Predatory Greed: Wake Interview

Interview with Rob and Kyle.

How did you guys get together to form WAKE? Are the members also playing in another band?
Rob: WAKE was formed in the fall of 2009. I had a bunch of songs pre-written and asked Sergey if he would be down to do a more d-beat/grindcore influenced band, he joined and we began the arduous job of finding members of this band that fit with what we were/are doing. Released a 7" and did a quick tour of the west coast US/Canada. I'd say that pretty much sums that up.
We've all played/play in other bands, none that you've probably heard of hahaha

You have recently concluded another US tour. How was it? Any show highlights that you want to share with us?
Rob: Fucking awesome. Played some amazing shows with some amazing bands, Met a lot of really good people and got to drink a lot of really good beer. All in all it was a blast, can't wait for Europe. The main highlights would be that our van didn't break down and got to play back to back shows with our friends No Brainer in Milwaukee and Chicago.

How do you manage to get by on the road on your own?
Rob: It ain't easy. Jokes and being ridiculously mean to each other.

So far what’s the worst thing that's ever happened to the band while on tour?
Rob: We've been very fortunate not to have anything go that sour while on tour. Except for maybe the odd cancelled show here or there, which comes with the DIY territory.

You are about to embark on your first European tour beginning with a Bloodshed Fest appearance. You guys must be really stoked to do this one. The line-up for this year’s festival is a killer. What are your expectations for this tour?
Rob: We're extremely excited to come to Europe for all 5 shows. It'll be awesome to play for our European friends and drink some great European beers. I EXPECT to come home with a lot of records and a pair of wooden shoes.

What do you do outside the band? How does touring affect your everyday life?
Rob: We all work menial jobs to fund what we love to do, which is to play and make music.
DIY touring is a lot harder than it was 10 years ago, we try to space our tours out so it doesn't affect our "everyday life" all too much.

Listening closely to each song progression, some songs are like a single track divided to form another song, with the last riff drifting into the next song. Is it just me or was it really planned? Rob: I'm assuming you are talking about Leeches, A lot of times we will write an ending of a song with with the beginning of another in mind. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Where do you guys draw your individual influences?
Rob: My individual influences are Poison Idea.
Kyle: I listen to so much different music that it's pretty hard for to me pinpoint my influences directly. Smart ideas and shitty people. I know they're opposite of each other, but those 2 things are really big influences on how I write.

You have some well-written but do you think the fans care about them? Ever had a chance where a fan approached you to discuss about your lyrics?
Kyle: I've had people tell me they like my lyrics, but never had a conversation discussing them. I don't tend to be overly cryptic with my writing, so it's all pretty straight forward.

Since most of your lyrics deals with negative aspects of the world, what can you say about the world situation these days?
Kyle: The world situation is garbage, it's hard not to focus on all the negative aspects when you watch the world crumble day after day. I'm not the most optimistic when it comes to faith in the human race.

What’s the concept behind the album cover? What’s the purpose of making the whole lay out dark?
Rob: The darkness of the cd was a shitty mistake by the people at the press. The lp on 7 degrees is far superior.

Shortly after the release of the album you came up with a split EP with Greece’s Dephosporous. How did this project happen? Can you tell us more about this split EP?
Rob: We recorded the 3 songs that appear on the 7" while on tour as only demo recordings. Once we got the tracks back we decided that they sounded killer and wanted to put them out, we spoke with Simon from 7degrees and he offered to do a split release between us and Dephosphorus.

What’s next for Wake?
Rob: Well, 2013 is going to be a pretty busy year. We have a split with a band called Rehashed which will come out on Give Praise Records some time very soon, we will have one of our songs released on a comp put out by Panos from Dephosphorus's label, Blast Beat Productions.
As for touring and live shows, we will use most of the winter to write and record our follow up to Leeches, We will do a few small Canadian tours/select American dates though out the winter and spring with a full European tour in July. Our friend Clennon is putting together a really cool festival in Calgary called "Torment in Fire" which we will play in April, we have been offered a bunch of festival dates all over the place, now we're just trying to decide which ones we will be taking on.

Ososo Ousatsu: Jig-Ai Interview

Interview with Brain, Buraak and Kaspy.

Jig-Ai played two sets at the last OEF to fill in for SCD. How was it like? I’m sure you already have the best songs during your first set. How hard was it to make another set list in a whim?
Brain: Actually it was pretty easy. We played exactly the same set list two times. Nobody planned that we will play two shows and the offer came shortly before the first show. Should be better if SCD could play in that time but anyway we enjoyed time there and I hope people under the stage also.
Buraak: It was kind of surprise that we got the offer from Curby. I admit we were a bit scared, because we have been drinking for the whole two days before. But in the end our concert was even better than the one on Thursday. Both sets for the concert were the same.

Eardelete also played this year. Your exposure to this year’s OEF must be beyond overwhelming. Playing 3 shows in one festival must be draining as well.
Brain: Only two shows for me. I had to quit Eardelete because of time reasons in 2010, so I am not in the band anymore.
Buraak: Since I have been playing in five bands, it´s not unusual for me to play with more bands in one afternoon and yes it is draining, but I just love playing at OEF, because it´s the best festival in the whole world.

Up until the release of the split 10” with Ass To Mouth Jig-Ai’s been pretty much in low profile. What have you guys been up to during those idle years? That is aside from preparing the materials for the split, of course.
Brain: I moved to Ireland in 2009 and spent few years working and travelling abroad so that was the main reason of our inactivity.
Buraak: The material for the split 10 ” Ass To Mouth was recorded simultaneously with the second album and mix and mastering was made by Brain and it took him a long time and he also spent some time living abroad.

The original plan for ATM split was a 7” but stretched further up to 10”. How did it happen?
Brain: It is because we exceeded time limit for 7” a bit and we did not want to compress audio to keep a good quality of sound.

Tell us about the songs of the split. Are they part of the Katana Orgy recording session?
Brain: Just partially. Some instruments we did with Katana and some of them later. Also we did another mix and master for that.

Only 500 copies of the vinyl were pressed and according to BLP no CD version will be made. Aren’t you guys gonna heed the plea of fans to have this gem on CD too?
Buraak: The idea was to make a limited edition, so no, there won´t be a CD version. The vinyl will be a rarity just for the true fans.

What about the artwork, can you tell us more about it?
Brain: It was made by talented young Russian artist Elisabeth Ivus. You can check her work at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elisabeth_ivus
She did really nice job on that picture and we decided to use one cover for both bands.
Anyway it is one vinyl so one cover sounds logic.

Stefy left the band just after the American tour. Can you tell us why he left and how did his departure affect the band?
Brain: He left because of personal and time reasons. There is nothing more behind it. We are still very good friends. He told us a long time in advance so we knew counted with that. Now we play with Kaspy and as you could see at OEF it definitely works.

What’s the story behind the song “Vlakin and Otyn Are In”? Is this your way of asking Otyn for a studio discount and Vlakin to scream out for you free of charge? Haha.
Brain: Of course, you have to be clever if you want discount :D.
Buraak: We like Otyn and Vlakyn a lot, they are the legends of the Czech grind core scene and we made fun of them in a friendly way by this.

I don’t know much about Kaspy but you and Buraak also play in several other bands. How do you divide your time between different bands?
Brain: I had to quit with Eardelete and Psychotic Despair because of time reasons. Music in both bands is for two guitars and I could not come for shows and rehearsals while I was abroad. Now I have just Jig-Ai and Flying Brains which is not active band now.
Buraak: I play in five bands and I sacrifice all my free time to them, but the most time demanding one is the black metal one Brutally Deceased.
Kaspy: I have some other band projects and lot of work as well but Jig Ai is my priority. Jig Ai was my favourite band before I joined in so I want to do my best.

The Czech scene is probably one of the most prolific in Europe. A lot of my favorite bands are from there and one thing that I noticed was that bands often share members. What can you say about this? I doubt your country is running out of competent musicians, haha.
Brain: That is the way how it is.
Buraak: Well there aren´t a lot of people competent to play grind core and that´s why ten people play in thirty bands.
Kaspy: I think Buraak made a point.

Judging by the OEF set, it’s obvious that Kaspy’s style is quite different from Steffy. How does this reflect on the new songs? At what direction is the new album heading this time?
Brain: It is going to be in Jig-Ai direction same as always, maybe little bit more grindcore and less polka but still in our way.
Buraak: Kaspy is a lot younger than Steffy. Steffy was more experienced drummer. But Kaspy has got a greate potential and in a lot of songs he is a bit quicker and has a better technique. The new album will be more grind and I started listening to more old school bands.
Kaspy: I like Stefy´s style of drumming a lot and old jig-ai songs as well, its my big inspiration for new songs. But my style is of course different, as every other drummer´s I think. Songs are not completely ready so we´ll see.

Have you started recording for the new album? Can you give us a bit more info about it?
Brain: Not yet. We have some material ready but it is still not complete so we have to finish it first. It is complicated because all of us we have to work, Buraak is pretty busy with other bands and I still work abroad. That makes things slow.

Will there be another cover song for the next album? How about doing another traditional song and giving it a unique Jig Ai touch to it just like what you did in the first album?
Brain: There will be something but we have to decide what exactly.

Aside from the new album, what else can we expect from the band in the near future?
Brain: Shows with a lot of fun.
Buraak: We´ll see.
Kaspy: Grind I think.