|
Interview with HYSTERIA 1
- Dysrhythmia is a pretty enigmatic band, which we don't know much about?
KH: OK, but just a little bit...Dysrhythmia started in August of 1998 with myself and Clayton writing songs together on just bass and guitar. It took us many months of searching to find the right drummer. We placed ads and most of the responses we got were a waste of time. One guy actually called me and said he wanted to audition but didn't have a drum set but a drum machine! And he had never heard of Black Sabbath, so that was not a good sign. Anyway, we found Jeff in March 1999 and he was the first person we played with that actually seemed to like our music. The rock hasn't stopped since... 2 - There is very few
information/photographs inside Pretest's booklet, it KH: What can I say? We are fans of minimalism and we don't think we're the most visually appealing band to look at...haha. 3 - What does the terms
"Pilot", "Navigator" and "Liaison" next to the band KH: Everyone in this band has their own responsibilities. Clayton is the "pilot" because he does about 80% of the driving on tour. Jeff is the "navigator" because he is good with directions and maps and prevents us from getting lost [most of the time!]. I am the "liaison" because I'm the one that deals with the business end of things in this band, whether it's dealing with our booking agent, label, promoters, press, mail, website, etc. I take care of most of that and let the others know what's going on. 4 - Why did you choose
to play instrumental music? Does this approach give KH: I wanted this band to be instrumental because I enjoy the challenge of conveying emotions and experiences though sound, without using a vocalist or writing lyrics. The music is even more open to interpretation to the listener. I also like the stripped-down nature of it. No one is getting in anyone's way. The three instruments are complimenting each other. I have no idea where a vocalist would fit in our music anyway. Plus I think a lot of singers suck and don't add anything to the music, especially with more aggressive bands. 5 - Your music is very
unusual, what influences you at writing this twisted KH: I think it's the different influences the three of us bring in individually that give it that unique and different sound. If we all liked the same bands we would sound just like those bands. I think that's the problem with a lot of progressive rock and rock in general, too much recycling what's been done before to death, and following trends. 6 - The whole sound in
general is pretty unique, quite raw, almost live, KH: Yeah, see the answer above. I think one thing that is missing a lot in music nowadays in that live sound and energy that used to be such a part of early rock recordings. Everything is so sterilized now, Pro-Tooled to death, it doesn't even sound like a real band. It sounds like "create a song" where you take various samples of each instrument and piece them together over each other and then sing along, Karaoke-style. 7 - Also, unlike many
other progressive bands it looks like you're not much KH: I have nothing against electronics and synths, as I'm a fan of a lot of ambient music but I don't think they would sound good in this band. If I want an atmospheric texture, I'd much rather create it with my guitar than use a keyboard. 8 - For that matter, isn't
it more challenging to make new and original KH: Correct, it is more challenging and that's why we do it. Of course you can get very creative with electronics in rock music. I think it's a cool sound most of the time, so I wouldn't say bands who use lots of electronic elements are less creative. Bjork and Radiohead are good examples of artists making interesting use of synths/programming, etc. in pop/rock music. 9 - Listening to the album,
something tells me Dysrhythmia is more that KH: You are correct again my friend. We all enjoy so many different types of music and with this band there is a freedom to explore those different influences. One day we will write a short, fast, quick-changing, punkish tune like "My Relationship" and another day we'll write a long, meditative, heavy, slow song like "Touch Benediction". I think the diversity keeps it refreshing for us and the listener without being too ridiculously eclectic in a Mr. Bungle kind of way. 10 - How would you describe your music? KH: I try not to describe our music. I don't think any band or artists likes to be asked this question. Sorry! haha. 11 - What makes you put
a name on an instrumental song? What do they KH: I will give you a few examples from "Pretest". "And Just Go" to me sounds like you're being taken on a journey. It's sort of a melancholy and pretty song. I can envision someone just experiencing a dramatic event and wanting to take off to some random destination. That's how that title came to me. "Catalog of Personal Faults" I think is fairly self-explanatory. It's a very tense and angry song. It's about the faults you find in others and yourself. "Running Shoe of Justice" is a triumphant-sounding title and fits the mood of that song. We can't take credit for that title, someone shouted it out at a show when we first performed it as a titleless song. 12 - What makes, according
to your opinion, an instrumental rock/metal song KH: Some of my favorite instrumental music is jazz, and lately in particular an album called "Ask the Ages" by Sonny Sharrock. This record has almost everything I look for in instrumental music: emotion, exciting and inspired playing, awesome interaction between musicians, memorable melodies. Things I find that usually make instrumental music boring is predictable arrangements and too much wanky soloing. I think that's what turns a lot of people off to instrumental music and I'm hoping we can change that perception with this band. 13 - I heard Ron Jarzombek
from Watchtower has contacted the band because he KH: A friend of Ron's came across us on mp3.com. Ron was looking for a drummer to complete an epic track he had been working on. Ron e mailed me first because Jeff doesn't have an e mail address. I'd been a Watchtower fan forever so I told Jeff it would be awesome if he gave it a try. Ron gave Jeff the tracks and guidelines at a show Dysrhythmia played in Austin and a few months later Jeff went into the studio and laid down his parts in one day. I still haven't heard the results yet. 14 - What do you think
of the evolution of progressive metal/rock music KH: I think in the early 90's there was a lot of exciting stuff going on in underground metal with bands like Anacrusis, Cynic, Atheist, Thought Industry, Confessor, etc. Then they all broke up basically around the same time and the metal scene became pretty boring and nu-metal kind of started influencing every new band. Lately I think things are getting more interesting again. Bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah are pushing the boundaries of heavy music, yet their styles are starting to be copied by too many bands which can make those bands sound not as fresh anymore. So the challenge for those bands is to keep expanding and stay one step ahead of the pack. 15 - Among the new stuff in music what do you like the most? KH: New stuff? Hmm......Lately I've been enjoying a lot of quiet, ambient music by artists like Pan American, Rothko, Yellow 6. In the realm of metal I think Mastodon is an awesome band. We just off tour with them and it was quite an experience to watch them play their asses off and blow everyone away each night. 16 - What do you think
in general of today's world of music and the flood of KH: Ugh...I try not to think about it! Thank God I don't work in a record store anymore. I'm pretty disconnected from what's popular right now. I'm too focused on my own band. 17 - Will we have the
pleasure to see you live one day in Europe or even KH: I really hope so. I wish to play for anyone who appreciates our music no matter where they are. If there is a great enough demand for us or our new record sells well, then I'm sure someone will bring us over. Ok, that's it. Thank you for your time and for your music. KH: Thank you! Nicolas |