Father Before Me releases melodically powerful new single, "Left To Save," part of a new EP, Sapphire.
When it comes to projects that stand for the misfits, punks, and the free spirits no unsigned acts stand out from the crowd more than Elijah Catrone’s new project, Father Before Me. Emerging from the ashes of his former band and former self, Elijah Catrone felt lost and unsure of how to proceed in his music career. Determined to make a statement as a multi-instrumentalist that existed within himself all along, Catrone would go on to create 2019’s Emerald with producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. Catrone continues to work with the producer heavyweights on his new single, "Left To Save." Inspired by a variety of influences ranging from classical, video games, skateboarding, pop-punk, and a diverse array of bands such as Bayside, Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom, and Maximum the Hormone, "Left To Save" is a preview to the upcoming EP, Sapphire, which portrays a range of emotions about people who feel like they don't fit in.
As someone who has been through many hardships, I wanted to offer solace to others. Despite losing my parents at a young age and couch surfing at friends’ homes to get by, at least music was there to help me through those dark times.
A brand new release since Father Before Me's EP, Ruby, The song takes the listener on an emotional journey, while also encouraging them to keep pushing forward in the face of adversity. Life can be difficult, but Catrone believes that by embracing the challenges we face, we can grow and become better versions of ourselves and that it is possible to overcome any obstacle that seeks to bring us down. Although many artists have participated in such emotional endeavors, Father Before Me demonstrates with the latest single, that music can inspire change and reawaken the strength of hope.
What started Father Before Me? What inspired you to create this project?
Elijah Catrone: Father Before Me arose from the ashes of my former band, and in another way, my former self. There were a few years when I felt lost with music and unsure of how to proceed. Finally, I realized that I’ve always been a multi-instrumentalist and decided that no matter what, I needed to get the songs that were floating around in my head out of there and into the world. I reached out to Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Atrium Audio to record the debut EP “Emerald” in the Spring of 2019 and I performed all the parts on the recordings, from drums to guitars, bass, and vocals.
What are your musical influences? How did they make their way into your new single, "Left To Save?"
Elijah Catrone: My musical influences are a combination of different artists, video games, and life experiences. My father was an opera singer and he showed me the beauty of classical music growing up. My mother taught me guitar in my early teens, and I instantly became obsessed with all string instruments. As a skateboarder and gamer, I also got heavily into the bands from games like Tony Hawk - mostly a lot of pop punk and ska. Meanwhile, my older brother showed me phenomenal metal bands which led me to incorporate guitar solos and shredding into my playing. Later, I was fortunate enough to be the guitarist for a high school jazz band and that was elucidating in terms of learning actual music theory. With all of that as a foundation, my love for music just snowballed into listening and appreciating an eclectic mix of bands from Bayside, Iron Maiden to Children of Bodom, and Maximum the Hormone. What always resonated with me are powerful, catchy choruses laid on top of the double-time rhythms of punk and post-hardcore coupled with the dual-harmony guitars of the ‘80s and early 2000s. That was what I wanted to showcase in “Left To Save” as the first single off the new EP “Sapphire” which encapsulates the signature Father Before Me sound.
Lyrically, "Left To Save" dives into themes of those who feel they don't belong; who are worried about losing life's optimism and zest, but ultimately, want to strive for change and rediscover hope. What made you want to write about these themes for this new single?
Elijah Catrone: As someone who has been through many hardships, I wanted to offer solace to others. Despite losing my parents at a young age and couch surfing at friends’ homes to get by, at least music was there to help me through those dark times. I wanted to do my part to help inspire others to do better and rise above the ashes of the world that are burning down in front of us. Sometimes grasping onto hope is the only light left in the darkest of times, and I believe that music has always been that light.
This is your first single since your sophomore EP, "Ruby." How has this creative process been different from anything you have worked on in the past?
Elijah Catrone: The songs on this EP take a more progressive route with the riffs and arrangements, while still staying true to the older sound. I wanted the fans to take away something fresh while still maintaining the familiarity of the sound they enjoy from previous Father Before Me tracks.
If there is a message that wants listeners to take from "Left To Save," what would that be?
Elijah Catrone: We often curse the darkness; asking ourselves, “What’s the point?” But I wanted to offer a sense of hope to listeners and let them know that you can still guide your ship through chaos to safer waters and live to see another day. This is why in the first three choruses the lyrics are “better days are what we crave, tell me what is left to save?” But then at the conclusion of the song, the lyrics are updated to “better days are on their way, let me show you what is left to save.”
Is "Left To Save" a part of a larger project in the works?
Elijah Catrone: “Left To Save” is the first single off the third EP, “Sapphire.“ I’m also currently storyboarding the next music video for the follow-up single set to release on December 1st.
What else is next for you?
Elijah Catrone: Father Before Me is kicking off its debut live show on September 23rd at Muñoz Stock, a music festival in New York. Going forward, I just want to stay the course and write more, play more live shows, continue inspiring listeners, and be the voice that some people don’t have. Overall, I just want to enjoy life and keep making music for everyone.
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