GASR - Interview by Dave Wolff - Music - http://maxpages.com/aeazine/GASR

When was GASR formed?
Gary Suarez: Luis and I met in Boston and started making music together back in September of 1997. We didn’t have a name or a concept of what we were going to do other than Electro, which is pretty vague.

What is the current lineup and how long has it been together?
Gary: The group consists of Luis on keyboards/programming, Cosmo on live guitars/programming/assorted electronic goodies (i.e. Groovebox) and myself on vocals/programming. Cosmo joined the group in October after much poking and prodding.

Describe your music and your influences. What bands do you listen to?
Luis Brito: We love when we’re asked this question because we really don’t know what to say. GASR is a mix of EBM, Electro, Experimental and whatever mood we’re in at that moment. The one thing that we do try to do is make each of our songs sound different. We don’t like limiting ourselves. The music we listen to ranges from Electro artists to THE CURE to OPTICAL to FOETUS. Our influences come from our different tastes. We’re not trying to copy anyone else and we think that we achieve this (as if that hasn’t been said before).
Cosmo Lee: My background happens to be Drum ‘n Bass because I’m a DJ, but before that it was Blues music because I picked up a guitar, and before that it was "schooled music," because I played the violin. But the funny thing is that I don’t see that much of a difference between all the styles because they are all just different ways to get to the same place, and besides, you always bring more to the music if you don’t stick to the conventions of the genre. I mean, how many different versions of KMFDM and NINE INCH NAILS are out there?

How many shows have you played in New York? Have you gained a following up to now?
Luis: We just finished our second show in New York and we seemed to have a pretty good turnout and response. We prefer to play Boston. People get up and dance more.
Gary: It’s a struggling Industrial scene in Boston (damn those Goths!) and those who support it tend to be pretty die hard and loyal.

Do you have any releases out or are you currently in the studio?
Luis: Well, we’re just about out of our first printing of demos (51), but the recording quality wasn’t the greatest. So we’re currently working on revamping the demo, and working on new material as always. We also finished trading remixes with MATRIX. Two of them are going to be on the Grinding into Emptiness compilation.

Are you friends with any New York bands?
Luis: We’re good friends with MATRIX, who are really, really good! They’ve helped us out in more ways than we can count.
Gary: They opened up for us at our first show and they impressed me (which is not easy to do). Plus, they’re really nice guys to hang out with. Keep your eyes open for them.
Cosmo: I’ve known some of the people in NEURAL PLAGUE, who have broken up. I think side projects are coming from the remains of that group.

What is your view of the current state of the scene? How would you change it for the better?
Luis (taking a deep breath): The scene is backwards. People grumble, "Live bands, we want live bands!" and then nobody shows up to the shows! And the promoters put the bands on before sundown when kids are just getting out of school! And then they bitch about the "dying scene." They’re killing it!
Gary: We can’t blame them totally for it. I mean, there are plenty of bands that should be playing before recess-that shouldn’t be playing at all. We do have some ideas for fixing the situation. Bands should go on later in the night for more exposure. It will allow more people to see them, which means more people will be likely to go see them again. Everyone should feel free to take part in the scene.
Luis: And clubs should be open to playing different music. I mean, I love listening to Rudy (Wumpscut), but five of his songs in a DJ set is overkill.
Cosmo: Personally, I would be happy not to hear any more songs with the four on the floor kick drum kit that goes "boom, boom, boom." I mean, the current state of Techno music is such that they are light years ahead of vocal-based music in terms of manipulating dynamics, so that they can go "boom, boom, boom" and still make it sound new. At the same time, I realize that people on the dance floor want to dance to something familiar and the "boom, boom, boom" kickdrum has sort of been ingrained in the popular consciousness as "This means you will dance now." This may sound weird, but in order for the music to move forward, it has to avoid the tried-and-true, and if that means some people can’t dance because it doesn’t go "boom, boom, boom," then so be it. It’s up to the bands now to decide what they want to do with all that fancy electronic equipment they have.

Does the band name represent anything?
Gary: Plain and simple: LUIS CAN’T SPELL! When we first started the band, he was typing my name as a filename and misspelled it GASR. It grew on us like mold on cheese so we claimed it. Hell, just go through the booklet with a red pen and look for Luis’s misspellings. Hey, he’s no English major!
Cosmo (meekly): But I was an English major! That’s actually why they hired me into the band. they needed a spellchecker.

What are your plans for the future?
Luis: We’re planning on soliciting labels, as well as writing new songs and playing more shows. basically, we’re just trying to enjoy ourselves.

Closing comments?
Luis: We’re really nice people (really!)-we don’t mean to alienate anyone or sound arrogant and mean. we just love music and it’s always been like that (since the womb).
Cosmo: I’ve put out my first official Drum ‘n Bass mixtape as DJ SURFACE. watch the GASR homepage for more details.
Gary: And do check out our web page gasr.home.ml.org or email us at gasr@geocities.com. Luis and I run a radio show in Boston called Transmissions From Scumsburg that we’re going to start again in September. If you’re in the area, it’s on 640 AM/89.3 FM on Mon. nights/Tues. mornings from 12 p.m. to 2a.m.

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

AEA
3 Maple St.
Garden City	NY	11530-1812
USA
AEAzinedw@aol.com

Visitors: 01142

Page Updated Thu Jul 22, 2004 8:40pm EDT