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Hi, and thanks for your
time! Please give us a short introduction about your
band first.
Aoife (vocals): Moth Complex is an electronic
rock band. We formed in 2005 in Dublin, Ireland. I had
already written the songs for Moth Complex with a friend
of mine, Gerry Owens, and once they were written and
ready to go, I started looking for band members to take
everything to a live setting. First in was Damien Murphy
(drums), then Vin McCreith (bass) and lastly my brother,
Ronan (guitar).
How did things get started with Moth Complex?
Aoife: Moth Complex all started with an idea in
my head. I had been singing in various bands in Dublin
but none of them really fitted with what I wanted to do.
I started defining in my head what I wanted and began to
develop Moth Complex - songs that combined hard, loud
music with darker electronic parts using my voice as a
contrast to the two. I started writing pieces of songs
and arrangements around my ideas but it all fell into
place when I started working with Gerry Owens. I knew
Gerry already, approached him about working with me and
we talked at length about what the music would sound
like and found we had similar ideas, especially around
wanting to use contrasts. Heavy and gentle. Dark and
light. And to bring out the strength in each element
while balancing it with it’s opposite. After that we
started writing songs and everything clicked and became
Moth Complex!
In my opinion, the combination of the electro and the
unique female vocals give you an own style. How would
you describe the music you are making and why?
Aoife: I think our music has various elements and
therefore it can fit with several styles without being
completely any one of them. But if I was pushed, I’d
call it electronic rock.
What are your main influences?
Aoife: I don’t know what would be direct
influences, but as far as what I like to listen to, I’m
kind of torn between opposites. I love loud, heavy rock.
That’s be my favourite. Bands like Rammstein, Marilyn
Manson, Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down,
Deftones... I also love quieter music along the lines of
classical pieces and soundtracks…Gorecki, Thomas Newman,
Arvo Part. And at the moment I’m listening to the “Lord
of War” soundtrack on repeat! It’s amazing. But then I
also love singers like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald,
Nat King Cole. And I love those old Cole Porter songs…
How do you mostly compose your songs?
Aoife: Gerry Owens and I do the songwriting
together although we tend to work quite separately.
Usually a song starts with an idea that either of us has
- for example a piece of music Gerry has written or a
melody I have in my head or something like that. Then we
work – usually separately - on whatever we’ve got, often
passing the song back and forth between ourselves to
work on, and at some stage we’ll come together and pull
it all into place and finally put on my vocals. It’s all
quite intensive, really, but so good. And it’s great
when the song is finished, to be able to sit back and
appreciate what we’ve made!
The 'Error 256 EP' received an excellent rating from
me in the review on Industrialized Metal. How were the
other reactions (press, public, other bands, etc.) on
the album?
Aoife: Yes, that was an excellent rating -
thankyou for that review! Reaction to “Error 256” has
been brilliant for us! And so far reaching, which has
been amazing! We’ve been featured on radio stations and
in magazines and Internet sites all over the world
–Europe, US, Canada, Africa and also Israel and Japan.
That’s been so good - knowing that Moth Complex is being
listened to all over the world!
Why did you decide to release an EP first in stead of
your debut album 'Core'?
Aoife: The album is fully recorded, but we
haven’t gotten around to releasing it, concentrating
rather on shows and stuff and building the right
environment for ourselves to release the album in. So we
released the “Error 256” EP first instead.
What is in your opinion the best track on the 'Error
256 EP' and why?
Aoife: I couldn’t choose the “best” track because
I love them all. They’re so personal and different to me
that I don’t think there’s a best. And each one has been
my favourite at a different time, so I can’t choose!
Lyrically, you are quite dark and depressed. Is this
really the way you look upon the world?
Aoife: Actually, I don’t see my lyrics as dark
and depressed, but I suppose I can understand why you
would get that impression, if I look at them from a
different angle. To me writing has been a way to either
vent/express feelings about a situation, whatever those
feelings may be, but I think the overall themes are
about overcoming adversity and turning negatives into
positives and finding my way in life. Maybe sometimes
the clearing of stuff in order to do that might involve
an element of darkness, but overall I’m a positive,
happy person!
According to your biography, your live show must be a
real blast. What can a stranger expect when he visits a
live show of Moth Complex?
Aoife: For us, a live show is a real opportunity
to switch off from anything and everything else in life
and just get completely absorbed by the music we’re
playing and have fun. I seem to come out of every gig
with bruises, from being so absorbed in the songs that I
don’t realize how hard I’m beating out a rhythm on the
side of my leg or what I’ve bashed against – which has
been Vin’s bass on more than one occasion! For all of
us, playing live is the best part of being in a band an
we just go out to play the best we can for ourselves and
for everyone who’s come to see us - and to have fun.
Ireland is not really known to me as a country with a
big industrial metal/gothic scene. How is the scene in
Ireland?
Aoife: You’re right that Ireland isn’t a country
with a big industrial metal/gothic scene. It is quite
small. However, the people who are into
rock/metal/industrial/goth here are the same as
elsewhere – really into their music and loyal. It’s
great doing shows here because people do come back again
and again and take the band on as their own. Irish rock
fans have been really supportive and helpful to us.
What do you think about the scene fasions?
Aoife: I’m all for it! I think unusual clothing
and other visuals are just ways for people to express
themselves and be creative and artistic, and I love
that. I love people-watching at shows and festivals and
stuff too… seeing how people dress or their tattoos or
piercings or hair or whatever. It’s all good as far as
I’m concerned.
What can we expect of Moth Complex in 2007?
Aoife: We’re filming a video for “Learned My
Lesson” in the next couple of weeks, I’m finishing some
few songs with Gerry at the moment, we’re planning some
shows throughout the UK, Europe and then later in the
year, the US. We’ve got an album to release at some
stage! We’ve loads on the agenda, and it’s all really
good. So we’ll be busy!
The interview ends here, thank you for your time
answering my questions. If you have some final words to
add, you can do it here.
Aoife: We just want to say thankyou, Gerardo, for
including Moth Complex in Industrialized Metal Webzine -
for the review and for interviewing me and for
supporting us! Thankyou!
Interview by: Gerardo (February 2007) |
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