High Gain Pity Party

Band Watch

Mar 15, 2023

Norway

I’m super excited to share this band that I discovered from Norway. One of my favorite things that I like about writing this newsletter is discovering and virtually meeting awesome guys like Nikita and his one-man-band, High Gain Pity Party.

I have high respect for anyone who is about to do everything necessary to be a one person band. As a musician, I can tell you that making music and playing instruments is not easy! It was so cool getting to know High Gain Pity Party and how Nikita is able to do it all.

Enjoy getting to know High Gain Pity Party and be sure to give Nikita a listen!

Ian: Thanks for letting me feature you in Audio Angst. Before we get into the questions, please tell everyone who you are and where you’re from. (where in Norway, who is in the band, what instruments do they play/solo act/do you play all the instruments?)

Band: Hi and thanks for having me! My name is Nikita and I come from northern Norway ('nordland' as we call it here). I make whiney but energetic pop punk music under the name ''High Gain Pity Party.''

Since I'm a solo act I play everything myself, most of the time at least. My Main instrument would be guitar and vocals as a second. I also play bass and some piano. Sometimes I've gotten some help from some people I've met online with things like drums, since I don't have any myself or know how to.

Now that I've learned to program drums, I do everything myself. That is unless I find a really cool drummer that is willing to help out. On my most recent single, I actually got quite a bit of help on both instruments and creative input, which in turn made for a really good song. The best so far imo.

Using different voices and getting creative input from several sources just seems to make everything flow together so nicely and make it even better and easier to make good music. My goal is to start a band in the near future, but at the moment the place i'm living in doesn't really allow for that. It's quite a small place.

Ian: When did you start making music and how long have you been at it? How did you come up with the name, High Gain Pity Party, what does it mean?

Band: Depends on what you define as music haha. I guess I started at the age of 14. I actually had to go to my youtube account and check when I uploaded my first ‘’song’’. God awful to listen to now but nice to have some documentation of when I started. That would mean I’ve been at it for almost 10 years. It was mostly riff ideas, rough acoustic instrumental demos and what not… and a ton of blink 182 covers hahah. Blink 182 has always been an inspiration for me and my favorite band. One of the first songs I learned on guitar was actually ‘Dammit’! Along with Knocking On Heavens Doors by Guns N’ Roses. I only started making and taking music more seriously like a year ago I’d say.

As for the name, I just think it describes my music really well. It’s got high gain guitars and almost all of my songs are about my own personal struggles conveyed in an energetic, catchy and whiney way. Therefore ‘High Gain Pity Party’.

Ian: You are the first artist I’ve interviewed from Norway. What got you into pop punk and what are some of your favorite US pop punk bands?

Band: Yeah, I haven’t run into any Norwegian pop punk artists online either. Obviously Blink 182, Sum 41, Green Day, Fenix TX and MxPx. All the classics. I also got some favorite bands that I think are way underrated but still known, like Dynamite Hack, Midtown and SR-71.

Ian: You definitely have a pop punk sound, especially in your song, Martyr. How would you describe your sound to readers?

Band: Damn, I already screwed up the interview hahah. Went into it prematurely in the name question. So about the song Martyr.. Pretty sure I was listening to Fugazi when I came up with the hook for that song. Just suddenly got inspired to put something down. I wanted something that was pretty happy sounding but also a tiny bit dissonant and aggressive like Fugazi.

The making of the verses was inspired by some Bodyjar song if ircc. I was also watching Dawson’s Creek, one of my guilty pleasures and comfort shows hah. So there’s a character in that show that’s named Pacey and he’s the kind of guy that keeps getting beaten down by life more than most it seems, gets called a loser etc and after some time you start to believe it and stop fighting it. You start to believe that people are better off without you. That’s pretty much what ‘Martyr’ is about.

Ian: What is the scene like in Norway? Is there a lot of other pop punk? What’s the reception been to your music?

Band: Well the scene where I live is as dead as can be. I live in such a small place at the moment that there’s barely a music scene, let alone for there to be a pop punk scene. Wish I had more to say on that topic but I’m just gonna be a pop punk cliche and say ‘Can’t wait to move out of my hometown’ hahah. The reception of my music online has been pretty good to neutral. I still have so much more to learn when it comes to the promotion part, and when you do everything yourself it gets overwhelming sometimes. Just got to keep at it.

Ian: You released Inside my Brain at the end of 2022. What was your inspiration for the song? Any specific events or stories behind the song that you want to share?

Band: Well it’s pretty much about fighting and constantly struggling with anxiety. It can be such a huge burden and feel like it takes over your whole life, and then ON TOP OF THAT you have to deal with everything else in life. You feel like you’re expected to have a handle at everything even with your own struggles on the side that no one else sees. Then sometimes the thing that breaks you the most is that no one believes you about how hard it is. You start doubting yourself even more. That’s what ‘Inside my brain’ is about.

Ian: What do you have in store for your fans in 2023? (Touring, studio, release schedule?)

Band: Oh I wish I could tour. I wish I had a band to play with! So far I do have one thing that I have in store: A new release. I have a song that is coming out this month on the 27th! I even collabed with someone on this one, the vocalist from a band called ‘Venturis’. They have some pretty awesome stuff, go check them out. Oh, yeah the song is called ‘No Way Out’ and everyone I’ve showed it to so far has said it sounds awesome and is a banger. It’s more in the direction of old school pop punk, unlike ‘Inside My Brain’. Can’t wait to share it with everybody!

Reader Questions

Ian: If you could play/work w/ any other artist, who would it be & why? Who would be your dream guest-artist on one of your songs?

Band: Artist or band? If artist then definitely Tom Delonge from blink 182. If band then Blink 182 lol. Either way I would be beyond happy. Unrealistic for sure but that’s my answer. As to why, not sure if I can answer that better than that they’re just awesome and have been a lifelong inspiration for me.

Ian: Other than your hometown, what's your favorite city (or cities) to play?
Band: Wish I had an answer for that but like i mentioned earlier I don’t have a band and I would much rather perform as a full band than solo.

Ian: What else do you want readers to know that I forgot to ask?

Band: no, I think you covered it pretty well. Follow High Gain Pity Party and Venturis on Spotify and social media to be notified of the new release and to follow whatever shit we’re up to!

Support High Gain Pity Party

Ian: Thanks for letting me ask you some questions for the newsletter! Where can readers find you so that they stay up to date with all the great stuff you're doing?

Band: It was a lot of fun. Please support and follow us on social media! (links below)