In a bid to chase some straggling votes in this years' K Awards, Roadrunner homed rockers, Dommin fancied spending One Round With Dan Entwistle.
You’ve had a pretty big year so far, bursting into the mainstream consciousness with ‘My Heart...,’ supporting HIM and Lacuna Coil and playing the main stage at Download festival, how are you coping with this sudden whirlwind of activity?
To be honest, I don't think about it all that often. There are only particular moments in my life when I look in the rear-view mirror and contemplate all we've done. I'm usually too focused on the day at hand and whatever is next. I guess that's how I cope. I merely stay focused on what's in front of me.
How was Download festival for you guys? You played on the Sunday so did you get a chance to catch any of the big bands or have any interesting backstage stories?
Since we were lucky enough to be there on both Saturday and Sunday, we had the unique opportunity as a band to enjoy a lot of different bands on both days. We saw Volbeat who we'll be going out with in a couple of weeks which was a nice little preview. We also got to watch all the bands on our stage which included everyone from Rage Against The Machine to Billy Idol and Slash. I think the coolest moments backstage were when we got to reunite with the guys in HIM and We Are The Fallen who we'd just gotten off tour with only a few weeks earlier. I got to briefly hang with Tomo Miličević who is a good friend and it's always nice when we can cross paths when we're far from home.
We caught you a few months ago supporting Lacuna Coil at the Shepherds Bush Empire, how was that tour for you, did the crowds react well to your music?
The crowds have been pretty amazing on all the tours so far. They are very open to new music. I find it a bit funny now because the shows always begin with a fairly quiet audience who are trying to figure out whether they like us or not. As the set progresses, the reactions are louder and louder and by the end of our set, we've made a good number of new fans.
Given that all your songs seem to have so many layers could you explain how you usually go about writing a new song?
It usually begins with myself and an acoustic guitar. Once I have the basics of the riff and the vocal melody, then I build the rest of the song around it.
Was there any tension within the band when adopting Kristofer’s surname as the band name?
Not at all. Especially since I was using my last name for this project prior to most of the guys being in the band.
When you think of the music that comes from LA your mind automatically jumps to rock giants such as Guns ‘N’ Roses and Motley Crüe. How has the LA scene changed since they dominated and how is Dommin’s music received from the crowd now present in LA’s bars and live venues?
I think you're also forgetting one of my favorites, The Doors. Los Angeles is a melting pot of everything under the sun. As far as I can tell, there is nothing dominating the scene. But you can go out almost any night of the week and find whatever you fancy. ‘Love is Gone’ tends to have been categorized by the music industry as being ‘Gothic Metal’ or ‘Gothic Rock.’ Yet anyone who has listened to the album for more than 20 seconds can see other influences and styles of playing, for example, the guitar solo in ‘One Feeling’ is more Bon Jovi than Marilyn Manson so; Which bands would you say have influenced Dommin to play the style of music you do today?
When it comes to guitar solos, I just try and rip off Ace Frehley. I think the rock style of everything from KISS, AC/DC to the rockabilly style of early Elvis, Johnny Cash and The Stray Cats can be heard in our music. Couple that kind of rock with the approach of Depeche Mode, The Cure and Danzig and you've got Dommin.
The lyrics throughout Love Is Gone tend to run in conjunction with the album’s title; heartbreak and lost love, are they all based on personal experiences?
Yes, being open and honest in my songwriting makes it easy to be passionate because I truly care about what I'm singing about.
If so, what’s going to happen to Dommin when you’re all happily married?!
I think anyone that expects me to be a one trick pony re-making the same songs about heart-break over and over again are going to be sadly disappointed. I write about what I experience, and if that's being happily married, hopefully it will yield some romantic and sensual songs about how I feel about my future wife.
Which up-and-coming bands would you recommend fans of Dommin check out?
I honestly couldn't say. I've been looking for those same up-and-coming bands. If I come across any, I'm sure I'll be singing their praises.
After the success you’ve experienced during the first half of the year what does the next half hold for you? Are you writing songs for the next album already or just focussing on touring this one?
I think I have roughly the next couple of albums written and ready to go. But I won't worry about putting the final touches on those songs until it's time to record. Until then, we're going to stay focused on the tours we have coming up that will carry us through the end of the year.
Interview by Dan Entwistle You can vote for Dommin in the category for Best International Newcomer at awards.kerrang.com
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