Brooklyn-based electro-goth-punk, disco-metal group Makes My Blood Dance, whose sound incorporates cyberpunk, synth-wave, metal, and pop elements, recently released their new single/music video, “Heavy Metal Amour.”
Founded by frontman EVO and Jon Kristian (guitar, programming), Makes My Blood Dance includes “I Love” Lucy (bass) and El “Rat Bastard” Ray Ray (hybrid beats). Together, according to Kristian, “We are the freaks.”
“Heavy Metal Armour” is a high-octane anthem where raucous guitars collide with explosive percussion. The music video depicts two people who seem stuck, too busy to make time and living in fear. Suddenly, there is a shift, a musical and romantic embrace that leads to the deliciously voluptuous dance sequence.
XS Noize spoke with EVO and Jon Kristian to delve into the process of making the music video, its spicy dance choreography, and their philosophy of “there are no excuses.”
How would you describe your music?
EV0: I like to think of it as rave-metal//electro-pop//edgewave//workout jam//dancing with the stars…. something like that. It’s meant to uplift, get you moving your body, and make for a very fun live experience.
Can you share the inspiration behind “Heavy Metal Armour” and the creative process of bringing it to life?
EV0: It’s a personal confession of mine. It’s about being ignored in a relationship, and then I start fantasizing about how I’d like things to be. I am semi-obsessed with the dance of all styles, and our videos frequently fuse some element of that. The music video for ‘Heavy Metal Armour’ starts with two people with different priorities. There is frustration, there is loneliness, there is vulnerability…. and then it flips into this erotic dancing with the stars-esque vignette. Our videos are super fun to make, and I hope others find them entertaining to watch. The video concept, of course, relies on the song and the lyrics, but I also spend a lot of time with locations and wardrobe and that heavily influences how these turn out and how we want to tell the story.
Who directed the video, and where was it shot?
EV0: I also directed this video and pretty much all the others. Jon Kristian (Lead Guitar/Programmer) and I are the creative force behind all things MMBD, and we produce everything together via our label, Alpha Centauri Records. We bring excellent teams of creative people, choreographers, dancers and magicians with the camera, so it is a collaboration. Most of our videos have been done with different teams, so none of this is a sure thing. ‘Heavy Metal Armour’ dance sequences were shot in a loft in downtown Los Angeles, CA. The live band was shot in an LED auto showcase room in a warehouse in Bushwick, Brooklyn. We had some incredible editing and post-production from our boy Vicente Cordero in LA. The planning took months, the pre-production took weeks, the dance took a week, the shooting took two days, the post-production took about two weeks……it’s a lot.
There’s an erotic element to the video. Who choreographed the dance movements in the video?
EV0: The choreographer was Emily Lutes. You can find all our credits in the notes below the video on YouTube. I shared my concept with Emily, along with a very detailed Pinterest board and a dance video starring Antonio Banderas, and we were immediately on the same page. I was dancing with Delaney Hogan, a knockout and total pro. We rehearsed for a few days before the shoot at Emily’s dance school in LA, which was super fun. I was a bit nervous, though, because it is very erotic, and I was meeting everyone for the first time and immediately getting into these incredible routines. I think having a solid connection is important, but everyone was committed to the storyline. I would have liked more rehearsals, but Delaney picked everything up super-fast and led me throughout the process.
What do you want people to take away from the song and the video?
EV0: Pretty much the vulnerability and realness of our music, the release you can get from listening and moving your body, and that you are good enough. It doesn’t hurt to throw in an incredible wardrobe, stunning dance sequences, and fantastic lighting…. the quality is part of what I want people to see. To the lyrics and message of the song…. many times in our lives, we’re our worst critics; we’re constantly seeking validation from partners who do not and will not speak our love language. It’s very difficult and it’s really the universe forcing you to be self-resilient. I do believe in deep, everlasting love, but I also believe in romance and fun, which don’t always go hand in hand, especially in long-term relationships. At the end of the day, we’re entertainers and artists, if we can’t illustrate the fantasies and dreams of humanity then who can?
What’s the story behind the name Makes My Blood Dance?
EV0: I was inspired by a poem by Chris Poindexter that said something to the effect: ‘When I look at her, she makes my blood dance.’ I just thought, I know that feeling, I want that feeling all the time, and I want others to have that feeling. Whatever that means to you. To me, it’s the most powerful and natural high there is, pure joy and ecstasy.
How did you get started in music? What’s the back story there?
EV0: We probably all had some childhood experience or obsession that never seemed to disappear. My dad was a musician and a producer for jingles. I was in studios and exposed to a lot at a young age. Once you decide ‘I want that,’ and no one has to force you to practice or stay enthused, it’s game on.
What can you share about your writing process?
EV0: I’m super grateful for Jon. Our backgrounds in music are very different, but we have a lot of respect for one another, a lot of patience and can write songs we love. Our process has gone through stages, but the pandemic accelerated things for us because we became much more remote and technologically savvy. We both have home studios and ping-pong the songs back and forth with different ideas until we’re satisfied. Then we road-test the ones we love, THEN we’ll take it into the studio with A-list producers like Mikal Blue (One Republic) and Bret Mazur (Crazy Town). Mikal and Bret worked on our debut album with us at Revolver Studios for two months. ‘Heavy Metal Armour’ is the first single from that album.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Maybe touring or who you’ve played with, something that’s stood out.
EV0: For me, it’s the creative process with Jon, culminating in the album we just made in LA and, of course, bringing it on the road to the fans. We have levelled up so many times, and our next tour is going to be bigger than ever, with incredible lights and crowds.
Which do you enjoy the most: writing, recording, practising, or playing live?
EV0: All of it.
Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you could go back and start your music career all over?
EV0: I would have been sober and straight edge from the beginning. I would have taken more chances. Even now, I see so many young bands thinking they know more than everyone else that, somehow, people are ripping them off. That creates a very guarded and negative vibe, and it kills a lot of potential relationships. I have toured a lot my whole life, but it’s useless if you don’t have the machine behind you to elevate those efforts. The music industry is a long, dark road; you cannot do it alone. You need the right partners, starting with your own band but many more after that. Stay open and stop making excuses like money, jobs, girlfriends…. There are no excuses in MMBD, everyone wants to be here, forward motion, positive thinking.
Based on your own experiences and lessons learned, what guiding principles or words of wisdom would you share with aspiring artists looking to carve out their path in music?
EV0: See my last response. You get back what you put in. Stop complaining and get to work.
Jon Kristian: This is different for everyone, but for EV0 and I, the original music industry has been a humbling experience. First, You’ll pick up the guitar to be a rock star. Then, you hit your first difficulties purely because of the music and art form. The further it goes, the harder it gets. Even if you remain clean and sober, people will start to hate you as you claw your way to the top, either for jealousy or just because you don’t fit anymore. It’s hard to create demand for a new artist – it’s an oversaturated industry. In the end, it’s a service industry, like waiting tables. We love people, we love entertaining people, and being a part of their good times. You gotta love that, too.
How do you define success?
EV0: Be happy now, not from what you think you’ll gain tomorrow. Enjoy the process, or please quit now and focus on something that makes you happy. Oh, and cut the hater crap. If you don’t have anything nice to say, do not say anything at all. It won’t help you or anyone else with your negative, angry opinion. You’ll only surround yourself with more haters, more darkness and more misery.
What’s next for Makes My Blood Dance?
EV0: Zer02LGHTSp33d Tour (15 dates) in September, and then we’re headed out on the Gods & Monsters Tour (25 dates) with Tommy Vext (Bad Wolves) in November and December. Expect to see us on the road the rest of the year and into 2025. Sign up for updates on the website.
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