Interview: Timmy Lodhi of Bite The Hand

Today, we’re thrilled to have Timmy Lodhi, the guitarist of Bite The Hand. Their highly-anticipated EP, “Brutal By Design,” is on the horizon, slated for release on March 8th via Big Bite Records. We talked about their latest single, the upcoming EP, songwriting process, the Bay Area hardcore scene, and much more. Enjoy!

---

Your upcoming EP, “Brutal By Design,” is described as an urgent, honest, and riff-filled collection. Can you share some insights into the creative process behind the EP and how it differs from your previous work on “Down Comes the Bay”?

When I first started this band it was just me writing songs in my kitchen during the pandemic. All of the songs off DCTB were demos that I had written without any other people involved in the project so they were just songs I felt like writing. After that release, we actually formed the band and the people involved had a direct influence on how the sound changed and we opted to go for a bit more heavier, thrash-influenced sound.

The title track, “Brutal By Design,” features a captivating blend of a repetitive, infectious groove before transitioning into a more rugged sound. What inspired this unique combination of elements, and how do you feel it contributes to the overall theme of the EP?

This is probably my favorite song I’ve ever written. My parents are Pakistani immigrants and I’ve always been a bit confused by my identity (almost ashamed at times). As I’ve grown older I’ve learned to step into that identity and be proud of where I come from. The idea to incorporate a tabla (traditional Indian/Pakistani instrument) into the song was my way of saying “here’s who I am, deal with it”

The music video for “Brutal By Design” was directed and produced by lead vocalist GVB and yourself. Can you tell us about the concept behind the video and how it complements the message of the song?

The idea came from our vocalist GVB saying that he thought the visual of him and his brother getting into a boxing match would suit the song well. From there, we iterated on what else we could capture to match the energy of the song. It touches on themes of forgiving and forgetting, especially the ones you love.

“Down Comes the Bay,” your EP released in 2022, introduced a sociopolitically charged sound. How has the band evolved sonically and thematically with the upcoming release of “Brutal By Design”?

Some of the themes are definitely the same. Brutal by Design touches on themes of systematic oppression and class-disparity and working non-stop, but it also touches on things like self-doubt and making peace with yourself.

The sonic drive of the new EP draws from the bounce of classic California hardcore bands. Can you elaborate on the specific influences that shaped the sound of “Brutal By Design” and how you sought to put your own unique stamp on it?

Our influences for this EP are definitely rooted in the era of 2000’s hardcore. Bands like Bitter End, Blacklisted, Cold World, and Power Trip. We’ll take those influences and our stamp is added naturally. 

Bite The Hand formed in 2022 and has already shared the stage with notable bands like Sabertooth Zombie, Big Boy, and Initiate. How has the Bay Area’s hardcore scene influenced your growth and musical direction?

The Bay Area has probably one of the best HC scenes in the world right now so it’s very easy to be influenced by it. Not necessarily sonically, but in the sense that it’s invigorating. You can catch a show any weekend and easily see a couple hundred kids come out. It just makes you want to be involved and help foster and grow this community so that it can change people’s lives like the way it did mine.

The record is described as being just as furious as your live shows. How do you capture the energy and intensity of your live performances in the recording studio, and what do you think sets your live shows apart?

For me, it’s just about sounding good and looking cool. I wanna be tight as hell when we play so it sounds like we’ve been doing this forever. There’s nothing better than watching one of your favorite bands play a perfect set, and that’s what I strive to be as this band progresses.

With “Brutal By Design,” you aim to rile up listeners and leave them wanting more. How do you envision your music resonating with fans, and what do you hope they take away from the EP after giving it a listen?

Hopefully they think, “Damn this band is tight, I’m trying to see them live”