INTERVIEW: Courage My Love

So this is your second UK tour, how are you finding the UK?

Mercedes/Phoenix: It’s awesome!

Mercedes: We love it, it’s even more fun this time around cause we’re seeing some familiar faces and made friends last time.

Which city has been your favourite to play so far?

Mercedes: Paris was a really good show and we really like that city a lot. London I gotta say is always really fun and a lot of good times. I think it’s different for everybody.

Phoenix: We haven’t played this day yet but I think Leeds is gonna be pretty fun too. Last year it was a really good show, we’re excited.

Have you had much time on this tour to explore?

Mercedes: Yeah sometimes, like today (Camden Rocks Festival) we already played so we’ll probably go and explore a little bit. Usually we’re the last band on so at around like 10 at night or after we soundcheck we’ve got a bit of time to go check things out.

And you guys are playing Warped Tour this year. Are you doing the whole run?

Phoenix: Yeah! The whole thing.

Mercedes: We did it before in 2014 and we got asked to do it again this year so it should be a fun time.

Phoenix: We’ll have like two days back home after this tour then we leave for warped tour so it’s pretty good!

Brandon: On the road again!

Are there any bands you’re looking forward to seeing on Warped Tour?

Phoenix: *Gasps* There’s a lot of bands!

Mercedes: For sure.

Phoenix: Beartooth are really cool, I wanna watch them, I think they’re awesome. Silverstein are like our Canadian bros so it’ll be cool to see them.

Brandon: It’ll be cool to see Hawthorne Heights again.

Mercedes/Phoenix: Yeah!

Mercedes: We already toured with them and they’re really cool people so it’s nice.

What’s your favourite thing about touring?

Mercedes: Honestly the whole thing is my favourite. I love travelling, I love the friendships that we make, I really like the experiences and seeing new places and meeting new people. Being musicians we like getting to play every day - that’s a bonus! If you’re cut out for it then it’s the perfect life.

Downsides?

Phoenix: It can be physically straining I guess, just on your health sometimes. But it’s really fulfilling and really fun, it’s worth it!

Any top tips for touring?

Mercedes: I’d say sleep as much as you can. That’s we do, we try to sleep as much as we can in the back of the van. It’s not easy because sleep is probably the thing you get least of on tour.

Phoenix: Drink water. My secret weapon when I start to feel under the weather is Emergen-C. I don’t know if it’s around here.

Brandon: Any vitamin C.

Mercedes: Yeah any multivitamin. Or there’s a sick thing in the UK called Vocalzone, if you’re a singer. It works, it’s crazy! I lost my voice and I couldn’t even talk, then before a show I took it and I could sing.

What was filming the music video for your latest single “Need Someone” like?

Mercedes: It was pretty cool we’ve never done such a simple stripped down video before. I’ve never cried on camera before or anything like that so it was kinda surreal that way but I think it turned out really well and we all had fun doing it. It was an emotional roller coaster!

Phoenix: It was hard for Brandon and I because we are normally behind either a bass or drums. So it was kinda awkward being like up front and centre.

Brandon: We didn’t really know what we were supposed to do! We need some direction!

Phoenix: Yeah we were pretty much told “Okay you just have to get in zone.” Emote! We just had to think what the song was about and let it flow.

Mercedes: That song means a lot to all of us. When it’s something already really close to you it’s easy to tap into that energy or whatever.

Phoenix: Feelings!

Does Brandon ever get left out as the only guy in the band, especially since you’re both twins?

Mercedes: No! I don’t think so.

Brandon: Do you want the dirt or?… Just kidding! It’s awesome, we’re all like bros anyway, and we’ve been friends for a long time. There’s no bullshit we’re all pretty straight up with each other. These are my girls and I look after them - my little sisters!

If you were a cocktail/alcoholic drink what would you be?

Phoenix: There’s so many sexual ones! It’s a horrible drink but I think I’d be a long island ice tea because it’s easy on the way down but there’s lots inside!

Mercedes: I’d be like a berry cider because it’s sweet but also bitter so it’s conflicting tastes.

Phoenix: You’re so bitter! So bitter on the inside!

Brandon: Sex on the beach baby!

Phoenix: You’d be a shot of JD, let’s be real!

Brandon: Straight shot, no cocktails!

Phoenix: No chaser!

Catch Courage My Love on tour in the UK this November and Europe from February next year.