Interview: Aliens
By John Michael Cassetta • May 3rd, 2008 • Category: Interviews, Music |
It’s ironic that, even though I’m interviewing the mastermind of what is perhaps the most unique band in Austin, at least in terms of not quite fitting in with the “scene,” I’m in the interview capital of the city – Spider House. Blake, of Aliens, has agreed to join me for the evening, and we’re now crammed into a secluded booth, sharing ideas on the nature of “genre labels,” the exclusivity of “the Austin sound,” radio commercials and, most importantly, Aliens.
Big Diction: People have a hard time classifying the aliens, I’ve heard “Punk,” I’ve heard “Rock,” I’ve heard just “Noise Rock.” Where do you put the band and does that matter to you?
Blake: Yeah, it doesn’t really matter, I mean it’s just music. To me it’s music that I think about and it just comes out that way. But it is intentional too, it’s something very specific that I’m trying to do. So I kind of shy away from labels, but only because people use them as a way to forget you. They use them as a way to negate any power you might have. They stick you in this little box and say, “This is all you are.” It seems like a way to pigeon hole people and forget them, “Oh they’re that – they sound like this band.”
