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Rock Band Interview with Munkafust
In this in-depth rock interview, Evan Brau from
Munkafust reveals the history of the band, the struggles of an indie
rock band, and his secrets of recording on a budget!!
A Short Bio
Munkafust released their first CD, Way
Too Much Inertia in 1993. In the fall of 1999, their notoriety
gained the attention of Pinch Hit Records who immediately signed the band.
Munkafust will be touring extensively in support of Down For Days.
Down For Days is their 5th release.
Down for Days was produced in
NoHo by Rob Jacobs (U2/Henley), Mark Dutton (Brian Jonestown Massacre)
and David Lebental (Placebo Royale).
The Interview
(w/Evan Brau from Munkafust)
Access Rock: Billboard Magazine
says that Munkafust means "a band that's more than paid it's dues..",
but can you tell me what it means?
Evan: It was actually a nickname
for one of my buddies. He started managing us at the time and we decided
to name ourselves Munkafust. It came from f##ckin' Monkey really!!
Access Rock: "Down For Days"
is Munkafust's fifth CD. You've received some great reviews - How has
it been received by your fans?
Evan: Very Well! We're still pushing
it - an indie (independent) project sometimes takes a while, but we made
a lot of new fans from that record.
Access Rock: Where is most of your
fan base, in the West Coast?
Evan: Yes, definitely L.A. is the
biggest fan base.
Access Rock: Who are your major songwriting
influences?
Evan: Varied - a lot of different
styles. For Munkafust I would have to say rock artists anywhere from Lennie
Kravitz, Sublime, stuff like that. U2 also, some reggae in there.
Access Rock: Were you writing before
you started Munkafust?
Evan: Yah, definitely. But, some
of the songs that I was writing (before) became Munkafust songs just because
that was the outlet that I had, you know. I've been writing a long time.
Access Rock: How do you go about
writing new songs?
Evan: Sometimes I write alone and
sometimes I write with the guys in the band. It depends on where we are
and what time. Mostly the music comes first because there is a wealth
of that, and the lyrics come after. Once in a while I'll write a poem
and set it to music. Writing a song is like a formula [to me]. You get
into the habit of doing things certain ways. I'll get in the studio alone
to come up with some general ideas and bounce weird little ideas off of
the band, that's how we write together.
Access Rock: Would you say the songwriting
is 50/50 between you and the band?
Evan: I do most of the writing. On
Down For Days, I did all of the writing. Recently, the
band and I have been collaborating a lot more - getting into the studio
together.
Access Rock: I love the opening riff
to 'Control of my heart'. Was that yours?
Evan: Yah.
Access Rock: It's interesting, very
unique.
Evan: It's descending then ascending.
It's sort of a hammer-on thing.
Access Rock: Did you play in a lot
of bands before you started Munkafust?
Evan: No, Munkafust has been pretty
much it. There have been a few different incarnations of the band-I'm
the only original member left.
Access Rock: Wow, that's amazing.
So how did changing band members affect the music?
Evan: It was mostly drummers in and
out. Now, I think I got the drummer that's gonna make it to the end -
if there is an end in sight! Circulating band members is just part of
the [music] business - that's the way I see it. Birds of a feather flock
together. You have to live by clichés sometimes and that is very
true. I've finally found people that I like being with. That makes it
easier when your in a van with 'em for 40 hours, you know!
Access Rock: How do you think the
web has helped to promote Munkafust?
Evan: Alot - it's helped to promote
it, but it also hurts us sometimes too because the music becomes free.
From a sound vantage point it hurts, from a fan vantage point it helps
a ton, you know. I try not to concentrate as much on sales as I do the
fans, even though we have to make a living at it too.
Access Rock: Do you think your songs
are popping up on those free music-sharing sites?
Evan: When Napster was still around,
at any given moment there would be like a hundred different references
to Munkafust.
Access Rock: I think if a band wants
to use it as a promotional tool then that's fine. But, if the band doesn't
give it's O.K., than it's bogus.
Access Rock: I read on the Munkafust
web site that you're going back into the studio to record songs off of
the last 5 Munkafust CD's. Why did you decide to record those songs again?
Evan: Well, the production value
on the first album was just miserable - it was real tinny. That album
sold the most and the songs have the most lasting power. So I wanted the
people who are in the band now to record those songs and re-release them
and see what happens. We go out and play and people still request those
songs - that's a testament to their lasting power. Radio stations may
still want to play them!
Access Rock: Yah - with different
musicians playing, the songs might have a totally different feel.
Evan: Now, in my house, I've got
Pro Tools [a hard disk recording system]. I can do a professional job
on the recording for no money!
Access Rock: Yah, absolutely! That's
how I recorded my band's last CD. Is your Pro Tools set up top of the
line?
Evan: No, but I've got nice outboard
gear like an Avalon Preamp, AKG and C4000 mics. Some really good stuff
- you can do a great job with it. I have this other thing that will allow
me to record live drums really well. You have to tune the drums right,
putting on new strings (snare), new heads, everything. I've got an isolated
space with double glass for the drums so it's good.
Access Rock: What's your take on
the current state of rock music?
Evan: Rock music is ruled by Metal
Rap right now, except for maybe Creed or Nickelback. Creed and Nickelback
seem to be playing real rock and roll and selling it. Then you've got
Linkin' Park on the other hand. But, there's something to say for that
- they work really hard and they deserve what they get. The music may
not be the greatest but I don't think it's the worst either!
Access Rock: I see you are currently
playing shows up the west coast. Have you toured the rest of the US?
Evan: Last summer, we did 6 shows
with Rod Stewart back East, and we did our own little stint out there
while playing with him. We drove across country by ourselves, had a small
bus and managed to do it somehow!
Access Rock: Can you tell our readers
the most important things you've learned after making 5 CD's with Munkafust?
Evan: Stay true to what you're music
is. Don't let anybody from the outside change it, even if they are giving
you a million bucks to do it - there's really no point!
Access Rock: Or make it better right?
Evan: Or make it better. Better and
worse is all an opinion anyway, though. I think sounding better is where
it happens. In order to do that you need to buy the right equipment and
take enough time. But, I think the song itself should be valid in itself.
It's just a matter of arranging it and whatnot.
Access Rock: If a song sounds great
playing it with an acoustic guitar, than you know you have something!
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