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| Inner Surge : Email Interview with Steve of Inner Surge : April 15, 2006 |
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1. How did the songwriting come together on Signals Screaming? I had been writing lyrics for this project since 2003, before I started playing with Bryan Sandau and Scott Taylor in the new lineup. I had certain themes in mind but they really started to grow after reading certain books like "I Refuse to Die" by Koigi Wa Wamwere, "Shame" by Talisma Nasrin, and "No Logo" by Naomi Klein. These and others had their impact on the feel of the album and gave it more potency. The music was natural, but we always strive to break our own rules. Jamming all the time is good but you usually end up with similar results that way. So, for songs like "When the Door Locks" we took a strict no melody approach while it's sister song "Wolves" is very rich and melodic. The lyrics are edited to work with the drum and guitar arrangements. The bass parts were added on later and built on by Jim Fernandes, who has a jazz sort of style. We're very happy with how it came out. 2. Tell me about the recording process for this release. Where and with who was it recorded? We recorded with Casey Lewis of Echo Base Studios in Calgary over 3 recording sessions in late 2005. He did an excellent job and worked with us almost as a 5th member to get the best result possible. 3. What are your promo plans? One of the promo plans is to have the video for "Retribution Song" played on MuchMusic as much as possible, as well as the upcoming video for "Flames in Synergy". Both videos were filmed by the "Cabras" movie director Fredy Polania of Polania Pictures. "Retribution Song" will be available shortly at www.cabrassoundtrack.com, and there is a preview up now at www.myspace.com/innersurge. As long as people request us instead of, say, the Black Eyed Peas, hopefully they will play it and we're excited about it getting heard. Also, travel plans are in the works, so hopefully we will be playing in your area very soon. We're going to do everything we possibly can to push this thing we call Inner Surge. 4. How did you hook up with Cyclone Records? We were approached by Cyclone Records when we began recording "Signals Screaming" and began going over the details of potentially releasing the album through Cyclone. Brad Trew was always very straight forward and prompt in getting us any information we needed, so we decided to jump on board and start promoting this album together. We're trying to promote the Cyclone Records name as much as possible. 5. How important is it to you to be hands on about the non musical aspects of the band? (cd artwork, promo stuff) It's very important because you could be putting your full energy into something, and if you're not watching closely how it is being promoted, you could come across ineffectively due to misrepresentation. We have some aggressive imagery and lyrics, but there is a point to all of it and we choose carefully. Artist Shaun Friesen did the album artwork and it turned out exactly how we wanted it. As for press, you have to be honest and wait for the slant to come. Some people can only box things into left or right idealogies, but we're talking about something different, so the best thing you can do is be honest with everything and hope it comes across. 6. How did you end up on the soundtrack to Cabras? Fredy Polania found us through one of our websites. I believe it was myspace.com, a site that has got us a lot of exposure. He really took a liking to "Retribution Song" and ended up wanting to have us as the only Canadian band on the "Cabras" soundtrack. We're excited for the soundtrack and movie to drop in 2007. 7. Tell me about the making of the Retribution Song video. We shot the video March 4-6 this year in a few Calgary locations, one of them being the Warehouse/Underground for the live performance section of it. It was the hardest work we've ever done, but the experience was amazing. I think the videos will show that, and I can tell you this is not going to be the typical rock video you see coming from Canadian bands these days. We're putting something across and we're going to do anything we can to get this played, because once people connect with it, it's going to spread very fast. 8. You've been doing a whole lot of press lately, what kind of feedback/difference in show attendance, etc have you noticed? Well, as a result of the press that included FFWD Weekly Magazine, Beatroute Magazine, the Calgary Herald and the Calgary Sun we had a very successfull CD release in Calgary. It takes a lot to get people to shows though. People want to be part of something big. That's also why it's difficult to get activist networks going. People seem to want to jump on board something that is making waves. Now I feel like we're gaining momentum and starting to get a lot of articles and support and people are starting to ask "Who are these guys?". That's what we want. 9. How did you come to be included in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal? Your guess is as good as mine! I was actually notified by e-mail that we were in the book (by Garry Sharpe-Young)and we were thrilled to be chosen. He was trying to take a comprehensive look at the keys players in the metal/rock/metalcore scene mainly across North America, and there are a lot of great bands in the book that we're fans of such as Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon and Lamb of God. * If there is anything you'd like included that I didn't ask about, please let me know here and I'll include it. Anyone who wants to follow up with us can visit us at www.innersurge.com or www.myspace.com/innersurge. Thanks everyone! We like to ask everyone this one: List any 5 songs in your most current (last listened to) playlist. Convicted in Life - Sepultura Leaders - Katatonia Panasonic Youth - Dillinger Escape Plan New Noise - Refused Walk like a Warrior - Dead Prez |