One of our features here at Scene Point Blank is our semi-daily quickie Q&A: One Question Interviews. Follow us at facebook or twitter and we'll post one interview every Monday-Thursday. Well, sometimes we miss a day, but it will be four each week regardless.
After our social media followers get the first word, we'll later post a wrap-up here at the site and archive 'em here. This week check out Q&As with Vapour Night, Hope Drone, True Widow and Chris Brokaw.
Ali (Vapour Night)
SPB: What’s the last “grower” record you heard that didn’t impress on first listen but has, since, grown on you?
Ali: Burials by AFI. I love AFI but I found this album to be such a horrible disappointment on first listen. I've listened to the album lots of times since and I really like the first half now. The second half is still growing on me.
Karl Hartwig (Hope Drone)
SPB: What is the feeling of the current Australian black metal climate? It seems that Brisbane is shaping up to be a kind of epicentre for the genre, and it would be interesting to hear thoughts from a band of that area.
Karl: I can’t really comment on the Australian black metal climate, as I don’t believe Hope Drone are a part of it or any particular scene. While our influences include black metal, I personally do not feel that Hope Drone is a black metal band, or even a metal band at all, but I am sure the many people who hear us may think differently. We really just exist in our own space playing the few shows we can commit to with bands we like or know. I definitely believe Brisbane/Australia has been proven capable of producing world-class bands though.
Dan (True Widow)
SPB: Are genre labels important to assign to music?
Dan: I don't think genre labels are important. I do think they are helpful. When I get asked what kind of music we play I always say rock music. Not very helpful. Then I start saying things like 'it's heavy and slow. But not aggressive heavy. I sing and the bass player sings, she's a girl. Blah blah blah. '
Genre labels get you to the point more quickly. I'm no snob, so I don't mind all the things that people come up with to describe music.
Chris Brokaw (solo, Wrekmeister Harmonies, The New Year, The Empty House Collective, ex-Codeine)
SPB: Rank these listening formats: cd, vinyl, cassette, digital, (other?)
Chris: 1) Vinyl. For so many reasons. But I guess the best is that I recently concluded that this is the best piece of art that exists. I consider music to be the most complex, thought-provoking, odd-emotion-inspiring, complete art form that exists - better than literature, film, photography, etc - and a vinyl album is its best form. And it's so cheap! For a few bucks up to 20 or 25 bucks you get this big, beautiful thing to pore over FOREVER. It can change your life in so many ways and it keeps doing that forever. It's the best investment you can make. It's also, currently, the most stable form of music storage that exists...so there's that.
2) Cassette. Yes, I've jumped the bandwagon. I love cassettes: they're cheap, I like how they look and feel, and most of the cassettes I buy (noise, avante garde, metal) actually put a lot of work and thought into the packaging. I also like how people like Wolf Eyes are recycling old library tapes for their what they sell - less plastic garbage in that huge cesspool in the sea. I think that's cool. They feel special to me, unique. And I love cassette box sets. What a treat! It's thrilling and I love it.
3) CD. I like cds! They're fine! Great in the car. Also, cdr's mean you can make instant releases. People don’t buy them in stores, but they sure do buy them at shows and they pay for my groceries. They're a lot easier to shlepp around on tour than freakin’ LPs, that's for sure. And they're cheap. Ten bucks! Come on, you piker, ten bucks!
4) Digital. Zero interest. I have dowloaded noise things that sold out instantly and I couldn't get otherwise, or old/cool/obscure things people have posted, but a) it feels dirty, and b) it doesn't feel like I own the music. It's like I’m listening to it at someone's house. But, God Bless Everyone who is buying downloads. You rule! Thank you!
Sound: I don't necessarily agree that you "hear everything the first time you hear a cd," or that certain LPs are like "lakes" that reveal their mysteries over time. I think that varies a LOT with different musics. Very dense music requires multiple and focused listening no matter what form it's in. And there are LPs that sound like shit, and c's that sound astonishing. I try to keep open.
