Introduction to A Broken Machine’s lead singer, Phil

October 18th, 2007 | Category: Florida Music Scene

Featured here is Phil Banfield, lead singer forTampa
Bay’s own A Broken Machine. This band is leading the revolution in the local metal scene by blending several styles into their own progressive sound, and I was lucky enough to get to interview him in some of his off time from their newest CD project, “Choke on ‘em”
Me- “So, Phil, I caught your latest show at Boomerz Nightclub in Seminole and I must say your sound is not one that I have heard before. How would you categorize your type of Metal?”

Phil- “Progressive Metal Core, meaning that we have implemented a lot of solos and change ups into our off timed music.”

Me- “What do you feel adding solos does for the overall sound of your music?”

Phil- “It adds a dynamic epic feel that peaks just before the song’s climax, and it allows us to really showcase each band member’s true talents.”

Me- “Speaking of true talents, I noticed that the solos were not just left at guitars and vocals; why did you guys feel the need to add in drum and bass solos?”

Phil- “We truly feel that it makes for a much more captivating live performance to have drum solos that aren’t incorporated into the song, we want the people to get a feel from our live performances that they wouldn’t get from our album alone.”

Me- “Who would you say were the biggest influences on your band’s overall sound and writing style?”

Phil- “ You can hear the influences from Dime Bag Darrell, Rush , Iron Maiden, Cradle of filth, As I lay Dying, Randy Rhodes and Killswitch engaged; but while you can hear these influences we try to breakaway from your typical format in writing our

music. While your typical song is in a 4:4 pattern, we try to do songs in like 11:16 pattern. And the writing style can go from someone having an idea in their head, such as a particular guitar rift and us collectively writing a song around that rift; or to go as simply as pulling our names out of a hat.”

Me- “Pulling names out of a hat? How does that work?”

Phil- “Well, take the first name that gets pulled out during the writing process that person has to come up with the structure of that part of the song they decide whether the song will start with an intro, a chorus or a bridge. Then the next person decides where the song goes from there, and so on until the song’s end. Ensuring that every member gets a turn and an equal say and everyone’s opinion of where the song should go is respected.”

Me-“ Well, when can we expect to see you guys performing again?”

Phil- “October 26th, 2007 at the Uptown Lounge in Downtown St.Pete located off of

Central Avenue
and we are playing with A Dank Season, Chronic Disorder, and Deception”

Me- “Well thank you for taking the time to interview with me today and for giving all your fans out there some insight into your broken machine”