With just a 4 songs mini-album called "relics", the name of ATOLAH speaks already to quite many tasteful fans of stoner/sludge/doom who drool for bands like Acid King or early Electric Wizard. Founded a few years ago by Pierre François in Australia, this crushing instrumental trio is now relocated in The Netherlands... Things starting to move again musically, I thought it was time for Pierre to give us fresh news ...
* A few months after your move to
Holland, how is life going there? After 5 years in Australia, did you
have any
special expectations to move for Holland ? Any other country you'd like to live in for the future or do you think
you'll
be more "steady" geographically ?!
Hey man…Life
is very good over here. Things are slowly falling into place but it is a
very
slow process. I didn’t really have any expectations in particular before
moving
to the Netherlands. I’m originally not too far from here so it’s all
good. I
sort of knew what I was in for. I think I’ll stay put for a couple of
years now
but you never know… right?
* Is this taste for life experiences in foreign countries directly
linked to
your professional activities ? On a personnal point of view, you're now a
lot
more close to your native country and family, but do you think that
being now
in Holland could make things easier for Atolah (concerning gigs/touring
especially...) ?
No, they
have nothing to do with my moving around the place. It’s just that when I
feel
like moving I just follow my guts and do it. Being in the Netherlands is
a very
good spot to be indeed. I am not too familiar with the Dutch scene but
it is
pretty vibrant from what I have seen. You get to see so many bands, big
names
as well as locals. Atolah will definitely be touring as soon as we’re
ready.
Playing in different countries is finally affordable and feasible! I
don’t have
many contacts in Europe but I am sure we’ll come up with something.
* As a musician and as a frenchie aged 25 to 30, which memories will remain the best from these 5 years in Australia ? Did you have to face any relational trouble considering France wasn't not that well considered by aussies at least some years ago with nuclear activites in the pacific especially ?
I am at
the very high end of that age bracket actually…
Australia
was tough on a personnal level man but it was also a magnificent place. I
grew
from this experience. I met incredible people over there,
whether they were my bands mates, or guys from other bands.
To be honest, I only heard a comment once. But
you’re
right, I know someone who when she was in high-school, her French
teacher had
her spelt “France” with a lower case “f” because of the stupid rainbow
warrior
thing hehe
* How do you give a name to your songs ? for example why giving a name like "el duce" or "weedy Gonzales" (maybe your nickname !?) ?
Well, THAT
is a pretty legitimate question…why does one name song after all??...I
dunno.
It’s just the drive of the whole song I’d say. The imagery that comes to
mind.
From now on we’ll have lyrics though, not that you should expect any
meaning
from them.
* Keeping the name of ATOLAH, you actually found a (dutch) guitarist and started to rehearse again ... any contact for a drummer ? Are you working directly on new songs with the guy or do you prefer him to learn the songs of "relics" before ? Could you speak a bit about new songs ?
I did
indeed. Geert (guit) is a great guy and a really talented musician. He’s
been
involved in music for years and played bass for dutchy doomsters FAAL (www.myspace.com/faaldoom)
when he wasn’t working on his black metal projects.. Playing in Atolah
is probably
different to what he is used to playing but from the two jams we had, I
could
not have found anyone better. We decided to start by writing new
material
before focusing on the old songs. We’ll deal with this later. I think
it’s a
better solution as it doesn’t put pressure on the new guy to have to
learn
someone else’s songs you know. When everyone is comfortable with the new
songs,
they’ll already have by then a feel of what Atolah is all about.
I have
one drummer lined-up but we’re having logistics problems as he is from
Amsterdam and has to travel to come jam with us. If it doesn’t work out,
we’ll
see what else we can do but we definitely want to try this guy first.
Well at
this point I can only really talk about one song..which is far from
being
finished. It’s called “Post Cross and Yoke” and compared to Atolah’s
other
songs it is…yeah ….heavy(ier?)…As I said we only jammed twice but I’m
starting
to get a feel of what the whole thing will sound like. I am really
psyched.
* Are you contractly attached to Psychedoomelic for your future release(s) ? is "relics" still easily available ? any T-shirt maybe ?
I’d love
to work with PsycheDOOMelic again but no, we do not have an on-going
contract
with them. If Mark is interested, I am sure he’ll be in touch.
Otherwise, we’ll
try to find someone else I guess. I’m currently having a design done for
a
shirt. I haven’t seen the end result yet though.
I’m
pretty sure “Relics” is an easy album to find yeah…It’s even on sale on
some
sites hahah. There are lots of distros out there doing their jobs, and
the
PsycheDOOMelic website of course. But if you want it from the band
directly, I
only have 2 copies left I think.
* The cover of the album let suggest that ATOLAH has an occult dimmension, how do you think it is materialized in your music and identity ?
These
goats… They can be so deceiving. The cover art is actually a picture my
friend
from Iceland took ages ago…it was just hanging out in a field, freezing
its
balls off. (!!!!)
I really
have no idea about Atolah having an occult dimension though. The
foundations of
this genre of music were layed a long time ago. We’re just kind of
playing by
the rules while having our own spin on it you know. I am not too
concerned
about being occult or not to be honest haha
* Thanx Pierre, all the best to you in Holland and hope to see a new album released in 2012 ! anything to add ?
* Thanx Pierre, all the best to you in Holland and hope to see a new album released in 2012 ! anything to add ?
Cheers
dude. Thanks for the interview. I really appreciate it. Keep on doing a
great
job and thanks for inducting us in the Temple of Perdition. Let us know
if you
ever come down to our neck of the woods.
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Atolah/188747184487517
Pierre is supercool, im sure he can make it happen :)
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