(Photo Credit: Deviant Rebel Media)
Can you introduce everyone in the band and what instrument do they play?
Monica: I am the Front Woman of St. October
Sid: I'm Sid I play bass
Dusten: I produce and record but play guitar and sing live.
Joseph: I'm Joe and I play the drums.
Sean: I do the keyboard tracking as well as live and studio rhythm and lead guitar in St. October. I also play bass, drums, and sing. My first album ever recorded was with Violent Fade from Omaha, NE, and I did bass and keys on the album. On St. October’s “Whatever Darkness” album—keyboards only.
In your words can you describe your style of music?
Monica: Very Guitar driven, and melodic. Heavy but catchy and we have a little bit of something for everyone.
Dusten: The love child between Cradle of Filth, Type O Negative, Katatonia, Evanescence, & Nightwish.
Sean: I consider our genre “symphonic gothic metal”. Dusten’s songwriting encompasses other subgenres of metal, and there are subtle elements from progressive, power, and death metal. When I first introduced my friends to St. October, I told them that the band was influenced by Cradle of Filth, Type O Negative, Devin Townsend/Devin Townsend Band, and Leprous—but the EP and “Whatever Darkness” sound unique and separate from the initial band influences that all current band members have.
How did you guys decide on the name St. October, is there a story behind the name?
Dusten: October has always been a special month for us in the band. The name itself is a tongue in cheek Ode to Type O Negative from "All Hallows Eve" & "October Rust"
(Photo Credit: Deviant Rebel Media)
What has been your favorite venue to play at and why?
Monica: That would have to be a tie between The Village Theatre(Davenport), & Tailgators(Cedar Rapids). That was a very difficult question.
Sid: Wildwood BBQ & Saloon(Iowa City), & Tailgators(Cedar Rapids)
Sean: My favorite venue to play is Wooly’s in Des Moines, but St. October hasn’t been booked here yet. I opened for the band Queensryche with my old band Unity back in 2016—it was an experience of a lifetime. I plan on getting us booked at Wooly’s in due time, once we find a lucrative lineup of local and regional bands to book with.
Dusten: The Village Theatre(Davenport), We've got lots of love playing this venue. Rascals(Moline) Kenny is a wonderful owner and has graciously welcomed us when nobody in the scene did. The WC Social Club(West Chicago), we got to debut our keys and midi automation for the first time in this venue while opening for one of our biggest musical influences: Wednesday 13.
What artists have influenced you in your music endeavors?
Monica: When I was 11 years old, my sister took me to my first concert to see Evanescence, and that is when I fell in love with that style of music, and what made me want to start singing. The band We Are The Fallen was also a big influence for me. When I was a sophomore in high school I discovered black metal, and after hearing bands like Dimmu Borgir and Dark Funeral for the first time is when I wanted to start practicing harsh vocals.
Sid: Cliff Burton, Jason Newsted, Geezer Butler, & David Ellefson(Who watched our live set at Midwest Monster Fest in Moline ILL) Seeing Cliff Burton shred out a sick bass solo on an old Metallica video is what made me want to be a musician and play bass.
Dusten: Dani Filth, Devin Townsend, Peter Steele, Wednesday 13, Katatonia, & Paradise Lost, to name a few. I started playing guitar because at the time all the kids in my grade thought Guitar Hero was the coolest thing ever so I started playing the real thing in secrecy to be the cool guy who could actually play the stuff. So when I felt confident in showing off all the handwork and dedication the fad wore off and I just decided to stick with it because I was already too deep in. The first song I ever learned how to play was Metallica's The Unforgiven.
Sean: Amorphis, Nightwish, Savatage, Pain of Salvation, Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Evergrey have been my go-to bands when it comes to songwriting influence. I really started getting into keyboard-driven metal when I discovered Dio through Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath albums that featured Geoff Nicholls (RIP) on keys in my high school years. I started learning keys at the tail end of my college accounting years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on a cheap Casio keyboard from Guitar Center. After college, I upgraded my synth workstations ranging from higher-end Korg models to Roland synth racks to album VST plugins. I’m predominantly a guitarist and bassist but work very hard on my keyboard skills yearly and want to compose great orchestrated work in St. October.
Joseph: I Was inspired to play drums when I heard the song "Wipeout" like 20 years ago. Everything I do is stolen from either Neil Peart or Spencer Prewitt of Archspire.
What is the one that inspired you to get into music?
Monica: One of the songs that inspired me to get into music is Imaginary by Evanescence and my favorite song at the moment is Freeze by Cellar Darling.
Sid: Watching Cliff Burton's live videos, so pretty much any old Metallica, ATM I've been listening to the song Kirisute Gomen by Trivium.
Dusten: A song that inspired me to want to do music was the song "The God That Failed" by Metallica, it was soo badass. Right now I'm obsessing over anything Oliver Tree puts out, "Perfect Skin" by The 69 Eyes, & the Sisters of Mercy Cover Cradle of Filth did for "No Time to Cry".
Sean: I wanted to be a keyboardist in my pre-middle school years, but my mom didn’t like the prices of keyboard workstations—so I received a guitar for my birthday at age 12. I had years of guitar lessons and excelled very quickly over the years. I got my keyboard itch back on the way out of college. I never put my guitars and basses down, and it has paid off to date. I love working with Dusten and Monica because of their European metal influences. Monica and I used to stay up til 3 am watching symphonic metal music videos on YouTube in the former apartment that Dusten and her were in a few years ago. The power of music influence just keeps building.
Joseph: "Something for Nothing" by Rush
What is everyone’s favorite song?
Monica: With Open Eyes
Sid: GHOSTS
Dusten: Decide PT. II
Sean: “With Open Eyes”. I flexed my Savatage, Dream Theater, and Nightwish keyboard influences on each composed riff of this song. I stayed up late every night during the “Whatever Darkness” recording sessions just listening to all parts without even composing anything on keys. Dusten and Monica composed very rich parts that took a lot of thinking on. I didn’t want to cover up seemingly cool guitar, bass, and drums parts—but rather add and compliment every written part. I love hearing the haunting piano outro on the PA during live shows, and I hope the attendees enjoy it at every show we perform.
Joseph: With Open Eyes
Where can we find you guys at?
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