Canadian hard rockers Famous Strangers step into this week’s Meet The Band spotlight as they issue their self-titled debut album. Vocalist Amanda Kiernan, guitarist Jeff Kittlitz, bassist Braden Sustrik and drummer Brian “Beej” Jolly introduce us to Famous Strangers.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Famous Strangers.
Famous Strangers is a brand new hard rock band from Edmonton, Alberta. We’re a four piece drums, bass, guitar, and female fronted lead vocals, and we’re just about to release our debut album on August 21st. Stay tuned, lots of exciting stuff coming!
Describe the songwriting process for your self-titled debut.
Beej Jolly: Most of the time it goes the same way. Me and Jeff will lay down some jams, come up with some riffs and some beats, either with Braden at the same time or he’ll come in a little after. Once we figure out something we like and it’s pretty solid, then Amanda comes in and puts her twist on it. That’s usually how we hammer down.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Jeff Kittlitz: My strongest memory would have to be showing up to the audio department and starting with the drums on the first day of recording, followed by a close second of getting the mixes back from Joel.
Beej: Obviously drums for me. The audio department was booked for me specifically to rock all my tracks in one day, so it definitely helps that it’s really easy room to sink into and go. Great vibes. We love it there.
Braden Sustrik: For me, it was when we got the vinyl test pressings shipped to us and I got to actually hold the product in my hand. It’s like, it’s finally here. It’s finished.
Amanda Kiernan: Being at the studio, the audio department, is always a really cool vibe. You feel like you’re in a whole different world, a whole different universe, watching everything come to life. And then there were a couple really cool moments in the basement with Jeff, with the fake candles surrounding me and a can of Lucky Lager in my hand.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Jeff: For me, it was a bit of a time limit. We did do it mostly ourselves, but we created deadlines, and they might have been a little tight. That, for me, was the biggest challenge.
Amanda: We were literally recording in the middle of Christmas and New Year’s, when nobody wants to lift a finger. I remember looking at Beej at the audio department like, whose idea was this? We’re definitely ambitious. But the biggest challenge for me is always self sabotaging, getting in my own head, not thinking anything’s good enough. And once the recording headphones go on my head, it’s like my body forgets how to sing, and it’s a whole other vibe. So we definitely have to put on some lights and get the proper headspace and the vibe going in the room.
Beej: The biggest challenge for me is always being under the strict timeline. Overthinking stuff the night before, hoping you’re going to lay down everything you’re thinking of and not forget anything, and just being happy with what you’ve done when it’s completed. But it usually seems to work out pretty good.
Braden: I had a really hard time figuring out what the right shirt was to wear to the studio.
Jeff: That being said, with the timeline crunch, we all seem to work really well under pressure, which is a good thing.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Jeff: It’s hard rock, leaning to the side of metal, with a topping of blues, and it takes you on a very enjoyable journey. Its sound is more vintage than modern. I’d like to think it’s got some classic rock tones, but with a little modern flair to it.
Beej: I’d say the appetizers would probably be some hard rock, the main course would be heavy metal rock, and dessert is probably blues and a little bit of punk rock.
Braden: I concur.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Amanda: Most of it is a self worth journey, which is literally what I’m going through right now. I’m writing from personal experience. I may sing it out into the crowd, but I’m also singing it for myself, because I don’t have it all figured out, and I need those words too. I put them down on paper and put them out into the world. You are worthy. I just want the lyrics to hype people up and make them realize how special they are. And then of course the silly punky alien song is just about aliens and being abducted, and that’s just for fun and a good laugh.
Jeff: The lyrical topics cover self-worth, escape, fun and fantasy, knowing yourself, knowing what you can accomplish, being enough, and what you deserve.
How were the video shoots for “As Your Leader” and “Ghosts of Men”?
Jeff: For me, they were really fun. “Ghosts of Men,” because we did it at Amanda’s work, in a strip club where she’s the DJ. It was very eighties, Motley Crue influenced, Guns N’ Roses, rock and roll, let’s go, dancers. We got all our friends to come out, and it was just a good hang, a good day. For “As Your Leader,” I just left it in Art’s control, gave him a couple ideas, but let him run with it, and kind of stepped back on that one.
Amanda: I kind of felt the opposite about the “Ghosts of Men” shoot, just because it was my place of work, and I had to be the bartender but also the director, because it was all my vision in my head. I was really overwhelmed that day, and I feel like I was getting ahead of myself. Even to this day, I’m not sure about some of my decisions on that video. I knew I wanted it to stand out and be different, and it certainly is, because it makes me feel weird at times. But all in all, it was really great to have everybody there. Thank you, Shade Gentleman’s Club, for having us.
Beej: “As Your Leader” was a long couple of grueling 40-50 hours for the band. We just sat at home and waited for Art to finish. It was a tough one.
Braden: “As Your Leader” has prompted some really good conversations within the band, because my understanding is the storyboard and all the characters are total original ideas from Art’s human brain, and Art used the most cutting edge technology, which is called AI, which is short for artificial intelligence, to help with some of the animations. It prompted a lot of conversations about what exactly AI is, when it’s okay to use it, and what we want as a band and our identity. It opened up a whole world of conversation that we had never come across until that video.
Amanda: Art does explain it, and there is a bio of how Art made the video. There are certain things, like we want to stay away from AI, but there are certain things, especially when you’re working with other people, that you can’t escape. He spent what, forty, fifty fucking hours on the thing, writing prompts and doing code and all that. At the end of the day, we are a raw, unapologetic rock and roll band. Come see us live follow the band and you will see.
What led you to go the independent route for its release?
Jeff: I’m going to start with creative freedom, budget, and the fact that we’ve been doing everything ourselves since day one. I mean, we’ve got help with our team and stuff, but there’s been no label support, no funding or tour support. We’re all getting older and we want this now. We’re not going to just shop around and wait for somebody to hand us something that might not happen. You’ve got to go out and grab the bull by the horns.
Beej: Ya, like Jeff said do it all yourself. Generate as much momentum as you can within your team, and hopefully that sends out ripples into the universe and catches the eye of labels or somebody else that wants to help with funding or support or anything like that.
Braden: We tried to get a hold of David Geffen, but he wasn’t answering his phone.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Jeff: Personally, I just hope it leads us to touring. It’s a number chasing world online, it’s just the way it is. I try not to care about that, but it’s part of what gets you booked, what gets you gigs, and what people look at. So hopefully it raises our numbers, gets us some new fans, creates a buzz, and gets us working, because we just need to be working and touring and trying to make money. I think that’s our full focus.
Amanda: Everyone just wants to be on the road and play full time. I hope to tour with this album and spread our message and spread our love through the whole world, and hopefully make some people feel better and help them get through the day.
What has been your most memorable Famous Strangers live show?
Jeff: We’ve been asked this one a few times. I’m going to go this time with opening for Danko Jones at Festival Place, because it was our very first hometown show. I feel we’re comfortable as a band on stage, we had our sound guy with us, and my mom was able to make that show. It was just a real special time for me.
Amanda: I always say the one at Neighbour’s Pub in Drumheller for the Loud As Hell fundraiser, because it was very intimate, and we played a song that wasn’t written yet lyrically. I asked the crowd what the song should be about, someone yelled out dinosaurs, and I freestyled a whole song about dinosaurs that no one’s ever going to hear again. That was a really cool moment. But a hard second, and possibly first, is Loud As Hell, playing the pancake breakfast in the pouring rain, and people showed up for us. It was packed, and it was amazing, because I’ve watched that festival from the beginning, and it’s an honor to play there every time. Really proud of Jeff and Tina.
Braden: Tomorrow we’re going to play in Regina, and while it hasn’t happened yet, I’ve got a pretty good feeling that’s going to be my favorite show.
Beej: Obviously all the beginning shows are pretty memorable for obvious reasons, but for me personally, I’d have to say the Festival Place show with Danko Jones, because I was in bands way back in the mid nineties and played shows there multiple times. To come back there so many years later was amazing. It was a lot of fun, and it brought back a lot of good memories.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
We’re on our way right now to Regina to play The Exchange with Metal Theater. From there we go to Dickens Pub in Calgary with Syryn, Cabrakaän, and Lumivore. Then we’re playing part one of our album release on August 21st at The Rec Room with Syryn, Systems of Chaos, Bogue Brigade, and Bang HC, and the next day, August 22nd, part two at Starlite Room Temple with Black Friday, Costectomy, and Axiom Anna. As for tour plans, we’ve got some really good things cooking in the fire right now. As far as touring and being busy, we’re trying to fire up for next spring, and we’ve got people trying to get us to Europe. You’ve got to book far in advance, so we’re doing that as we speak.
How’s the heavy music scene in Alberta?
Jeff: It’s really good. I find Edmonton, personally, is one of the best in all of Alberta, but every little town and place has a wonderful place to play, great bands, great talent, and everybody works together in this community. It’s really nice.
Amanda: I guess it’s easy for us to say, because we’ve been in the scene for so long that when you go to a show, you just run into your whole family. But I feel like it’s very welcoming, and the whole new generation is coming out. People are playing a ton of all ages shows nowadays, so it’s really cool to see the kids, and also to be playing with the new generation of music. These kids are on fire and they’re ahead of their game.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Jeff: I’ve been asked this a few times, and it always comes around to the same things. I like to cook and hang out with my dogs. I like to golf and hang with my friends, maybe do some barbecuing and hanging in the sun, if that ever gets to be an opportunity in Alberta. Other than that, I’m going to shows and supporting my scene. I work in the scene, which is just more music. Even when I try to get away from it, I involve my life fully with it.
Amanda: In the daytime, I go to my favorite coffee shop, Stopgap Coffee, and study the herbology course I’m taking with Wild Rose College online. It’s wonderful. Sometimes you’ll catch me reading a book in a tree, and hugging trees. I like to hang out with my sissy, my mom, and my family and friends. And I also love to take five hour baths, with a billion candles and sad music.
Beej: Definitely hanging with family and friends, all the animals, the kitties, eating good food. I’ve traveled quite a bit over the years, and it’s nice to get out of the country and see other places. I like to game, video games and stuff, it’s relaxing. Just having a good time.
Braden: I really like liquids. Swimming is my favorite sport, it’s what I did growing up, and I really like doing it for exercise. I love making a great coffee in the morning, and I love kicking back with as many beers as I can have in the evening. They’re all liquids.
What’s currently in your musical heavy rotation?
Jeff: This one gets asked a lot too. I’m going to go with what I was listening to today, Bad Religion and Jimmy Eat World have been on my playlist.
Beej: I go from A to Z. I’ve been listening to a lot of punk rock lately, a lot of Sick of It All to be exact. Rest in peace, Lou Koller. I’ve been listening to a lot of jazz, a lot of bossa nova. It’s really relaxing.
Braden: There’s a new Madball out that I forgot to ask everyone if they’ve heard yet, but that’s been something I’ve been listening to a lot the last two days.
Amanda: My stuff changes daily, but I’ve been going for Otis Redding lately, and Etta James. I also checked out a new all female band called The Warning, and it’s just three chicks and they fucking rock. I’ve been playing their song “Choke,” and I need to go deeper into their music. And Braden showed me the new Turnstile album, Never Enough. I like to work out to it. Didn’t they win a Grammy for it?
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Jeff: I’d just like to thank you all for your support. Please go check out www.famousstrangersband.com. Anything you need is there, for all your listening, viewing, reading, and shopping attentions. Go support bands, go support your local scene, and get out there and socialize, it’ll make you feel better. Also, enjoy your liquids.
Beej: We can’t do any of this dream without you guys, so we appreciate you all, and we thank you very much for taking the time to listen to us and check us out. We love ya!
Amanda: Remember that you are worth it, and you are special. Hope you have a wicked, awesome day.
(interview published August 22, 2026)
Watch Famous Strangers – “Ghosts Of Men” Video
