Aethea Newsletter Interview

Aethea was formed in 2005 and play metal music at its finest.

1) Who are your favourite NZ bands and artists?

Sam: Odiusembowel, Backyard Burial, Gomorrah…
Jed: Slave Cadaver, El Schlong, Die! Die! Die!
Quinn: Bloodshed from Napier.
Jared: Vatikan & Omen from Wanganui, Nort, Dead Stoned Babies, Damned Age who’ve just moved to the dark side (Auckland)… there’s heaps of good bands if you look.
Jed: True Bliss before they sold out.
Quinn: Pretty much all the bands we’ve gigged with have been cool.

2) What is your favourite NZ venue?

Jared: Valve is pretty much the only place for underground metal in Wellington you can regularly get gigs at. Greg’s really supportive of all bands that play there. Underground Arts is cool too and there’s a few all ages places that are starting to have metal gigs.
Jed: All ages gigs always go off.

3) What is the best thing about being in Aethea?

Jed: Rockin’ out and getting on the rips!
Quinn: The power and the passion!
Jared: The sega covers!
Sam: Walking through Marion Street to get to valve!
Jed: Mainly that we’re not that serious and just have fun. That should be the main thing about being in a band.

4) What is the best live gig you have ever been to?

Sam: Opeth was pretty good, White Zombie put on a good show, and Primus.
Sam: Pantera.
Jared: Deep Purple 2004 in Auckland and 2006 in Wellington, Faith No More last time they came, Fu Manchu ruled too.
Quinn: Pungent Stench in 2002 at the old State of It in Napier. It’s now the Rack & Ruin I think.

5) Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?

Jared: Probably still at valve!
Jed: Supporting bigger bands perhaps?
Quinn: Hopefully have recorded and released some good albums by then.

6) How do you keep in contact with your fans?

Quinn: They abuse us on internet forums or vice versa.
Jared: Through myspace we get a lot contact with fans, also just at gigs people will come up to us. We’re not that unapproachable!
Sam: I stalk them in the night!

7) What rumour would you like to start about yourselves?

Sam: Jed farts all the time.
Quinn: We have a lame sense of humour.
Jed: We all don’t play our own instruments.
Jared: Quinn is really the baby off the Hyundai Santa Fe ad on TV!
Sam: Quinn is pregnant!
Jed: All our conversations turn to shit!

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Quinn: Stay in school!
Sam: Go hard.
Quinn: Sell drugs to supplement your income cos you’re not gonna make any money!
Sam: Don’t call the cops!
Jared: Depends whether you’re wanting commercial success, if that’s the case you’re playing the wrong kind of music here!
Jed: Just do what you feel passionate about, you might not make much money but you’ll keep your dignity.
Sam: …or turn out like Jed!