Rebel Music: A Lasting AudioScar *Interview*
Greeting and salutations Rebels! I know, I know it’s been ions since I’ve done an interview. Well I’m happy to announce my hiatus is officially over and I give you AudioScar, a young neo-alternative trio from the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. I came across this group through mutual friends on Facebook, and I have to say they show real promise. Though they are clearly still wet behind the ears, they have youth on their side and let’s face it in the music business that’s a definite advantage. It means they have time to grow musically and as a cohesive unit. Their influences are strong and clear in their recent single “Why?” they channel that ever popular heavy alt-rock that is pleasing to the masses. If Evanescence and Linkin Park is you’re cup of tea then I highly recommend checking these guys out. I hit up AudioScar’s Keith Rob and Strange Emily to find out what’s good…
Introduce yourself
We’re an experimental hard rock band uprising from Brooklyn. Our band consists of 3 members. Emily as lead vocals, keith as the guitarist/key doing vocals as well and Jelani Weeks as the drummer and a multi-instrumentalist producer.
Tell us briefly about your humble beginnings…
Keith: The band was originally founded June 6th 2011. It all started with Keith and his visions of playing in a band again with musicians that have the same desire, despite the past failures of band break ups prior to AudioScar. It started off with his best friend Riko D. as lead vocals, his friend Leo as 2nd guitarist, Cornelio on drums and one of his close friends who has always been by his side Jelani Weeks. Although, he was known as a great drummer, he humbled himself to become bassist. Throughout the months of gigging, rehearsing & practicing things weren’t working so well with the band so a few changes had to be made. Riko being one of Keith’s close friends he had to let him go along with Leo. Later on Emily & Hiro Peace joined. Being a complete band was a very exciting feel, but something still wasn’t right. Hiro had to depart and was draft to the army and we had to let go of our drummer Cornelio for other reasons. Now with only 3 members left of a broken band a change was made and Jelani took the position of what he’s best doing, playing drums leaving an open room for a bassist. Now falling into a pit where a majority of bands are searching for bassist, that didn’t stop us at all from moving forward. We believe we’ll find our bassist when the time is right, so as our journey continues with the support of really good friends we were offer help for live shows with the support of live musicians. Now with only 3 members left as the producers of the band the journey pretty much continues from here…
What does rebellion mean to you? How do you rebel against the status quo?
Emily: Expressing yourself the way you want to no matter what others think. I’ve had a problemback then with my teachers & classmates. They didn’t like my style, although I did. It made me feel different and gave me my personality.
Keith: Rebellion to me is to have an open minded conscience decision about the way you view something without feeling the sub-opression of others to make you see it there way. Going against the status quo? Growing up I’ve always been bothered about the way I operate my life, I just simply become stubborn to the enforcing ways of society. What I personally don’t like the most is trends…it’s like a virus to me that kills originality and replicates clones that operate the same way as the last clone. Be open mindedly stubborn is my advice haha.
How has the underground scene influenced your art/career?
Emily: It made me comfortable to accept the things I really want to do. I dress to the way I sing, to the people I hang out with, to the places I hang out at. Because I found myself it made me care less about what the majority thinks.
Keith: The underground scene I’d say has help me more to accept who & what I am. I personally feel like I don’t fit into a majority of social clicks out there, but I’ve learn to accepted that. Career wise, there’s people that say ohh that’s been done before and can’t be done again, but because I have such strong passion for my craft I ignore what they say. My craft is what I do best so no one can tell me nothing, like Kanye says haha.
What recent contributions have you made to your local scene?
Keith: Using our skills we help out other bands/artists/groups. Emily help out one of her friends band as a singer when they were going through a tough time. Keith helps out many other upcoming industry artists as their live guitarist, as well as a recording engineer for local rock bands. Jelani helps has benefited his church alot by playing drums ,bass ,guitar,piano for his church services & concerts. Over all we’re really glad to help others, we can already see our blessings coming back to us.
Where do you see the scene in five years?
Keith: Well, with the ever changing technology, we’re seeing that more and more bands/artists have the advantage of being an independent musician and doing almost everything a record label could do. The only issue we see is, because the majority of bands that now have access to these higher powers, it will make it even harder to find good music (not saying that everyone makes horrible music). So ultimately it won’t be about talent anymore, but more about promotion & distribution with a powerful support team. So in 5 years we really see a struggle of “standing out & maintaining your reputation”
What’s next for you? Any upcoming events, music releases, art projects etc.
Keith: Yes we actually had 2 very big shows coming up. The showcase we did Sept 25th was a contest where the winner gets a video shoot. Whether or not we win, our next goal is to create a professional music video for our next single call “Built 2 Break” Meanwhile we’re still in progress of creating our Promo CD, which will be for free! So you can steal it, no worries. The cops won’t arrest you. We also have an ongoing comic series which represents our journey as a band, & major events so that’s’ something our fans look forward to.
How can we contact you? (Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Website Etc.)
Keith: We’re mostly active on Facebook since MySpace died. On YouTube you can catch our latest videos including our newly release single “Why” don’t forget to check that out. We encourage you to follow us on twitter. We’re on the site Reverbnation as well. There you can download our music for free.
facebook.com/officialaudioscar
youtube.com/ officialaudioscar
reverbnation.com/officialaudioscar
twitter.com/Audio_scar
Keep working hard guys! You have a very lucrative career ahead of you. The Rebellion will be following you closely.
Interview by: Nails McKray theridgewoodrebel@gmail.com
