PRIORITIES // Hardcore Music To Believe In

Melbourne-born hardcore act Priorities have hit the scene hard with their debut single If I Believed, an accomplished hardcore track and a solid first foot forward for the band.

MORE: IN HEARTS WAKE: The Age Of Kaliyuga // DEFTONES: 20 Years Of White Pony // NORTHLANE: Live At The Roundhouse REVIEWS: BLUES PILLS: Holy Moly // NOFX/FRANK TURNER: West Coast Vs. Wessex // EMMURE: Hindsight // FANGZ: But No Thanks // IN HEARTS WAKE: Kaliyuga // PILLAGER: Forsaken Nation // SEETHER: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum // PRIORITIES: If I Believed

While this first single is only a small taste of what the band have to offer, the emotional and harrowing lyrics are a clear indication of the kind of music the band are setting out to make, according to vocalist Mitch Sigge.

“I’m a pretty open person when it comes to my life and all that sort of stuff. So, it became very easy for me to talk about such a personal topic. I also believe that if I didn’t put any sort of inspiration from my personal life into [If I Believed], then it would, I don’t know. Personally, I’ve heard songs before that don’t have any real meaning from the artists and that sort of stuff, and it just doesn’t impact as well. So, I really wanted to make sure that I put my all into it,” says Sigge.

As for what that personal connection to this debut track is, Sigge explains that If I Believed’s lyrics come from what was a dark time in his life, and a time not that long ago.

“It was a pretty rough point in time in my life when I wrote that song. I recently went through a breakup that left me homeless, as my parents lived in a completely different state. So, I was in the midst of couch surfing, and all my stuff was still at my ex’s house and I had nowhere to take it, and over that point in time, she started selling things off and all those sorts of bits and pieces. So, it became really hard to, sort of, live and get by with also working and writing music. So, I was in a pretty difficult spot,” says Sigge.

The band’s upcoming planned releases beyond If I Believed will have similarly emotional themes within their lyrics, as having a personal connection to their songs is something that he strongly believes in.

“With the other songs we’ve got written, they’re all pretty personal along that level of, they just sort of all deal with depression and anxiety and just dealing with mental stress, and trying to get through life with having to have those things hang over your head at the same time. And just trying to push through. So yeah, I would say the other songs are very much along the same lines as, not necessarily the exact same topic, but along the same lines as the first track,” he says.

Despite Priorities’ strong focus on songs that delve into Sigge’s own experiences, this personal connection to their songs is a personal outlet for himself and his bandmates.

The song itself, it does come from a very personal place, but it’s kind of more of just, I guess like a ‘fuck you’ to everything that happens in life, you know. Everybody deals with their own problems when they get frustrated, or upset, or just downright angry with everything that happens, and I guess the idea behind this song was my personal release to just yell and scream and just tell everyone to ‘get fucked’ sort of thing.
[ Mitch Sigge ]

“You’ve got bands like In Hearts Wake, that sort of, they deal with what they find personal, being the environment and all that sort of stuff. Whereas me, my personal issues are just dealing with my depression and anxiety and just really getting through everything. Like, I’m more than fantastic now, I’ve got the best other half in the world at the moment, but still at that point in time in my life, this was my outlet for it,” he says.

In terms of their sound as a band, Priorities take inspiration from several genres, including hardcore/punk as well as contemporary metalcore, djent and prog, due to each member of the band incorporating some of their own personal tastes into songwriting.

“I think a lot of our influences all sit around the hardcore punk and metalcore sort of styling, with some key differences. One of our guitarists is well and truly into, like your Rush and prog sort of style stuff. The other one’s more into like The Living End and it’s just kind of the way it fell. We never really went into the room going, ‘We’re going to do heavy stuff,’ it’s just what happened. And I guess it’s just cause a lot of music that we all listen to was the inspiration behind that. So, the sound that came out, whether you call it hardcore, or punk, or metalcore, or just straight up metal, is just what we wanted to play really.

“Me personally, just with lyric writing and all, and just the sound for me, was like old school Carpathian, and your Beartooth sort of era stuff. I grew up going to all the local hardcore shows with, you know, like No Way Out which blew up like a little bit…So, that’s how I really got brought into it all,” says Sigge.

Though this first single has been a solid start for the band, it’s a tough time for musicians in 2020. Especially for a new band starting out. Despite the times, for Sigge and the rest of Priorities, they’d rather get their music out there and get it heard than wait for a time when things settle back to normal.

“Look, we’ve been sitting on these songs for maybe six months to nine months or so, and the band’s been together for about 12 to 18 months, so we were always planning on releasing soon. And then this, everything hit, and we were all just like, ‘Ah, fuck it, let’s just get something out there and see how it goes.’ I guess we just got sick of waiting for the right time and we just went, ‘We’ll just do it, we’ll put it out, see how everything goes’. And we’ve had a pretty good response, considering the times that we’re dealing with at the moment,” says Sigge.

That being said, touring is still something out of the realm of possibility.

“Yeah, look, it sucks. We wish we could go out and play every gig, every weekend if we could.

“We would love to go out on tour, but it’s just another thing, we can try and plan all that and hope, or even hopefully jump on with somebody else when all this stuff starts to lift.

“I don’t know how it’s going to be when [touring comes back]. Like I’m sure we’ll probably still try and give it a crack, just to play a show, just to get that music out there. Yeah, I don’t know how it’s going to look to be honest with you,” says Sigge.

While they may not know what the future holds, Priorities are in a good place with If I Believed. Though the song’s message is something personal to Sigge and something that comes from a deep place, it also carries a much more universal message that Sigge hopes will help listeners who are fighting their own battles in life.

“The song itself, it does come from a very personal place, but it’s kind of more of just, I guess like a ‘fuck you’ to everything that happens in life, you know,” says Sigge. “Everybody deals with their own problems when they get frustrated, or upset, or just downright angry with everything that happens, and I guess the idea behind this song was my personal release to just yell and scream and just tell everyone to ‘get fucked’ sort of thing.

“And I kind of hope that people take that with it in the sense of just, you know, find a safe outlet for your depression. Don’t wallow in your own self-pity and do something constructive. Be safe, you know? I’ve had too many friends that I’ve seen just fall into holes and never be the same person again. So, it’s kind of a lot of what my lyrics are about, and what I’m trying to spread. Find a safe outlet for your issues and make yourself feel better in a safe environment.

“And yeah, I hope everyone likes the track and just keeps listening, and we’ll be back soon with some more music.”

Purchase & Stream Priorities new single If I Believed here.