Supernova.com was front n’ center at this year's CEMF, partying with bands like The Roots, Bedouin Soundclash, Protest the Hero… and we caught up with old friends Alex and Swavek of illScarlett. Though the boys were (understandably) eager to get back to the party, we did get them to chat for a minute about their advice for upcoming indie artists.
Having once rocked the Supernova.com stage alongside our breakout indie acts, not to mention their climb to fame and this week’s opening spot for Blink 182’s reunion, illScarlett has some great insights into how to make music, get an education, and tap really cool sponsor swag (is a G-5 Airplane considered swag?) – check it out:
Alex Norman – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Swavek Piorkowski – Drums
Matt – Supernova Party Guy
(in the Dead Weather shirt)
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Matt: So, what got you guys started as a band? How long you all known eachother?
Alex: About 10 years now I guess. we all went to the same high school, we all played, started a band.
Matt: How bout some of your influences back then?
Alex & Swavek: Sublime, Nirvana, Beatles, too many to say really.
Alex: (to Matt) What’s on your shirt? That’s fuckin' terrifying.
Matt: Yah ‘The Dead Weather’, a new sorta super-band I caught last week in Toronto.
Matt: So... what are your fave instruments? What do you like to play?
Swavek: I like acoustic guitar, basically anything acoustic.
Alex: Plug your drum kit!
Swavek: Haha, ya I got a Drum kit called U-Drum. But I still like acoustic guitar. Probably my fave portable instrument.
Alex: Uhhh, I like Gibson guitars, BMW vehicles, G-5 Airplanes, and I like Heineken Beer. All I drink is Heineken beer. Can, bottle, I’ll take it any way.
Matt: Tryin' for sponsors are we? How about your song process, what's that like?
Alex: You write a riff, jam it out, get to know what your part is... and then I just start singin' a jibberish melody over it, trying to work it out; and then we take it from there. I'll write lyrics, whether it’s by myself or I get the guys to help, and then we have a song.
Swavek: Then we makes the money. Lots of money.
Alex: G-5 AIRPLANE!!! …I am tryin' to get a sponsor deal.
Matt: Biggest challenge as a band?
Alex: I dunno man, our biggest challenge? I was gonna say takin' a shit, but uhh...
Swavek: Keepin' our bass player in line. He’s a challenge, yeah. (pictured right)
Matt: What are rehearsals like with 'out of line' bass players? Filled with fightin'? Jokin'?
Swavek: Well we play so much live now, that we don’t really rehearse much anymore. Ever since the new record, we’ve been busy producing that, but now we’re kinda back to practicing our chops a bit. *karate chop motions*
Matt: Love it. Any advice for our Supernova artists out there, or any kids lookin' to make it big in music?
Swavek: Don’t go to school.
Alex: But we met in school!
Swavek: Yeah…uhhh…
Alex: Finish highschool, then make some life choices. You don’t really have to go to college to become a musician. In fact, it's probably easier if you don’t. But if you fuck up…I mean REALLY fuck up…
Swavek: There's no plan B…so finish high school.
Matt: Solid advice. Who are you listenin' to these days?
illScarlett (pictured below with Matt's girlfriend, Kathy) are currently in the studio, with a new album set to release in Fall 2009. Working with Robert Carranza (who’s worked with notable acts such as Jack Johnson, Mars Volta, Beck and others) this new album promises to deliver on what we’ve come to expect from illScarlett – party driving tunes with an attitude to match. Check out more Supernova.com / illScarlett exclusives here!
Matt: Biggest challenge as a band?
