Wildways is a five-piece metalcore/hardcore band from Western Russia that recently released their debut record Into The Wild. Formed in 2009 under the name Sarah Where Is My Tea, this is a group that has been working hard to gain fans through a heavy touring schedule in other European countries such as Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Thus far they’ve accumulated a lot of exposure playing gigs with acts such as Asking Alexandria, Bless The Fall, Adept, The Ghost Inside, Betraying The Martyrs, Eskimo Callboy, Deez Nuts, Texas In July and more. We recently checked in with the band’s lead singer Toli Wild and guitarist Sergey to understand a little more about this up-and-coming Artery Recordings act.
For those not familiar with your band can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
Toli Wild: Hello, we’re Wildways all the way from Mother Russia, and we will be in your playlist very soon!
Your new disc Into The Wild has just been released. Now that it is complete how do you feel about it, and what has been the response so far?
Toli Wild: I even can’t explain how happy I am to finally release that stuff because actually we recorded that already one year ago and spent a lot of time finding a label and making all our stuff like guest vocals, final mixes and shooting the “Faka Faka Yeah” video.
Sergey Novikov: I’m so stoked about that, I already can imagine how I’m trying to read every comment on all social medias. I guess all our old fans will be so confused about this record (laughs).
What is your writing process like?
Toli Wild: Sometimes it can be boring a bit and sometimes not. Every time is a different story.
When you write do you do so with the live setting in mind or do you write a song just for the song’s sake?
Toli Wild: The same thing. Not always but sometime I have a plan in my head when I write the song, but sometimes you write better songs when you don’t expect it.
Along those same lines do you take advantage of technology and email riffs and parts back and forth, or do you get together in a room in a more traditional sense and write together?
Sergey Novikov: All the way 1st variant. We never tried to write songs all together in a room. It’s like a madhouse, too many different opinions and taste. That’s why I really like when only 1-2 guys work on a song and we’ll just fix it all together a little bit.
What is the story behind the name of the new record?
Sergey Novikov: I have no idea (laughs). Toli?
Toli Wild: Into The Wild was my idea because first of all it sounds loud with our band name and Into The Wild, that’s how I spent the last year of my life, like a lot of things have changed and I feel like I’m not at home, I’m ‘into the wild.’
You have toured the world extensively. It there anywhere you would like to go that you have not been?
Toli Wild: Australia, soooo far from home, insane.
Sergey Novikov: Australia, all the fucking way.
What are some of the newer metal bands that you are listening to or enjoy?
Toli Wild: Hard question….
Sergey Novikov: I liked the band called Buried in Verona last time, jamming ‘em so often and AMAZING Japan band Crystal Lake. Sooo good!
Do you have any rituals before you hit the stage? If so, what are they?
Toli Wild: Yes for sure. We make a circle and talk about something serious (laughs).
Do you have any touring plans in support of the new recording?
Toli Wild: Yeah, we have some plans this May for European shows including Russia. And really hope to come to the U.S. as soon as possible. Hope U.S. people like the album!
If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take 3 CDs with you for eternity, assuming there was a solar powered CD player, what would they be?
Sergey Novikov: Wow! BMTH Sempiternal (laughs) and a couple of CDs with naked girls or with a huge booklet because I’d need a paper for toilet and to make a fire (laughs). And probably Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory.
Toli Wild: I would like to take The Used’s self-titled record, that’s just my youth. Also, my band’s CD because I fucking love to hear my own stuff (laughs). And probably any CD with classic music!
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Toli Wild: Hmm, probably the Into The Wild recording in USA, because I’m from a small Russian town and I never thought about it when started a band. It’s blowing my mind for a simple Russian guy to record music which you so love on the other side of the earth.
Sergey Novikov: Yeah, that’s sick and probably I’d say the same but unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to go with guys there because I have some personal problems. So for me that’s a one tour ever because I never thought that I will play shows in other cities. And it’s a dream because I play music not only for myself but for other people.
Check out the song “Faka Faka Yea”.
