someone Lonely”. Can you give us a little insight into the track?
EYKER: “Someone Lonely” was written about when you’ve grown accustomed to a particular person or lifestyle and then you wake up, it’s all suddenly gone.
AMP: Dynamics play a major role in a band’s success. What’s the main ingredient in the Set For Tomorrow dynamic?
EYKER: We refer to the music we make as “diet weird.” The idea is to make music that has a unique part or texture that can be a tiny bit jarring to the listener, but not strange enough to ruin the “digest ability” of the track.
AMP: How psyched are you to unleash your musical assault on the masses?
EYKER: We are so very excited for the future. We couldn’t be more thankful for all the support from our fans, family and friends, and can’t wait to see what opportunities we land next year!
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