EMQ’s With Deorbit
EMQ’s With Deorbit
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Instrumental Progressive Metal band, Deorbit. Huge thanks to their founder member, and multi-instrumentalist, Jerry Hauppa, 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?
Jerry Hauppa- guitars, hammered dulcimer, synth, violin, hurdy gurdy. We have been playing together for a few years now although a majority of the music was written by me before the line-up was formed just before the pandemic lockdowns of 2020.
How did you come up with your band name?
I actually stole it from a Swedish Goth / Metal band we like called Novembre. It reflected the themes I wanted to explore and presented the inverse of the name of a previous band two of the three of us were in called Concentric.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
It’s pretty eclectic here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin- we have all kinds of artists that orbit around the DIY punk / metal genres but with their own distinct flavours.
What is your latest release?
Retrogradient (full length album).
Who have been your greatest influences?
It is a lot of extreme metal bands for me, everything under the sun for Jim (bass) and funk/jazz for Antonio (drums).
What first got you into music?
I probably got into it from wanting to play along to bands I liked on Headbanger’s Ball on MTV in the 90’s and continued from there once I found my own melodic voice.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I’d like to collaborate with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. It seems silly but the music lends itself to large arrangements and I’d like to see the additional colours that could be added through additional instrumentation.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Waynestock, so I could play with Aerosmith and Crucial Taunt. If you book them, they will come.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Probably money in exchange for music. It will always feel odd, although I understand why paying for a performance makes sense.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Please listen with the intent to immerse yourself in the experience. We are all so focused on getting to the next thing, so let’s not forget how to get lost in something potentially meaningful.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I would’ve liked to see what Kurt Cobain would have continued doing. We need someone that is spiteful of the corporate aspects of music to be visible again.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I really enjoy writing the music, and discovering things about myself that I didn’t know existed in the process. I am still discovering different avenues on how to express myself, which is thrilling at my age (42).
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Everything from top to bottom, but I don’t know where to start. Purchase creates commitment but involving money into the consumption of art undermines its integrity. I guess the first thing I would change is to make it not as easy to create a great-sounding record from home. Modern conveniences have opened the door to non-artist worker bees who can churn out a product with little meaning, causing listeners to have to sift through endless nonsense to find anything worthwhile. The pros don’t outweigh the cons in the grand scheme of things.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Probably Anata – “The Conductor’s Departure”, since it taught me about counterpoint in a Metal context.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I prefer a physical copy of something to provide an immersive experience, but I understand the ease of downloads being a draw. I would probably choose vinyl, which gives the most comprehensive listening experience.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We had a recent show in Milwaukee with a great turnout for the closing band be very receptive to us, which is a huge victory given that we understand the music isn’t immediately palatable.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I might not even be existing – not doing music isn’t a thought I want to entertain.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
A bunch of Iron Chefs, so I get to sample the world’s best cuisine.
What’s next for the band?
We will continue playing shows to support the full-length “Retrogradient” while also planning future releases.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://deorbitmke.bandcamp.com/album/retrogradient
Facebook:
https://m.facebook.com/deorbitmke/
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nVUjAEU7ow
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
A bap (I googled it, despite binge-watching the Great British Baking Show).
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Please listen to the record, immerse yourself in the experience and stay tuned for more in the future!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
