A Popup Interview with Agrippa93

A Popup Interview with Agrippa93
[ Artist Website ] | [ Buy Our CD ]

CK:
What made you want to pursue songwriting?

Agrippa93:
I started writing music when I was in high school and a few years later I took a long break from song writing and music in general to do other things. One day I put aside the notion that I had no time for music, picked up the guitar again and began writing. Now with Myk and Carlos, it's a combined effort and we write songs that we would want to listen to.

CK:
Do you do any recording on your own?

Agrippa93:
All of our writing and recording is done right in my home studio. I handle all of the recording, editing, arranging, mixing and mastering.

CK:
The internet world for music promotion is in constant change, what do you think is the best way to utilize the internet at present to promote you music?

Agrippa93:
Well, everyone has a MySpace page and that's a good place to start. Getting your name out there takes a lot of work and dedication. Having your own website is key and should be updated constantly to keep visitors coming back. Other ways to get some exposure is through message boards, music communities, and places like CD Baby and Garage Band. Right now there's a growing interest in mp3 blogs and podcasts.

CK:
What do you like most about being an INDE artist?

Agrippa93:
Having complete control over the direction of our music. It's a trade off though. You sacrifice access to other things that a contract can offer you such as show bookings, distribution, and marketing that all has to be done by us. Being independent is like running your own company, but you get to do it on your terms.

CK:
What genre(s) would you say your music is under?

Agrippa93:
No one likes to label themselves, but I'm fond of the Gothic Industrial Metal tag. We also integrate clasical guitar and progressive styles in our music too.

CK:
If you are a band and have a concert schedule, would you like some extra free promotion? Visit Free Band Promotion

Agrippa93:
Of course.

CK:
Did you get your photos done professionally? By Whom?

Agrippa93:
I have a friend, Ray Larose (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenscrack) who is an amateur photographer, but from his work you would think he's a pro. He was nice enough to come down from New Hampshire for the day to do a photo shoot for us.

CK:
Have you ever paid for advertising for the band?

Agrippa93:
So far we've relied on what free advertising there is available. We're still starving musicians and don't have the budget for paid advertisements yet.

CK:
Are there any established artists with whom you would like to collaborate?

Agrippa93:
I'd love to work with Trent Reznor and pick his mind for his creativeness. Klayton, from Celldweller for the same reasons.

CK:
You have been asked to travel outside the US or your home country for a good cause, do you go?

Agrippa93:
Sure. I don't travel much at all, but I'm up for the adventure.

CK:
Do you feel that "underground" is just a marketing term like anything else?

Agrippa93:
The word "underground" has a real defiant sound to it. I think it mostly applied to the punk and metal scene back in the late 80's when neither were allowed to be played on the radio. I think that the term "indie" replaced that word over the years and expanded into different genres.

CK:
Introduce the members in the band:

Agrippa93:
Myk is the lead guitarist and also does some backup vocals and growls. Carlos does mostly rhythm guitars and the accessional lead. You can also hear his acoustic work most prominent in the song City of Pyramids. Both are very creative and willing to experiment musically. I'm Agrippa. I do lead and backup vocals, some guitars, bass and bass programming, drum programming, synths and sequences, and piano. We write all of our music together.

CK:
When did you first start singing, what made you choose music?

Agrippa93:
I started singing out of necessity. When I first started this project in 2004, I was writing and recording music without vocals, because I didn't think I had that ability. Finally I needed to expand on my songs and add lyrics, so I recorded myself to map out the words. I worked on developing my sound over the years and came up with style that I feel real comfortable with that is unique. It turns out I'm not so bad after all.

CK:
If you could talk to anyone in the music business, who would it be?

Agrippa93:
I'd like to shake my fist at the record company executives for being such idiots. They just don't understand the changing times and the direction music is taking. More and more musicians are taking the rout to be independent to separate themselves from the evils of the record companies. Trent Reznor and Radio Head get it.

CK:
Which online distribution sites do you use?

Agrippa93:
We use TuneCore for digital distribution, which puts our tracks all over the place for purchase and CD Baby for physical CD purchases.

CK:
What is your favorite local venue?

Agrippa93:
The place to play around here is the Webster in Hartford, CT. That's where all the major club sized acts book their shows. There's also the Webster Underground, which is a place that local bands can showcase their music to a smaller crowd.

CK:
What is important to you about the music?

Agrippa93:
Most important is the communication, both musically and lyrically. Each song is a story and the music needs to invoke emotional response. It's about creating an atmosphere or a universe where that song lives and inviting the listener to enter that world for a few minutes.

CK:
Do you have a street or e-team system in place? Want one for your website?

Agrippa93:
Right now we are our band's staff. We handle everything from studio engineering to marketing. I'm sure an e-team would be helpful.

CK:
If your band could open for a headlining act, who would it be and why?

Agrippa93:
Carlos would probably say Iron Maiden. Myk would kill to open for Opeth. Me? I think musically we would probably be at home opening for bands like Nevermore or Fear Factory.

CK:
Who is your favorite unsigned Band?

Agrippa93:

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