XM: For starters let’s get our readers up to date on what the band has been doing so far this year.
Eric:
The big news is we launched our distribution model. We're giving away
all of our new music for free, forever. Every month, we record and
release a new song as a free download. Fans who stay in contact via the
mailing list or visiting the site will get every new track we release
for free. After 60 days, the tracks go into back catalog and are no
longer free, but it's no big deal since current fans have already
downloaded them. New fans who join a year from now get the same deal –
all our new music for free, with the option to purchase the catalog if
they'd like.
XM: Can you give me a brief history
of the band and provide some background info for those of us who are
unfamiliar with Cancer Killing Gemini.
Eric:
The band started as a solo project but has since morphed into a live
band; Eric Michael Cohen (me) on vocals, Frank Hegyi on drums, Max
Butler on keys, Andrew Padua on bass and Chuck Pukmel on guitars. The
sound is growing form its roots in electronica and industrial into
something more organic, but keyboards still play a major role in the
sound.
XM: What's the origin of the band name? Have you changed the band's name before?
Eric:
The band name hasn't changed. It started as a lyric in the song
“Christcontrol” as a reference to my (then) addiction to nicotine. I
just assumed that if something else didn't get me first, I'd die of
cancer.
XM: Your sound draws from a variety of
styles, how would you describe Cancer Killing Gemini to someone that
had never heard your music before?
Eric:
We're trying to bring some fringe elements into the mainstream. So
maybe that means a touch of Mutemath mixed with Nine Inch Nails, or our
vision of a Portishead pop song. Nothing is off limits. I think of it
as pop hiding in other genres – the songs are the focus – the genre is
the delivery mechanism. The default will always be some version of
industrial rock, but many other flavors will take part in the process.
XM:
I absolutely love the idea behind releasing a free new song every month
to distribute and increase your fan base. Who came up with that idea
and how has it been working for you so far?
Eric:
So far it's been great. Fans are excited. We're seeing more reposts
than before and it's easy to engage new fans when there's something
free to offer them. I came up with the idea after attending the
Independent Music Conference 2010 in Northampton, MA. The old sales and
delivery models just aren't working anymore, so I thought we'd try
something new.
XM: How often do you write and
record? Is it something you do on a constant basis or do you have a few
songs already lined up for their monthly debut? How does that work?
Eric:
The best part of this is that all the music is now hot off the presses.
I have done demos of some of the future songs, but there is no secret
stash of recorded material. In fact, the recording of the next free
song “The Needle Down” was completed yesterday. I'm hoping to mix it
this week and get it out by the middle of the month.
I usually
email the guys a demo with scratch tracks of all the performances over
drum machines. Then Frank (drums) completely rewrites the drum track
and we build from there. Max, Andrew and Chuck put their spin on the
keys, bass and guitars. While I can play guitar, bass and keys, these
guys play circles around me, so the final tracks blow my scratch tracks
out of the water.
XM: Do you all write the music together or is someone the "boss" when it comes to song writing?
Eric: I do the writing, then the rest of the band embellishes their individual parts.
XM: Who came up with the concept for the video ‘Should I tell you that you’re pretty’? What’s the story behind the video shoot?
Eric:
The intent was to create a video that rode as close to the line of what
is not allowed on YouTube as possible. Originally it was going to be a
compilation of fan footage, but it became clear very early that getting
the quality and quantity necessary for a decent video was unrealistic.
I had a musician friend in NY who knew Julie Simone and he gave me her
contact info. Julie and I passed some “plot” ideas back and forth and
eventually she filmed some setup footage for the verses. All the really
hardcore stuff is from her archives.
XM: How do you see Cancer Killing Gemini in the modern scene?
Eric: We're trying to live the new roadmap of independent music: write, record, release, tour.
XM: What is the band's ultimate goal, artistically speaking?
Eric: To quit our day jobs.
XM: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Eric: The band has only been together for a matter of months now, so we're still in the honeymoon phase. I hope it lasts forever.
XM: What’s life like in Braintree, MA? Is it a good place to live? What goes on there of interest?
Eric:
Braintree is a fairly generic suburb of Boston. Very little goes on
here. The rest of the band lives in various parts of Boston. Boston is
decent place to be a musician.
XM: What are some of the band members involved in when they are not playing music?
Eric:
In no particular order.... music production and engineering, taxidermy,
motorcycle restoration, high-end custom concrete work, a Rod Stewart
tribute band, puppeteering, video production, web design, a bicycle
moving company, gay sex, straight sex.
XM: If you could have been involved in the recording, production or writing of any album which would it be and why?
Eric: Recording with Fiona Apple, production with Limp Bizkit, writing with The Jesus Lizard.
XM:
On behalf of xplosivemetal.com I would like to thank you for taking a
few moments to answer a few questions with us. Any last words?
Eric: Join the mailing list to download all our new music for free. Your support means more than your money.
