Monday, September 28, 2020

Interview with Norf Rossmore

NORF ROSSMORE IS A COOL PUNK BAND BASED IN BERKLEY, CA. THEY RELEASED A GREAT TAPE RECENTLY ON PAINTERS TAPES AND GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING OUT SOON, "GREATEST SPORTS MOMENT". KIERAN IS THE MAIN CREATIVE FORCE BEHIND THE PROJECT, CHECKOUT OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM BELOW. ENJOY!


Remove Records: Can you tell us about your new record "Greatest Sports Moments"?

Kieran: So "Greatest Sports Moments" is a collection of 8 new songs I recorded this summer. It's the most I've collaborated with other musicians on a release, with my good homies Sam (Quarrel Reef) and Toby (Diarchipretti) providing drum programming and live drums respectively. Sound-wise, it's kinda like the self-titled tape I put out last year got more and less hard at the same time. There's some pitch-shifted catchy stuff, there's some yelling, and a little bit more noise rock than I've worked with before. It's coming out digitally October 16th, and on tape sometime not too long after that. 

How'd you start working with Painter's Tapes?

I found Painter's Tapes on bandcamp one day when I was listening to The Resource Network, and just really dug a lot of the other stuff they were putting out. I was kind of just cold-emailing all these labels to see if they were down to do a tape or something for "Norf," and I ended up sending it to Charles at Painter's and he was down so it just worked out smooth like that. Since then I've gotten to listen more to other bands they're putting on and it's just a really great little group to be a part of. Shout out Painter's Tapes!


Where does the name Norf Rossmore come from?

I was trying to come up with names for a solo project and I thought it would be funny to do a pseudonym that wasn't really close to my actual name at all. I was also watching a lot of Antihero videos and thought it was hilarious how Frank Gerwer and Eric Hewitt would just talk to each other in this made-up language, so "Norf" kind of came from all the weird sounds they were making. It might've been stolen from an Instagram caption of one of theirs? Can't be too sure. And then I liked Rossmore cause it sounds super professional like I'm this blazer-wearing journalist type person. So I just put the two together. I didn't realize Vince Staples had a song called "Norf Norf" until after I was putting out music under the name. 

What have you been listening to lately?

That's kind of a tough one. The new Gag record is super good, especially that last song that's just some EBM stuff. I've also been trying to get more into Enya after I heard the dude from Blood Incantation hyping her up. She rules, and it's just so ethereal and unique sounding. The new Diarchipretti record is 10/10 (not biased cause he's a friend it's just true) as well as the new Jon Bunting, "I'm Too Normal to Die." Also some Iron Maiden. 

If you could collaborate with one artist/band who would it be?

All my friends are gonna clown me for this one, but definitely Ween. To be able to witness that creative process would be a life highlight for sure, even if it's just fishing and drinking with them. I wanna party with Ween. 

Can you tell us about the music scene where you're from?

So I'm originally from North County San Diego, but right now I go to school and live in Berkeley. Back home, we all lived around a half-hour from downtown so we were pretty far-removed from any sort of local scene apart from bands that went to our high school. Luckily enough, a bunch of my friends play music so we were always able to put on house shows and everyone was sort of involved in bands with each other. Shouts out Rubenstein Drive-By, Chalk Talk, Skulpin Bomb, and all the other friend's bands I'm forgetting. 

Berkeley is a little different, cause it's a college town and an actual city at the same time, so you have that sort of dissonance between "legit" shows and just student band house parties and stuff like that. I've met a lot of really amazing musicians up here, and I'm definitely anxious for shows to start going down again. I'm really grateful to know Diarchipretti, Jon Bunting, Dao Jones, Porkbelly, Guilt Trip Cluster Fuck (even though they mostly live in LA) and everyone else in our little music bubble. I've only ever played one live show with Norf, but who knows maybe I'll start hopping on more bills in the future. 


Have you ever been to Detroit? What's your impression of the city?

I've never been to Detroit! I'd love to go. I feel like my first impression of the city was that Eminem was from there, so I kind of associated it with him. But the more I see about the music scene and just the culture of the city there's obviously way more than that, which all seems amazing. Hopefully the Norf/Detroit connection only strengthens in the future. 

What are you working on next?

In terms of music, I've got a few things coming out soonish that I'm really hyped on. I have a black metal project called Moss Witch dropping a tape October 9th on Moonworshipper Records. I also have a collaborative album with Dao Jones and Diarchipretti that isn't quite finished yet, but I'm really excited about it. I also just started a little CD label called Sicko Disks to put out my friends' music, and I'm almost done with the first two releases for that. 

How do you feel about the future of music/art?

I feel pretty good about it to be honest. Obviously musicians can be a very shitty group of people, and I think we have a lot of work to do just as a community in terms of elevating BIPOC voices, queer voices, etc. And that isn't going to happen overnight, but I absolutely think it can and should. I think we should all be asking ourselves how we can do that, and more importantly, we should be listening to and supporting people in the scene that are already working towards that goal. 

Interview Rose St. Germaine

WE SPOKE WITH ROSE ST. GERMAINE FRONTWOMAN EMILY. OK HERE IT IS


https://www.facebook.com/eventhebestrose/

https://www.instagram.com/rosestgermaine/

https://rosestgermaine.bandcamp.com


REMOVE RECORDS: Your background in music is very interesting– Is it true that you grew up playing the organ?

RSG: It’s true.

What makes rock n roll appealing to you?

Drums.


What's your favorite bar in Ferndale?

Tony’s.


Can you tell us about Dummy Sound Studios?

Good people. Good andouille. I only put my songs in the hands of mad men. 


You have some incredibly poetic and descriptive lyrics. Do you have a certain message or theme you want to convey through your music?

My first album, Visions, helped me process some bad experiences that I’ve had in and out of humanity. Gunslinger will be the true fragmented Lazarus of the allegorical phoenix. 


Can you tell us about the album artwork for "Visions"? (I forgot the name of the patterned artwork)

I’ve always loved the quirky patterns you find on Pyrex, so I knew I wanted to incorporate that somehow. In talks with my graphic design guru, Chandler (@chanchandlerdler on insta), we decided to mess with one of the patterns a bit. One of the original drafts had the two farmers fucking. I loved that one. But we’re a family band. Thematically, much of Visions seems to reflect how twisted real humans can be if you examine them closely. I think the twisted Pyrex reflects that on a metaphorical level.


I've been fascinated with music videos recently. Do you ever plan on making a music video for a Rose St. Germaine song?

Looking to buy up pre-1980 metal colanders for our robot costumes. 


Are you reading any good books currently?

No.


What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Depends on who you ask. My colleagues would be surprised to know that I’m in a band. My band would be surprised to know that I have colleagues. 


What are you working on next?

Currently riding the garage sale circuit. Playing slower. VVIISSIIOONNSS. Piano day is coming up.


Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Interview with Diarchipretti


DIARCHIPRETTI


Diarchipretti is an experimental pop artist based out of San Louis Obisbo, CA who makes a unique blend of hyperpop, post-punk, and industrial hip hop. 

Diarchipretti's newest album Toe Bee drops on September 22nd, and we have a preview track available for streaming at the link below!!!!!!!


Diarchipretti – Loose Hair (feat. Gitau)


Now here's the interview. Enjoy!


Remove Records: Thanks for doing this interview. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?

Diarchipretti: My parents never learned any instruments but always regretted it, so they made me and my brothers take piano lessons from an early age. Around 5th grade I decided piano wasn’t cool and I wanted to learn drums. It wasn’t until high school when I really started to make music. My brother got Logic Pro for Christmas and so i acquired it for free and started messing around, mostly making pretty boring and cheesy trap beats. Later in high school I joined The Sleeps, who really pushed me to be more creative and helped me create Diarchipretti. It wasn’t until college with my release of Broth when I really created something that felt like my own style.


What's the music scene like where you live?

Here in San Luis Obispo there are (or at least were before coronavirus) frequent house shows and occasional mountain top outdoor shows. Some notable bands are Autopipe, Dudeo Perez, and Pancho and the Wizards.

I really consider myself more as part of the Oakland/Berkeley scene though. As a member of The Sleeps I have played around at many different bay area venues and met many other artists. Mainly, I work with a smaller group of tiny artists who are all constantly creating amazing new music. Notable artists include Dao Jones, Norf Rossmore, Jon Bunting, Guilt Trip Cluster Fuck, Soggy Kagi, and Bill Skins Fifth. These are who I would consider “my scene.”


What have you been listening to lately?

Recently I would say a lot of both industrial hip hop (JPEGMAFIA, Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty, Boy Danger, Death Grips) and a lot of Post Punk (Pavement, Gang of Four, Talking Heads, Parquet Courts, Television). I also have been listening to more Ween, SOPHIE, and always Ana Frango Eléctrico.


Who are some bands that you know, that we should know about?

In terms of artist I know personally, definitely check out everyone from the list from before: Dao Jones, Norf Rossmore, Jon Bunting, Guilt Trip Cluster Fuck, Soggy Kagi, Bill Skins Fifth. Also please listen to Trash Elf, Roland Tonies, Boy Danger, Gitau, BFLANDIA (another one of my projects), Chewing Animal Spirit, and Mom Dog. I'm sure I’m forgetting some but those are all important to check out. 



Can you tell us about your new record "Toe Bee"?

I moved down to SLO about a month ago and tried to find work but had no luck. I had all day, everyday, for a month to make as much music as I wanted to. This album is a product of my boredom fused with intense created energies. I made this whole album faster than any music I've made in the past. I would say the songs in the album are my most catchy, fun, and easy to listen to. I have fused elements of garage rock and punk with pop, hyperpop, and occasional industrial hip hop. The project has a range of energetic, relaxed, slow, happy, and maybe a tiny bit sad songs. As I rarely listen to sad music myself, I have a hard time making sad songs. I have explored a little bit more into sad songs in this project as it had a longer track list, but the vast majority of these songs are upbeat, happy, and energetic. 


If you could collaborate with one musician/artist, who would it be and why?

This is hard because I know I could go in so many different directions. I'd say it would be a tie between JPEGMAFIA and Ana Frango Eléctrico. Peggy’s beats are incredibly unique and unlike any other producer I know, and his flow is incredible. On the other hand, Anas music just makes me feel so happy in a way that I really cherish. For both of these artists I could not create music that sounds like theirs on my own.


How do you feel about the future of art/music?

I feel happy. I think that regardless of what is popular, the fact that I can just make music in my room, put it on Spotify, and have it be as easy to listen to as a world famous artist, is amazing. I hate that Spotify and Apple Music don’t pay their artists shit, but I think it is amazing that such small artists can so easily get their music out to where everyone is listening. I think that this has paved the way for so many artists that no one would have ever heard before, and allows for more tiny artists to appear in the future.


What are your plans for the rest of 2020?

Make more music. I have a project in the works now that will be a three part series in collaboration with Dao Jones and Norf Rossmore. We have been working on this for long before I even started making Toe Bee, so it will be a big one (keep your eyes peeled). I also am working on a couple songs with a good friend of mine Ruby Hadley. I produced her debut EP, and we’re now working on some new stuff. I am also working with The Sleeps on a new project that is being recorded from all of our various locations, which should hopefully drop within the next month or so depending on how much we get our shit together. Other than that I’ll be in school, learning, and being as safe as I can from coronavirus! Wear your masks!

Friday, September 11, 2020