TRU ROCK REVIVAL
November 2024
TRAUMA THERAPY
Trauma Therapy is a 4 piece rock band from Charlotte, NC. You are featuring Chris Carrington, (Vocals), Ayden Augustine, (Guitar), Travis Ely, (Guitar), and Aaron Kirkland on drums. If you haven't yet heard of Trauma Therapy, you better catch up quickly, because these guys are one solid band and are ready to take off. Remember the name, Trauma Therapy!
By Kreig Marks, September 2024
TRR: How did Trauma Therapy come together, and what was the spark that ignited the formation of the band?
TT: Trauma Therapy wasn't really supposed to be a full band. We were supposed to be an online band with just Chris, our front man putting out his music on streaming. The band just kind of happened really. After a few talks with Aaron, Travis, and the last addition of Ayden, it became more of a clear vision that, "Hey, we might actually have something here" sort of thing. After a lot of consideration and chats to get everyone on the same page, we all collectively decided to pull the metaphorical trigger and go for it.
TRR: Introduce us to the band. Who is Trauma Therapy? Where are you guys located? How did the band come together? Is there any history between any of the members?
TT: So Trauma Therapy is a Charlotte North Carolina-based project comprised of 4 members, all from different parts of the country. Chris Carrington [vocalist] hails from the Northwest Indiana/Chicago region, Travis Ely [guitars/backing vocals] from Pennsylvania, Ayden Augustine [guitars/vocals] from Buffalo, New York, and Aaron Kirkland [drums] from Gastonia, North Carolina. The band is a mish-mosh of transplants and one NC native. There really isn't any history between any of us as a band, we all came together and met through music or social media and all became friends over time.
TRR: Can you tell us about the meaning behind your band name, Trauma Therapy? How does it reflect your music and message?
TT: The meaning behind Trauma Therapy is exactly how it sounds. Throughout life, Chris has been through some traumatic life experiences with some crappy people, and just like anyone else, has anxiety and even suffered through depression a few times in his life. Chris, along with the fellow members each have their own stories and their own experiences and each of the songs tell a story about them respectively. The band's first single Fix My Heart accurately depicts a third-party look into life in therapy with a psychiatrist and paints the picture of everyday struggles and events throughout the course of healing. Mental health is nothing to be taken lightly and we realize that millions of people globally suffer from traumas and/or anxiety and depression. We hope to touch their soul in some way to provide strength and some hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We also hope that our music and our experiences are relatable to our listeners and maybe give them some faith to keep fighting and see they aren't alone. We deal with stuff too. Everyone is different. So we like to think music has special healing powers to help heal broken or damaged souls.
TRR: What is the songwriting process like for you guys? Do you have a particular theme or concept you explore?
TT: Our songwriting process typically consists of Ayden or Travis sending Chris some guitar melodies or riffs to get inspiration from. And we all pass it back and forth to see what we like or don't like about it. Once we get something we like, Ayden uses his production skills and with the help of Cubase software to lay down a solid demo. Once this is done and we all like it, we take it to the studio and get with a producer, and that's when the song truly comes to life. Once the bones of the song are finished, Chris usually works on a vocal melody and lyrics before returning to the studio. This process usually is the fastest because instrumentally, there are so many aspects and little details that make a GOOD song. Once the vocals are laid down, it's time to piece it all together, add in some production aspects, and send it off to mastering/mixing. Usually after once or twice through, we all collectively agree on the song, and then the producers send us the final mix. Easy, right? Haha. As far as a theme, we typically chat with the producers before we start production. Because how we are feeling, is usually the vibe of the song and sets the tone for what we put into the track.
TRR: How would you describe your musical style to someone who hasn’t heard your music yet? Are there any particular influences or genres that shape your sound?
TT: So to best summarize Trauma Therapy, we pull a lot of inspiration from IPrevail, Dayseeker, and Bad Omens just to name a few. There are certain aspects of each band we draw inspiration from that we try to emulate and tweak to make things our own, and to put our own finishing touches in the song. Each song we have is different in its own way because we have worked with a few different producers so that no one song sounds the same, and each one has its individuality. We hope to break some barriers of every genre with our music. We also love the experimental aspect of working with a different producer each time because it expands our creativity and maximizes our full potential as a band. It allows us to produce the absolute best product we can for our fans!
TRR: Tell us about a memorable experience or story from recording your music? Any funny or unexpected moments?
TT: So we have SO many memories from recording. We are good friends with a majority of the producers who help us. And it's never a dull moment in the studio. Sometimes it's hard to walk in there and be serious. Our studio sessions typically involve alot of laughs and jokes. It's really hard to pick which memory stands out the most. However, working with Colt Crevar [Forever May Fall] is always fun. He generally is a cool person to hang with, and he's extremely funny. We all are Letterkenny watchers so a good bit of our studio sessions with him end up with us quoting lines from the show and/or playing YouTube videos of certain episodes until we can't contain our laughter anymore. Then it's back to business as usual. We have been very fortunate to write with some amazing people like Pangea Creative Group [Killakoi], Will Baker [Hollow Intent], and even some bigger names like Cody Weissinger [The Funeral Portrait]. We have so much left in the tank and we can't wait to share it with the rest of the world!
TRR: How do you approach the creative process when working on new material? Do you collaborate closely or work individually before bringing ideas together?
TT: So usually we all individually write or work on material and pass it back and forth. Ayden and Travis are always sending riffs back and forth to Chris and he sends some vocal ideas to them as well. We collectively come together in the studio and that's where the real magic happens. The producers become the liaisons between us and the final mix.
TRR: How do you handle creative differences within the band? Do you have a process for resolving disagreements and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard?
TT: So we collectively all need to be on the same page with everything. Otherwise, the success of the band will surely fail. We haven't had too many arguments or disagreements because we all care to ask the right questions and quite honestly there is no such thing as dumb questions when it comes to being a successful band. We're all out here doing our best and that's all we can do. We're going to learn, we are going to fail, but as long as we learn from our failures that's what matters the most.
TRR: If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why? What do you think that collaboration would bring to your music?
TT: So personally, we would love to collaborate with Bad Omens or Dayseeker. Maybe even I Prevail. We DO have some connections with a big-name producer we are currently working with but unfortunately, we aren't at liberty to spoil that for ourselves or leak it to the fans just yet. But rest assured we have some big plans for next year and some big producers who will help us achieve our goals!
TRR: What are the goals for Trauma Therapy in the next few years?
TT: We all desperately want to play a show. We say that now, with confidence, but I'm sure the nerves will kick in the week of, or days leading up to the show, etc. It's gonna be nerve-wracking in the green room for sure before we take the stage. So that being said, 2025 can't get here fast enough! Some other goals would be to find a potential bass player. It's difficult to find the right people, to make everything work like a well-oiled machine, and right now we operate without a bassist, but we're always open to adding someone with good vibes and the right chemistry if it's there! Lastly, each of us wants to play a big festival before we hang it up. We don't know what's going to come of Trauma Therapy or how it is going to go over with fans. We have heard a lot of great things so far from our family and friends and other people in bands who have heard our music. So we are excited to see where this journey takes us. We would love to tour some here and there and play some shows in the respective areas we call home. We want to see our band break through the glass ceilings and trailblaze as many unknown parts of the music industry as possible and one day inspire someone else to get into music because of us!
TRR: Let's get you guys set up for some shows here in Asheville. I'm going to work on that. Let's look at your calendar!