Interview with Deadstar Assembly’s Dreggs - Guitar
Interview by Kat
XS BS: For those who have not yet heard Deadstar Assembly - what four words would you use to describe your music?
Dreggs: Really Fucking Loud Music
XS BS: You originally formed in 2001, how would you say your music has evolved from your debut release to now?
Dreggs: The sound itself since the bands original inception has become more rounded out and overall the music is more “finished” sounding. I feel our new album “Coat Of Arms” is a huge step for us, and each song gets better and better.
XS BS: What was the very first piece of music that you learned how to play?
Dreggs: House of the rising sun by the animals. I was a kid back then, and it was a good challenge for such little hands!
XS BS: Musically, which artist(s) have had the biggest influence over your sound?
Dreggs: I’m pretty diverse when it comes to influences. They range from 80s pop groups like Duran Duran and Depeche Mode, to 80s bands like Guns n Roses and Faith No More, to more modern groups like White Zombie and Rammstein.
XS BS: If you could jam with any current musician out there, who would that be and why them?
Dreggs: Mike Patton. That guys still a God to me. Everything he’s done I’ve enjoyed and think it would be cool to have a session with him.
XS BS: You are currently in the studio recording tracks for your upcoming release “Coat Of Arms”. How is the recording process going for you?
Dreggs: On this release, it’s the most seamless and fast the process has ever been. Every song has come together very quickly and sounds, to us, a lot more full and “DSA”. I think everyone will notice the new level that we brought the music to.
XS BS: Any surprises or major changes to your sound on the upcoming CD?
Dreggs: A big step up in the guitar department. More solos, multiple guitar parts, a more mature sound. This isn’t to say the rest don’t get a step up either. The keys are horrific in a beautiful way, bass, guitars, and drums are crushing, they all got a nice boost in their sound. You can check out excerpts from the record via our Myspace, we uploaded several studio snippets to give the fans something to look forward to. Of course it’s great to get their input upfront to see if were heading in the right direction. Indeed it seems we are!
XS BS: When can we expect “Coat of Arms” to be released?
Dreggs: We are aiming for this winter, early 09, we are working out a new deal in Europe as we speak.
XS BS: Will you be hitting the road to support the release?
Dreggs: After its release, we will be planning a full tour that will hopefully bring us to markets we have yet to hit, overseas especially. Keep an eye on www.myspace.com/deadstarassembly and www.deadstar.com for news regarding upcoming releases and tours.
Toronto based Tenth Planet mixes heavy undertones with intelligent lyrics for a unique but instantly infectious, fresh sound. Lead vocalist Martin, adds even more flavor to the mix with his easily recognizable vocals. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on over the next year.
Listen to the track “See Yourself” while you read the interview:
Tenth Planet are: Martin Ouelette, Johnny Pegg, Mauro Scatozza, and Brian Paul.
Interview by Kat
XS BS: How did you initially get your start in music?
Brian P: I studied cello in high school, but realized it was too hard to rock out to kashmir while seated, so i decided to teach myself the guitar!
XS BS: How did the members of Tenth Planet originally all hook up?
Brian P: Me and our singer Martin started the band around 2000, we found each other via an ad in Toronto’s “Now magazine”, one of those indie newspapers. And our rhythm section we found through friends.
XS BS: Does the name “Tenth Planet” have a significant meaning to the band?
Brian P: You know, I could say yes, but honestly, when we started the band, we compiled a bunch of names and that’s the one that jumped out.
XS BS: The sound of Tenth Planet is both heavy and light at times. Was this just an organic sound or was it a direction that you intentionally decided upon?
Brian P: Well, I write all the music and our singer writes all the melodies and lyrics. Coming from a purely musical direction, it’s definitely a conscious thing I’m going for, to put the heavy and light together. That comes from my love of the classic rock/metal bands like Zeppelin and especially Black Sabbath. I don’t think we sound like either of those bands, but they’re a huge influence on me songwriting-wise. Look at an album like Sabbath’s Master of Reality, it’s got some of the heaviest music around, at least at that point in time, but intertwined with stuff like Children of the Grave there is just absolutely beautiful acoustic interludes, which I think makes the heavy stuff sound heavier! Simply put, it’s about creating dynamics, which I absolutely love. As a fan of music, that’s what I’m drawn to as a listener, and as a songwriter, that’s what I’m drawn too when writing.
XS BS: Jeff Martin produced your previous album and the current one - how did you hook up with Jeff?
Brian P: We recorded an album in 2003 which got into his hands via a friend of a friend. He was always my dream choice as producer, so we gave him the cd and asked if he’d be interested in working with us, and he said yes! We definitely have the some of the same musical references which helps, we both love Zeppelin and U2 for example.
XS BS: You recorded the album in several locations; what was the recording process
like for this album?
Brian P: Yeah, we did most of it in Toronto and also spent a week in Ireland…the first batch was done at Orange Lounge Studios in Toronto, we did 7 songs there and were initially going to release that as an Ep, but realized an Ep is very limiting in how far you can promote it, so we kept writing and then went over to Jeff’s studio in Ireland to do 5 more songs…unfortunately our drummer brought the flu with him, so the plague hit and we weren’t able to finish all we could, we ALL got really sick. So when we got back to Toronto, Jeff wasn’t able to come with us because of his own tour committments, and Mike Turner came on board to track the rest of it, and then Mike Langford mixed it here at the pocket studios!
XS BS: You guys are not currently on a label. Are you looking for a label right now or happy to remain indie?
Brian P: We’re definitely looking for a label, know any!? We’ve had a few offers from indie labels but the catch is that they want us to put our own money into manufacturing cds, touring, etc….so we’re just looking for something with a bit more substance right now. We’re not looking for a million dollar deal, but don’t want to get into any more debt as well!
XS BS: Which artists currently inspire you and why?
Brian P: Me and our singer share a love for Alice In Chains and U2, so I’ll often say if you want to categorize us say we’re U2 meets Alice In Chains, which kinda sounds strange, but i think it applies to us. Other than that, like I mentioned, I love Zeppelin and Sabbath, and other bands like Queen and Stone Temple Pilots.
XS BS: Who has had the biggest musical influence on your career?
Brian P: I basically learned to play guitar to STP, they’re a huge influence on me. I had the guitar tablature books for their first two albums and they were like my musical bibles. I studied those books for hours at a time, they taught me about song structure, chords, pretty much everything.
XS BS: What has been the highlight of your musical career so far?
Brian P: I have a few highlights, the first was meeting Jeff Martin for the first time. I loved the Tea Party and to actually meet him as another musician to musician, instead of as a fan asking for an autograph or something, was like a dream come true. Another was a festival we played in Holland, there were like 12, 000 in the audience and just to know we were playing to so many people, and that we actually made it to Europe to play was incredible. And the third is meeting Tony Iommi, we were finalists in a contest he had via his radio show in the Uk, so when Sabbath came to Canada last year I got to meet him, again, as one musician to another, I still can’t believe that!
XS BS: Since you are a guitarist I must of course ask…what are your weapons of choice (guitar & any special gear)?
Brian P: I’m endorsed by a great guitar company in Barrie called Dot on Shaft, my main live guitar is one of their signature guitars, looks like a Les Paul but with a beautiful quilted finish on it…..I put a Tony Iommi Gibson pickup in it and it sounds amazing! My other main guitars are a black Gibson Explorer which I’ve used live for a few years and was my main guitar in Europe, and a new black Gibson Sg standard. For amps, I’ve been using the same amp for about 10 years now, a peavey 5150 head and marshall jcm 800 4×12 cabinet.
XS BS: Any weird pre or post show rituals you care to share?
Brian P: No, nothing too crazy, but we’ve been known to enjoy a beverage or three
after shows.
XS BS: What’s currently playing on your Ipod?
Brian P: The new Metallica album!!! I love it. and Howard Stern, I love Howard
Stern….
XS BS: Any upcoming tour plans we should know about?
Brian P: Yeah, we were THIS CLOSE to getting back to Europe this December, but those plans fell through at the last second, so we’re re-scheduling that for February/March, hopefully that’ll work out, Europe is the market we want to focus on.
XS BS: And lastly, when people leave a Tenth Planet concert, what one word describes how you’d like them to be feeling and/or thinking?
A little electro to listen to on a Friday! As described by his pr folk…”Sexual, synthetic, dark and melodic, Chris Corner’s IAMX is like a 80s electro glam soundtrack to Svankmajer film - call it a cross between Detroit or Berlin escapades, Prince or Roxy Music’s pop, or the electronic universe of Cabaret Voltaire. IAMX erotic vocals accompanied with frantic guitar noise breathes life into the songs.”
KHZ features Raiana on vocals, Pull on guitar/keys/programming, Will Wood on bass and Joe Migz on skins.
KHZ is one hard working, multi-talented band that doesn’t compromise on their music or their identity. On vocals is Raiana who injects some seriously venoumous vocals into KHZ’s industrialized rock sounds. She has also taken on some modeling gigs and been featured in a Bacardi ad for Mojito, Samson ad for Guitar Player and she is also one of the Spread Radio Live Vixen’s (Dave Navarro’s clothing line for his radio station..if you don’t know who Dave Navarro is well, you are beyond my help!)
Guitarist/producer Pull has also produced/remixed for some kick ass artists like Mick Jagger, Rob Thomas, Shinedown, Diddy and Jewel. In addition, Pull has created music for TV shows like “Cribs”, and has directed/edited all of KHZ’s memorable music videos.
You also have to give them props for being innovate and using the internet to their full advantage. In fact, on October 3rd, 2008 they will be playing at the Viper Room in Hollywood with Dave Navarro joining them on stage for several songs. If you are not in Hollywood, you’ll still be able to catch them perform via a high quality stream here:
The Foreshadowing rushed themselves into the abyss of the world in the fall of 2005. The idea takes its origins away back in 1997 by a load of necropolitan fragments of music picked up by Alessandro Pace (aka Alex Vega with Dope Stars Inc., ex Klimt 1918 & Spiritual Front), founder of the band. His friends Andrea Chiodetti (guitar player of Grimness and ex Spiritual Front) and Francesco Sosto (keyboard player, ex Spiritual Front and Klimt 1918 sessionman) joined him soon. The trio, active from 1999, decided to put up a gothic-doom metal band with some epic and aethereal sonorities in a modern and original style and attitude, but for several reasons due to difficulties in finding right members to play with, they remained a band in the embryonic stages. This until 2006, when they were joined by drummer player Jonah Padella (Grimness), Davide Pesola (Klimt 1918) on bass and, at last, by Marco Benevento (singer of How Like a Winter) who perfectly fulfilled the line-up. The Foreshadowing aim is to bring you into an atom-sphere of apocalyptic tragedy and alienation from humanity and everyday life with a moody and powerful music. “We don’t feel part of this world and we don’t need to believe in any creed, convention or lifestyle. We just wait for a right end of this wrong and cruel world”.
The first full-length album “Days of Nothing” was recorded between Howitzer studio & Subsound studio in Rome and was mixed during autumn 2006 at Outer Sound Studio (Rome, Italy) by Giuseppe Orlando (Novembre). The mastering was done at Principal Studio (Senden, Germany) during January 2007. After several offers, The Foreshadowing are proud to announce their signing with Candlelight Records.
Sunshine ain’t the only thing getting hotter….
Latefallen’s debut full-length album, entitled “Bloody Kiss” (mixed by Michael Barbiero (G’NR, Metallica, Maroon5, Evans Blue)) was released mid-May and the first single “Bloody Kiss” is already speeding up the radio charts. The video was added at Muchmusic and Heavy on MuchLoud. Now the boys are going to hit the road….
Here’s another band to check out, they are called Five AM and we are loving this track. We also really like the track “Fall Apart”.
Bio blurb:
Raise the Sun is an album of love, hope, and reaching for something bigger than oneself. It also marks the third time Five A.M. fans have helped to fund the music. Armed with the radio ready promise of “Raise the Sun” and the support of industry veterans, Five A.M. has stepped up to the plate, looking to make the same impact on a national level.
We like singer songwriters, especially when they have flavor and we are totally diggin’ this track!
Bio:
Misadventures In Stereo, the third album by widely lauded singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jim Boggia, is unmistakably the work of a true believer and pop craftsman who’s closely acquainted with music’s capacity for transcendent uplift. His confessional, deeply personal lyrics tap into the deepest and most universal of human emotions. Born blind in one eye and with limited vision in the other, Boggia grew up an only child with an acutely developed ear for music. His early fascination for such iconoclastic pop classics as the Kinks’ Village Green Preservation Society, Nilsson Sings Newman and Stevie Wonder’s Innervisons helped to inform an aesthetic sensibility that would push him to create album-length listening “experiences” on his own releases.
Neil and Becca are brother and sister and are from Boston, MA. William is from So. Cal, and Matt is from Hawaii. We all live in LA now.
XS BS: Who are some of your influences?
WT: We have many different influences including post punk, punk, new wave, brit pop, indie rock, as well as experiences we have had, art we love, and the constant inspiration we get each time we play together.
XS BS: Where did the name ‘War Tapes’ come from?
WT: We liked the dichotomy between the two words War and Tapes. There is a stark contrast between the nostalgic sound of ‘tapes’ which makes us think of music, and the dark meanings associated with the word ‘war.’ Put together it just made sense for us.
XS BS: Anything new in your world we should know about?
We just finished an East Coast/Mid West tour opening for Tiger Army. And we have been invited to play some more shows this Aug, Sept, and Oct. with them on the West Coast which we are very excited about. Also our debut EP officially comes out September 16, 2008!
Here are up coming Tour Dates:
8/8- Domino Room- Bend, OR- W/ TIGER ARMY
8/9- Wonder Ballroom- Portland, OR- W/ TIGER ARMY
8/28- Bordello’s- Downtown Los Angeles, CA
9/12- Marquee Theater- Tempe, AZ- W/TIGER ARMY
9/17- Club Moscow at Boardners- Hollywood, CA- OFFICIAL WAR TAPES EP RELEASE PARTY!
9/21- The Fillmore- San Francisco, CA- W/ TIGER ARMY
10/23- OCtoberflame 2008 @ The Grove- Anaheim, CA- W/ TIGER ARMY
