Lotus: What�s the story on the newly re-released The Grimm Robe Demos, any extra tracks, etc.?
Greg: The CD contains the bonus track "Grimm and Bear It," a live track recorded circa �99, and the LP contains the bonus track "Bremerton," a rehearsal track from �99. We�ve had the CD version re-mastered, and the packaging for both versions is top-notch.
Lotus: Gotta ask about the robes themselves, because they�re so fucking cool - they totally fit your music/approach. How did they come about? Does someone custom make them for you?
Greg: Sunn was never really intended to be a live band/project. It was mostly an outlet for Stephen (O�Malley) and I to get together and collaborate and maybe record some of that in the studio. When we did end up setting up gigs they were sort of awkward for me personally as I felt obligated to "entertain" and I was letting the audience reaction affect my performance. Given the improvisational aspect and trance like quality of what I do in Sunn, my concentration was altered by the feeling of an obligation to entertain. At most of our early gigs (�99 - �00) I would lay down behind the wall of amps and completely trance out.
At one point Stephen and I thought it would be interesting to turn the live performances into a ritualistic type atmosphere. We had the idea of adding smoke, affected lighting, and wearing monk, or druid, style outfits. Steve�s sister is a fashion designer and when we approached her with the idea of creating "outfits" for Sunn, she dove full-bore into the process. The robes we wear now are actually the second batch created for us. Donning these robes allows me to get into a different headspace and also not worry about entertaining the audience as the robes mostly handle the visual aspect of the performance.
Lotus: Are there plans for Sunn0))) to record in �05?
Greg: Indeed, we`ve been working on material for the upcoming Black 1 album.
Lotus: What can we expect on Black 1? What�s the band lineup? What about the material?
Greg: Stephen and I are still working on this. We�ve gotten together a few times and started the basic tracking. We�ve recorded with Scott Reeder at his ranch in the desert. Working with Scott is great and we loved the job he did on our 00VOID album. At the moment the material and recordings are still in an infancy stage, so it�s too early to tell what will happen. We are hoping to include some new collaborators on this album.
Lotus: How do you write Sunn0))) material? Since it�s not conventional song structure, is it created more on an improv basis?
Greg: It�s 90% improvisation, 5% individual members� prepared ideas, and 5% members� pre-conceived preparation. Some of our recent recordings (White 2) have come about from pieces that we came up with at live shows. Improvisation and working off the chemistry of the players involved is what keeps Sunn different and interesting for us.
Lotus: Have Sunn0))) ever been approached to do soundtrack work? Is that something you�d be interested in? Seems like a natural to me.
Greg: We have a few songs in small-budget movies, but it was material that was already recorded. Cameron Jamie has asked us to do a live improvisation based off one of his films. That�s something I�m looking forward to trying.
Lotus: Just how loud are Sunn0))) live? Ever take a decibel reading? I�ve read reports of people�s bowels needing quick relief at your shows.
Greg: We have had a few decibel readings at shows and I believe we were between 120 and 130 dbs. Volume is a very big part of the Sunn live performance. It�s about a physical presence (with sound waves) as much as an audio experience. Our goal is for the audience to feel the band as much as hear it. We have heard a few reports of audience members getting sick or having to go to the bathroom during our sets.
Lotus: How was the recent Sunn0))) tour of the U.S. and Europe?
Greg: We actually only did a few shows in the U.S. We haven�t done a full-blown tour of the U.S. as of yet. And the shows we recently completed in Europe were primarily in the U.K., with one show in Greece. I think this recent U.K. jaunt was among our best performances. Steve and I each played two full stacks powered by two Sunn Model T�s each. Rex had analog keyboards running through two 8x10s and one 2x15. So it was loud as fuck.
Lotus: I saw new tour dates � Europe in March? Is that still a go?
Greg: Yes, we are actually going to Australia and parts of Europe in March/April. These will be our first ever gigs in Australia.
Lotus: OK, on to Goatsnake. What�s that band�s current status?
Greg: The more and more I participate in Sunn "activities," the less and less I feel that I want to be involved in a traditional band (bass, drums, guitars, vocals). I really love Goatsnake and what we have done together but the freedom and ease that comes with Sunn is unmatched.
Lotus: But is Goatsnake finished as a band? Or are you just on an extended hiatus? Do you plan to record again? Is there any unreleased Goatsnake that might still surface?
Greg: I�m not sure how to answer that question. Pete Stahl and I both have a lot of other things going on and sometimes it�s difficult to get (it) together. We�re NOT officially broken up and I guess you could say we�re on "hiatus," but we really haven�t made an �official" statement about that. We are considering re-releasing our second, out of print album: Flower of Disease, sometime in the near future. As far as new recordings, nothing is certain, but it�s certainly not out of the question.
Lotus: Are you working on any other projects, or are Sunn0))) and Southern Lord keeping your schedule full?
Greg: I�ve recently gotten the home-recording bug, so you may see some recordings come out of those experimentations. But yeah, Sunn and Southern Lord and life in general keep me very busy.
Lotus: What�s going on with Southern Lord for 2005?
Greg: We�ve been very fortunate as of late, with more and more people checking out our actions. This has led to us being able to work with more great bands/musicians and release killer sounds. This coming year will see releases from Urgehal (killer Norwegian black metal), Boris (the Akuma No Uta CD), Thrones (a compilation of 7�s), and unreleased heaviness from our favorite drone heathen, Earth (a new studio album from the godfathers of drone!). Also, Sunn (The Grimm Robe Demos) and the new studio album. And, of course, some other surprises to keep things exciting.
Lotus: You�ve got to be happy with the success and support Southern Lord�s had so far. What�s been the most rewarding/satisfying for you?
Greg: Yes, I feel very fortunate. Our releases seem to have struck a chord and we have gained a loyal following. The most satisfying thing is seeing a project through from its beginning stages, to the release, and then having people appreciate, respect and enjoy that album.
Lotus: What are you listening to these days?
Greg: I�ve been getting into analog keyboards and the sounds/tones they make, which has led me to artists like Wendy Carlos, John Carpenter, Zombi, etc. Other bands/artists I have been listening to a lot lately are: Oren Ambarchi, Craft, Leviathan, Xasthur, High on Fire (the new album), OM, the Hidden Hand, and "revisiting" Nirvana.
Special thanks to Greg for taking the time to answer questions. Extra props for responding so quickly, as well! |
