Feature / One Question Interviews
Bangladeafy

Words: Loren • July 10, 2024

Bangladeafy
Bangladeafy

Jon Ehler (Bangladeafy)

SPB: As a duo, you tend to maximize your sound or highlight things a “more traditional” 3-5 member band would not. Who is a musician who inspired you to look at new ways to use their instrument?"

Ehler: In terms of a duo that specializes in some degree of musical acrobatics, I'd have to say that Zach Hill, hands down, became a reference point for filling in a lot of space with just a few tools. Zach Hill, nowadays, is known as the drummer of Death Grips, but it doesn't take much to uncover his impressive resume' from the early 2000s up to and including Death Grips. I think his solo albums were crafted by using drum trigger data,and matching it with wild soundscapes. Upon learning about this, I suggested the idea of using triggers to Atif (drummer of Bangladeafy) and he hated the idea of gadgets hanging off his kit. Rather than eliminate the possibilities of this idea, I simply just taught myself a lot of Atif's drum rudiments and matched them by finger-drumming on a sampler and synth. That is currently the bulk of our big sound. No laptops. No triggers. Just a compromise from two stubborn freaks who love Zach Hill. (For reference, we use: A Yamaha maple drum kit, an Akai MPX16 sampler and a Yamaha ModX6 synth.)

Loren • July 10, 2024

photo by Jenna Hill

Bangladeafy
Bangladeafy

Related features

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

Golden Shitters

One Question Interviews • June 25, 2025

Matt (Golden Shitters) How nervous were you the first time you played a show? My first show was around 2002. I was 15 years old and it was a basement house party in my hometown of Welland, Ontario. I’d just proved myself to my high school buddies by singing The … Read more

Arms Aloft

Interviews • June 23, 2025

Remember Election Day 2024? Maybe you shouldn't. Maybe you've blocked it out. That's fair, but there was one pleasant surprise that day: a new EP from Wisconsin's Arms Aloft. It took a while to claw out of the darkness in November, then Year End 2024 coverage took over the Scene … Read more

Small Steps

One Question Interviews • June 12, 2025

Jeremiah (Small Steps - guitar/vocals) SPB: What song has the best use of whistling? Jeremiah: I feel like the easy answer would be the Bobby McFerrin song "Don't Worry Be Happy". Which is catchy as all get out, but we prefer the road less traveled here in Small Steps. For … Read more

Related news

More from this section

Unseemlier

One Question Interviews • June 27, 2025

Mike Assatly (Unseemlier - guitar/vocals) SPB: Do you have a preferred model of van for touring? Assatly: Chevy G-20 Gladiator! It was my first van, I got it from my uncle with 115,000 on it. He got rid of it for a new van because it was "old" and would … Read more

Dollar Store

One Question Interviews • June 26, 2025

Dave Slaverave (Dollar Store - bass) SPB: This band hits a lot of styles, all kind of overlapping at the same time. How hard was it to find “your sound” when bringing these influences together? Slaverave: Not very hard at all actually. We're all old-ass adults who've soaked in a … Read more

Golden Shitters

One Question Interviews • June 25, 2025

Matt (Golden Shitters) How nervous were you the first time you played a show? My first show was around 2002. I was 15 years old and it was a basement house party in my hometown of Welland, Ontario. I’d just proved myself to my high school buddies by singing The … Read more