Rocking With Jam Man talks with Billy from Ascendia
Rocking With Jam Man talks with Billy from Ascendia about their new album PARASITE and the new single This War, his tic tok, getting ripped to make his ex jealous, groupies, Tommy Vext, touring, The Cheesecake Factory and more
ASCENDIA started with Prog power, then took the power back and made some of their most memorable music to date. Coming from Toronto’s heavy music scene, the band drew first from what they and their peers grew up on – “Black Sabbath, Dio, Kiss and symphonic metal like Nightwish,” explains guitarist John Love. As their tastes broadened, their music went through a metamorphosis.
John and his younger brother, Billy (drums) combine as the songwriting engine for the trio that also includes childhood friend, vocalist Nick Sakal. The push and pull between the very different siblings creates songs with Billy’s high energy / passion and John’s introspection / depth – the best of both worlds. With Nick’s warm, expressive vocal style, the songs are brought to life in the most authentic way.
Billy (@billylovebaby on TikTok) thrills his fans via fitness tips with attitude and kills his haters with hilarity – using his gregarious nature and truly winning personality to amass a following of close to 200k on the app. As his brother rose to TikTok influencerdom, John was doing in-depth research into the new lane their more commercial sound landed them in. “I was listening to 3 Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin and Sevendust. Sevendust has this sonic layering that is incredible… each of these bands had something to teach us.” Billy explains why his brother is his best possible collaborator “I am experimental, I try everything. John tethers me to Ascendia’s purpose – he keeps us from floating out into space.”
The trio has spent so much of their lives together that they have a musical shorthand. Nick’s writing role has grown through the help of the “Pain Sheets” that the band created during recording and shared in the studio. Bringing his personal ‘pain’ into songs like “This War” and “Parasite” through the process felt like “band therapy,” he explains. It made his connection all the more deep and palpable.
Combining what they learned from commercial rock contemporaries with elements they liked of Country and Pop songs, ASCENDIA has created a body of work that will unfold upon multiple listens. Early listener comparisons to Linkin Park and Nothing More bode well for the band members who are fans of both bands. “I don’t like being compared to other bands because everyone brings something different to the table,” says Billy. “I get it, because you want to have a relative scale of something to compare it to. BUT, if you have to compare us to bands, those are great ones!”
After spending their childhood afternoons at Long & McQuade (Canada’s answer to Guitar Center) playing other bands’ songs, they decided to form a band of their own. Billy admits having to railroad Nick into being in the band, but the ends justified his means. “When we were teenagers, John and Billy entered us into a Battle of the Bands without telling me,” explains Nick. “I was so nervous when I found out and I couldn’t believe I was going to get up in front of all those people for our first show ever, but we WON. The feeling of being onstage grew on me, obviously.”
Big fans of cinema and film scores, the brothers went to see GODZILLA in the theater. One of the trailers before the film had an epic, ascending score. Billy suggested to John they perhaps include the word ASCEND in the name of the band. ASCENDIA followed. Prior to the current iteration of the band as a three-piece there were more members. The trio is keeping things tight with the band roster this time around because “there is such an equal contribution from each of the three of us,” explains Billy. “To add another band member they would have to bring something significant to the mix. At this stage, we will find a touring bassist when we hit the road.”
The love is equal for touring and studio work for Billy. “Of course I love the adrenaline rush of performing, but the reason why I am in music (after having studied business in University) is the high of writing a great hook. There is nothing like it.” Nick loves touring – travel and music being twin passions of his, “and it is a bonus that I get to do it with my best friends.” John concludes “The process of writing isn’t super enjoyable. It is filled with roadblocks and frustrations… but you can’t beat the feeling of when you know you ‘ve struck gold. When that happens a feeling of joy overcomes me and reminds me why I love music so much.”
That love will be shared with the world via PARASITE (the album) and by their first single “This War” coming SOON!
https://www.facebook.com/ascendiamusic/
