WMF
First of all, can you brief our readers a little about the history of the band and how it all began?
MATT- Hudson (guitar) and I founded the band in early 2004 with a couple other dudes from around the scene. Jay joined the band the following Sept. That’s what I consider as the actual “conception” of the band. We started playing shows in Dec 2004 with a short set list comprised of 6 songs that were pretty much written before Jay even joined the band. Most of those songs have long since been dropped, along with the original drummer and bassist.
WMF
When and how did you join Senate?
JAY- I joined the band in Sept of 2004. The reason I joined the band originally was because I had always wanted to play with our previous drummer, but after one jam I knew this band had great potential and it was the other guys in the band who really saw eye to eye with me and the musical direction I wanted Senate to go in.
I knew I would never join a band unless it was metal, I found the band I had always wanted in Senate- a metal band which heavily drew from the European bands I've grown to love so much over the years, especially from the Scandinavian scene.
WMF
What did you expect when you joined Senate and has it reach’s up to your expectations?
JAY- Actually it's surpassed all my immediate expectations. After we did the first demo in Jan 2005, we immediately got recognition as a great band that wrote good songs. We've only been playing shows for a little more than a year and we've already shared the stage with bands like Cephalic Carnage, Dead To Fall and Despised Icon to name a few.
WMF
In January 2005 Senate released there first Ep Queen of sorrow. Are you happy with the critic the Ep has gotten from the media and fans? And what were your expectations?
JAY- Yes, I'm more then satisfied with the reaction we've been getting from fans and critics alike. Juice really made the demo sound huge, it's usually one of the first things that people notice about the recording is the excellent sound quality. For our first recording it's better than most debuts. Especially, considering we were just starting out. One minute I was sitting at home, practicing and 4 months later I'm in the studio recording with one of Canada's premier producers. It was pretty overwhelming. The demo helped get our name out that's for sure.
WMF
In June you are going in to studio to record your first full length CD. When can we expect the album to come out? And will the album be much different from the Queen of sorrow Ep? Musically I mean.
JAY- Yes we've already booked the studio time in June. Depending on the time/money situation we're planning to do 8 to 10 songs. We're hoping to have the record out by the fall... maybe early winter. Musically we have taken a hundred steps forward in every aspect of the music- more complex song writing and arranging, technicality, aggression, speed.
MATT- We believe that the new record will have more of everything great about the band- we think Metal heads will love the new material while some fans of the original demo might not dig it as much. The songs on the first demo were created when I was the primary song writer, and I was sort of catering to the guys who were in the band at the time.
Since Jay joined the band, him and I have been collaborating on every song- what you hear in the new songs is Jay’s influence on the material, as well as mine. If you go down the album track for track it’s about a split between me and Jay in regards to the music, plus we arrange everything together. Hudson throws in a killer riff here and there as well, but he’s not interested in carrying the load regarding the writing.
WMF
Which studio will your first full length album be recorded in? And who will produce the album?
JAY-Once again we're going into Silo Studios in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada with Julius "Juice" Butty as producer.
What about the lyrics of your music, what are they about and where do you get the inspiration to write them?
MATT- I write about things that affect me personally, but I like to use a lot of symbolism in the lyrics to keep it interesting as a lyricist. I enjoy using religious analogies because religion and spirituality in general is something that applies to broad spectrum of people. People tend to draw completely individual, unique conclusions from the lyrics this way, while I say what I need to say for myself.
WMF
The Canadian metal scene is known for a lot of great bands. 3 Inches of Blood, Voivod and Kataklysm speaks for it's self. Do you think Senate has the potential to reach up to these bands?
MATT- I believe we have all the potential in the world. There are some great bands in Montreal like Despised Icon, Neuraxis, Martyr, Gorguts and I feel that the competition from that scene has accelerated the quality of the bands. We look to that scene, and to all of our favorite metal bands for inspiration to become better. We never compare ourselves to other local acts, and we are never complacent.
WMF
Senate is now without a Drummer, Are you looking for someone to fill that empty space?
MATT- Our drummer’s name is L.A.R.S. (Laser Automated Rhythmic Supremacist) *haha* Right now we’re using sequenced drums to finish the pre-production for the album and at live shows. We have a sick drummer who will be tracking the record- we’ll make an official announcement in the months to come.
WMF
The internet is a very important source for many metal fans – how do you use the internet and how important is it for you and other bands? And what do you think of file sharing?
JAY- The internet has opened a whole new world to music, especially when it comes to independent bands. Now no matter who you are, you can put your music online and let is be heard by the world. There was a time when only bands that had a lot of money could record and shop to labels. People are recording full records and demo tracks right in their own living rooms with nothing more than a PC and microphone.
I think it's helped bands a lot and it's sort of hurt them as well. All this new technology has made it harder and harder for bands to get signed. Some will argue this point to death so I will leave it at that. File sharing I personally think is great, to certain point. I'm a firm believer in supporting the bands I love. I will download a record and listen to it and if I like I will buy it- if I don't it gets deleted and I leave it at that. I feel bad for the way the record industry is being hurt by these people who do mass downloading and pirating of music. At least if you like the band, support them in the end.
MATT- I believe that file sharing mostly hurts pop bands, or huge acts who sell entire records off the strength of singles and music videos. Nowadays, people can take the rest of the album for a “test-drive” and realize it is shit long before spending the money on the full-length. File sharing has been an excellent source of promotion for our band anyways.
WMF
And how do you feel about the Norwegian metal scene at the moment? Any favourite bands?
JAY- Haha, this is probably my favourite question out of the lot. Me and a few of the guys in the band have been big fans of the Norwegian black metal scene especially, for a lot of years. There are a lot of great bands still coming out of Norway, for instance the new 1349 is really cool, Zyklon's first record was killer. I also dig a few new bands (thanks Ronny) like Mistur and In Vain. As well as all of my old favourites Ulver, Emperor, Old Man's Child, Borknagar, Emperor, Taake...( and yes I like Dimmu Borgir as well Matt heh) and well the list could go on but I don't want to bore people too much.
MATT- Dimmu (as Jay gags haha), Emperor, Borknagar- I love the more symphonic BM, probably more of the stuff that the die hard BM fans dislike. I really love a lot of the other stuff as well. The new 1349 is sick! I think Norway has one of the healthiest scenes on the planet.
WMF
Last question, anything you want to say to the fans of Senate out there?
JAY- Thanks to the people that have been coming out to our shows, visiting the various web sites and leaving the cool comments on sites such as the myspace. It's very greatly appreciated. Keep supporting Canadian metal!
MATT- Thanks a lot to everyone who has spread the word about us all over the planet. Hope to see you all soon enough!
*Senate*
Thanks allot for taking your time to do this interview it means allot for WMF.
JAY- No man, thank you!
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