What was the beginning point for your music career? How did it all start?
Hey, Cody Hess here, thanks for taking the time! For me, it all started when I was young and my dad
handed me a guitar that he had hand-built just for me!
Was there any bumps on the road? What kind of challenges did you have to deal with?
I tried several times to start bands in middle and high school, and it just never really happened. It was
discouraging. Then, after graduating, I started working for a small label, and learned so much from the
bands on their roster. Eventually, through classified ads, I was able to find a project that really got me
going in the music scene.
What was the most fulfilling and satisfying moment so far?
There has been so many incredible moments, but one definitely sticks out: the Dallas show of an All That
Remains tour when I met my wife. She had purchased a poster from our merch table and was seeking
out the band members around the venue for signatures. When she found me, however, instead of
asking for my autograph, she was inspired (with the help of tequila) to ask simply “Can I have you?” And
now, we’ve been happily married for two and a half years.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
I enjoy creating music that is accessible, engaging, and catchy, while having an aggressive and emotional
edge. It’s not about force feeding what I think people want to hear. It’s not about stroking my ego. It’s
about sharing my world view of issues like prejudice, apathy, narcissism, and suicide prevention in a way
that people might relate to and embedding that emotion into the music.
What is your creative process like?
Much of the music and lyrics I write come to me while I’m woodworking. There’s something about
building something with your hands that nurtures mental and emotional creativity as well, and then lyric
ideas and riffs just kind of materialize in my head.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
I would change the fact that people who view the music industry as a business take advantage of the
people who view it as a passion. Musicians get scammed all the time, and because it is such emotional
subject matter, musicians have to be more and more careful and skeptical every day when someone
offers to help.
If you were asked to give a piece of advice to upcoming bands, what would that be?
Don’t expect to just be discovered. Work hard, believe in yourself, and never stop pushing and
promoting your art. The “overnight sensations” you hear about all the time have years and years of
extensive work behind them to to get to that point.
What has been the best performance of your career so far?
I’d have to say, the show in my hometown on my first big tour was probably my best performance.
Atreyu and Memphis May Fire were the big ticket items on the tour, and Ice Nine Kills was support (but
blowing up at the time). Every night I would put everything I had into putting on a compelling and
energetic show, but having my friends and family in the crowd just pushed me into a whole new level.
If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing now?
I mentioned earlier I do some woodworking, and I’m sure that if I didn’t have music that’s what I would
be doing full time. I started in a cabinet shop when I was 16 and have been working in the field off and
on ever since.
What is new with the band at the moment? What are you currently working on and would like to share
with the world?
Greymarch has a new song “Bite the Bullet” coming out March 10th, and I’m very excited about it. It is
the song out of all the singles on this debut EP that I think will resonate most, and I’m working on a lyric
video, music video, and much more to promote it.
