Heathen Eyes have been described as having a powerful solid energy with obvious potential. Their latest single Ocea is now available on Bandcamp. They answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

Chris Birch (drums)

What is the best part of being a musician?
For me it is having a creative outlet with no limits. When I am playing it is the only time I am truly relaxed.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Work hard at getting good at your instrument but always have fun. It is amazing to play in front of big crowds and to have a CD that you've played on, but if you're not having fun doing it there's no point.

What is in your current CD collection (listening to)?
I'm really enjoying the latest Shinedown album. I've gone way back and rediscovered Pride & Glory with Zack Wylde. Dream Theater, Motley Crue, The Police, Tool & Primus are on constantly. El Bajo and Decortica get plenty of speaker time as my two favourite Kiwi bands.

How do you believe Heathen Eyes' fit into the NZ music industry?
We are in there at the commercial end of the rock spectrum and our live show promises to be worth seeing, the visual representation of the band is very important to us.

What is the best gig you've played and why?
I have two for very different reasons. When I was in the UK, I played at a huge biker festival. We were on early in the day so the crowd was pretty chilled, it rained half way through our set, the crowd, all 15 thousand of them, got on their feet and it went off.

The other was a very small club gig here in Auckland with my previous band Kasium. We put the gig on, headlined and played an hour and a half of material that I loved (and still do), I played so hard my hands were bleeding but it was the most fun I have ever had at a gig.

Karyn Ayria (Bass)

What is the best thing about being a musician?
I think filling your mind with art or creativity can really help set you free.

You are allowed that chance to be vulnerable and express your thoughts and opinions. It can even make you feel nothing at all, and sometimes 'nothing' can be a good thing. It can take your mind off stress that day to day lives can bring.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
If you feel it and believe it, you've got it. To me music is about transferring feeling into sound.

Whether that be happy, pissed or miserable. If music couldn't relate to anyones feelings, I think it wouldn't exist.

Find what makes you feel good, surround yourself with it. Absorb it. Listening is learning.

What is in your current CD collection?
I have a variety of music. Each band brings a different vibe and each genre brings a different feel. At the moment I am listening to a lot of Alice in Chains, Fleetwood Mac, A Perfect Circle and Pink Floyd.

How do you believe Heathen Eyes' fit into the NZ music industry?
I'm not interested in forcing our music on people, but if New Zealanders are listening, then I'd say HE fits into the New Zealand music industry.

What is the best gig you've played and why?
They are all in someway equal. Each gig brings new experiences, whether that be playing to an audience of 5 or 5000 people.

Jason McIver (guitar, vocals)

What is the best thing about being a musician
It's hard to say, I love performing and being creative but it's not the easiest thing to persue full time so it just comes down to enjoyment and goal setting for me and the search for the sound thats in my head.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Stick to what you believe in, the great bands/writers didn't compromise for labels or the public ~ I also think younger musicians should really study and pay attention to the importance of tone, amp settings and technique... tone is such a huge thing and can take years to find the tone you're totally happy with.

What is in your current CD collection?
The one and only album by Army of Anyone, Lana Del Ray ~ Born To Die ~ she has a great voice and something really drags me into her sad tracks, Smashing Pumpkins ~ Oceania, Nirvana ~Nevermind, the new Justin Townes Earl album and Pray for Villians by Devildriver ........ I have pretty mixed taste in music and love hooks!

How do you believe Heathen Eyes' fit into the NZ music industry?
I'm not sure where we sit... with the previous line up we played with a lot of great metal bands and rock bands as we mix it up a fair bit... there is a broad appeal and with the new members I feels it's a lot more refined than before and I'm not so afraid to expose myself as songwriter ~ it's ok to have radio friendly music!

What is the best gig you've played and why?
The "best" gig was when I was 16 opening for....... Zed...... in front of 2000 people in Nelson at Tahunanui beach ~ otherwise of recent years it was setting up/organizing and playing a show with Cripple Mr Onion and Mutangent at Galatos in 2011, we played well, there was a great turn out and the bands were fantastic. Hearing the crowd sing your lyrics is a fantastic feeling!

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