Blazing Minds

A call to arms and the “Who’s the Band” series is back and this week I bring you an interview with Lethality Scale, so I’m going to stop rambling on and get on with the interview..

Q: So how did you come upon the name of your band? Is it the first name you chose?
A: We stumbled across the name of the band. We’d gathered over 50 names & phrases. Ironically, none were picked. Frustrated, I picked up a booked titled, “Abnormal Psychology” and opened it. The first page I’d come to was, “Lethality Scale”. It turned out to be system or scale used by professionals to determine the suicidal tendency of a patient.

Q: Introduce each member and instrument played or role in the band?
A: Matt Alexander (1ManSineWave a.k.a. Psiontist)–theremin/kaossilator/software
Andrew Smith (Ron Lung/ TheHoodedThing)–keyboards, software
Carlos Mongrut (CMongrooves)–keyboards, bass, software

Q: So what genre of music would you say you are in and who are your major influences?
A: We prefer to classify ourselves as “experimental electronic”. No sappy electro-pop here. Our influences are vast, too many to name. However, to break it down to the core, I’d say Skinny Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, Pink Floyd, Ministry, and Cevin Key.

Q: How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet up?
A: Andrew & myself have known each other for over 10 years. We used to live in the city of Ft. Pierce, Fl., and partied together, listening to and studying the sounds of Skinny Puppy & Pigface. We’d always wanted to create electronic music together, because we both understood what we wanted to hear. We decided to take hold of the dream. Carlos has joined just recently, whom we’ve met through Reverbnation and from doing live shows together.

Q: How long has you band been performing/producing music? What inspired to to produce your style of music?
A: I’ve been studying & listening to music all my life. I don’t like to toot my own horn, however, at the young age of 4, I had already discovered Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album, and I had become obsessed. I took to playing the cello in elementary school, and later the bass as a teen. However, music was put aside as a young gent, as I’d joined the working force full time. I picked up electronic music because of it’s ease of creation using modern software. So, I’ve only been producing & recording for less than 5 years.

Q: Are you signed to a record label (Indie or major)?
A: We’re signed to a couple of Indie music labels, “Free World Radio Telecasting” and “Mongrooves Productions”.

Q: Have your ever performed live? If so where and to how many?
A: Yes, we’ve performed live. The summer of ‘09 we’d taken a small statewide tour. We played in St. Augustine at a hookah lounge, Gainesville at an espresso/Internet cafe, Sanford at an art gallery/pub, Jensen Beach at liquor bar, Deland at a music festival, and Sanford again at a cafe/bistro. We endeavor to do more shows in the future.

Q: Who writes/produces the music and/or lyrics to your tracks?
A: We equally share responsibility. I really don’t know how else to describe that.

Q: How would you describe your music-making process?
A: Andrew & I usually sit up all night long Friday night into Saturday morning. We sleep for a few hours, eat lunch, then back at it again until the wee hours of the a.m. We drink high intensity espresso with little sleep. This is the realm where our best songs are made.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
A: The biggest challenge of the band was losing one of our core members. Chris had been with the band since it’s inception, and was our original vocalist. We’d amassed several hard edged songs with strong lyrical content, as he was a metal singer by trade. We more metal/industrial. Somewhere along the story line, Chris acquired an electronic drum set, and began playing along with the drum kit software we had available. Once he’d stopped singing and started playing, (we’d also written a couple of instrumentals by this time as well) the band’s popularity began to rise and we started getting show offers. A rift occurred here, as it was apparent that Chris was a bit peeved. He was a vocalist, and a novice drummer at best. The nature and the course of the band had changed, and Chris decided not to go along. It was a painful decision.

Q: What’s your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
A: Seeking fame & fortune? Everyone is in one way or another. My idea of fortune is being able to work as a musician as my full time job. Music being able to pay the bills and afford some nicer things. No toiling in a factory, no imprisonment behind a desk. My idea of fame is similar. If we got on a tour with the likes of Crystal Method, or Skinny Puppy, that would be a real dream come true.

Q: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
A: Learning to work with others is important. Listen, compromise. The band is a family too.

Q: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
A: You can hear all our stuff at: http://www.reverbnation.com/lethalityscale
We sell our CDs at our shows, however dedicated fans may inquire to : lethalityscale [at] gmail.com

Q: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
A: There are way too many people to acknowledge here, but certaily our families & loved ones, friends & fans who’ve graciously attended our shows & showed their support!

Q: Any last words?
A: Every message from Lethality Scale & Free World Radio Telecasting empowers you to make a difference, no matter how small.

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Related posts:

1. Who’s The Band? Bands Interviewed in 2009
2. Who’s the Band – HealeyIsland
3. Who’s The Band? – Digital Beat
4. Who’s the Band – K-TRAXX
5. Who’s the Band – Brad Reason

This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 7:14 am and is filed under Who's The Band. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.