far, from both fans and media?
Reactions have been really good, thanks. We have been suprised by the
range of people that like our music - for the oldies who only really
listen to traditional music it is the closest they will get to metal
from the folk side of things, and for the metalheads and punks it is
one of the folkiest things they will get into!
Also, tracks have been played on some radio stations that we never
thought would play us. We are not mainstream at all, but most people
seem to like some aspect of our music - which is great.
Are you satisfied with the EP? How long did you work on the songs
and in the studio?
Hmmm, I don't think any band is ever truly happy with a recording! We
actually started recording before we found our double bass player
Mark, about 4 months after we started jamming. We are proud of the EP
as a first release, but hopefully the next one will be even better!
How do you write new songs? All together during rehearsals or do you
work on them at home?
Alot of the songs on the EP came out of mammoth 12 jam sessions
between myself on guitar/bouzouki and Jess on violin. The way we do
things now is as a band - which means the sound is alot more
integrated and rhythmic/heavy.
ow does a rehearsal session look like? Just like one of a "normal"
metal-band?
Ha, ha - well it is not in a garage, but it is in a loungeroom! Every
thursday and friday we practice, but for rehearsals Joe normally uses
an electronic kit, so we definitely don't have m/ volume!
Do you see yourself rooted in one particular scene?
Not really - there are not enough people/bands doing similar things to
us to really make a scene in Australia. This is good though, because
we can play with metal bands, traditional folk groups or with gypsy
swing cabaret burlesque - whoever is into having fun and making an
effort to create a cool vibe.
Could you imagine to expand the instruments you use? Do you have
plans to employ a singer at one point?
Actually, Joe (drums) has got a great voice and has been singing live
on some of the newer songs. We are also plan to use a cello on some of
the new recordings. Hmmm, a clarinet might also be good... but it is
just so much easier to limit the band to 4 people.
Do you play many live-shows? With what kinds of bands do you share the stage?
Yeah, we play heaps of live shows - festivals, underground warehouse
parties and pub gigs. We have shared the stage with extreme metal,
funk-rap, gypsy swing band and many more.
How's the situation for bands in australia when it comes to playing
live? It is a relativly small country for that...
Ha ha, yes! We are very jealous of you guys in Europe. Australia has
hardly any people and huge distances! A few weeks ago we drove 1000km
to Melbourne on a friday, played at a festival during the day and a
pub at night on saturday, drove 1000km back to Sydney on the sunday,
then all went to work on monday...
Aussie bands really have to play in Europe as well to get things
happening properly. But that is great because you can dodge every
winter!
What are you doing besides THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND?
Joe (drums) plays guitar with a singer/songwriter called Sui Zhen,
Mark plays bass in Squid - a weird instrumental evil-jazz band with
heaps of distortion and two drummers, and Jess plays violin in a gypsy
swing band called Lolo Lovina. They all teach music for a living. I am
the odd one out - I work in IT to fuel my music addiction and work on
remixes and practicing banjo.
And who came up with the bandname?
Oh that was painful to decide! After heaps of agonising we were
thinking we were going to be called 'A secret never to be told' but
then named ourselves after one of Jess' tunes called 'The crooked
fiddle reel'.
Final words?
We are really excited about the whole folk/troll metal movement
happening in Europe, as well as the many cool metal and non-metal
festivals, cities and venues. We can't wait to get over there! It
might be in a few years time, but that is our main goal at the moment
- it would be a dream come true to play in Berlin, at the Speigeltent
or, wow, Wacken Open Air!
