Despised Icon

The past couple of years have been full of massive milestones for Despised Icon, from our most successful North American tour to date and European runs to a JUNO win that felt like an unbelievable exclamation point on over twenty years of grinding in the extreme music scene. When we received the award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year, it was a deeply surreal moment for all of us. There is no easy, glamorous path in extreme music; we hustle incredibly hard every day as a unit behind the scenes to make everything happen, so holding those statuettes together made the whole journey finally sink in. We’ve been pouring ourselves into this music for decades, and celebrating this kind of recognition as a band, and with the community that has backed us since day one, is extra special. It’s a beautiful reminder of why we started and a testament to the collective blood and sweat we’ve put into this band.

I cannot overstate how difficult it is to sustain a musical project nowadays, and it just keeps getting harder. The logistical challenges, staggering inflation, and surprise expenses of international touring are too many to name. But without a safety net, independent Canadian bands simply cannot survive on the world stage. FACTOR’s Tour Support funding has been the exact bridge that allowed us to get across the ocean and keep this project alive. This investment takes an immense financial weight off our shoulders, but hitting these industry milestones matters little in comparison to the actual impact on the people who show up to experience our music live. This funding allows us to do what is most needed in today’s digital world: get in a venue, play our hearts out, and connect deeply with our fans. On behalf of heavy music fans across the world, thank you for helping us keep this legacy alive.

– Eric Jarrin

Photo by Eric Sanchez