Christiansen

I sent some questions to Vique/Revelation Records Wednesday evening and I got the answer from the group on Thursday afternoon. Christiansen is a group which really makes me happy because of this and because of their music. The interview was done in January 2004

History?

-We started playing together in October 1998 as a side project from two

other bands that we were in.  A couple years later, we became serious about

the project, and later put college on hold and made Christiansen a full time commitment.

 

Please tell me a little about every member, age , family, interests,

andsomething bad about every one?

-Brandon, guitar/vocals, age 22, family: mother, father, younger brother

and sister, likes reading, movies, and Art. Almost received fellatio in

church.

Robby, guitar,23, family: mother, father, older sister, likes music, likes

to propose to women; to proclaim them as his wife.

Brad, 23, family: mother, father, likes long walks on the beach and sushi,

likes sports

Terry, drums, 23, family: mother, brother, likes dance clubs and older

women, once drugged a girl in order to play with her antique toy collection.

 

Christiansen, where did the name came up from, it sounds like a norwegian/danish name?

That's interesting because I(Brandon) am Norwegian.  but, it has no

significance.  It's someone's last name.  That's all.

 

Is it important to a band what they´re called?

-Yes, I think so.  There are a lot of great band names out there that

people will check out just because they have an interesting name.

Incidentally, there are also a lot of bands that will never be listened to

because of this same reason.

 

Which is the best band name in the world?

-Murder, Death, Kill

 

You´re on Revelation records, how does it work?

-We record records, they release them.  They also help us with other

occasional monetary debts and favours when desperately needed.

 

What´s the best of being on a smaller label and what´s the worst?

-The best thing is the stress factor.  Very low stress, easy deadlines, no

creative compromises.  Smaller labels don't always have enough money to

invest in all of their bands for tour support, videos, etc.

 

What do you know about Sweden? What is typically swedish?

-Refused. I like them a lot. I know that there is no such thing as the

Swedish Bikini Team.  'Beautiful' is typically swedish.

 

Have you heard any swedish bands?

-Again Refused, I think there is or was a band called Hell on Wheels?

Doughnuts, Kent?

 

Is there any good bands in USA right now?

-Nope. Nothing.

 

How is it to live there right now, with Bush who´s thinking he owns

the world?

-A lot of Americans are unhappy with Bush and his 'regime.' Election

debates for the presidency have already started, and they're diverting our

attention for the time being.

 

How did you react when the terroristattack was, with anger fear or

what?

-I have to admit, that when I found out, I was very upset.  But I was naive

back then.  I didn't know of the business and policies that had happened

prior to the terrorist attack.  There's a lot of dirt and scandals buried

deep in our history with these so called "terrorists."

 

Are people afraid that it´s going to happen again?

-Oh yeah.  Now on the news, in the bottom left-hand corner there is a

'terror indicator' that tells the U.S. whether we're in the 'red,' 'orange,' or 'yellow' conditions for terrorist attacks.

 

Stylish Nihilists, what do you mean with that?

-Nihilists believe in nothing.  Nothing is a pure essence.  We created

music from nothing with our style, the way we write.

 

Which other records have you done and how can I get them?

-You can order our E.P. "Forensics, Brothers and Sisters" from Revelation.

The other one is out of print.

 

I wrote in my review about this CD "But it feels like they mix early

77-punk with grunge and emo. And to this we can put some heavy metal

style " what about that?

-Wonderful.  Whatever you like.  It seems to me, you almost hit it directly

on the nose.

 

What other bands are you being compared to?

-At the Drive-in, Jane's Addiction, Quicksand

 

Do you care about reviews?

-Not really.  But if I open a magazine, and see a review of one of our

records, I'll read it.  I'm definitely curious to see what other people

think.

 

Which do you trust the most ,the good or the bad one?

-I guess I trust the good ones.  I enjoy the bad ones too though.  They

make me laugh.

 

Which is the most peculiar review you ever have got?

-We got a review in a Metal magazine once.  They didn't really like us.

Another one was a review written by a guy in a band that we played with that didn't like us for some reason.  "I shouldn't like this band because our guitarist doesn't" some bullshit like that.

 

How is a good gig with you?

-I like a good crowd response.  But it's really important that while we're

on stage, we keep our errors to a minimum.  A good show is when there are no wrong notes, and a overall solidity of the set.

 

How do the average Christiansen fan look like?

-Very large and voluptuous women.

 

Do you have good contact with your fans, in which way?

-After we play, we'll talk with them at the show.  There's also email and

website chat.

 

Where do you stand when we´re talking about mp3`s? Are you

Downloading for yourself?

-I like mp3's.  I think that it is a smart way to get your music out to

people who are curious about your band but might not be able to afford, or

want to buy your cd before they've heard a little something.  A song or two

is okay, but a whole album is harsh.  Your stealing from the musicians that

you enjoy.  I stay away from it.

 

Isn´t it good for small bands to get more attention this way with

mp´3 and so on?

-Yes.  It's great marketing.

Futureplans for the band?

-Tours on the west coast and in Germany in March.  We're shooting a video

in Los Angeles the first weekend in February.

 

For yourself?

-Going wherever Christiansen takes me.

 

Wisdomword?

-The fact that no one understands you doesn't make you an artist.

 

Something more to add?

-Nada