Interviews

Interviews: Downset

Smother: Now that Downset is complete again, can you tell what actually happened that caused the breakup? And how did you guys reconcile your differences?

Chris: The break up was caused by lots of animosity, tension, and among other things a lack of communication, Ray wanted to his own thing and felt we wernt good enough or somethin. we split for a while, and ray and roy started talking about doing downset again, and 1 by 1 we started talking about it, had a meeting and boom.... here we are.

Smother: Will downset be recording under Mercury records again or have you moved to a different label now?

Chris: Downset is still on Mercury.

Smother: I know that you guys are getting ready to record again. How many songs do you have together so far?

Chris: Well , we're only half way done writing, and with the four songs from before, and Bring Meaning there are like 13 or 14 at the moment. by the time we hit the studio, there should hopefully be somewhere around 20 jams to pick from, and probably drop a single or somethin before the album. (Editor's Note: Supposed to be released late '98)

Smother: What can we expect from Downset's new material?

Chris: A lot of change and growth, the music is heavier and meaner, the beats are more edged and the vocals venture into new vibes...wait and see eh!

Smother: Are you going to be playing any shows anytime soon just let people know that Downset isn't dead?

Chris: Dead? Who? I cant tell ya , keep peeping my site (see below) for those juicy little fragments of info.

Smother: With so many bands out right now trying to milk the whole "rapcore" bit with rapping lyricism and metal music, Downset and Rage Against The Machine were the first well known groups to start using the mix as a band. Your last album "Do We Speak A Dead Language" still had some rapping but there was a lot more spoken parts and yelling, more so than the first release. Will Downset's third album stray even further from the original style?

Chris: I think so. Like I said it's meaner and heavier! I try some jungle, reggae,and techno kinda shit, Ray actually sings. James is always the man on the low-end. And Ares and Roy are hooking it up dope!

Smother: How did Downset first get signed?

Chris: By accident!!! We were another band called Social Justice (hiphop/hardcore). We were playin L.A. a lot, and started to get noticed, realizing we were probably on to something, we stepped back and changed some shit including the name, we played like 3 or 4 showcases and this guy named Alec Peters signed us to Mercury.

Smother: In your opinion, what are some of the best bands out today?

Chris: I dont listen to much of "todays" music, I like a lot of older stuff personally. Downset is good! he he

Smother: Anyone in particular that you'd like to tour with for this upcoming album?

Chris: Beastie Boys!!! We'd love that, Pantera, Biohazard, Soulfly, Fear Factory, I guess the bands were homies with!!

Smother: I've always wondered a few things about signed bands, so I'm going to go ahead and ask...what do you do about laundry and getting paid?

Chris: That is so awsome that you're asking that!!! No one has ever asked that in a interview with us. That's cool. Yeah, man. We basically do laundry every four days or longer, depends on the tour. As far as getting paid goes...the label gives you a certain amount of money and then you pay your bills and whatever and whatever's left you get. And you get a certain percentage of sales and all that.

Smother: How has having a child changed your life?

Chris: It's incredible. It really helped...I don't want to say that I was an asshole, but it definitely helped straighten me out in different ways. Yeah, I've got another one in the oven right now.

Smother: I know a lot of people that have wanted to know this...what is the English translation of the song "Sangre De Mis Manos?"

Chris: There is no direct translation, but in slang its "Blood From My Hands".

Smother: I heard a rumor that Downset's original 2nd guitarist was back with the band. Is this true and if so, what brought him back?

Chris: Yep!! He just kinda showed up!

Smother: Anything you'd like to say to everyone out there who'll be reading this?

Chris: Please check out what we're about and what we got to say! And to all our fans - Thank You!!! Hold on to your ears ... Here comes 3!!!