Friday, May 15, 2015

Membrane Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Since the record, we have actively prepared this album release, as it was 4 years since we hadn't released an album, we had to review everything. The composition and recording (mixing and mastering included) lasted 8 months in total (from March to October 2014). a short time because we don't live of our music, we all have a job. From the moment we were all ok for the mastering of Alan Douches, we looked for labels, Big or small, our priority was to take it out on vinyl, and also to have a digital support via internet ...  "Basement Apes Industries" was ok to do it, so we embarked on co-production for this album release and Atypeek was ok for digital sound. It's more interesting to play the music but it was necessary to do the other aspect (promotion, research shows, printing t-shirt, making the video part for the show, vinyl visual, design, etc, check for cd and vinyl pressing ...). We had to create the artwork and the mood of the new album "Reflect Your Pain" then. We also made a new website: www.membranenoise.com (Max manages) and revived the social networks ...  and bandcamp.. we also look for concert dates for promotion. The objective is the release in April, so release party at Paris, and European tour dates with Revok. It is a continuous work, it never stops, you put a lot of energy, we (members of membrane: Nico, Max, Alban) help each other to move forward on some points to advance, it is quite constructive, there is much discussion. and in parallel to all this we create other new pieces in anticipation of a split with another band and to extend the set live.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

The sound featured on the new album is very heavy, powerful and "opaque", it helps to put a heavy atmosphere with the aim not to allow the listener to breathe ... we wanted a sound that can fit in as much to the compositions and we found it!
other albums are different in composition, the songs were more "Noise" , faster and therefore the sound is different . We also worked every time with different sound engineers for records , so personal keys for each sound texture of each album. " Utility of useless things" is eleven years ago now, and the pieces at the time was less speed and noise! We were satisfied every time for the sound, it fitted us! for " Reflect Your Pain " we did a vinyl mastering different and the sound is even better , much heavier and freezing! and on this album I put more despair for singing, which accentuated the effect of heavy atmosphere!

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

For themes of the songs , I went on this album about death, the double personality of an human being , the cerebral state of a person under the ground, on the pain, evil thoughts , hopelessness, mental distress , fall , assault we hear in our heads , the reflection of his image, loneliness and all that with time some glimmers of hope ! etc .. it was also a lot in connection with music. At the beginning of the musical writing I had my themes, then once we had the pieces , I harnessed the words , and it was a very important moment for me, I spent nights making that, to become crazy! and registration had to be given to the texts all this intensity! "Breath" for example , where I started alone on guitar and vocals and other instruments then arrives and ends with a female voice , I think this song is representative to make you want to spend as image of this album "Reflect Your pain"!

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Membrane'?

we chose the name " membrane " because it has several interesting definitions, and we wanted a short band name and thought that it sounded good. 15 years ago , when "Membrane" was formed , I was a fan of the film " Existenz " David Cronenberg and also films of David Lynch where music have a very important role in his films , so the name came pretty easily . A membrane is both a substance surrounding an organ, a cell but also a part of a vibrating transducer under the effect of an acoustic pressure , sound wave , and finally a sealing wall for separating the compartments, and acts as a diaphragm!

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

The best shows are those where we played support with bands such as Unsane, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mouth of the Architect, Kylesa, Kong, Ufomammut  and more because you play with bands that you enjoy and you'll put the mental pressure! You are obliged to give you in depth, and you give all your energy on stage! and when bands members say to you "Crazy show guys", you become aware of the impact of your music! there is also a great time to the Eurockeéennes festival in 2004 !, it was our first big festival as musicians, a great moment! we were also younger! and then played Jr Ewing and Mono on the same stage! There is also an amazing time in Poland in Wroclaw (2010) where people were trans, cry, dance to our music and it was a crazy concert! full of emotions, I still have a lot of images in my head! and recently the European tour in May 2015 has strengthened us to defend our last album, the shows were more and more intense emotions, and scenic and visual expressions, we really found a symbiosis between us and we thoroughly!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

 Yes! We were a 10-day tour with Revok (band of paris) and others shows in April. You can see photos and comments all day of the tour: https://revokbuntaufgrau.wordpress.com/  We did some dates in eastern France too, and nearly the release party 2! at "Home" and a show in Switzerland (june 4). We seek a maximum of dates to promote the new album for the Automn (mainly in France) and we also think about another European Tour for next year.


7.The new album was released on Basement Apes Industries and Atypeek Music, can you tell us a little bit more about there labels?

Membrane Basement Apes Industries, this is a great "Love Story"! Fred Bouchet, the manager of the label, trusted us since the beginning, our first album was released in 2004! and since we are still working together! His ideas and his conception of the music industry correspond to ours. He was always there to promote the band, and edit all our albums, he worked on some album covers, too, it is always fully invested, and since its creation (in 2003), he worked with many groups, this year it is in its fiftieth out! He Has Worked very Actively for the release of the latest album. . Regarding Atypeek Music is a recent meeting, Christophe Feray followed us for a long time and contacts were made well before the album was finished, he trusted us on the production of the album, and we are very satisfied! The label Explored a surprisingly wide range of genres, principally Noise bands! digital media is important now because people are also increasingly linked to what is going on the internet via itunes, deezer, etc... People also another way to listen to music and discover bands. Atypeek Music Allows us to exist and to be distributed on digital platforms. Both labels have become complementary to us, and they worked together to also promote the album, and it also served to streaming the album for a week over "New Noise magazine" just before the official release.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of noise rock and hardcore?

The feedback is very good ! even better than before! we feel a clear evolution , social networks have played a big part! I'm on networks that only last year and this facilitates much better spreading our music and connections worldwide . I feel that people are really receptive to our music , I now correspond with people from Japan, Usa, Mexico, Brazil , Norway, Poland etc ... in our albums, there is always the fiber " Noise" !, our identity ! and I think we touch different people now , whether in the "Noise" , "Post- Hardcore" , "Rock", "Metal", "stoner" , "doom" , "sludge" etc ...

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

I think the band really found its guideline, we try to give all our emotions through our music , music is an exutoire / outlet and we will give the most attention . we already let's create other songs , with the same vein as Reflect Your Pain. We already play in concert, and we see that it sounds well, and we think even record a few songs at the end of the year. Always quite long songs , between 6 and 8 minutes each.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We listen different musical styles, whether of Pop to Death Metal ! We are all fans of Neurosis , Unsane , Breach and Amen Ra , so it plays a lot on our music. For me, I am a  Sonic Youth fan since adolescence, I always liked the saturated guitars !!! and I 've always had this attraction to "Noise Music" !!! I think this album has managed to distance with those great bands developing our own style ranging from the Noise and Metal, to have our own personality ... now we're listening the last album of Metz ! terrible !, also Kenmod , Wovenhand , Terra tenebrosa , Envy, Buildings and more, more ...

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Nico: red wine, the design of the fifties and sixties , skateboarding, BMX, the design/vintage market , and looking after my family
Alban : the great wild spaces , good drinks , my wife and my daughter .
Max : Tennis, horror movies , family.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

 In the future, near or far, we would be really happy to see membrane open a bit more to the world, that would be really fun to be able to come and play in England or even beyond Europe. The music is an important link between people, and allows you to meet so many different people at each place where you play . Strongly following the events !  Thank you for your interest in our music, it's a pleasure to see people put the ear on our "Reflect Your pain" album. THANKS

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