We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephen Roche a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Stephen, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Forge Hounds – “Classic Rock With A Ton Of Roll”
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Forge Hounds is a rock band based in Ireland, consisting of Paul J Bolger (Vocals / Rhythm Guitar) Mick Wall (Vocals / Lead Guitar), Andy Kavanagh (Drums) and myself, Steve Roche on Bass Guitar. We all learned our craft during the 1980’s performing in a variety of different bands and musical projects across Ireland back then. As time went by, some of us found ourselves working in a number of territories across the world such as the UK, India, Germany, Ukraine, South Africa and The Philippines to name a few, however, being typical “homebirds” eventually returned home to Ireland. The “Forge Hounds” project originally started just prior to the Pandemic, when a local promoter asked if we could reform some of our original bands from the 1980’s for a “Retro Music Festival” being held in the South East of Ireland. There were logistical challenges trying to get the some of the members of our original bands from the 1980’s together, and with that in mind Paul, Mick, Andy and Myself decided to join together to perform a set of Rock Classics, for the purposes of performing at the festival, which was received very positively by the audience.
The Pandemic then hit with the resulting lockdowns and we could no longer meet to rehearse, and it was out of this situation that “Forge Hounds” as a project, began. From the outset our goal was to create music that we would like to hear ourselves, and hopefully might connect with others. Once the lockdowns were over, we returned to rehearsing, this time working further on creating our own music, resulting in our first release “Damned If You Don’t” in December 2022.
We were pleasantly surprised to see “Damned If You Don’t” achieving top positions on the Independent Music Charts in several countries, reaching Number 1 on the Underground Music Charts Top 200 in the USA. The follow up singles “Not The One”, “Redcoat” and “Sun Kissed Sky”, also continued this charting trend, attaining positive reviews and airplay globally. Currently our music is being listened to in over 79 Countries across the world, proving that classic hard music knows no boundaries.
An interesting fact about all 4 members of Forge Hounds, is that we all went to the same school during the 1980’s, proving that some apples do not fall far from the same tree!!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
First and foremost, the act of writing music is an unparalleled form of creative expression. It’s our canvas, a space where we can convey our innermost thoughts, emotions, and ideas in a unique and artistic manner. It’s akin to painting a picture and/or telling a story with words and sounds. Collaborating with fellow musicians who share a common vision, a passion for music, and the desire to create something meaningful together is an extraordinary experience. And we get to do it over and over, week to week with Forge Hounds.
Each song we create is a step forward, a testament to our evolving skills and our unique style. We push our boundaries, experiment with new sounds, and refine our craft with every composition. The process of recording and releasing our music is equally rewarding.
Watching our songs come to life in the recording studio and sharing them with the world is akin to leaving our mark on the world through our art. Knowing that our music resonates with people, that it has the power to evoke emotions or inspire, is a profound validation of our creative endeavours.
Being in a rock band opens doors to a vibrant and supportive community of fellow musicians, producers, promoters, and fans. This network fosters opportunities for collaboration, learning, and networking, enriching our musical journey further. While the music industry is not without its challenges and uncertainties, the rewards of being in a rock band are immeasurable. The passion for music, and the joy of performing, outweigh the obstacles.
How did you build your audience on social media?
The evolution of music promotion and its dynamic landscape has undergone a seismic shift since our journey began back in the 1980s. Picture that era: no Internet, just the clatter of postal mail and the comforting hum of landline telephones, where people cherished their beloved records and cassette tapes. Fast forward to the electrifying launch of Forge Hounds in the year 2022, and it was clear that we were stepping into a whole new world—a digital realm bursting with life and pulsating energy. In this era, the internet reigns supreme, music streams like a mighty river, and online radio stations beckon listeners with a siren’s call. It was within this electrifying landscape that we embarked on our mission: the relentless pursuit of self-promotion.
Before releasing our very first single, we took stock of our skills, those talents that lay beyond the realm of music creation. A collective stroke of fortune had blessed us with backgrounds in Marketing, PR, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, and Web Development. These diverse skills, it turned out, were our secret weapons in Forge Hounds.
Our journey into the digital frontier began by strategically selecting the social media platforms that resonated most deeply with our target audience. The social media universe—comprising the likes of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube—offered us a dazzling array of canvases on which to paint our message. Aware of the transformative power of word-of-mouth in the digital age we set out to create visuals and videos that spoke volumes, that resonated so profoundly with our audience that they couldn’t resist sharing our message with their own followers. It was a visual symphony that conveyed our identity and brand, music and art melding into an irresistible fusion.
Yet, in this digital odyssey, direct marketing played a pivotal role, intertwining seamlessly with our social media strategy. We meticulously assembled a global roster of Radio Stations, Music Blogs, and Promoters, each one a potential amplifier for our sound. Our approach was to reach out with each new release, and the secret sauce lay in the follow-up engagement—acknowledgment, appreciation, and sharing. We understood that every entity that supported us deserved the spotlight, and we made sure their voices echoed alongside ours through the digital realm.
As we ventured further into the labyrinth of social media, we now adopt a data-driven approach. Regularly, we track and analyse our performance, harnessing the power of the social media platforms’ built-in analytics tools. We know, though, that building a substantial and engaged social media audience is no sprint—it is a marathon. Patience, dedication, and unwavering persistence are our stepping stones on our journey through the ever-evolving landscape of music promotion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://forgehounds.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgehounds/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forgehounds/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/forgehounds/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForgeHounds
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@forgehounds
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6528HmKaqCaf9tu3qdj70d?si=yB_sqdZqTXStDsZIMuBzaQ Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/forge-hounds/1651400984