METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello, Josh. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
How are you? How are things going?
JOSH BRAMLETT: I’m doing very well thank you! Things are great - excited for the interview!
MPAP: The Protest recently just got back from playing at the Kingdom Come Festival in Greentown, Indiana, how was that experience?
JOSH: Kingdom Come Festival is a very special annual show for us. Some of the greatest bands from all over the country join for a two-day festival of music in the middle of nowhere. The turnout is always awesome and the folks that put the event on are some of the greatest people on planet earth.
MPAP: You have a few shows coming up beginning in August, and then after that, you fly out to play at Loud And Proud, a three-day music festival held in Betzdorf, Germany in October. You’ve got to be looking forward to that, right?
JOSH: Oh yeah! This will be our third trip overseas to play music and it’s always an amazing experience. They love their rock n’ roll over there and go so hard at concerts. We really feed off of their energy. I distinctly remember a large section of the crowd during our set the first year formed a human Viking ship and began rowing - It was incredible! You can expect circle pits, sweat, and singing along – everything a festival should be.
MPAP: Moving forward, let’s get into the meat and potatoes, the heart of what this interview is all about, new music; your new music to be exact. You have new music coming out and we’ll get to that here in a moment, but first, let’s introduce you to everyone out there that might not have heard of you just yet. The Protest is a hard rock band from New Castle, Indiana that started out in 2009. Care to add anything else to that to grab the reader’s attention?
JOSH: The band is made up of myself (Josh Bramlett), Jarob Bramlett, Adam Sadler, and T.J. Colwell. We are all high school friends and classmates. We met in school, formed the band and almost 10 years later we are still kicking! It has been the four of us since 2009 with amazing bass players coming and going along the way.
MPAP: Now let’s dive head first into your new music right now, shall we? It’s titled Legacy and is due out July 13th on Rockfest Records/Sony. There is also a radio single from the release that’s already hitting the airwaves called, "What Else You Got," and it’s one of the fastest rising songs of your career so far. It is climbing up the charts and has already made it to #32 on the Billboard Rock Indicator Chart. Not bad right?
JOSH: Not bad at all. We very humbled by the success of the single. This success would not be possible without the amazing team behind it who believe in us and what we are doing. We would like to give a huge thank you to Rockfest Records, No Problem! PR and Marketing, and Concrete Management. I never would have dreamed growing up that music that I had a part in would be reaching listeners worldwide. We’re so blessed and humbled to be a part of this.
MPAP: Are you able to relax for a moment now, or is it going to be nonstop blood, sweat, and tears until the next time you get into the studio to do it all over again?
JOSH: There is always a small lull to enjoy the album that we have created, but if I know my guys we will be writing for the next one fairly soon. This record was labor of love for sure that took almost two years to create. There were so many trials along the way, but we held true, stayed strong, and are overall so happy with the result. I’ve found in rock n’ roll the that the blood, sweat, and tears never really stop. You have to have some serious passion to stay at it. It’s a grind for sure but we are so blessed to do what we do and have some of the best support in the business from our friends, fans, and loved ones.
MPAP: So, tell us a bit more about this Legacy? What should your fans be musically prepared for this time around? What can that new listener expect for the first time?
JOSH: Legacy is in our mind our best work. Of course, I’m admittedly a little biased but the whole band believes this to be true. We have grown a lot as musicians and songwriters since our last release. There has also been a lot of personal and spiritual growth for the band in the last couple of years. We believe that all things contributed to making Legacy special. Musically it has something for any rock fan. We have some of our heaviest songs to date but also some of our most anthemic. The music overall still has the hard driving sound, but we also tried a lot of new things out musically. For example, we got to do some writing sessions with some amazing writers that helped bring our songs to life. We also really pushed ourselves as musicians and we hope that shows on the record. Fans can expect a lot of the classic The Protest sound mixed with more melodic choruses and those who have never heard of us can expect catchy, fist pumping, straight forward hard rock!
MPAP: Can you take us inside Legacy and tell us what are some of the songs about, like "Straight From The Barrel," "Noise Revolution," and "To The Death"?
JOSH: "Straight From The Barrel" is a western fight song and was a blast to write. We love the groove and message of standing up for what you believe in when evil is knocking at your door threatening to destroy you. "Noise Revolution" is an anthem aimed at the younger generations imploring them to rise, take a stand, and be a light in the world where darkness is all that’s seen. "To The Death" is one of the most personal songs on the album. Our guitar player, Adam, had written many of the lyrics during a time of worry and doubt in his life and this song was healing and speaks a lot of truth if you break it down. "To The Death" stems from a promise that God will be with us through it all.
MPAP: If you were to put Legacy up against, 2014s Great Lengths, and 2012s Game Changer, how do you think it would compare? What do you think makes it stand apart from the rest of the music you’ve made?
JOSH: We are very proud of our past efforts and don’t discredit them at all. They were perfect for where we were in our lives at the time. That being said, we do think that Legacy is special. We believe that the album features some of our best work and we are looking forward to sharing it with everyone on July 13th!
MPAP: Do you feel you’ve grown as a singer and as a band member since Game Changer came out? What have you learned about what to do, or what not to do - since the beginning?
JOSH: I don’t call myself a natural singer. I was a guitarist first and foremost. When we lost our lead vocalist we agreed that I would fill in just until we found a replacement. It was then I discovered my love for being a front man and singing. What really changed everything for me was working with our first producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D, Disciple, 10 Years). He put me through vocal boot camp and changed my approach to singing in a huge way. Since then I’ve taken lessons on and off and have gotten significantly better. That being said I am no master and I have still much to learn and I’m eager to do so!
MPAP: There is also a music video out for "What Else You Got" that everyone should go check out, but I wanted to delve into the meaning of the song for a moment. The song is about never backing down and fighting on despite adversity. It was mentioned that it could be used as a rallying theme song for college or pro sports. I personally think it would go better as a soundtrack song for anyone that getting bullied in life. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s sad that a child gets bullied so much that they end up taking their own life. Things like that shouldn't happen. They need someone to stand up for them, along with themselves.
JOSH: I never really thought of the bullying thing but it’s very true. My heart breaks when I hear about kids getting bullied either online or at school. It would be awesome if our song reached those affected. It would be an honor to partner with some kind of anti- bullying campaign in the future! We hope the song resonates with all who hear it. We want those who come to our shows that feel bogged down by the world to leave feeling uplifted. That is also precisely how we want the listeners to feel after hearing this song and others on Legacy.
MPAP: It’s posted on your website that The Protest band is called 'road warriors.' It says you play up to 150 dates a year, correct? Not every group just starting out can achieve that. Please talk about your touring and what drives you.
JOSH: We love touring and have been touring pretty consistently since 2011. It’s amazing being on the road living out your passion with your best friends. We love the people that we meet, the places we see, and the relationships that we are able to build. That being said, the road can be a very unforgiving thing at times. Our vehicles, whether it’s a bus or van, have broken down more times than I can count. There are many sleepless nights driving to the next gig, homesickness, and even the occasional last second cancellations. However, we do love it and have had the opportunity tour with some pretty awesome bands along the way that have shown us the ropes. No matter how experienced you think you are, there are still times I’ll the leave the house and realize I didn’t pack my toothbrush, blanket, phone charger, etc. We are driven to play these shows because we want to impact people in a real way. A lot of times spending time with the listeners in person and hearing their stories is the best way to do so.
MPAP: Some might think sin and debauchery are associated with playing in a hard rock band that are out on the road for weeks on end far away from loved ones, family, and friends. So, what is life like out on the road for The Protest?
JOSH: We love adventure and on our off days we like to hike and explore and really take in the local culture. We have a T.V. on the bus so we play classic video games like Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Contra, etc. For the most part it’s a lot of laughs, quiet reflection, and amazing memories on the road with us. We are best friends out on the open road doing what we love and some people actually like it… To me, that’s the dream - even if we aren’t making much money! There is a lot of debauchery at your fingertips out there, but we are able to hold each other accountable and help each other stay strong in the tough times.
MPAP: Are there times when you might have to turn and look the other way? Not because of what your other bandmates are doing, but because of the people around you what threy might be doing? Or do you not see any of that, and it’s pretty calm for you out there?
JOSH: In our time as a band we have seen a lot, almost anything you can imagine. It’s a crazy world and we are looking to shed a little light and make a difference in people’s lives. I guess you could say we are drawn to the rougher places, in a way. A lot of times we see that there is a lot of brokenness out there. We have all been at the end of rope at one point. I know that I turned to many things to fill the hole that I had inside, to no avail. People need hope – and we want our music to be a vessel for it.
MPAP: It’s no secret that The Protest is out there to spread a positive message through its music. Honestly, is it tough for you to play music for people that may only like the sound of your music, but are not into following the message you are trying to get across?
JOSH: We play anywhere and everywhere. Of course, it’s fun to play for those who love what your trying to do - but we put on the same show no matter where we are at. Some people aren’t there for anything other than a rock show and that’s totally fine and doesn’t bother us a bit - we will give it to them! Some people crave that hope and encouragement and that’s great as well!
MPAP: Could you be friends with and maybe hang out with someone that listens to, and likes bands for instance like Black Sabbath, Behemoth, Deicide, or even Marilyn Manson? Are you able to get along with everyone, or is that something that just doesn’t fit your lifestyle?
JOSH: Our band gets along with everyone. People’s music tastes are different, and I think that’s great. It makes no difference to us where you came from, what you wear, or what you listen to. We have a lot of love and life’s too short not to show it. We love to meet all different kinds of people on the road. Our band cut its teeth on the likes of Kiss, Def Leppard, Van Halen, and Avenged Sevenfold so we can usually find common ground with most folks.
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Josh, for doing this interview. We look forward to what The Protest does to finish out 2018 and beyond.
JOSH: Thank you so much for having me and thanks for supporting rock n’ roll and our band of goons.
MPAP: After the Loud And Proud music festival in October, what’s next for The Protest? What are in the crosshairs?
JOSH: Right now, the future is relatively open, but we have a lot of cool opportunities coming our way. I think it’s safe to say that there will be many opportunities to catch us live in the coming year!
MPAP: Before we bring this interview to a close, are there any last words you’d like to tell all your worldwide fans out there?
JOSH: We love you all - Thanks for the support! Spread the word about Legacy, and we will see you soon. Be blessed.
FIND/FOLLOW/LISTEN
THE PROTEST
HERE:
The Protest/Josh Bramlett/ July 11th, 2018/ Interview #107
How are you? How are things going?
JOSH BRAMLETT: I’m doing very well thank you! Things are great - excited for the interview!
MPAP: The Protest recently just got back from playing at the Kingdom Come Festival in Greentown, Indiana, how was that experience?
JOSH: Kingdom Come Festival is a very special annual show for us. Some of the greatest bands from all over the country join for a two-day festival of music in the middle of nowhere. The turnout is always awesome and the folks that put the event on are some of the greatest people on planet earth.
MPAP: You have a few shows coming up beginning in August, and then after that, you fly out to play at Loud And Proud, a three-day music festival held in Betzdorf, Germany in October. You’ve got to be looking forward to that, right?
JOSH: Oh yeah! This will be our third trip overseas to play music and it’s always an amazing experience. They love their rock n’ roll over there and go so hard at concerts. We really feed off of their energy. I distinctly remember a large section of the crowd during our set the first year formed a human Viking ship and began rowing - It was incredible! You can expect circle pits, sweat, and singing along – everything a festival should be.
MPAP: Moving forward, let’s get into the meat and potatoes, the heart of what this interview is all about, new music; your new music to be exact. You have new music coming out and we’ll get to that here in a moment, but first, let’s introduce you to everyone out there that might not have heard of you just yet. The Protest is a hard rock band from New Castle, Indiana that started out in 2009. Care to add anything else to that to grab the reader’s attention?
JOSH: The band is made up of myself (Josh Bramlett), Jarob Bramlett, Adam Sadler, and T.J. Colwell. We are all high school friends and classmates. We met in school, formed the band and almost 10 years later we are still kicking! It has been the four of us since 2009 with amazing bass players coming and going along the way.
MPAP: Now let’s dive head first into your new music right now, shall we? It’s titled Legacy and is due out July 13th on Rockfest Records/Sony. There is also a radio single from the release that’s already hitting the airwaves called, "What Else You Got," and it’s one of the fastest rising songs of your career so far. It is climbing up the charts and has already made it to #32 on the Billboard Rock Indicator Chart. Not bad right?
JOSH: Not bad at all. We very humbled by the success of the single. This success would not be possible without the amazing team behind it who believe in us and what we are doing. We would like to give a huge thank you to Rockfest Records, No Problem! PR and Marketing, and Concrete Management. I never would have dreamed growing up that music that I had a part in would be reaching listeners worldwide. We’re so blessed and humbled to be a part of this.
MPAP: Are you able to relax for a moment now, or is it going to be nonstop blood, sweat, and tears until the next time you get into the studio to do it all over again?
JOSH: There is always a small lull to enjoy the album that we have created, but if I know my guys we will be writing for the next one fairly soon. This record was labor of love for sure that took almost two years to create. There were so many trials along the way, but we held true, stayed strong, and are overall so happy with the result. I’ve found in rock n’ roll the that the blood, sweat, and tears never really stop. You have to have some serious passion to stay at it. It’s a grind for sure but we are so blessed to do what we do and have some of the best support in the business from our friends, fans, and loved ones.
MPAP: So, tell us a bit more about this Legacy? What should your fans be musically prepared for this time around? What can that new listener expect for the first time?
JOSH: Legacy is in our mind our best work. Of course, I’m admittedly a little biased but the whole band believes this to be true. We have grown a lot as musicians and songwriters since our last release. There has also been a lot of personal and spiritual growth for the band in the last couple of years. We believe that all things contributed to making Legacy special. Musically it has something for any rock fan. We have some of our heaviest songs to date but also some of our most anthemic. The music overall still has the hard driving sound, but we also tried a lot of new things out musically. For example, we got to do some writing sessions with some amazing writers that helped bring our songs to life. We also really pushed ourselves as musicians and we hope that shows on the record. Fans can expect a lot of the classic The Protest sound mixed with more melodic choruses and those who have never heard of us can expect catchy, fist pumping, straight forward hard rock!
MPAP: Can you take us inside Legacy and tell us what are some of the songs about, like "Straight From The Barrel," "Noise Revolution," and "To The Death"?
JOSH: "Straight From The Barrel" is a western fight song and was a blast to write. We love the groove and message of standing up for what you believe in when evil is knocking at your door threatening to destroy you. "Noise Revolution" is an anthem aimed at the younger generations imploring them to rise, take a stand, and be a light in the world where darkness is all that’s seen. "To The Death" is one of the most personal songs on the album. Our guitar player, Adam, had written many of the lyrics during a time of worry and doubt in his life and this song was healing and speaks a lot of truth if you break it down. "To The Death" stems from a promise that God will be with us through it all.
MPAP: If you were to put Legacy up against, 2014s Great Lengths, and 2012s Game Changer, how do you think it would compare? What do you think makes it stand apart from the rest of the music you’ve made?
JOSH: We are very proud of our past efforts and don’t discredit them at all. They were perfect for where we were in our lives at the time. That being said, we do think that Legacy is special. We believe that the album features some of our best work and we are looking forward to sharing it with everyone on July 13th!
MPAP: Do you feel you’ve grown as a singer and as a band member since Game Changer came out? What have you learned about what to do, or what not to do - since the beginning?
JOSH: I don’t call myself a natural singer. I was a guitarist first and foremost. When we lost our lead vocalist we agreed that I would fill in just until we found a replacement. It was then I discovered my love for being a front man and singing. What really changed everything for me was working with our first producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D, Disciple, 10 Years). He put me through vocal boot camp and changed my approach to singing in a huge way. Since then I’ve taken lessons on and off and have gotten significantly better. That being said I am no master and I have still much to learn and I’m eager to do so!
MPAP: There is also a music video out for "What Else You Got" that everyone should go check out, but I wanted to delve into the meaning of the song for a moment. The song is about never backing down and fighting on despite adversity. It was mentioned that it could be used as a rallying theme song for college or pro sports. I personally think it would go better as a soundtrack song for anyone that getting bullied in life. Wouldn’t you agree? It’s sad that a child gets bullied so much that they end up taking their own life. Things like that shouldn't happen. They need someone to stand up for them, along with themselves.
JOSH: I never really thought of the bullying thing but it’s very true. My heart breaks when I hear about kids getting bullied either online or at school. It would be awesome if our song reached those affected. It would be an honor to partner with some kind of anti- bullying campaign in the future! We hope the song resonates with all who hear it. We want those who come to our shows that feel bogged down by the world to leave feeling uplifted. That is also precisely how we want the listeners to feel after hearing this song and others on Legacy.
MPAP: It’s posted on your website that The Protest band is called 'road warriors.' It says you play up to 150 dates a year, correct? Not every group just starting out can achieve that. Please talk about your touring and what drives you.
JOSH: We love touring and have been touring pretty consistently since 2011. It’s amazing being on the road living out your passion with your best friends. We love the people that we meet, the places we see, and the relationships that we are able to build. That being said, the road can be a very unforgiving thing at times. Our vehicles, whether it’s a bus or van, have broken down more times than I can count. There are many sleepless nights driving to the next gig, homesickness, and even the occasional last second cancellations. However, we do love it and have had the opportunity tour with some pretty awesome bands along the way that have shown us the ropes. No matter how experienced you think you are, there are still times I’ll the leave the house and realize I didn’t pack my toothbrush, blanket, phone charger, etc. We are driven to play these shows because we want to impact people in a real way. A lot of times spending time with the listeners in person and hearing their stories is the best way to do so.
MPAP: Some might think sin and debauchery are associated with playing in a hard rock band that are out on the road for weeks on end far away from loved ones, family, and friends. So, what is life like out on the road for The Protest?
JOSH: We love adventure and on our off days we like to hike and explore and really take in the local culture. We have a T.V. on the bus so we play classic video games like Donkey Kong, Street Fighter, Contra, etc. For the most part it’s a lot of laughs, quiet reflection, and amazing memories on the road with us. We are best friends out on the open road doing what we love and some people actually like it… To me, that’s the dream - even if we aren’t making much money! There is a lot of debauchery at your fingertips out there, but we are able to hold each other accountable and help each other stay strong in the tough times.
MPAP: Are there times when you might have to turn and look the other way? Not because of what your other bandmates are doing, but because of the people around you what threy might be doing? Or do you not see any of that, and it’s pretty calm for you out there?
JOSH: In our time as a band we have seen a lot, almost anything you can imagine. It’s a crazy world and we are looking to shed a little light and make a difference in people’s lives. I guess you could say we are drawn to the rougher places, in a way. A lot of times we see that there is a lot of brokenness out there. We have all been at the end of rope at one point. I know that I turned to many things to fill the hole that I had inside, to no avail. People need hope – and we want our music to be a vessel for it.
MPAP: It’s no secret that The Protest is out there to spread a positive message through its music. Honestly, is it tough for you to play music for people that may only like the sound of your music, but are not into following the message you are trying to get across?
JOSH: We play anywhere and everywhere. Of course, it’s fun to play for those who love what your trying to do - but we put on the same show no matter where we are at. Some people aren’t there for anything other than a rock show and that’s totally fine and doesn’t bother us a bit - we will give it to them! Some people crave that hope and encouragement and that’s great as well!
MPAP: Could you be friends with and maybe hang out with someone that listens to, and likes bands for instance like Black Sabbath, Behemoth, Deicide, or even Marilyn Manson? Are you able to get along with everyone, or is that something that just doesn’t fit your lifestyle?
JOSH: Our band gets along with everyone. People’s music tastes are different, and I think that’s great. It makes no difference to us where you came from, what you wear, or what you listen to. We have a lot of love and life’s too short not to show it. We love to meet all different kinds of people on the road. Our band cut its teeth on the likes of Kiss, Def Leppard, Van Halen, and Avenged Sevenfold so we can usually find common ground with most folks.
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Josh, for doing this interview. We look forward to what The Protest does to finish out 2018 and beyond.
JOSH: Thank you so much for having me and thanks for supporting rock n’ roll and our band of goons.
MPAP: After the Loud And Proud music festival in October, what’s next for The Protest? What are in the crosshairs?
JOSH: Right now, the future is relatively open, but we have a lot of cool opportunities coming our way. I think it’s safe to say that there will be many opportunities to catch us live in the coming year!
MPAP: Before we bring this interview to a close, are there any last words you’d like to tell all your worldwide fans out there?
JOSH: We love you all - Thanks for the support! Spread the word about Legacy, and we will see you soon. Be blessed.
FIND/FOLLOW/LISTEN
THE PROTEST
HERE:
The Protest/Josh Bramlett/ July 11th, 2018/ Interview #107