Human Newsletter Interview

Scott answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:

How would you describe Human’s music?

The million dollar question! Um… it’s definitely metal! I guess the vocal style would class us as ‘death metal’ but we throw a lot of humour in there which isn’t a very death metal thing to do. And we always leaned more towards the British grindcore style than the American thrash metal style. Simple answer: ‘something’ metal.

How do you come up with your lyrics?

It starts with a song title, 99% of the time. And it’s normally from a really dumb observation or catchy phrase that someone says while we’re on tour. Both Vaughn and myself are massive Monty Python fans and that silly style of humour has always been part of the music and lyrics we write. I like to write about zombies but you can only do that so many times. General subject matter can range from; getting stuck in the toilet, been stuck in a storm of raining phlegm, sneaking into a morgue to grab parts for a project or feeding the neighbourhood prowler to your pets. Some of my personal favourite titles are: ‘Wave Goodbye To Both Your Hands’, ‘Outhouse Sniper’, ‘Bludgeoned To Death With A Blunt Excrement’, and ‘Retardo The Avenger’.

What inspired you to start Human and how did you come up with the name Human?

It was me and a friend back at the tail end of 1991. We’d jammed a bit in high school and had a falling out. Before long we were hanging out again and both had our guitars at my place and starting making up riffs to songs. My brother lived in the room next door and had a crappy three piece drumkit. We joined forces and I insisted on the name Human because it was the album title of my favourite band Death. The album ‘Human’ had just come out and was blowing socks off around the world. We were the first band in the world to use the name Human too. Many other bands globally use or have used it and it makes me sick to see such terrible bands associated with the name. Drum n bass, pop etc. And to sick a lawyer onto every band that used the name after us would cost us more than we’re ever likely to make so we just deal with it. For me, it’s enough to know that WE are the original Human band.

What can we expect to see from Human over the next year?

After our anniversary show on June 23^rd we are rehearsing for our new album. We were already underway with tracking in November last year but then we parted ways with our drummer in the start of 2012. When we got our new drummer (Daniel Pawsey) in we were under the gun to rehearse for shows. Poor guy had to learn 20 songs in a handful of weeks. With the anniversary show last on the list of show ahead we can get into the studio and get cracking on recording again. And we have been waiting very patiently for that day – all of us have.

What will Human’s next release be?

We’re currently using the working title of ‘Mystery Meat’ for this album. It’ll be available through iTunes and we’ll sell CD’s at shows. So far we have 10 songs lined up for it but with all of the time between our last attempt at recording and now, I have amassed a few more new songs that we haven’t tried playing together yet! I stockpile a great deal of material y’see. I can tell you that it sound very Human and we’ve already let people in on a track from that album which is called ‘Teenage Bonesaw Massacre’. We recorded that song in particular to let people know that we were still working and making good music. The song has received airplay all over the NZ radio metal shows, and as far away as Holland, USA, England and Canada. And the audience reach is growing all the time.

What is the best part of being a musician?

In this band? I think I’m pretty lucky to be playing with 3 other musicians that are such awesome people. No egos at all. They’re just into the music we do. And I’ve played with some real arseholes over the years so I know the difference! But to be able to get up on a stage and roar my guts out, and slam on a big ol’ 7 string guitar that sounds like a chainsaw going full tilt really can’t compare to anything else in the world. It’s a great way to vent! I don’t have any time for the snobby musicians that watch you play and talk to you like you’re nothing compared to them. If you’re easy going and up there to have fun then I’m totally on your side. Talent necessarily make someone a great person. A good personality and some ability is far more respectable to me.