Thanks to Vasely for answering these questions:

What can we expect to see from Saving Grace over the next year?

Well we have a few things in the pipeline for 2012, possibly multiple overseas tours, maybe a new record....who knows?!

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Honestly, just go for it with everything you have. Be bold, passionate and real in your art and dont let the haters get to you. Because let's face it, no matter how good you are, there will always be haters. Just be yourself and make the music that you want to.

Who are your favourite NZ musicians/bands, and why?

Well, in all honesty, my wife is my favourite NZ musician. She sings and plays piano and does so beautifully. Some days when I come home from work I can hear her playing while I'm coming up the garden path. It's the best thing. Haha! But as for bands, man, there are/have been alot of great NZ bands around. Alaska for one are fantastic,
Misadventures in Self Surgery, Ulcerate, The Voyage, Promise of Bloodshed, One Must Fall, Horrendous Disfigurement, Declaration A.D, Militia, Kill Me Quickly... how long do you want me to go on?

What will Saving Grace's next release be?

Probably another full length, though we have toyed with the idea of doing a concept EP based on one of the minor Prophets from the Old Testament, but that might just have to wait...

How do you come up with your lyrics?

For our previous releases I would just write in my own time about whatever grabbed me, which was typically my personal trials and tribulations. My personal life and walk with God, but for The King Is Coming I tried something different. I committed to prayer and aksed the Lord to really inspire me about what to write and how to write it, and the result is something I can honestly say is the most potent material I have ever penned.

Who would you most like to support live?

Pantera, should Dime not have been murdered. Sepultura, should Max not have left. So in the real world? Earth Crisis. One of my all time favourite bands.

How do you believe Saving Grace fits into the NZ music industry?

I honestly don't know. I guess there must be a bracket somewhere that allows for an overtly Christian Metalcore band from Gisborne City to sell records and be worthwhile to someone.... hahaha!

What can you never leave home without?

Sadly... my cell phone.

How do you describe Saving Grace's music?

Honest, abrasive, confrontaional, spiritual, emotional and purposeful.

What is your favourite NZ venue?

There have been a few amazing venues over the years that we have had the honour of playing at, The Centre in Gisborne, The Fish House in Palmerston North among others. But I think the best venue I have played in a long time is The Basement, we played our CD release for TKIC there and it was out of control!

What is the best part of being a musician?

Seeing how the things I write about affect other people, some people have emailed me from the other side of the world and said to me that my lyrics and our music has helped them deal with some really difficult situations in their lives. Now I dont know how exactly, but that's besides the point. It's just good to know that people get something positive, some hope or strength out of what we do.

What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?

Well, The Voyage have just left our shores to set up shop in Australia, which bums me out because they are super good and they are all such lovely people. So I want to see more of them!

What is in your CD collection at home?

What isn't?! Haha! Uh, lets see. La Coka Nostra, A Life Once Lost, The Mint Chicks, Sufjan Stavens, Bloodsport, Nine Inch Nails, Edith Piaf, Darkest Hour, Lily Allen, Slipknot, Messengers, Cypress Hill, Mobb Deep, Arkangel, Sepultura, Pantera, John Mayer, Peter Bjorn and John, The Traveling Wilburys, Creations, The Deftones, Circa Survive, First Blood, Cat Stevens, Elvis..... I coud go on for hours.

What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?

With my old band, Mind Bloodshot, one time in Wellington, I accidently punched myself in the nose and had a really bad nosebleed for the first hald of our set. Looked pretty metal though.

What is your favourite place in NZ to be?

Home.

What inspired you to start a band?

Honestly, a combination of passion for music and performance, a need to vent my pent up hostility towards the world and myself and boredom. I grew up in Gisborne, you know? Small town... not alot to do.

How did you come up with the name Saving Grace?

I can't remember, I think we had a bunch of ideas, heaps of generic 'Blood something' names and we thought that Saving Grace was cool in the sence that it cunjured up the image of a lovely sounding band with daffidols and sunshine, but we sound like.. well, you know.

What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?

That's a difficult one to answer, beause we have played so, so many amazing shows and they have all been memorable in so many ways. I think the last time we played at Void in Hamilton was crazy good, small venue, good friends, maybe 50 kids, sweat. You know. But then we played at the Palladium at Parachute a little while ago and that was insane, it seemed like well over a thousand people in there and the pit was NUTS!! So yeah, so different and amazing for different reasons.

How do you keep in contact with your fans?

Facbook is a great tool, kids will add you on there and you'll get a message every now and then from a kid you had a chat to after a show one time or another and they reach out to you for any number of reasons. Its really great to be able to have input into so many lives, giving advice, praying for people, or just talking about vocal techniques. Its one of my favourite things about doing this.

What rumour would you like to start about Saving Grace?

That we sold out on hardcore and that we are all about the money....oh thats already a rumour. I think that will do.

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