Oh look. Another killer project and album I missed from last month. But I assure you, I am making up for the lost time. Chicago’s Motherless released Do You Feel Safe? through Prosthetic Records, and it is one hell of a debut. But that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Stavros Giannopoulos and Alex Klein of The Atlas Moth came together with Gary Naples and Anthony Cwan of Without Waves and they certainly brought the riffs. Heavy, and to the point. Everything I could have wanted from these names. Stavros provided the responses to this most recent Profile, so give the (quick) read a few minutes of your time, and give Do You Feel Safe? far more than that right after the jump.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

I asked my mom for a guitar when I was 10. Being Greek she said no, my dad said I needed to play a bouzouki first. So I had to learn that to earn my first guitar. This band started while The Atlas Moth was on hiatus. My parents are dead so they didn’t have much to say about me starting a band called Motherless, thankfully.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

I’d just play em the record. There is no way to truly describe any band better than just listening to them. Or just say it’s Power Slop.

Is there anything about your latest album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Our drummer Garry works for Glenn Lerner.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

This is a new project, so nothing quite yet, unfortunately. I’d love to tell you some from The Atlas Moth tours but that seems cheap. I am sure this band will get in some equally ridiculous situations knowing my luck alone.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

I think the music scene as a whole needs to come back together after the lockdown. It certainly doesn’t seem to have fully reemerged post pandemic in my eyes, at least. It sure doesn’t help that bands are gouging fans over pretty much everything from tickets to merch but it also doesn’t help that bands are getting gouged trying to bring the show to towns and playing to smaller crowds.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

I am very passionate about Pit Bull rescue. My sister owns the longest running pit bull rescue here in Chicago, The Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue (CBBR). All of my dogs over the years and so many dogs to so many other musicians in the city have come from my sister.

Do you guys have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

I’m really into collection action figures and comics. We all are big baseball and basketball fans.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Remember that something that takes you 30-45 mins to listen to, took us sometimes years to accomplish.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

Try not to die anytime soon. Or sooner than later. One or the other.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

I really like the new EYES record and the new Budos Band.

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

We have our first record coming out Sept 12th on Prosthetic Records! We have a record release show in Chicago August 29th at Burlington Bar with Death Pose, Something Is Waiting and Barren Heir!

Summarize your band in one word.

Motorhead.

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Many thanks to Stavros and Motherless for the time!

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Do You Feel Safe? is out now through Prosthetic Records. For more information on Motherless, head over to Instagram or Facebook.