The Faim strip down to a ‘State Of Mind’ for experimental new record
The Faim, french for “the hunger,” are true to their name, as the Perth natives have a craving for growth and finding new ways to express their thoughts and feelings. Their forthcoming album, State Of Mind, contains a diverse yet cohesive tracklisting, each song with its own meaning.
Despite the four-piece having toured with the likes of Andy Black, Sleeping With Sirens and Hands Like Houses, though, things aren’t always smooth sailing. Vocalist Josh Raven credits his ability to stay level-headed on the road to his bandmates—guitarist Sam Tye, bassist/keyboardist Stephen Beerkens and drummer Linden Marissen.
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“We’re always faced with uncontrollable events or unimaginable circumstances, [and] sometimes the only thing you can do is really embrace the important people you have around you,” Raven says. “It’s a big journey for everyone. It doesn’t matter what part you have in a band. At the end of the day, everyone is in this 100%, and everyone is experiencing the same things. It’s really important to just be honest and be open with each other about what you’re feeling…The foundation has always got to be stronger than everything else around you, or else it’ll tend to crumble.”
Inspired by groups such as Panic! At The Disco, Fall Out Boy and Metallica, experimentation with sound, along with life experiences, played an active part in the creation of State Of Mind. The Aussies quite literally stripped everything down in the studio to create a piece of art they felt represented them.
“It sounds weird, but I told the boys, ‘Let’s strip off all our clothes and create this strange space of getting out of our comfort zone. Let’s do something different,’” Raven recounts of writing the title track. “It was just more the idea of when you physically put yourself in that sort of space [and] you change your environment, the instincts that you go to when you write [are] more natural and something you won’t expect.”
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While everyone has different ways of maintaining their own mental health, Raven says music has always been an outlet for the band to use as a coping mechanism and help release their emotions.
“Despite the gravity of it, we express ourselves in a raw and honest way, whether it’s conscious or subconscious,” he explains. “It’s so important to let people know that their experiences, their events, not only are they OK, but they are also a part of growing and part of the unique facets that make up an individual.”
That message is reflected in the slowest track on the album, “Where The River Runs”. With Raven singing with a lone piano, it’s a stark but welcome difference than what’s expected from usual tunes.
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“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from [or] what you’ve done,” Raven says. “Everyone has their own pain, and it’s not any more or any less than anybody else’s. It’s just important to be aware of that and think about it in the right, responsible way. Especially in today’s day and age, in the rise of social media, the rise of information just being bombarded on people in general, it’s important to keep true the things that are around you and the people that really love you.
“That song was a really big step, personally and for the band,” he continues. “It was just a different approach to everything [and] had its own little identity on the album. It’s quite stripped back and quiet, not too overly produced. We wanted to do that because it doesn’t necessarily need it. The sentiment and the message are what’s important.”
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In an industry that’s constantly changing, whether personally or overall, the group continue to be their most authentic selves.
“You can’t really change the world around you, but you can change your reaction to it,” he shares. “‘Being true to yourself’ is a strong thing to say because sometimes that’s one of the harder things to do. Emotion can be quite an impulsive and powerful thing, and sometimes emotion isn’t the best thing for every scenario. Sometimes it’s rationality and reason…It’s important to think and take a step back and really look at what you want. Look at what you need out of life and let that guide you.”
From soulful “Beautiful Drama” to ever-relatable “Humans,” the band want to make sure listeners take away something from each track.
“Even if only one person out there in the world can find a perspective in our album, then for us it’s going to be a job well done,” Raven says. “To inspire others to look outside of themselves and find some kind of security and safety in it, it’s really important. It’s a really humble and rewarding feeling.”
State Of Mind drops Friday, and it’s available for preorder here. The Faim are also hitting the road in the U.S. for a co-headliner with Stand Atlantic this fall. Hold Close, WSTR and Point North are on as support, and a full list of dates and tickets can be found here.
