Features / One Question Interviews

Tomber Lever

SPB: What band has the best logo of all time?

Tomber Lever: We would say that Titus Andronicus has the best band logo! Not only is it a T and A for their name, it’s an upside down cross and an anarchy sign! No Gods, No Masters!

Jason Navarro (Hellmouth, Suicide Machines)

SPB: You’ve released a trilogy of records. How has your original vision changed over the years it took for the releases to come to fruition?

Navarro: Well, I never thought the trilogy would end on a more positive note. Which partially through the record it became personal and became a positive change in …

Bobby Kapp

SPB: You (and Matthew Shipp) come from two different eras of the NY free jazz scene. What did you discover in your recording sessions, about either the past and the present of the scene?

Kapp: Although there is twenty years between us and each era is different, there are very similar aspects.

One is …

Tim Martinkøvixxx (Fast Break! Records – label manager)

SPB: What is the best pop song of the last 10 years?

Martinkøvixxx: I'm going to cite a track that I found wholly by accident but not, not entirely by design.. Independent music is where my heart lies, so an argument can be made for many tracks form many labels …

Amirtha Kidambi

SPB: Your new album features a fair deal of spiritual themes, for instance the themes of creation, destruction, rebirth and repetition. Do you feel that themes from your own background, such as Hinduism, bring a more personal and unique tone to your concepts, and act as an aid in the construction of your music?

KidambI: Absolutely. …

Bruce Lamont (Brain Tentacles)

SBP: You have a dense and complex sound, heavily featuring jazz influences and an extreme metal basis. Since you are all heavily involved in the more experimental edge of the heavy spectrum, what do you feel like is the next step for the sound of Brain Tentacles?

Lamont: 2017 is the year that we …

Fluffy (The Ejector Seats/The By-Products – bass/vocals)

SPB: How has the increasing digitalization of music changed how you listen to or consume music?

Fluffy: Well...this is a sensitive subject for me!

Mostly...I hate the digitization of music! I'm not a "purist" or anything...I just love records and the whole process/religious experience of listening to them. Don't get …

Andrea (Hakan)

SPB: How did you come to work with Jeff Burke on II?

Andrea: Not a very special story. We love Marked Men and Radioactivity and when we find out he was touring Europe we simply asked him if he would like to come record us, and he said "Yes."

Leo Ashline (Street Sects)

SPB: There is a fair amount of your new album that was written focusing on the subject of addiction, which stemmed also from personal experiences. Do you feel that Street Sects has aided you, in that it acts as an outlet for your emotions?

Ashline: Definitely. For my end, Street Sects was created specifically …

Raymondo (Collision Course Records)

SPB: What is your dayjob and how does it affect/influence/interfere with your label operations?

Raymondo: Well....I'd like to say I sit around in my sunglasses drinking lattes and looking at my phone all day...but running an indie punk label isn't that lucrative!!!! Soooo...I get up at the crack of dawn with my faithful partner, …

Kyle (Geometers)

SPB: What’s the most recent “grower” record you picked up that took a while to click?

Kyle: "Prey," the latest from Planes Mistaken for Stars. It's one of those records that feels so dense on the first play through but keeps rewarding over repeat listens. Sonically, the songs tend to bleed into each other (brilliantly so, …

Okkyung Lee

SPB: You have a classical background in your musical upbringing, but moved further and further into the experimental scene when you moved to the US. What was it that pulled you towards this scene, and what is the allure of a freer musical form?

Lee: It was about finding the very personal voice within the instrument, …

Drew Riekman (Blessed – guitar/vocals)

SPB: What is your favorite 1990s artist?

Riekman: When I received the email, the first question I asked myself was “Is this the favourite 1990's artist in relation to myself, or in relation to our band?” I settled on selecting someone that relates more to the band than how I personally feel. Even …

Tom (EORÐESLAJYR)

SPB: What is the most thankless job in the music industry?

Tom: We think one of the most thankless jobs in the industry is putting on DIY gigs and organizing DIY venues. Having a vibrant, encouraging DIY venue in your hometown is such a great asset for young bands. In Ireland there's such a strong drinking …

Poli (The Bombpops)

SPB: What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Poli: Worst job we've ever had... well, Jen and I are both servers at restaurants in Los Angeles, so that's an obvious one. But I actually have a story of us working together.

Jen and I did catering here in LA quite a few times and, …

Steve & Bryan (Breakin’ Even Fest)

SPB: How are you approaching Fest #2 differently than #1?

Breakin' Even: We definitely focused on making Breakin' Even Fest All Ages this year. Last year, all ages were admitted, but needed a chaperone.

We also expanded our lineup beyond just East Coast bands, including Sidekicks from Ohio and Pkew Pkew …

Dustin Cole Hayes (Making New Enemies)

SPB: How much space in your house is dedicated to music storage (whether instruments or records)?

Hayes: Well, unfortunately for my roommates 50% of our basement is filled up with all my music and recording gear. Then that gear is matched by an equal amount of friend’s gear left and forgotten about …

Mike Park (Asian Man Records)

SPB: What gives you the biggest sense of accomplishment through your years at Asian Man and as a part of the overall music scene?

Park: Developing lifelong friendships even when money and fame and power are usually the root of success in this corrupt business called the music business. This is my biggest …

Shane Handal (Set and Setting) 

SPB: There are a lot of stereotypes about post-rock. How do you approach genre and expectation when composing?

Handal: For whatever reason, post-rock sometimes has a negative stigma attached to it. Which is weird to me, because a lot of bands are proud to proclaim certain genres. Anyway, we never really felt …

Kelly (Cayetana)

SPB: If you could universally (and magically) fix one item at venues around the world, what would you upgrade or change?

Kelly: If I'm being very honest, I would want to wave a magical wand and make all venue bathrooms private, single use, clean, beautiful, great smelling with ample amounts of toilet paper! I think we …