Mourning's Hope

Mourning's Hope started with a single song. It was a side project conceived by guitarist Chris Sossong's desire to produce a guitar-driven instrumental in his home studio, by himself. With the aid of recording tools, a drum machine, and his talents on the electric guitar, he produced the single, "Murdering Fear," which became the band's first official track. Encouraged by his efforts, he soon asked longtime friend and fellow guitarist Jason Alan if he would be interested in composing a tune. Alan eagerly came up with a couple songs, and before long, Chris' one song turned into many. Realizing programmed drums just couldn't match the feel or sound of a live drummer, Jason Alan invited drummer Garrett Giambra into the mix, and the results were instantly magical. Guitarist Frank Costa, a friend of the band, also contributed his guitar playing and fantastic ear to the music. Chris' one song, with everyone's contribution, eventually became two full albums - A Time For Reflection, and The Storm Within.

The name Mourning's Hope was derived from the name of a dragon in Jason Alan's soon to be published fantasy novel - Phate: The Cosmic Fairytale (released through Oloris Publishing this fall www.olorispublishing.com). The music comprises all of the members' influences; from acoustic music to heavy metal, from bands like Pink Floyd, Rush, and Pantera. Choosing to go an instrumental route, the lead guitars became the "voice" of the band, and Mourning's Hope's music has been described as emotionally driven progressive instrumental. The songs really took on voices of their own, and became more cathartic than any of the band's member's could have ever imagined.

The recently available second album, The Storm Within, became a long, deep, and multilayered journey into their sound, which they are still exploring today.


Band Member Jason Alan humoured us with my cheesy questions:

1. Who are your musical inspirations?
Our musical inspirations are - Rush, Dream Theater, Pantera, Pink Floyd, Movie Soundtracks, including the many scores by John Williams, James Horner, and Hans Zimmer.

2. What genre of music do you listen to today?
Progressive, metal, and soundtrack music.

3. What embarrassing songs might I find on your MP3 player?
Funny question! At this stage I'm not particularly embarrassed by anything I listen to, but friends would probably be surprised to find music by Christopher Cross playing through our sound system. His music is symphonic and moving. (He also happens to be a fantastic guitar player, which many people don't realize.)

4. Where would you most like to perform?
Would most like to perform at Madison Square Garden.

5. If you weren't a musician, what would you be doing?
The member of Mourning's Hope all have day jobs, from graphic designing to auto body repair, to landscaping.

6. What instruments do you play?
I (Jason Alan) play lead, rhythm, bass guitars, and synthesizers.

7. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be?
Soundtrack music would definitely be where my other musical interests lie.

8. What other talents do you have?
Writing is a huge part of my life, as I'm working on the sequel to my first novel and another book with an author friend of mine. I also dabble in abstract photography.

9. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car/for karaoke?
Though I prefer their more obscure tracks, The Spirit of Radio by Rush would be a song I'd most likely belt out in a bar, karaoke environment, for its energy and musicianship.

10. If you could sing a duet with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
I'd sing with Geddy Lee; I'm just a fanatic of Rush!

11. What is the hardest thing about being in the music business?
The hardest thing is just getting exposure, getting the satisfaction of knowing people are listening and responding to the music that we put so much of our time and hearts into. You spend months on a song for most people to just listen to casually for a few minutes and say, "Yeah, that's pretty cool," then they just go off onto something else.

12. What has been the best advice you have ever been given?
Best advice I've been given is to stay the course, no matter how difficult or lonely your path may be. It really is perseverance. Most people quit right before they get over that first major hurdle. Show up, push through and get it done!

Please give Mourning's Hope a like and a follow on their social media, it would greatly be appreciated!

https://www.facebook.com/mourningshope
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mourningshope
http://www.reverbnation.com/mourningshope
http://www.youtube.com/user/MouringsHopeTheBand
http://www.jango.com/music/Mourning+s+Hope
https://soundcloud.com/mournings-hope-the-band

Thank you, Jason, for taking the time to share your band's music with us!

Forsaken Sorrow - This is a special song. Often a musician has a vision for a song before even playing a single note. Forsaken Sorrow was a song we envisioned, then, through a lot of trial and error, it became something much different than originally intended...but even more heartfelt. It is a song where the verses deal with grief, the choruses deal with anger, then the heavy ending is setting those emotions free.

https://soundcloud.com/mournings-hope-the-band/02-forsaken-sorrow




Withered Stars and Cosmic Fairy Tales - This song was composed to be cinematic, and its an accompaniment to guitarist Jason Alan's forthcoming novel, Phate: The Cosmic Fairytale. The music is cinematic, whimsical, and mirrors the light, darkness, and hope of the story's epic trappings.

https://soundcloud.com/mournings-hope-the-band/withered-stars-and-cosmic-fairy-tales

What does tomorrow bring?

Tune in to find out! 

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