Features / One Question Interviews

Suho (Sidecar)

SPB: How is the Busan scene different than other punk scenes in Korea? (What makes it unique compared to, for example, Seoul?)

Suho: Besides the 1990s when punk rock was at its peak in Busan, it’s a challenge to play punk here because Busan doesn’t always have many bands, and the number of venues is small. …

BEDTIMEMAGIC

SPB: How do you typically find new music?

Nicholas (bass): My favorite way to find new music is through compilations and trading tapes. The "Reality" series, and the "Cry Now, Cry Later" series were integral to my childhood. Heck, even the "Punk-O-Rama" releases were pretty rad. Now I like to check out bands by following rabbit holes …

Andrew (Raw Grip)

SPB: Your record is releasing on 6 different labels (in 6 countries). How did you connect with so many different labels?

Andrew: We have been in the punk hardcore scene for a long time and during all this time we have gathered a lot of different contacts and acquaintances, so finding labels was not a …

Shaf (Naedr)

SPB: Exploring a new (to me) scene is always interesting and the Singapore scene is largely unknown to me. Please be our guide and show us a couple of highlights of the scene, where should we start exploring in your opinion? 

Shaf: To be honest we have no idea where to even begin, haha. But in …

Bryan W. Fleming (Rig Time! – vocals/drums)

SPB: As a band that’s very active on the road, how have you adjusted or focused your creative energy over the past year (plus)?

Fleming: Before the world shut down, we were ready to hit about 150 tour dates in 2020. We had to shift our focus from creating an intense …

Rich Horror (Cyttorak)

SPB: What is your favorite cover to play (and why)?

Horror: Without a doubt, "Boxcar" by Jawbreaker. We’ve talked about doing different covers since the inception of the band, but whenever anything slow and heavy is brought up... it's always a hard pass for me. A cover song for us isn't that appealing if we …

John Hastie (Nonagon)

SPB: What stands out to you the most, today, when you listen to (or think back on) your first record?

Hastie: Honestly, when I listen to No Sun, all I want to do is scream at us to calm the heck down. Those songs are somewhat complicated (at least for us) and were significantly …

Johnny and Abigail Poppke (Peroxide Blonde – guitar/vocals and bass)

SPB: The US went into shutdown shortly after the band formed. How did that hiatus, for lack of a better word, change the band’s direction or concept (or didn’t it)?

Peroxide Blonde: Right before the pandemic, we had put out a demo and were just starting to play …

Jeff (Too Many Voices-bass)

SPB: What type of bass do you play and how did you get it?

Jeff: I own a few basses. I have an acoustic bass guitar I fiddle around with at home (bought that in 2004 at a music store in Denver), a Fender Musicmaster bass (which is a short-scale bass and that one …

Tim Fennelly (Urethane)

SPB: The band was formed during the pandemic but you now have a few live dates scheduled as things open back up. Was Urethane formed as a “bedroom project” or was live performance something you always had in mind?

Fennelly: During the beginning of the pandemic, when I realized that shows, and pretty much …

Produced By A Girl

SPB: The compilation collects a variety of artists -- how did you narrow it down to the final 5 on the album? 

I presented the opportunity to over 100 female indie artists. Through demo selection, A&R talks, project synergy discussions and a couple months of roundtables, we narrowed it down to about 5 artists …

Adam Nice (A.M. Nice – guitar/vocals)

SPB: Were there any amps, cabs or anything else that stood out when you recorded with Steve Wethington at Candyland studio for your upcoming album?

Nice: Our friend Jeff’s microphone stand with a built-in cup holder stood out as the worst piece of gear I’ve ever seen, however this Musicman HD130 amp …

Wingtips (Vincent Segretario)

SPB: Your work is often compared to ‘80s synth sounds. What are some contemporary artists who inspire you, either directly or indirectly?

Segretario: Some current artists which come to mind who we draw influence from currently are CHVRCHES, FKA twigs, 3TEETH, The Soft Moon, and HEALTH. Mainly, these are sonic influences whom I'd say we …

Slim Moon (Kill Rock Stars)

SPB: Which of the anniversary covers, so far, has surprised you the most – either in song choice or in how the covering artists reimagined the original (or replicated its magic)?

Moon: It isn’t out yet but TEKE::TEKE’s cover of Unwound’s “Corpse Pose” is a revelation -- I swear they are somehow channeling …

Znous

SPB: Znousland 2 contains a cover from a reggae band which seems a very unusual choice for a cover, considering you play hardcore/metal. What made you want to cover this tune?

Znous: We make indeed some sort of heavy music but we have our roots deep in North African and African music.

The band we covered …

Lamp of Murmuur

SPB: You covered a Dead Can Dance song on your record: Why this band and this song in particular? What is it about them that you feel links them to your style of black metal?

Lamp of Murmuur: Starting with the notion that music is some sort of "universal language," it is quite obvious that …

Lord Tenebris (Ecryptus – bass)

SPB: What type of bass do you play with Ecryptus and why did you choose that for the theme of this band?

Lord Tenebris: I use a G&L L-2000 run through an abominable electronics Hail Satan Deluxe, a Boss EQ, a compressor and wah when needed. When I got to where I felt …

Jace (DEAD – bass)

SPB: What type of bass do you play and how did you choose it?

Jace: For live shows I have 2 Fender Precision basses. Both made in Japan, one from the mid ‘80s, one from the mid ‘90s.

I’ve changed the bridge on one and upgraded the pickups on both. One has a …

Lauren Gurgiolo (The Dialtones)

SPB: What’s a record you’re really into that would surprise your fans?

Gurgiolo: I listened to this masterpiece from 1995 to 2006 every day. When I think of it, I immediately feel comforted and at home. I fell in love with the sound multiple times over the years, especially in emotionally rough times when …

Lauren (Broken Record)

SPB: What is your guitar/amp combo and how did you choose it?

Lauren says: