We are back, after a brief hiatus, bringing our readers more of the best in Indie Music. Our next interview comes from the superstar cool SKA, Dub, and Reggae indie band The Local Skank. Their amazing eclectic sound, fabulous energy, and wonderful tunes are all great pluses for why this band is the act not to be missed. Here is the online conversation our publication had with the band concerning their awesome music. Enjoy!
Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?
The Local Skank: We have always enjoyed being able to do just as we please, which tends to be eclectic, unexpected, and inspired by our imagination and collective creativity. We have been lucky enough to not have to follow any rules or pre-set expectations as we make our way!
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?
The Local Skank: There are sooooo many possible scenarios there, it’s almost impossible to give a generalized answer! It would all depend on the terms of the deal and what we would have to ‘give up’ for it. Regardless of the specifics, we would try to approach any possible record deal with a mixture of optimism, enthusiasm, healthy skepticism and open-mindedness.
Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?
The Local Skank: We have FUN in what we do, and it comes across in our performances and recordings. We have a wacky sense of humor as well as an incredibly close rapport among the band members, and it makes our performances stand out. We feel incredibly lucky to get to make music and we try to keep that uppermost in our minds when we gig. It seems to us there is a danger of musicians taking themselves too seriously (as opposed to being serious about what they do!) and we try to never fall in that trap. Our goal is to be as serious as we can about the music we create while letting our silly individual and band’s personalities shine through for the audience to see!
Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to The Local Skank Band?
The Local Skank: We think fans should listen for the same reasons we enjoy playing our music. Strong song arcs and arrangements, interesting use of conventions and devices from many different genres, a wide variety of subject matter from the serious to the very flip, catchy horn parts and vocal lines, and more. There are many opportunities in live concerts for audience participation, and we love the fact that our music gets people to dance!
Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.
The Local Skank: Well, our guitarist Dani, upon moving to New Orleans from Ohio, placed a Craigslist ad seeking female musicians—she had the vision of forming an all-woman ska band and calling it The Local Skank as a pun on the dance and the gender. Our trumpet and trombone players, Hannah and Ashley answered the ad, curious to see who was seeking ladies who played horns since that scenario is relatively rare.
They both have degrees in music studies, and their widely eclectic individual music backgrounds in classical, folk, indie-rock and world music complemented Dani’s strong ska, rock and punk roots. Melissa, our bass player, brought broad and deep knowledge from years of playing in goth, punk, metal, and rock bands, and added more complexity to our musical mix with her expertise.
Darryl joined the band about a year later, replacing the original drummer and bringing his own background in a wide variety of rock genres, as well as a wide-ranging general music knowledge. We all learn from each other, and have a huge range of song-writing styles which gives our repertoire variety and interest.
Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?
The Local Skank: The answer above leads to the answer to this question, which is there is no one/artist or band that is a model for the band as a whole. Every band member has their idols and influences, but we try to create something that is far more than the sum of the individual parts. Since the band was originally Dani’s creation, her musical loves played a huge role in conceptualizing the band’s sound, and are worth mentioning specifically. Bands like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, and other 3rd-wave ska bands helped shape her musically growing up, and led to her love for ska to begin with.
Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?
The Local Skank: There are many ways to define “indie music”, and also “respect”, if we’ve misunderstood the question, we’re sorry and owe you a cupcake! Indie used to, and often still does; refer to bands not signed to a major record label. At least in New Orleans, there seems to be little judgment based on whether a particular individual or band is on a record label or not. There are many good and great New Orleans bands that may not be signed to a label, but put on great shows, and put out great records.
We feel lucky enough to be among the bands with a solid local following, the opportunity to play in some of the best venues in town, the ability to make a decent amount of money at a show, and the recognition that comes from being asked to play events like the New Orleans Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and Voodoo Fest. There are other forms of ‘respect’, such as having name recognition farther from home, getting paid more, having management help, and getting put on radio stations, that we haven’t gotten to yet, but it doesn’t seem like it’s a blanket ‘disrespect’ of bands like ours that are un-signed….
Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?
The Local Skank: While Ashley has a degree in Music Business, and is extremely knowledgeable in this area, when it comes to us as a band, we’ve never really thought about it before. We do what we do, and don’t often feel like we are dealing with a set entity that has across-the-board tendencies, rules, or things that strike us as unfair. Each venue, club-owner, audience, booking agent, other band, etc. creates a different set of circumstances, and we tend to just deal with things as they come.
We do wish that there was less aversion to paying a cover—the best money can be made at shows that charge a cover, but it is far harder to draw for a show with a door-charge. This might be endemic to New Orleans, since it is saturated with great music everywhere, or it may be as true in other places, but it can be frustrating for us at times.
Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?
The Local Skank: It seems to already be the case, to an extent, but it is hard to predict in this Age of the Internet what new trends and tendencies will emerge.
Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?
The Local Skank: Generally extremely positive—people love our music, our energy, our concept of dressing up, engaging with the audience, and creating music from a huge variety of background sources. We try to take constructive criticism to heart and let it help guide us as we move forward.
Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.
The Local Skank: Again, this question can mean so many different things. Fame and fortune is all relative, and is certainly not the most important thing. If no one was interested in listening to our music, we would find that way more disheartening than knowing that we might not be signed to a major label, or make ourselves rich. As long as we can continue to grow, and reach for new goals and new audiences, and make music that we love to play, we are happy as can be!
Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?
The Local Skank: We are lucky enough that it has been relatively rare, but of course it can always sting. The fact that we as a band are very close makes it easier to stand together and let it roll off our collective backs rather than taking it to heart. As mentioned above, we certainly welcome feedback that is negative but has a specific point, suggestion, or idea, rather than just general negativity. When the feedback is simply mean-spirited or just negative, we try very hard to separate it from our larger goals of making music, learning, getting better and being true to ourselves. We tend to use unpleasant feedback or setbacks as an opportunity to propel ourselves forward and keep making ourselves better.
Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?
The Local Skank: Enormous, and varied. On an individual level, everyone’s friends and family members have come to see us, from our very first nervous, slightly shaky set, to our Voodoo Fest appearance. As people, we of course rely on those we love, and that support is invaluable. Certain people have become part of the band family through their loyalty, talents, support and love.
We have been lucky enough to be able to count on them for everything from graphic design talents, to helping us set up for photo shoots, to helping publicize gigs in other places when we travel, to helping load gear on and off stage to just being in the audience time after time… This band is like a family, and our “extended family” makes it work!
Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?
The Local Skank: Thelocalskank.com is currently under construction, but if you go there now we have a blog about our escapades. For current gig info, find us on MySpace or Facebook—just search for The Local Skank. You can find clips on YouTube, to see what we’re like live, and the MySpace also has some tracks up.
Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..
The Local Skank: Thanks so much for giving us a chance to talk a little about ourselves. Please look us up if you are ever in New Orleans, so we can show you a Skankin’ good time!
