Interviews: Depleted Uranium

We have had the opportunity to interview the Math Metal/Powerviolence band Depleted Uranium from Canada. 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 come out just like that?

Murray: It sort of just came out like that. The very first version of us was called “Static Project” with Matt Kozma on bass. Once Blair Hearsum joined as 2nd guitarisT, it expanded us melodically with more energy and sound, and so the change of name was needed as we had never sounded like that before, sort of a new beginning. It was also a coincidence that I had Depleted Uranium written down as an option for a band name on a list and Babak mentioned it during a band practice, so it felt like it needed to happen.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Murray: The infinite energy of youth. The endless exploration of music. What’s a limit until you push it? To make something together that was us separate from life’s bull shit. Our saying was: “if it’s easy to play, you’re playing it wrong!”. Something about extreme music in general has always captivated us, however our original journey propelled us not to fit into any genre, but to take bits and pieces of who we are and manifest music with it. Our music shows our idea of creation which comes from the jam and whoever is present can contribute to the raw manifestation of music without thought of interpretation. That being said with our self-titled release, it definitely showed a progression from our early Power-violence punk days to a more technical mathy, thrash-grind.

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

Murray: Babak, Corey and I have been making music on and off together throughout different bands for over 20 years since we were teenagers. My first jam with Nick happened in summer 2005 I believe, at my house in Hamilton, Ont. Nick delivered vegetables to Babak’s store I and he like invited him to jam. After a several-hour drive from Whitby to Hamilton, we jammed hard for hours in the no air conditioning heat of summer. Afterward, we were on the front porch and Nick collapsed, fell down the stairs, smashed his head on the ground, gets up bleeding from his head, and says “that was intense”, and the bond was forged. Corey was in Calgary for the early years but joined in 2009.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Murray: If I have to sum up one favorite, would probably be The Dillinger Escape Plan or Converge as they’ve always evolved to push a limit. There are many favorites at different times depending on life. I also look at each band that inspires me as an ingredient to my recipe, you can’t just have a one-course meal with only salt, well you can, but…. I love music and many bands but I don’t have a die-hard favorite.

Nick: Toss-up between Dead Kennedys and those guys that sang “Island Boy”.

Corey: Hard to say. It depends on the month/day/feeling. At the Drive In, The Mars Volta or The Beatles.

Babak: Radiohead or The Mars Volta.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Murray: Usually dark thoughts. So many people expect happiness all the time but there is no reference to general happiness without the opposite general emotion. Our band name, our songs, and our lyrics are all written from the perspective of despair yet persevering through hard times to make your life a better place. Musically the inspiration comes from bands that are original and push the limit of expression and creativity. But as a band, I believe it is the four of us which inspires the four of us.

Nick: I find inspiration in the other members and the energy we give each other. The idea of a bottomless well of creativity provides inspiration; limitless creation. 

Corey: emotions, experiences and interactions in life. Sometimes things happen in life and music is an important outlet. Sometimes it is just noodling around and something builds off that.

Babak: Life in General inspires me to write.

6. Where was your last gig?

Murray: Our last show was at The Black Swan in Toronto. It was an epic fail of a last show as we had many issues such as; Nick forgot one of his cymbals and if you’ve seen his kit, it’s like missing a puzzle piece. I broke a guitar string and had to swap to back up guitar mid song, sound guy had an extreme amount of feedback on vocal monitors and we usually don’t have vocals on monitors, and we told him…many times…and the cherry on top was Corey blew up my Gallien Krueger bass amp; In the middle of a song we all started looking at each other as we smelled burning electronics and then noticed smoke billowing from the amplifier, luckily it was a very supportive show and a local band lent us a bass amp to finish the set. Just like any team, you win some you lose some

7. Where would you like to act?

Murray: More festivals I guess, an outdoor festival would be cool. We’ve played the local bar and club scene all over Southern Ontario for years, which is our home, but any venue that accepts extreme music is always a good time. We’ve been booked in at some odd venues for our style such as a pizza shop, a hip-hop festival and a Italian fine dining restaurant. Basically, we will play wherever we can and regardless of where or the audience, we will always put 100% into our performance.

Nick: Red Rocks Amphitheater, Colorado, US

Babak: The Budweiser Stage, Toronto, CA (formerly the Molson Amphitheater). 

Corey: Everywhere.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Murray: I guess opening for more touring bands locally or possibly getting on a small tour. Pupil Slicer and Frontier are awesome. Obviously, Converge, or Dillinger if they were still going. We would be happy to open for any metal band as relayed exposure and to build relationships as some of our best shows have been from networking.

Babak: Dillinger when they were going, but any band with good energy.

Corey: The Orphan

Nick: Ensamble Ferroelectrico Marte

9. Whom not?

Murray: As mentioned previously, we’ve been booked at some odd venues and we will give 100% into our performance with a light show every time, however the audience is usually somewhat confused. No acts to mention specifically, but I would like to avoid playing with non associated genres due to audience energy, feedback and cost/time involved on all parties.

Babak: Metallica

Corey: Nobody.

Nick: The Grateful Dead.

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

Murray: For me, stage fright ended in my teenage years but it’s also how you interpret it. Stage fright, a lot of times, is anticipation and the worry of messing something up before it’s happened and interpreting the future before it has had it’s moment. I would say nothing is perfect and fail as much as possible as that’s what makes you learn from experience. Negative or doubtful feelings about something you have created should be abandoned as nothing is ever perfect. Our goal is to get as close to perfect as possible, however, it is never perfect and you have to roll with the punches cause you can’t let one thing stop you. As mentioned previously; our last show before the Pandemic shut down was a true gem regarding issues. I guess any tips for beginners and stage fright is just mission through it and that every day eventually ends! Also, have zero expectations as expectations lead to disappointment.

Nick: I can’t say I have, but my advice would be to either hold your breath until you pass out or drink just a tiny amount of pool cleaner.

Corey: LMAO, my first couple years of shows! As for tips, find your voice and believe in yourself.

Babak: To deal with stage fright you just need to know your songs, trust your band members to pull off their parts and zone out to not think about the audience. Just concentrate on your parts.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Murray: For me, I guess bands in my youth that got me into playing and writing, however my specific influence of style for Depleted Uranium is inspired by bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge, Swarm of the Lotus, The Locust, Refused, Spazz, Charles Bronson, Orchid, Decapitated, Cephalic Carnage, The Gorgeous, Animals as Leaders, Holy Molar, Das Oath and Drop Dead.

Nick: When GG Allin shoved that ketchup bottle up his ass, I was sold. Sell the baseball equipment mom, I want to play music. The mentality of Jay Dilla; never fall in love with a beat or song because you can go on to make another”, like we have this endless stream of creativity and sign all of us, I found that very inspirational.

Corey: At the Drive In, The Dillinger Escape Plan, classic Funk (Motown), Converge, The Bled and The Beatles.

Babak: The Mars Volta, Refused, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Radiohead.

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

Murray: Lol, an autograph.

Nick: To eat their ass, haha. Actually, years ago one guy had us sign a shirt, I was thinking “dude, you know I live in my parents basement right?”.

Corey: To give me a haircut.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Murray: Our fans are sweet beauties! We’ve developed relationships with them in many visits to our gym spot to hang out for rehearsal. I feel we have made more new fans out of bands we played with than audience members, however, we are trying to bring more to the dark side every day.

Nick: Whoever listens to us is an absolute gem, and can stay on my couch rent-free for as long as you need. Take your time bro, I know you’re getting clean.

14. What do you think of our site?

Murray: Any website that helps Bands promote their existence and creates awareness to those looking for music is an honorable and noble cause! It’s a symbiotic relationship band have with organizations such as yours because one does not exist without the other. Everything starts with communication and an agreement of what the goal is.

Nick: Can’t say I’ve ever visited it before now, bang up job lads!

15. Something to add?

Murray: Our prequel album Origins will be released January 28, 2022 and our first single, Alpha Particles, was released on November 9, 2021 And is available on all platforms for streaming or download. Our second single, Beta Particles, will be released early December 2021 and both singles will be accompanied by a two-part music video set for release in February 2022. Please visit depleteduraniumband.com or find us on all social platforms for further details. 

Nick: “I am you, you are me, we are them, they are us.”