EMQ’s With Chimpgrinder
EMQ’s With Chimpgrinder
Hi everyone. Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Sludge band, Chimpgrinder. Huge thanks to head chimp, Oliver, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
I’m Oliver. I communicate my emotions and experiences through screams, melodic vocalisations and grunts. A group of musicians – Chris, Chris and Steve were rehearsing at the centrifuge training facility because, as they described it, “the rent was cheap” I happened upon them one evening and decided to scream into the microphone. They were alarmed but mesmerised. From there, we shared our music in a lot of dimly lit rooms in Philadelphia and a few in Brooklyn. On some occasions people there really related to our expression and would woop and scream along with us. We stopped with these performances due to reasons that I cannot go into.
How did you come up with your band name?
I believe Chris, our bassist, conceived of the name as a commentary on my life experience.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
I’m not sure where I was originally born – I have no memory of either the wilds of Africa or being gawked at in a zoo. The animal wing at the Centrifuge I consider my point of origin. It is located in Hatboro, a suburban outside of Philadelphia. Philly has a lot of bands and I like how the sounds they produce match the appearance and architecture of the city. I’ve heard this quality described as Gritty. After the band, I relocated to an undisclosed location in Philadelphia.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
The old recordings, which Chris, he of the drums, recorded as a documentation of our ritual expression, have recently been remastered. The remasters are being shared with the world by Electric Talon records. I’ve never been a fan of large birds of prey but I appreciate the work they are doing to share this strange moment in time with people who may now learn from the philosophy inherent in our collaborations.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Colonel Glenn for myself. For the band – perhaps their parents and or caretakers and electrified Blues music.
What first got you into music?
Part of our training included a heavy dose of slowed down Blues records in order to bring us back into coherence after a ride or two in the centrifuge. As I landed somewhere mentally between the hyper consciousness of massive spinning and dommed lethargy I found my most operational mental state. I suppose distorted Blues became something like an addiction.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Cindy Mayweather. I believe we share different but relatable experiences with our unique abilities and lives spent on the run but her talents, being far superior, would allow me to create far better expressions.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
On this world? I’ve been to a number of festivals off world that I’m not sure any of them would compete with – makes the question difficult to answer.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Physical objects hold little meaning to me and since I put that energy out into the world I receive few of them. I do believe that a fan offered theirself as a gift on one occasion in the presence of their partner. I found another seat at the bar. No offense.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
If I have to tell you directly… then take more time, think more deeply and delve into the remasters – there will be the message.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Any answer but the voodoo child makes little sense to me.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I don’t consider myself a musician but rather a sharer of energy rich in information, texture and sacred knowledge.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Destroy it. Move on.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
I feel at peace when listening to the album “Clandestine” by the band Entombed.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I shared that physical objects mean little to me- a direct download from the universe is how I receive most transmissions.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’m not and many things related to slowly but surely bringing about a different society amidst the ruins of the current anthropocentric world.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
People? Silly to limit it to humans. I’m currently working out a treaty across galaxies – bringing the relevant parties together would be the only logical option.
What’s next for the band?
The remasters are out in the world. A response will guide our actions.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://talonrecordsusa.bandcamp.com/album/chimpgrinder-remasters
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Sounds like a dehydrated nutritional supplement for travelling, I’ve had more than my fair share of such necessities over the years – as a cake implies celebration, I must choose biscuit.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
When you feel an answer hiding within your next question, remember that you chose the question.
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