Interviews: The Hate Club

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metal/Electronic band, The Hate Club, from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Band names is something I've always struggled with. I would come up with the most atrocious and ridiculous monikers, until one day my friend and I were hanging out in Silverlake in LA, and randomly browsing through IG and FB and seeing all the pseudo-inspirational posts about motivation, inspiration and the "truth", all the "woke" stuff, you know. We started trashing on the entire concept of the modern "woke culture" and that's when I said, you and I have a little Hate Club going on here, at first we wanted to create merch jackets that would say something like "Tokyo Hate Club", "London Hate Club", "Moscow Hate Club" etc. When I got back home I got rather high on weed and decided to re-evaluate things and where I am as an artist. As I thought about it again, I realized that I do to tend have qualities of what people may call "hater", which is perfect, because how can I be anything that I'm not? I went online and checked if the name was available and it was, which was kind of mind-blowing, i really loved it, it's really strong and defined. Thus, The Hate Club was born. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

That's a good one, as a kid I always loved heavier music and the way it resonated with the inner energy I have. After jumping on anything from Jazz, Classical to Neuro Funk and Punk, early THC was an accumulation of all of my past experiences. About a year ago, 2 of my friends visited me to hang out (thanks to friends for all the inspirations) and Alex Hilton (drummer in Another Lost Year) played Gojira's The Gift of Guilt live...I had so much fun then, and realized that man, I want to play heavy music and I want to explore new horizons!

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

The Hate Club is a solo project, although I do think it's a band, one day soon and hopefully I'll have other musicians joining THC, but for now it's what it is. It's a trip, man, having to do all the writing, recording, production and engineering myself, but quite rewarding, makes me more of a "complete musician".

4. Each band member favourite band?

Led Zeppelin - always, baby!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Music is a lifelong necessity, it's always instrumentals that come first and lyrics after. Usually lyrics spring out of what I'm feeling in the moment, I never quite know what the song is going to be about, if I plan it, it doesn't feel real. I like thinking about music as an engine and lyrics as brush strokes on a canvas...imagine that you're in front of a canvas with a bunch of paint and need to express an inner and rather physical emotion.

6. Where was your last gig?

In San Diego, last year actually at a DIY venue that my friends run called Title TK, dope spot, they feature a lot of cool artists. Ugh, I can't wait to go back to playing live shows.

7. Where would you like to act?

Act as in a motion picture? I'd love a role that's really abrasive, something similar to Clockwork Orange or Requiem for a Dream. I really love the concept of the decadence of the protagonist.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Frankly, I've been thinking about it a lot, but I don't want to do any features and collabs, I get that it's the flavour of the season and that's how you can promote your music well. I just don't think that it's something I'm ready for, I'm really protective of my music and love having full control. I'm open to have close friends of mine that I trust to have an input but that's about it. Music is so personal,

9. Whom not?

I would totally work with top notch producers, musicians, visionaries if it's an exciting environment of growth, but no collabs and feats with other artists for now. I don't think it necessary, artists should be able to express their own vision, and not "let's write a song about partying bruv" - disgusting.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I suffered massive stage freight when I played jazz and classical because in those genres if you make a SINGLE mistake, it's considered to be a complete desecration of the holy art of music haha. Yeah, I was super anxious and nervous, it has something to do with my upbringing and how I was trained as a musician. Now, I don't care, this is my art, my vision, my music...how can I not make mistakes when I'm trailing my own path? I still get massive butterflies before every show, but it goes away the moment I step on the stage, normal stuff, I don't think this feeling will ever go away.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Even though it's not necessarily reflected in my music but my the most favourite band of all times is Led Zeppelin, they're just meta across the acme point of musicianship. I've been heavily influenced by Led Zep and 2 particular jazz musicians; Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans - whom tremendously inspired me on ideological and professional level. I'd say that the rest of inspirations are seasonal and depend on what I'm into at any given time. Right now I'm listening to a lot of Rammstein, Metallica, Slipknot and a bunch of newcoming acts like Zeal & Ardor, Strange Bones, Missio...I'm really looking for bands that have a very distinct and unique sound - I think that's the ultimate mean of expression as per according to 3 main academic stages of artistic development - Foundations, Imitation and Identity. Unique Identity is the ultimate goal, your signature.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

After one of the shows a girl asked me if I'd like to get a spontaneous tattoo from her, that we make

13. What do you think of your fans?

I think I'm really close with a lot of my fans, I fucken know about some of their BD dates (though not always remember to congratulate haha). They're all very different, some discover THC during really sensitive moments in their lives and that's beautiful. They're very sincere and they are lost souls, maybe that's why we connect so well. The feeling you get when somebody gives the words you've been looking for to describe your music is really magical. They are my legion, we are one, and we are many. I'm sure that my fans and I are creating a die-hard sect of people from different backgrounds and corners of the world that connect based not on any defined and existing concept but rather on resonating on some sort of metaphysical level.

14. What do you think of our site?

I love that you're supporting upcoming bands, that's the meta for me, and I thank you for this. It's actually really easy to navigate your site which plays a significant role in how people consume digital media. I think you're actually doing pretty good. Maybe one thing that I'd like to see is something that can have the community to interact with you material, like fun quizzes that tell you "what kind of metal animal you are" based on the answers you give haha. Maybe an iPhone app, I know you have one for Android, this actually tells me a lot about you, that you're invested...People don't just create apps for nothing so that shows your dedication to the scene...As a massive DIYer I respect that a lot and I know how much goes into creating platforms for your community. You do it unconditionally because you care. I think you guys are awesome and hopefully we get to kick it Emmy awards you'll be getting as the groundbreaking media outlet in a couple of years.

15. Something you'd like to add?

Don't be afraid to be wrong, question everything, have a vision even if you're not sure if you're on the right path. Be obliviously dedicated, discover or create your purpose and sacrifice your life to it, it's worth it.