Tell us about:

Your latest single you have released:

Dan Cummings: Our latest single is “Bread and Roses”, a reboot of a classic strike song which took place in our home state of Massachusetts in 1912. We released on September 1 and performed the song at the Bread and Roses festival which takes place every year on Labor Day. We were honored to record and perform our rendition of this song that was a part of a real watershed moment in the history of the labor movement. “Eugene Debs himself referred to the ‘Bread & Roses Strike’ as ‘the most decisive and far-reaching ever won by organized labor’ at the time,” wrote Jay Stone in Dying Scene. 

Your first single and how you felt when it was released:

Dan Cummings: Our first was “Stability”, released July 29 of 2022. Our feeling when it was released was somewhat indescribable [laughs]. Releasing that first batch of songs had been a long time coming so there was a whole range of feelings. Most importantly was the feeling of motivation to keep going.

Your favourite song that you have created that is an album track:

Dan Cummings: “Bruises and Bottles”. The first lyrics and version was one of the first songs I wrote, and it was many years before being released. It’s a song on self reflection and moving forward in life, and when I wrote it I was solely a musician for hire and never thought my songs would see the light of day. So I think the theme of the song and the story of it are similar, and I’m really happy that it is out in the world now.

Your favourite song to play live:

Dan Cummings: I think the whole band would agree “Stability” is still our favorite, and usually the opener which gets us in the zone.

The song that was the longest to write and why?

Dan Cummings: Probably our single “Don’t Wake Me”, a collaboration we did with the artist BOS the Rapper. BOS and I were in a band together before Already Dead, and we had an unfinished tune that had the first verse of “Don’t Wake Me”. Fast forward to Already Dead time, I was still a real fan of his verse, but it took me a long time to write some music that I felt could live up to the words.

Your most emotional track:

Dan Cummings: It is not released yet, but “Shards of Glass”. It is a song about my deceased father. I had no intention or plan to write songs about that situation but it just happened one night. It will be on our upcoming full length album.

The best lyric you have ever written:

Dan Cummings: Oh I have no idea [laughs], hopefully my next one.

Describe the feeling you get when you walk on stage to do a show:

Dan Cummings: The best. I love playing shows, no matter the struggles that may surround it. In my opinion it is instant gratification for the endless hours of work and energy put into this thing we love. 

The hardest track to play live:

Dan Cummings: Usually the covers we pick of bands we love, because they’re better than us [laughs].

Essential items you always take on tour with you?

Dan Cummings: Shoes/sandals for venue showers, wet wipes, and the mindset.

Describe your fans in three words:

Dan Cummings: Our Best Friends.

A song by another artist or band you wish you had written:

Man, I’ve heard this question before and totally get it. But I think the songs I could list would be the ones that really shaped my musical identity. So I’m just happy someone wrote them. But also, “Stairway to Heaven” is a masterpiece.

What we can look forward to from your band this year:

Dan Cummings: “Landlord” is dropping October 6. It will be the first Already Dead single which is acoustic, but we are really excited to get it out into the world. The music video will follow later in the month. Then, possibly a whole acoustic EP of odds and ends from our first album, and the first versions of ones from the upcoming, will be released before the New Year.