Unlike many hardcore bands today, Ceremony combines melodies as well as brutal
power to your sound. Who are some of your influences?
Wire, Black Flag, The Cramps,
The Fall, The Stooges, Gang Of Four are some direct influences on the band.
In the beginning, you used to cover Joy Division’s “Ceremony,” did you play it
like the band did or did you make it your own style?
We've sampled it but we've
never been brave enough to cover it. We're not that good.
From that song is that where you got your name?
Of course.
Being in the business so long, what advise would you give to anyone who wants
to start a band today?
Any advice I would give would
probably stunt success for most bands like writing good songs, staying away
from social media, not getting caught up with partying. I can go on forever but
there are plenty of big bands who don't practice any of those things.
In the seven years you have been around you have managed to release a record
nearly every year. Do you ever find you are at a loss of words for things to
make music about?
I don't think so. It's
actually gotten easier.
The new record, Zoo, has received much praise, how do you respond to it?
We're very excited for all of
the positive reviews. We like when people like our records.
You released Zoo on Matador Records, how does it feel to be apart of the
Matador family? Who is your favorite artist from the label?
That is a really good
question. Belle and Sebastian, probably. Interpol are great. I love the new
Cold Cave record. Andy would probably say Chavez.
Much like Rohnert Park, Zoo is also a departure in your abrasive style; the
change has caught many by surprise. Where those your intentions?
Not at all. No change in sound
is or has ever been a conscious effort. We write and stop when we think it
sounds good.
Your song “Sick,” seems to have been a foreshadowing of these changes in your
aesthetic. You mention how you were sick of Black Flag and sick of Cro-mags, were
you sick of the scene and genre all together?
No, not really. The Black
Flag/Cro-Mags line is tongue and cheek. Sometimes you're just sick of
everything.
What has always been
amazing about Ceremony is that you cater to make music for you and not to a
certain scene or group of people and if your fans follow you, they follow you.
So far it has been successful for you, do you wish you saw more bands adopt
this?
I wished I saw more bands
that were focused on the music and not all of the other shit that goes along
with being in a band. I started playing music for love of the art and
performing, not for any sort of status.
What did you learn
about yourselves as a band while making Zoo that you did not know before?
I learned that Ross didn't have
to scream to sound awesome !
How did you find out
you were opening for Refused?
The promoter asked if we
would be interested and then a month later gave us a formal offer.
Did Refused
have an influence on you when you were starting out?
Not really. I really like
Refused and respect what they do but they haven't directly influenced our
music.
What has been the
best thing about being in this band thus far?
Making 'Zoo'
