Interview: Getting to Know Cell Games (Written)

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, Cell Games are a nu-metal band who recently released their brand-new single, ‘Let’s Go To Therapy’. 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.

Hi! We’re Cell Games, a nu-metal band from Dublin, Ireland. There’s four of us now but way back in COVID times, two of us – Maximillion (vocals) and Tristan (guitar) decided to try get something going remotely as a recording project. Turns out that that something was the nu-metal juggernaut, Cell Games! When live music came back that’s when things really took shape and we became the four piece we are now with Deb on bass and Niall on drums.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

First we say we’re nu-metal and if they’re still listening we tell them we’re not JUST like Deftones or JUST like Limp Bizkit. We’re like if Wayne Static got to do some electronic stuff for System Of A Down or if Sevendust tried to write a White Zombie album.

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 promoting our new single, Let’s Go To Therapy, and we’re really excited about that one and the direction it’s taking us in. We have a few other things planned that are under wraps for now – including some gigs at home – but our next adventure is getting the ferry over to the UK for the first time to tour with Straight For The Sun in November and we can’t wait!

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

Definitely the UK tour in November. We haven’t been over there as a band yet so we’re really looking forward to showing them what we’re all about. We might even throw in some songs that are new to us as well as them!

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

We’re really excited to actually travel outside of Ireland with our music and the lads in Straight For The Sun have done all the leg work in making the gigs happen. Now it’s up to us not get lost driving between each town.

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?

The social aspect of music is very important. Even if it’s just the four band members in a room that can really give us a boost. Then there’s a bigger sense of community on top of that that’s very important. Everyone in the scene gets on great and you can’t overstate the importance of that.

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?

The biggest challenge to making music – especially in a band – is making it fit around the rest of your life. There’s a meme about band practice mostly being an attempt to schedule the next practice and it can be like that sometimes. And then after that you have to actually PLAY the music. It can be a lot. We make it work though, or we hope it works at least!

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?

It’s definitely a whole extra thing outside of just writing music and playing it for people. Some of us (Tristan) are pretty much glued to our phones at all times so we’re familiar with the online game. The hardest thing – like with a lot of social media – is not getting sucked into comparing yourself to everyone else and how they’re doing. Very easy to say, not so easy to do!

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

We’re lucky that 1) we’re hilarious and 2) Jade (Tristan’s partner) looks after so much of it. Our socials would look horrific if we were left to our own devices! We try to be funny and engaging and Jade turns all of that into something people will actually click on or not scroll past.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Follow us everywhere at @cellgames.mp3, stream our music – especially Let’s Go To Therapy – and just interact with us to keep up to date. If we’re playing near you come out and listen and maybe grab a t-shirt (our merch, not our own personal clothes)

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

We have a pretty wide range of stuff we like. Maximillion is a huge wrestling fan and lives for obscure old movies and TV shows and he WILL tell you about them if he gets a chance. Tristan is constantly in the gym making sure he looks good wearing sleeveless t-shirts on stage. Niall competes in Digimon Card Game tournaments and Deb is usually up a mountain or in the sea if she gets the chance.

Pretty much the whole spectrum of hobbies in one band!

12. Where can people find you?

Short of finding out our home addresses, you can find us on Instagram and TikTok at @cellgames.mp3. We’re on all the usual places too under Cell Games and you can stream all of our songs on all the streamers – even the ones we’ve never heard of!