| Interview with Jason By: Blissfulviolet |
Blissfulviolet: Estrum is a fairly new
band. Give me some info on how the band
got together.
band. Give me some info on how the band
got together.
Jason: Zena and I started writing songs
together about 3 years ago when we lived
in Sacramento. We shared a love for Pink
Floyd and Tool, so we hit it off right away.
I was actually in a Pink Floyd cover band
at the time and when I heard her amazing
voice I asked her to join. Eventually we
became a couple and we started writing
songs together. I soon realized that Zena
together about 3 years ago when we lived
in Sacramento. We shared a love for Pink
Floyd and Tool, so we hit it off right away.
I was actually in a Pink Floyd cover band
at the time and when I heard her amazing
voice I asked her to join. Eventually we
became a couple and we started writing
songs together. I soon realized that Zena
was not only a stunning vocalist, but also a brilliant song writer. Her pool of inspiration seemed
to be bottomless. I knew we needed to put a band together.
I wanted to get all of my favorite players in on this project and make a real effort to do
something special. Jordan was an obvious choice for a second guitarist. We were in our first
band together when we were 15. He pretty much showed me the ropes on guitar and we've
developed a style together, so it's really great to be working with him again. Erik and I have
been in several projects together including the Pink Floyd cover band. He's extremely talented
and really the only person I had in mind for the keys. Jhon (yes it's spelled that way) was a
regular at my studio for many years and is one of the nicest and most reliable people I've ever
met. He's also a kick ass bass player. My first choice for drums was Tony Reveles of Burn Heal
Scar. That's who you hear on our current recordings. But when we started getting serious
about Estrum we decided Sacramento wasn't the best town for music. We did some traveling
and fell in love with Austin. Everyone in the band eventually moved out here in 2006, but Tony
has a lot going on in Sacramento and couldn't commit to moving so we're looking for someone
to fill his seat. He has been flying out to do recordings though, and he'll be playing with us
March 31st at Bond's 007 in San Antonio.
to be bottomless. I knew we needed to put a band together.
I wanted to get all of my favorite players in on this project and make a real effort to do
something special. Jordan was an obvious choice for a second guitarist. We were in our first
band together when we were 15. He pretty much showed me the ropes on guitar and we've
developed a style together, so it's really great to be working with him again. Erik and I have
been in several projects together including the Pink Floyd cover band. He's extremely talented
and really the only person I had in mind for the keys. Jhon (yes it's spelled that way) was a
regular at my studio for many years and is one of the nicest and most reliable people I've ever
met. He's also a kick ass bass player. My first choice for drums was Tony Reveles of Burn Heal
Scar. That's who you hear on our current recordings. But when we started getting serious
about Estrum we decided Sacramento wasn't the best town for music. We did some traveling
and fell in love with Austin. Everyone in the band eventually moved out here in 2006, but Tony
has a lot going on in Sacramento and couldn't commit to moving so we're looking for someone
to fill his seat. He has been flying out to do recordings though, and he'll be playing with us
March 31st at Bond's 007 in San Antonio.
Blissfulviolet: Is there a story behind the bands name?
Jason: Estrum applies to nonhuman mammals. It's a state of heightened sexual arousal and
activity. Zena actually found it in a dictionary and thought it would be a cool name. We like it
because it's short, but still unique and meaningful. If you Google Estrum our myspace page
comes up second, which is pretty rare for a six letter word. I also like it because most people
are unfamiliar with it. That lets the music define the name rather than the name defining us.
activity. Zena actually found it in a dictionary and thought it would be a cool name. We like it
because it's short, but still unique and meaningful. If you Google Estrum our myspace page
comes up second, which is pretty rare for a six letter word. I also like it because most people
are unfamiliar with it. That lets the music define the name rather than the name defining us.
Blissfulviolet: Describe the bands sound.
Jason: If anything, we try to be dynamic. We want to take the listener on a journey and make
them feel something. It's definitely more on the dark side and filled with lots of pretty melodies
and colorful soundscapes. But there's enough double bass and muted guitar riffs to call it
metal. haha.
them feel something. It's definitely more on the dark side and filled with lots of pretty melodies
and colorful soundscapes. But there's enough double bass and muted guitar riffs to call it
metal. haha.
Blissfulviolet: What are some of the lyrical ideas
present in Estrums songs?
present in Estrums songs?
Jason: Zena writes all of the lyrics. She had a troubled
childhood, to put it lightly. She's been through a lot. But
she channels that pain into her music in a beautiful way.
Her songs are generally fiction, inspired by her twisted
imagination and fears. She's a bit fixated on sinister
characters and what makes them tick. She'll often put
herself in their shoes and write from that perspective.
She also draws from her own life and uses metaphors to
communicate her emotions. For example, the song
"Abiosis" is a story about a dead forgotten world in which
Zena has been left alone in desolation. The word abiosis
means literally "absence of life." But it's a metaphor for
her own loneliness in this world.
childhood, to put it lightly. She's been through a lot. But
she channels that pain into her music in a beautiful way.
Her songs are generally fiction, inspired by her twisted
imagination and fears. She's a bit fixated on sinister
characters and what makes them tick. She'll often put
herself in their shoes and write from that perspective.
She also draws from her own life and uses metaphors to
communicate her emotions. For example, the song
"Abiosis" is a story about a dead forgotten world in which
Zena has been left alone in desolation. The word abiosis
means literally "absence of life." But it's a metaphor for
her own loneliness in this world.
Blissfulviolet: What are some of the bands influences?
Jason: Well, Zena grew up listening to Mariah Carey.
That's where she gets her vocal chops. But later in life
That's where she gets her vocal chops. But later in life
she started getting into darker heavier music like Tool and Pink Floyd. She's highly influenced
by Maynard of Tool, and if you listen closely you can hear that in her voice. The rest of us
have a huge list of influences. We really like Opeth, Mike Patton's various projects, 70's prog
rock, classic metal like Iron Maiden, acoustic folk music, klezmer, polka, haha, really too much
to list. We all really love music in It's various forms.
by Maynard of Tool, and if you listen closely you can hear that in her voice. The rest of us
have a huge list of influences. We really like Opeth, Mike Patton's various projects, 70's prog
rock, classic metal like Iron Maiden, acoustic folk music, klezmer, polka, haha, really too much
to list. We all really love music in It's various forms.
Blissfulviolet: Estrum recently finished shooting a video for the song, Abiosis. How did that
go and when can we expect to see it released?
go and when can we expect to see it released?
Jason: We were approached by film student Linde Pedersen at one of our first shows at
Elysium last fall. She apparently found us on MySpace and thought we'd be perfect for her
final project. Of course we accepted. We decided to go all out and shoot the video on 16mm
film with director of photography Mike Simpson. Of course film is expensive, so we only got
about 2 or 3 shots per scene, but I think it turned out really great. Mike is very talented and
made sure each shot was perfect as far as lighting and framing was concerned.
As I said earlier, the song Abiosis is about Zena roaming around in a dead forgotten world.
The rest of the band appear in the video only as ghosts or memories. So we spent a lot of time
with Linde finding some of the creepiest, grittiest locations around Austin. I think there were 11
different locations including a rock quarry, an old airplane hanger, and a really scary
abandoned school for the deaf. One of the locations was a burnt down condo that happened
to have a piano in it. So one of the better shots is of Erik's ghost playing the dilapidated piano.
Linde is finishing the editing in her free time, but it should be released in the very near future.
Elysium last fall. She apparently found us on MySpace and thought we'd be perfect for her
final project. Of course we accepted. We decided to go all out and shoot the video on 16mm
film with director of photography Mike Simpson. Of course film is expensive, so we only got
about 2 or 3 shots per scene, but I think it turned out really great. Mike is very talented and
made sure each shot was perfect as far as lighting and framing was concerned.
As I said earlier, the song Abiosis is about Zena roaming around in a dead forgotten world.
The rest of the band appear in the video only as ghosts or memories. So we spent a lot of time
with Linde finding some of the creepiest, grittiest locations around Austin. I think there were 11
different locations including a rock quarry, an old airplane hanger, and a really scary
abandoned school for the deaf. One of the locations was a burnt down condo that happened
to have a piano in it. So one of the better shots is of Erik's ghost playing the dilapidated piano.
Linde is finishing the editing in her free time, but it should be released in the very near future.
Blissfulviolet: You guys are also currently seeking a drummer, how has that search been
going and what are the requirements?
going and what are the requirements?
Jason: Well, the members of this band have a long history together so it's going to be difficult
to find someone to fill Tony's shoes. It's like advertising for a new brother or something. We've
talked to over 40 drummers so far and some of them look very promising. But we're going to
be extremely picky. It has to be a perfect fit. Basically we need someone with serious metal
chops for our heavy parts, but the gumption to just sit back and groove for most of the song.
We also want someone who is creative and knows how to craft a unique rhythmic hook for
each song. It'll be tough but I know we'll find the right person eventually.
to find someone to fill Tony's shoes. It's like advertising for a new brother or something. We've
talked to over 40 drummers so far and some of them look very promising. But we're going to
be extremely picky. It has to be a perfect fit. Basically we need someone with serious metal
chops for our heavy parts, but the gumption to just sit back and groove for most of the song.
We also want someone who is creative and knows how to craft a unique rhythmic hook for
each song. It'll be tough but I know we'll find the right person eventually.
Blissfulviolet: What goals has the band
set for the rest of 2007?
set for the rest of 2007?
Jason: We've basically decided to be
our own label. Of course if we get offered
a great recording deal we'll definitely
consider. But the state of the music
industry is such that we're not going to be
waiting around for a major record label to
sweep us off our feet and give us a
million dollar deal. I own and run a
professional recording studio for a living,
so our recordings are free. I also spent
five years working for a record distributor,
our own label. Of course if we get offered
a great recording deal we'll definitely
consider. But the state of the music
industry is such that we're not going to be
waiting around for a major record label to
sweep us off our feet and give us a
million dollar deal. I own and run a
professional recording studio for a living,
so our recordings are free. I also spent
five years working for a record distributor,
so I know the ins and outs of the business. Also Zena is a very talented graphic designer, so
we have a lot of basis covered. We're going to focus on creating the highest quality products
we can and bust our ass recording and touring and promoting on the internet to get the word
out to as many people as possible. By the end of 2007 we'd like generate enough income to
start working full time for Estrum. It's a lofty goal, but one we're confident we can achieve.
we have a lot of basis covered. We're going to focus on creating the highest quality products
we can and bust our ass recording and touring and promoting on the internet to get the word
out to as many people as possible. By the end of 2007 we'd like generate enough income to
start working full time for Estrum. It's a lofty goal, but one we're confident we can achieve.
Blissfulviolet: Any final comments?
Jason: I just wanted to mention that the songs currently on our MySpace page are are just
rough mixes and scratch tracks. But we're actually going to be releasing 3 finished and
mastered songs sometime this week. They will be available as downloads through our
MySpace page for $.99 each, or you can mail order a CD from us for $4. Thank you so much
for taking the time to chat!
rough mixes and scratch tracks. But we're actually going to be releasing 3 finished and
mastered songs sometime this week. They will be available as downloads through our
MySpace page for $.99 each, or you can mail order a CD from us for $4. Thank you so much
for taking the time to chat!
Estrum is a fairly new female fronted melodic metal band from
Austin, Texas. Their sound is unique and will definitely take you
on a journey.
Austin, Texas. Their sound is unique and will definitely take you
on a journey.