Getting to Know Final Transmission (Interview – Written)
Genre-bending rock and metal band, Final Transmission are busy working on their third album and promoting their latest singles. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
Final Transmission was formed in December 2014 by five friends united by a shared passion for music. While the lineup shifted over the years, original members Connor Wooler and Jordan Cameron remain at the core, with Aidan Wooler joining shortly after in early 2015. Though it took time to find our footing, that early vision still drives us today.
Final Transmission officially found its footing in 2018 when our current vocalist, Adam, joined the band. His dynamic range helped shape the heavy, melodic sound we’re known for. After releasing our first EP that year, things gained momentum with more gigs and a clearer direction.
In 2020, we brought in drummer Tom McCallister just before recording—his style clicked instantly, and he became a permanent member. The pandemic gave us time to focus on writing, leading to our debut album Chrysalis in 2021, which earned strong reviews and over 18,000 streams for our single Smokescreen.
Opening for RED and Keith Wallen in 2022 was a huge milestone, and our second album Catharsis in 2023 pushed us creatively with a heavier, more layered sound. Since then, we’ve built a strong live following, especially across East Anglia.
In 2025, we’re continuing to evolve, releasing three new singles—Fractured Future, Diamond Eyes, and Ambivalence—all showing different sides of our sound. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and excited for what’s next.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
Our style has definitely grown and evolved over time. We’re often described as a blend of classic rock, post-hardcore, and modern metal, with some songs incorporating elements of pop punk—like our track 2020. We also draw from alternative metal, and in some cases, you can hear hints of nu metal in our sound. This mix reflects our diverse influences and our willingness to experiment, which keeps our music fresh and dynamic.
3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
Right now, we’re deep into tracking our third album, which will feature our latest singles Fractured Future, Diamond Eyes, and Ambivalence. We’re about halfway through recording and have a clear vision for the release. We’re also gearing up to headline the Chelmsford Beer Festival on July 19th and are planning more gigs for later this year., as we continue building momentum.
4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?
Right now feels like a really exciting chapter for us. We’re in the middle of tracking our third album—which is a huge milestone, especially since many bands at our level don’t often get the chance to record even one full-length, let alone three. We’re also launching our official website, which will allow us to sell merch online for the first time, not just at gigs. That’s a big step forward in reaching more fans and growing our presence. On top of that, we’re planning more live shows and gearing up to release more new music soon, so there’s a real sense of momentum and progress right now.
5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.
When Tom joined the band in 2020, we immediately felt the potential to take things to the next level, but it took time and a lot of hard work to fully realize that. Like anything, the more we practiced and wrote together, the better we became. Our first album really set a benchmark for us, and since then, we’ve been constantly striving to outdo ourselves with every release and performance.
One of the biggest steps for us has been incorporating full backing tracks, including strings and piano, which has allowed us to get much more creative in our songwriting. Knowing we can replicate these elements live has been a game-changer. To make this happen, we built our own in-ear monitoring rig—a costly and complex project that took a lot of trial and error to get right. But it was absolutely worth it, as it’s made our live shows tighter and more immersive.
We’ve also put a lot of effort into our online presence, using social media strategically to grow our fanbase and connect with listeners. Reaching out to radio stations and getting airplay has been another important part of our growth. All of this behind-the-scenes work has been monumental, but seeing the results makes it incredibly rewarding.
A huge milestone was opening for RED and Keith Wallen during their European tour in 2022. Playing a sold-out show in London was surreal and something we’ll never forget. Since then, we’ve headlined our own shows—not on that scale yet—but the energy and connection we get from our fans never fail to inspire us. Moments like fans waving their phone lights during songs or shouting for encores remind us that all the effort is worthwhile. We couldn’t be more grateful for the support and enthusiasm of everyone who’s come along with us on this journey.
6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?
We’re just five friends who get together for a few hours each week to write and practice, and that time has really helped us build a bond that feels like it’ll last forever. Making music has been incredible for our mental health—it’s almost like therapy for the mind and soul. It gives us a way to express what we’re going through, whether it’s personal struggles or something positive, without even having to say it out loud. Writing songs lets us tell our stories in a way that feels natural and really helps us process things individually.
Sure, there are times when it gets frustrating—when ideas don’t come together or nothing seems to click—but when it finally does, it’s such a huge relief and makes all the hard work worth it. Honestly, I don’t think any of us could put into words just how much making music has changed our lives for the better. It’s more than just a hobby; it’s become something that keeps us grounded and connected.
7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges for us was moving fully digital and switching to an in-ear rig—it was almost like relearning how to play together as a band. That was a huge hurdle, but once we adapted, it really took our live sound to the next level.
Another ongoing challenge is keeping up with the ever-changing social media landscape. Over the years, we’ve seen platforms rise and fall—from Twitter to Facebook, then Instagram, and now TikTok. Staying current with trends and figuring out the best ways to promote ourselves can be tough. We’re lucky to have Adam, our vocalist, and Aidan, our bassist, who usually handle most of the social media and promo. Still, it’s a team effort, and everyone pitches in to help the band grow.
8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?
As we mentioned earlier, managing our online presence is a team effort, with Adam, our vocalist, and Aidan, our bassist, usually handling most of the social media and promotion. It’s a constant balancing act to keep up with content creation and engagement across different platforms.
When it comes to measuring success by likes and follows, we try to avoid getting too caught up in those numbers. It’s easy to fall into the trap of obsessing over likes or dislikes, but they don’t always translate into real-world impact like actual streams, ticket sales, or dedicated fans. Social media metrics can be misleading and sometimes distracting, so while we do keep an eye on them, we make sure they don’t dictate our creative decisions or next steps.
Ultimately, our focus remains on making music that connects with people and growing our fanbase in a meaningful way, rather than just chasing numbers. It’s about building genuine relationships and sharing our passion rather than playing a numbers game.
9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?
When it comes to social media, we try to share the kind of content we’d want to see from bands we follow—something engaging, fun, and authentic. Our goal is to create a community where people feel connected and part of something bigger. Seeing fans love our posts, telling us they had an amazing night, or sharing clips of our shows really makes us feel like we’re doing something right and truly connecting with people.
There’s a lot of negativity online these days, so we want to bring some positivity and fun instead. That’s what keeps the whole process enjoyable and fulfilling for us.
10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?
To all our listeners, we just want to say thanks for sticking with us. The best way to support us is pretty simple—come to our shows, stream our music, and share our songs with your friends. If you’re able, buying merch at gigs or through our website once it’s up is a massive help and really keeps us going. We’re also super excited to be launching a Discord server soon, where fans can hang out, chat with each other, and connect with us directly. It’s all about building a real community, not just following from a distance. Every like, share, comment, and message means a lot and helps us keep doing what we love. We couldn’t do this without you.
11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?
Outside of music, we all have our ways to unwind. We’re pretty big into video games, and Jordan, our rhythm guitarist, even runs a YouTube channel. Connor, our lead guitarist, is really into films and Warhammer, and actually, Tom, Adam, and Aidan are Warhammer fans too. Everyone has their own little hobbies that help them relax and switch off from work. It’s important for us to have those outlets to recharge.
12. Where can people find you?
You can find us across all the usual places online—Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming platforms. We’re also active on social media like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where we share updates, behind-the-scenes content, and interact with fans. Plus, our website will be launching soon, which will have merch and more info. We’re excited to connect with everyone there!
