Jen: What is your name and how many is your group
ASHE:I'm Ashe. Currently there are two members of The Elysium Facade, myself and RoxyBlu. It has been pretty much only myself since the inception. I relocated to NC back in October of 2007 and shortly after brought Roxy in.
Jen: What is the significance of your band name?
ASHE: Well, Elysium means "a place of perfect bliss" or "a state of perfect happiness"... The name as a whole basically states, loosely, that happiness does not exist
Jen: How long have you been making music?
ASHE: I started trying to take making music seriously in the late 80's / early 90's I suppose. I don't really consider TEF a "musical project" per say.. I've always referred to this project as "my therapy". Its more of an audible stream of consciousness done in a very dadaist manor.
Jen: What is your latest album/single?
ASHE: There is a new album in the works currently. We don't release singles typically. The most recent albums would be "The Deepest Sky Is A Shallow Puddle" and "B Sides & Lost Days" which were both released at the same time.
Jen: Have you ever performed outside of the US?
ASHE:I have had offers from England and Germany but, sadly, have never performed outside of the United States.
Jen: Where is your favorite place to perform?
ASHE: I really used to enjoy performing at The Fenix Aboveground in Seattle Washington. I haven't performed live in quite a while, but out of all the places Ive played in the U.S. it just may be my favorite.
Jen: Is your music based on experiences?
ASHE: Well, we don't really sit down and try to come up with a track based on something that recently happened. I would imagine that there is a certain amount of life experience that sub-consciously comes out in our tracks. Isn't that what makes music interesting
Jen: I saw on your profile that you have made a video for "Frozen Nowhere" is there any more videos for your music or any to look forward to in the future?
ASHE: We do have plans for other videos in the future. Video is a medium that I enjoy very much and it is something we will be using much more in the future.
Jen: What do you have going on for us to look forward to in the future?
ASHE:Roxy and I have a new band called Glass Arcana.. We are very excited about the music we are doing in this project. As for TEF, we have new music coming out soon and there will be more distribution of our albums coming soon.
Jen: What would you like to tell your fans and newfound fans?
ASHE:Not everything that's brown is made of chocolate.Jen: Thanks for giving me the time for this interview.
Have a great week.
ASHE: Thanks for taking the time to interview us Jen.
Jen: What is your name and where are you from?
TOC: The Oedipus Complex, from Carlisle UK
Jen: What is the significance of your name?
TOC: The name Oedipus Complex came about after I had completed a sketch of a man pulling eyes out after reading the story of Oedipus. I thought the picture would look good on a flyer so overnight the bands name changed from Genocide Blast to The Oedipus Complex
Jen: How many members are in your group?
TOC: Now there is just me,Chris Smith, with input and occasional programming from my son Dominic.
Jen What is everyone's talent in your group?
TOC: : Ha! good question! the Oedipus Complex is basically just me, but the group started off over 22yrs ago as a punk/alternative outfit, with me on guitar and vocals, Bruce Leigh on bass and Andy Dunham on guitar and keys, drums were courtesy of a Yamaha RX17 drum machine. We got as far as gigging then went our separate ways and all moved to different parts of the country. anyway now its just me, I play all instruments and do 90% of the programming, the other 10% is mu son Dominic who wrote track 2 of the CD, then I went and put perverted samples over it!
Jen: What is your latest album called?
TOC: The latest album is called Solicit Explicit Illusion, the title stems from the fact that every day we seem to solicit explicit illusions, whether its from religion, media or the government, there just seems to be so many lies flying about this world of ours. The first track of the CD is very political, it covers war on terror, islam, whats happening in the middle east at present and how we are fucking up this planet.
Jen: How do you promote your music other than myspace?
TOC: The CD is available at www.cdbaby.com and via the Shinto record label at www.sin-tech.org, the label is working on distribution deals as we speak. I have just finished an exclusive song for a German alternative music mag that is showcasing the Shinto bands
Jen: What do you do in your spare time?
TOC: Music, Soccer and Moto-x, I have a bit of land, so I had the JCB's in not so long ago to make some jumps, no broken bones....yet. Also I am a real soccer fanatic! Also with music I am a real completist and when I get into a band I have to buy everything by them.
Jen: What has been the biggest challenge as a group?
TOC: I think like any musician, getting yourself heard to a wider audience.
Jen: Where has been the furtherest you have been to give a performance?
TOC: Basically now The Oedipus Complex is just studio based, but thats not to say there won't be any live gigs in the future, gigging in the past has been around the UK. I did get on stage drunk once though at Freemont Reggae and Blues Club in Las Vegas and sung Black Magic Woman (badly!) so thats the furthest for me, if that counts.
Jen: What are you working on for us to look forward to in the future?
TOC: Just started recording some ideas/part songs from bits and pieces from the late 80's/early nineties for a new CD
Jen: What would you like to tell your fans?
TOC: Buy the CD........please! Thank you for your support, it is always appreciated! Check out the other bands on the Shinto label, its all good stuff!
Thanks so much for the interview....
I wish you well and good luck with everything you do.