Sam Bettley, the bassist of the heavy metal group Asking Alexandria chatted about their new album, music, and touring.
Song selection process for their latest album
On the song selection approach for the new album, “Where Do We Go from Here?” Bettley said, “Honestly, it was a long process. We had the comfort to do it remotely, so we had more time to decide. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot that didn’t make it.”
“I think it was more natural this time though because we spent a little bit more time on each song. It was more about getting the songs right. I think that is why the record flows so well,” he added.
Favorite song on the album
He listed “Things Could Be Different” as his personal favorite tune on the album. “It is high-energy, and the bridge is massive. I can’t wait to play it live,” he exclaimed.
Bettley also liked the song “Let Go,” which featured Grace Gundy as a co-lead vocalist on there, where he felt her vocals blended well with lead singer Danny Worsnop’s. “Grace nailed it… her contrast with Danny was great,” he said.
Touring
He noted that touring has been going well. “We are coming towards the end. It was a long tour but we have five shows left. The show has been good and everyone has been feelin good about it. The new songs have been going on great live. It embodies the same sentiment as the new album,” he said.
“We have elements of Asking Alexandria from day one all mixed in with the songs that we are playing on this tour. It is all around high-energy,” he added.
The digital age
On being a band in the digital age, he said, “I am just keeping up. It changes every day. We broke out in 2009, and that was the end of the MySpace days before streaming and social media became prevalent. It is kind of cool though because music is so much more accessible to everybody, and you can find new music so much easier than you could before.”
“Overall, I like it. The digital age definitely has its cons but it has its pros too. I am finding new music every day in this digital world.. We are so connected now,” he added.
Future plans
“We have a lot of plans. We are going to be pretty busy next year… we will see. Things are starting to emerge and come together. There are definite plans with some big, awesome things.”
Advice for young and aspiring musicians
For young and aspiring artists, he said, “Be brave, know your worth, and don’t worry about the opinions of others in the digital world. Push boundaries, push the envelope, don’t worry what people are saying and keep your head down. Don’t worry what everyone else is doing either. I would advise them to stick to their guns.”
Dream collaboration choices in music
Bettley shared that he would love to someday collaborate with the band Muse. “I grew up listening to Muse, they are one of my favorite bands ever. That would be a dream come true if we could make music with those guys; they are fantastic,” he exclaimed.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Bettley said with a sweet laugh, “New Dad.” “I have two kids and they are everything. Family is everything, and I am balancing a family life with the band life. It’s about finding a balance and how to do both. Family is the No. 1 thing for me,” he said.
Success
Regarding his definition of the word success, he said, “Happiness. If you are happy then you are pretty successful.”
Fans
For the fans, he concluded, “Thank you. I am in a select few bands, and I have been able to do it for this long, make music and make memories because of the fans. We have multiple generations of fans coming to our shows. I feel gratitude and I am so thankful to them. A huge thank you to all the fans, new and old ones.”
Their latest album is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about Asking Alexandria, check out their official website and follow them on Instagram.