S
kindred are one of those bands that just won’t die (despite what the critics say). Tey keep coming back, like some undead rasta-metal
killer in a trashy horror movie – there’s just no keeping these guys down. And that is exactly what latest release ‘Kill Te Power’ is all about. Standing up for yourself, fighting for what you believe in, and, no matter what, coming out swinging. Skindred’s drummer, Arya Goggin, tells Lenore about the themes behind the new album, running from the cops and covering Devo’s ‘Whip It’.
You're currently on tour in support of the new album ‘Kill Te Power’, are you looking forward to it? Of course I am, this is what we do! You sit around in the rehearsal studio writing the record and listening to the mixes and all that time you’re dying to get out there and play it live. We're starting off in Norwich too. I think we've started a few tours off in Norwich actually - we're looking forward to it!
Do you find touring harder as the band gets bigger, or is it more enjoyable and easier, the bigger you guys get? Tat's quite a good question actually. I think when you start out, you’re green and a bit naïve to how everything works, so you roll with the punches. You’re used to staying on people’s floors and vans and stuff. I think now it’s a lot easier. You get on a tour bus, you get better sleep, the venues are more accommodating. I think the hardest part is picking the set list – everyone argues about that!
Who makes the final decision on the set list? Me, of course!
Really? Yeah, why are you surprised?!
Well, my friends who are in bands always make fun of their drummer and don't really listen to him.
12 /January 2014/
outlineonline.co.uk
Tis is a completely different operation! We're all very different people and we've all got our different strengths outside the band. If you’re looking for production stuff and electronics, that’s the bass player Dan; Mike is the creative art guy and I do all the business side of things. I haven't mentioned Benji because he gets involved in all of it!
You’re a band with a reputation for a high-energy live show and really getting the crowd involved. Is that something that comes easily for you as a band, or do you work hard to keep that happening show after show? I think it's pretty easy to be honest. We're lucky we've got someone like Benji as a frontman, dragging everyone in. He's a born showman, a born performer. Te rest of us do our thing and perform to the best of our abilities, but the live show is very much down to him. Te ethos has always been to be like a reggae soundsystem, and Benji controls that soundsystem, which is essentially us, the musicians. He will stop and start songs. I think in the early days it was more chaotic. It was more of a punk 'if it messes up, fuck it we're just going to do what we do' and people got on board with that. I think now it’s a bit more controlled chaos!
You recently performed at Hard Rock Hell. Do you prefer playing festivals or
being top billing on your own line-up? We're a weird band because we can do those things, play UK rock festivals then go to Germany and play a death metal festival. It’s cool because I want everyone to enjoy our music. At a festival we're out there to convert, I'm out there to build up numbers. I believe in the band so much that I believe we can reach more people every year. With every album I think we can reach a wider audience. It's like a challenge, I love it!
When I first read the title of your new album 'Kill the Power', I thought it sounded like a rally against authority, but listening to the single of the same name it's almost like Benji is singing about personal power, or the band's power. Is it both? It's up for interpretation; it can be autobiographical about our band, or you,
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