Miss May I Interview

Last updated on March 8th, 2017 at 04:46 am

 

American metalcore Ohio band, Miss May I, took a visit to Minneapolis during their tour on November 8th. The band is supporting their 5th studio album Deathless, which recently debuted at #20 on the Billboard Chart. We were able to sit down with vocalist Levi Benton to talk about previous band names and his secret love for Justin Bieber. Enjoy!

Q: Levi, what age were you when you learned how to scream? Does touring wear on your vocals?

A: I think I screamed in our band for the first time when I was 15. We did alot of covers that had singing before we did anything with screaming so it sort of came out of nowhere when our influences changed. Touring is definitely difficult on the vocals but its nothing some care and warm ups can’t take care of.

Q: Your new album, ‘Deathless’ recently debuted at #20 on the Billboard Chart. Looking back at a much younger Levi, did you ever think you would reach this far in music?

A: I never thought we would be in the position we are today as a band and especially a heavy band. I am very thankful for the journey and the dreams I have lived out being in Miss May I and I can’t wait for whats in store for the future.

Q: What drives your passion for music?

A: My biggest passion for music isn’t just the “music” but the fans. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the fans and the 40-60 minutes I get a night to lose control and allow everyone in the audience to lose control as well. There is nothing like it and it fuels me every night.

Q: One of your latest releases “I.H.E.” has some pretty wild lyrics (ex. “I hate everything, I hate everyone.”) Is the band generally happy?

A: We are very happy guys and best friends. We have always had a smile on our face throughout our whole career and after so much time of being the happy guys you find yourself being taken advantage of and thats exactly what IHE is about. Miss May I being pushed to our breaking point.

Q: Do you have any guilty listening pleasures, such as Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift?

A: Of course! I think everyone in the world does. Im not going to lie to you guys. I listen to the top 40 from time to time and the Biebs makes his way on the playlist too.

Q: What was your high school experience like? Were you in sports or band?

A: I always wanted to play sports in highschool but freshman year is the same year we started MMI and that sort of became our sport. After school we would just write and jam over and over until it was time to call it a night and go to school the next morning. That is how I spent all my highschool years and they were some of the best years of my life!

Q: Have any members attended college?

A: None of us have attended college because of the time frame of our record deal. Everything happened in our senior year of High School so we had a choice of tour and do the band or go to college like originally planned. We obviously took the more ambitious route.

Q: Any other names you considered before going with your band name?

A: Hahahah we had a couple of names in the running when we first started jamming together. “Day Of The Locust” and “Saving Small Town” were short lived and you can tell why!

Q: What is your favorite tattoo that you have?

A: My favorite tattoo would have to be everything on my left arm. I know thats alot for one answer but it is the story of my family and my blood and its a story I dont ever want to forget.

Q: Do you have advice for bands who are working hard to gain a following?

A: My biggest advice is that “nothing comes easy” and to “take it slow and smart”. It is very easy to lose yourself in the music world especially if you have a few streaks of awesome shows. You can find yourself feeling on top of the world and taking huge unnecessary risks. Just focus on being the best you can be and play as much as you can in front of people. Everything else will fall into place.