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| Nick(NR) |
Asrai Interview with thegraveyardgirls.com
1 How did you all meet? Margriet and Karin are the first ones who met eachother as they are twin sisters. And they started an all over girl band. In that time Martin playing in a band Out of Order together with our friends. Several times both bands played together and more than once Martin went with us as a roadie. After a few bandchanges Rik joined the band after our former guitar player ask him to join Asrai. Rik met Manon the first time in squatted places in Amsterdam on gothic industrial parties. And Karin and Margriet met Manon through her ex-boyfriend who played years ago two gigs together with us. (because our guitarist broke his leg... although it didn’t kept him away from the stage). 2 How long have you been together? We have been a long time together, Margriet and Karin started in 1985 Rik joined us six years ago and just before recording Touch in the Dark Martin and Manon joined the band. This was three years ago. 3 How did you come up with the band name? When we started the band was called Twins No Twins, after three years we had a bandchange and we decided to change our name into Asrai. The Asrai are small, fragile, female beings who turn to a puddle of water when they are captured or exposed to sunlight. Therefore it remains uncaught. ....and certainly in the beginning, many people couldn't label us. So in a way unreachable as well. "Don't come to close and don't put us in musical chains, we will slip right through your fingers." 4 How's the music scene in The Netherlands? We know a lot of great bands and good musician in Holland. Unfortunately not all good bands get the credit they deserve. The Gothic scene in Holland is more Industrial orientated at the moment, while the more rock and metal bands get their successes in other countries. It's difficult when you are beginning as a band because there aren't many possibilities for gigs nowadays. For a lot of clubs it's not financially attractive to book a band while a dance event brings in a lot more money. But we noticed that more youngsters get interested in live music and that's a very good thing. 5 Are you planning on touring the U.S Rik: Sure. It all depends on the sales of our next album. Martin: I most certainly would like to discover the U.S! (but not like Columbus) Manon: I would love to tour over there. We are getting a lot more fans from the US & Canada so who knows, maybe one day it might be possible. Margriet: If we survive customs, bloody hell, it’s not a warm welcome. But I think that the rest makes is all worth while. I like the warm reaction from the US on myspace. 6 Who are your biggest musical influences? Rik: The Ramones, NIN, Wumpscut, Rob Zombie, etc etc Martin: I think that the music I listened to (when i was an adolescent) is a BIG influence to what i am doing right now!(hmm, maybe i never grew up, only got uglier haha). My first album was black & white from the Stranglers (i heard a song on the radio and thought:"bloody Hell, what's this then", turned out to be the Stranglers!). Well from there on came Joy division and LOTS of late 70's and early 80's punk , new wave and post-punk (i'm not gonna bore you with names, although I always DO want to know what kind of music people listen to.....ok then ..just a few : Lords of the new church, 45 Grave, Gunclub, Theatre of hate,the Damned, Killing Joke, Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Suicide (Alan Vega & Martin Rev), Bomb, TSOL, the Sound, D.A.D, Zodiac mindwarp, Blitz, Peter & he test tube babies......like i said :"just a few...before i go on and on.......and on". Graveyard Girls:" STOP IT...NOW!" Karin: My biggest influence has to be the 80’s. Great drumrithmes, using the toms a lot... Although I like a lot of the new bands as well, the combination of old and new. Manon: The 69 Eyes, Placebo, Nine Inch Nails, Jack Off Jill, Jane's Addiction, Cocteau Twins, L7, Joan Jett, The Birthday Massacre, This Mortail Coil, Wednesday 13, The Almighty, Helium Vola, Dope Stars Inc., Vive la Fete, Deathstars, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Saint-Saens. Music with a passion, that’s whats counts. Margriet: Birthday Party, Scratch Acid, Swans, The Damned, the Cure (pornography and Faith) Joy Division, Dead Kennedy’s, Leatherface, enz. We went to a lot of underground concerts; we saw a lot of great and sinister punk band. I like the energie of it all. Music straight from the heart. 7 What was the greatest show you've ever played? Rik: I like 'm all. But I loved the Mexico tour in januari 2006. Martin: Hmmm...every show is great...so best asked is:"what's the worst show?" Personally?, P60 Amstelveen......oh wait a minute..I LOVED Mexico, ohlala! Karin: Being on stage is such a wonderfull feeling, but after the release of Touch in the Dark we had the best gigs so far. With several great gigs. Our show at O13 and Female voices Metal festival still gives me goozebumbs. And the shows, specially the roadtrips were unforgettable. Manon: All shows are great. Some are even a bit better like Female Voices in Belguim, The Mexico tour and 013 in Tilburg were awesome. Margriet: Mexico was really great, the gig with the Damned, great to play with a band we’ve listened too a lot when we where young, We’ve played in Redruth England, not the gig but the journey was special. We played at a festival in Holland called Noorderslag, after the gig we had a bad experience with a Dutch DJ, he made a big fuss out of the gothic scene. Our next gig was at Het Paard, The Hague, and that was important to me, the audience was fantastic, not infected with the stupid reaction of the media. I like to play live and being onstage, but I really get a kick of the reactions of the fans. 8 Where is your favorite place to play? Rik: London, I think (I like to shop) Martin: Like i said above, Mexico stole a part of my heart..another part is for playing live....and still got a little room left, haha Karin: almost every place had it’s charmes. London was nice to shop indeed but it’s not the stage what makes a place most favorite. When people embrace you and your music it’s a special feeling what give you reason to do this again and again. Manon: Where the atmosphere is thrilling, the people really into music and openminded for whatever is going to happen. That are by far the best gigs to play and that doesn’t matter if that is at the other side of the world or just around the corner. Margriet: London, Guadalajara, 013 (Tilburg) etc. I really want to play in Whitby & Scandinavia….a lot of great band come from there. 9 Where was your first show? Rik: Ooopss..with this band...eerrhhh.... Martin: At school back in '81 with my first punkrock band called Systematic Death Karin: After existing for five weeks we had our first gig in 1985 at a party somewhere in Rotterdam. Manon: Long long time ago...... Margriet: At a party in Rotterdam, I was so nervous, We played our set three times: sound check, the gig and after that for the ones how missed it before. But a real gig was in Oud-Beyerland, I never forget, I was wearing a tight skirt and high heals, I couldn’t clime up stage…really charming… 10 Besides music what are your other hobbies? Karin: Not much time left for other hobbies. Load of stories are waiting to be read… if I had only the time for it.. I like watching other bands… but my biggest hobby still remains Asrai. Rik: I make drawings. Drink whisky... Martin: Well, i like sleeping very much (practice for later?) and keeping an open mind! Manon: My biggest timeabsorber is Asrai, besides that I like to read, photography, try to stay in touch with my friends. Margriet: eh..hobbies, I like to make things..eh, when I have the time… 11 Are you going to tell all your friends about thegraveyardgirls.com? Rik: I'll ask them to dig u up. Martin: Well , they already know about you Manon: ofcourse! I love the site and the cartoons! Margriet: They can find you in mine hitlist Don't forget to pay a visit to The Graveyard Girls site |
| Silver Olivier |
Nice one 
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| Dusk |
Nice pictures, but then again. Theyt always look nice on pictures 
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