Starkweather (16.06.06)

Na Starkweather sem nor že odkar sem prvič slišal zanje. Malo je bandov, ki v meni porajajo tiste nenavadne občutke notranjega zadovoljstva in sreče. Ki mešajo agresijo in jezo z emocionalnostjo na tako naraven in čudovit način. Starkweather so nastali takrat, ko se še nisem dobro zavedal sveta okrog sebe in zdi se mi, da je od takrat minila cela večnost, prav tako kot od izida prejšnjega albuma Into the Wire. Maja, kmalu po izidu dolgo pričakovanega Croatoan CD-ja, sem jim pisal in po nekaj emailih sklenil, da bi z njimi naredil intervju. Na vprašanja je odgovarjal pevec Rennie Resmini.
Blaž

-Hi guys! How are things in USA?
Rennie: Things are ok. They could be better. Isn't that the case in every country?

-Can you tell us who is in band and something about line-up changes?
R: The personnel is Todd Forkin - guitar, the brothers Rosa: Harry - drummer and Vincent - bass, and myself screaming and singing. The line up changes from the early recordings until now stem from personal matters. Todd and our original bassist, Michelle, were married. Once they divorced we had to find a replacement. We tried to change the complexion of the band by adding a second guitarist in addition to a bass player; however, it really didn't work out as Winters and Liam were in different bands at the time. It just limited us to what we could do in as far as playing shows to even writing. It was difficult to have full band rehearsals when members would be touring. It's for the best that we pared back to a 4 piece. It's been a blessing having Vince in the band.

-What about your beginnings? How did all start? Can you tell us something about the name Starkweather and so on...
R: The first incarnation of the band came together after I met Todd and Michelle - our original bassist - at college in 1987. We were all into the same sort of music - be it underground metal, hardcore, punk, industrial and alt rock. Around 89 we got serious about trying to start a musical endeavor. At that time, through a mutual friend at college, we were introduced to our first drummer and we did a couple demo recordings - songs that would later be on crossbearer : "shards/unto me," "tumult," "desolate," "rest the soul." In 90 we were lucky enough to land Harry as our drummer and he's been with us since. He added a different dimension in as far as technicality. His playing was a challenge to us to improve. We did another demo that had "murder in technicolor," "picture it obsidian," "mean streets," and "lazarus runs." crossbearer is essentially a compilation of our demos. We held a solid line-up from 1990 until 2001. After Michelle left we tried doing things as a 5 piece but the members we recruited were also involved in different bands and it made for difficult times coordinating rehearsals and shows. In 2005 we picked up Harry's brother Vince as our bassist.
As far as the name, we chose it because it conveys the ominous, dark tone of the music. It just bears resemblance to the music.

-After so many years you released Croatoan. How do you feel about it? I'm sure it must be something very special.
R: It's good to finally get it released. The bothersome thing with the release is it took so long to complete. After we ran out of time during the original tracking session we had a lot of difficulty returning to Canada to mix the recording as Pierre is a busy guy. His business is steady and a lot of time passed between different projects he was working on before we could get finished. When you break it all down we spent about 4 weeks on a project over almost 2 years.

-What about Croatoan? Does the title has some meaning? I found on google something about one island and some letters....
R: There are different connotations involving the title. Yes, there is the meaning you discovered through the google search. Back in history there is a tribe of the same name. One of the reasons for choosing croatoan for a working title goes back to when the band first formed. We used to call our music "tribal metal" as our rhythms tend to involve a lot of heavy, almost tribal qualities. A lot of people that were familiar with us in the 90s were under the impression that we had broken up. We simply turned our backs on the entire music scene and focused on more important matters of family and health. We'd still rehearse and write material; but to the underground music scene we had completely disappeared and were considered dead and gone.

-I found some reviews of Croatoan dated in 04 or 05. How do you feel about that someone is reviewing unfinished work?
R: In one aspect it bothers me, but, it's really a sign of how things have changed with the advent of the internet over the past decade. You make the mistake of loaning a rough mix to someone - or you make the mistake of putting the data on a computer that file-shares - leaks are bound to happen. Sure, there is a part of me that gets annoyed... people that've downloaded a rough mix or unmastered mix aren't getting the entire musical picture. Then add to the fact that what we do is more involved than simply music. There are lyrics and artwork that are indispensible to the total presentation. These aspects are generally being ignored when downloading the music. Even the way promo material tends to be presented is lacking in terms of providing the full scope of the band since there are no lyrics and artwork.



-Do you have any studio or special place where you did all the work?
R: With croatoan the music was tracked at Wild Studio in St Zenon, Quebec, Canada by Pierre Remillard. He also mixed the cd. I did my vocals at a different studio, woodcrest studio here in PA, since we ran out of time to complete things in Canada. It was mastered by Alan Douches at westwestside music.

-What about influences? Where do you get all this ideas and material for songs. (musical and lyrical).
R: Musical influences are varied from early metal and hardcore punk to classical, jazz fusion and industrial. Things range from Germs, Articles of Faith, Amebix to Voivod, Celtic Frost, Gorguts and things like Vital Tech Tones, Iannis Xenakis, and Test Department. Just a wide variety of music.
As far as the lyrics are concerned all of that is my observations - just a collection of scribbling dealing with what's happening in my life.

-I found on Amazon your album Crossbearer worth 99.9$. And out of stock... You told me before that you will re-release both Crossbearer and Into the Wire. Can you share something about that with us?
R: The plan for the re-issues is that they'll be out Stateside in the Fall of 06. I'm not sure if the EU/UK release will be at the same time. They've already staggered the croatoan release between the continents.

-You were on a few different labels. Did you change the label? Are they very different in their relation to you, kindness...?
R: Until signing with Candlelight we've generally been the guinea pig/test subject for new labels. Right now Candlelight handles the digital end of things and Hypertension has the vinyl rights for croatoan. Both of these labels are very good. Hypertension was instrumental in getting us over to Europe. Hopefully we can return in the near future.
Before Candlelight and Hypertension we've had releases on Too Damn Hype and Edison. Too Damn Hype is fine, but, it was tied into Dutch East Distribution which was notorious for ripping labels off.

-It's early, but do you have some plans for new music?
R: Actually, we have another full length release worth of material written. We've kept ourselves very busy over the years. It's strange, we're more productive writing now more than ever. We're also working on a mcd at the moment. The drums are completed - these were done in St Zenon with Pierre. We'll be doing the remainder of the work with Alap Momin. The bass and guitars were tracked late May 06. I'll do vocals in a couple of weeks. Then, we're hoping to have classical instrumentation provided by Kayo Dot. We have to coordinate all of our schedules to get things finished.



-How is scene going in USA? How much did it change for you in all those years? Is it better?
R: The major changes I see is with the way music and information is spread. When we started it literally was word of mouth, through tape trading, and cut and paste/xerox fanzines. Years later: it's the internet. In that sense things are better. It's easier to get information out and available to the public. I really can't say how the music scene in the US is... we're an insular sort of band. We don't play out much, we don't interact with too many people. My perspective on music has always been the same. There's a lot of rotten music crowding out quality music.

-Did you recently catch any new good bands?
R: When we toured Europe and the UK in 05 we came across a few great bands. Most of our tour was with Amen Ra. Great band and group of people. Peal from Amsterdam were an awesome instrumental act. They remind me a bit of Keelhaul crossed with Mastodon. Out of the UK we met up with Profane. These guys are amazing, too. I can't stop listening to their cd. Plus, there's stuff, while not necessarilly new, like Oceansize, the Axis of Perdition, Radiation 4, stuff on the Appease Me label that I enjoy.

-What about European bands? Do you know any Slovenian?
R: I like a lot of European bands: deathspell omega, PHOBOS, blut aus nord, Comity, Overmars, Impure Wilhelmina, Amen Ra, Cult of Luna, Cortez, Antigama, Samo, Nyia and a lot more. I'm not familiar with many Slovenian acts, but, I have been writing to Ivo from Elodea. I enjoy their material a lot. I'm looking foward to hearing their full length.

-What else do you do beside the music? Do you have some special activities?
R: Just work. When I have down time I like to read and watch films. Special activities would be taking care of reptiles.

-Any last words for the interview?
R: Thanks a lot for taking the time to conduct this Blaz. We really appreciate your interest. Best of luck with the work you're doing.

-Thank you very much for the interview and time. I hope you will visit us someday here in Slovenia. That will be very great. I wish you all the best in your life and with the music.
R: I'd love to get to go to your country. The last time in Europe we mainly concentrated on the western countries - Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK. With any luck when we return we'll get to go there.

Link:Starkweather