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Letztes Jahr haben Cherry But No Cake ihr Album “Human Frailties” veröffentlicht. Viele Songs liefen hier schon bei Toast ON Fire und es werden sicher noch mehr werden. Ein schöner Grund, mal zu schauen, wer diese Kirschen sind, woher sie kommen und ob sie Kuchen mögen.
Who and where are you?
Sebastian: I’m Sebastian Durkin drummer for Cherry But No Cake, currently situated in London.
Chris: I’m Chris, I moved here (London) almost 10 years ago from Paris.
How would you describe your music?
Sebastian: Like a war on nice. Its loud and abrasive but with a sense of humor. It was, and still is always important not to take ourselves too seriously. Obviously you want to take the music seriously and be passionate about what you do, but without disappearing into your own arsehole… we like to have fun at the same time as writing good songs.
Chris: Well, it depends on the mood we’re in (or the mood I’m in most of the time). Loud and melodic, often melancholic, sometimes dark. There aren’t any musical boundaries, so we play 5 minutes instrumental heavy rock songs as well as short twisted pop ones. I like the idea of musical freedom, whether listening to or playing music. I love Shellac and the Melvins but also Built to Spill and Pavement. Sometimes we end up in the middle, other times in a specific corner. Add a sense of humor, and there you go! I like well arranged songs, so we always try to work in that direction.
How much you are involve in music? Do you have to do a day job at a petrol station?
Sebastian: Fortunately not, I’m actually lucky enough to work in a recording studio. I make a lot of tea and coffee and flirt relentlessly with clients. Unsurprisingly I like a music a quite a bit, so its great to be surrounded by musicians constantly.
Chris: I do have a demanding job, but I’m lucky enough to be able to schedule my own working hours, so I can make time for music. I’m a restaurant manager, so there’s absolutely no connection with music, although I do have to endure hearing shit tunes at work all the time! hahaha!
Most important, my job is secondary in my mind. So if it becomes necessary, I’ll quit (again).
What is the reality of being in a band?
Sebastian: That you end up hating your friends because you never meet their ambitious requirements. Ha. Not really I guess the reality is that its hard plain and simple, I can only speak from the perspective of somebody that’s been in bands in London but it’s a big city and there is
a lot of competition. It’s also very fractured in terms of a sense of musical community. We’re trying to put that right though.
Chris: It’s a constant compromise, on a human level anyway. I’ll always be demanding with Seb and Dom in regards to what I’d like us to achieve, but I also want to maintain a healthy balance between love and hate! Hahaha! Fortunately, we’re all good friends, Seb and I even live together, he’s a bit like my little brother. I guess we’ve learned to know each other and found a way to keep a fair amount of harmony in the band. Above all, I think we’re determined to keep going, and are pretty happy with what we’ve achieved so far (not much but it’s there).
I couldn’t play in a band just for the sake of it. We must share a certain musical mindset. Seb and I are pretty much surfing on the same wave. It’s utterly important to endorse a common state of mind.
You live in London, does this influence your music and lifestyle?
Sebastian: I think that ultimately a person’s surroundings are always conducive to their creative output. On a basic level things like the cost of living or the weather always make a difference to your mood and immediate environment, but in a greater sense the subtle or less obvious elements of living in a city like this have a huge impact. Chance encounters with French men for instance have influenced ‘my’ music and lifestyle greatly.
Chris: Not really. Music is a way of dealing with an overflow of emotions in my case, so I just sit at home with my guitar, smokes, whisky, and try to let some shot come out. Basically.I think I’d write the same songs living anywhere else.
Are there any bands from your area you can recommend?
Sebastian: Roll Call For The Second Site, Yokozuna, Bo Ningen, One Unique Signal, The Lakes, You Me The Switch, The Cathode Ray Syndrome, The Jesus Knives.
Chris: On top of those above, hmmmm… Jedathan, Conmungos, Ntwin, Hypos, Danisco for beauty, Shub!
Please tell us something about the Theremin and the story behind why do you use it in your music.
Chris: I love that shit! I love fucking around with sound in general, but being the only guitarist and main vocalist I have little time to raise hell with my thermin and other shit. I’d love to though! So we’re about to write some songs with 2 drummers and another guitarist. So I can really have fun with my toys!
How can I get your CD if I live in Germany?
Sebastian: Come to London and buy it! Or send us an amazing picture that we will cherish forever and we’ll send and album back.
Chris: Well, you can send us some money through paypal, or send us a cheque. It’s only £5. But hopefully, we’ll soon come to visit you guys.
What was the last CD you bought?
Sebastian: Not sure it’s been a while ummmmm, I think it was a ‘Wire’ album.
Chris: It’s been a while. We usually trade Cd’s with bands we play with. I bought Humanfly’s LP when we saw them a few months ago. Good stuff!
And I just got hold of Yokozuna ‘s “Rare Nurse” EP. great shit!!!!!!! I love them.
What is your favourite cake? Do you have a favourite frosting on a cake?
Sebastian: I particularly like Carrot Cake, its odd because its primary ingredient is a vegetable. How many other cakes are made from vegetables? To get back to carrot cake… it has the best frosting ever – Cream Cheese.
Chris: I like pear and chocolate tart a lot. And raspberry stuff.
www.myspace.com/cherrybutnocake |
I prefer to stay up late and to write in the quiet.
