Interview with Nick J Townsend of WEAK13


 

By Mick Michaels





The Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us! 

Nick J Townsend: Thank you very much. 

CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?

Nick J Townsend: WEAK13 has a sound governed by rock and metal overtones but musically we can and do anything we want. We’re thought provoking; often satirical but we overall entertain ourselves and others. 

CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you made the connection to your fans?

NJT: When people see WEAK13 having fun doing exactly what we want on our own terms then our audience connects. They expect us to deliver something different each time and they know we’ve put thought into it. We have faith in our ideas and our fans expect us to be ourselves. 

CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?

NJT: WEAK13 try and reply to all the messages we get and we’re grateful for them. Our fans are very important and we tell them that. 

CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal space” in your opinion?

NJT: If any band had a camera on them every second of the day then there would be no surprises. Interact with fans by all means but maintain a personal space somewhere because that’s the only place you have to make the things for fans to look forward to. 

Here’s an example; if you see a brand new music video and you like it then part of that experience is the element of surprise whilst watching it and not knowing for sure what’s coming next. I’ve seen bands interact with fans whilst filming a music video and live stream the behind the scenes before the thing is even finished filming; that’s like showing the audience how the tricks are done before doing the magic - stupid. 

CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your opinion?  If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple views among various cultures?

NJT: As interesting and intelligent as this question sounds I have no idea how to answer it without writing an entire book. 

CV: Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to connect more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?
NJT: If a band writes good songs then that’s really the appeal. WEAK13 gets heard in different countries because the music we write connects with them. US audiences, especially recently, have shown quite an appreciation for us; we consistently write new sounding songs and people expect the unexpected from us. 

CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been blurred?

NJT: A genuine artist will produce art on their own terms and continue to do so for a long time. Technology has made things faster or more accessible for some but, at the same time, that technology has also sped up their eventual departure from the music industry if they’ve not got the results they expected. 

We have a society where instant success, monetary gain or gratification appears to be the main drive but a real artist takes their time to make quality and any success will likely appear further down the line. Modern-day digital technology is only a tool; it can assist an artist but it can’t make one. Remove that technology and if you’re left with nothing then chances are your heart isn’t in it. 

CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends and one who sets them?

NJT: Following trends suggests a lack of originality; whilst setting a trend involves risk, planning, daring and independent thought. We prefer to set trends. 

CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?

NJT: I believe sub-genres do nothing more than divide people. For example; I’ve heard narrow minded phrases from music fans such as “I only listen to Emotional Hardcore” which to them I assume is like identifying with or following a football team. 

However, every team has its good and bad seasons so they must listen to good Emotional Hardcore and bad Emotional Hardcore. A good football team normally drafts new players from other teams but that doesn’t mean they play the exact same way as them. 

A lot of bands within a sub genre are inspired by bands outside of its genre limitations. It’s ridiculous the entire sub genre baiting thing because it’s like saying that a band can only ever write one type of song. When someone tells me they can only listen to or play one type of music sub-genre then I just assume they are mentally challenged. 

CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
NJT: WEAK13 has a double album to release soon. We’re just sorting that out with the record company. I’d say it’s our best work to date. 

CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.

Check out Weak13 at:  

iTunes Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/im-more-metal-than-you-single/1676723064

Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/album/71musBdjNV95kaCIK5hsBg?si=ttVPkTrlTfGgwvoH4rkkQw

WEAK13 social media: Twitter, Facebook,  Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. 


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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.




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