EMQ’s With Gigantum
EMQ’s With Gigantum
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Heavy/ Stoner Rock/ Metal band, Gigantum. Huge thanks to them 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?
MIA – Mia X (RockNRolla) I play bass and sing. We are a pretty new band but have known each other for quite some time. Blare, Chase and I have played in various bands together for years. Blare and I also play in another band together, Betty Blowtorch. Most of my history playing music is with rock / punk bands. I wanted to try something new musically and stretch out of my comfort zone. This band has more instrumental sections so I can enjoy playing my instrument instead of always doing double duty. We all have different musical backgrounds but what fuses the band together is the love of music. Having interest in lots of styles and genres gives us a lot of tools in our musical toolbox. Mark, Chase and Blare are definitely music nerds and I’m grateful for that. I had been talking with Chase for some time about starting up a new project, but it wasn’t until Mark came into the picture that the band grew legs. Blare got wind of what we were doing and had been in an experimental phase, so she was stoked to try out new ideas. One thing Blare and Mark bring to the band are many pedals for all those interesting sounds!
MARK – Mark Lüntzel, guitars / vocals. We met at a Fu Manchu show and the band was conceived. Fast forward a bit to when Blare joined, the line-up was then complete.
BLARE – Guitar – I have played with Chase and Mia in different bands over the years. Mia asked me if I wanted to come and jam with her and Mark at her house. I think they were jamming on Monkey King. I was looking for something that was a little heavier than what I’ve done in the past and it all just clicked. Influences are basically Chase and Mark are more metal and Mia and myself are more Rock /Punk Rock. We love jamming and turning the songs into small journeys, telling stories and creating landscapes. It’s hard, heavy and full of energy.
CHASE – I play drums, cowbell and gong! As far as the history of the band, we have all known each other for quite some time. Blare and myself were in a band many years ago and then Blare, Mia and myself had a band together for a while. And then Mia, Mark and myself decided to start this new band and Blare joined shortly after. Since most of us had a history together it was an easy transition, and we all had a pretty good idea of what we wanted to do musically. We enjoy hanging out together as much as we like playing music together and creating something we are all proud of collectively. We set our standards pretty high when we feel like a song is complete and not until then. Really looking forward to writing new material and setting the bar even higher with future songs.
How did you come up with your band name?
MIA – My idea for the band was always to be loud and in your face. We share a room with Behold The Monolith and I saw on their new song board that they were working on a song idea called, “Blastodon” and I thought that would be an awesome name but the rest of the band thought that it sounded too close to Mastodon. I said, “Well, I want it to sound really big, larger than life. Like more than gigantic, Gigantum. The rest of the band was like, “That’s it!”. I’m pretty good with making up band names. I’m always starting a new band or giving names out… Funny enough, Mastodon has a song called, “Gigantium” and people sometimes get confused. Whattya gonna do?
MARK – We wanted a band name to convey what we felt about the music we were creating. Large, heavy, gigantic, GIGANTUM.
BLARE – We did the list thing for a bit but after a while we threw the lists out. Defining or describing the music actually helped come up with a name. We wanted something big and bold that was easy to say.
CHASE – Band name wise, I think we wanted something strong and catchy and that sounded big and powerful to sort of mirror what we do music wise. Also, a one-word name that stands out and is original, I think we accomplished that!
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
MIA – I’m from New York. I’ve been going to shows since I was 14 years old, and the scene has been pretty ingrained in me. As a teen, I would find a way in and just sit in the back of CBGB’s for the last band that played close to 4 a.m. Back then, I thought it was a special treat if I was the only one there. I loved Metal and Punk shows and hung out a lot on the Lower East Side in the village. I am lucky enough to come from a big city where the scenes were thriving. My favorite NY metal band is Anthrax, rock band is D Generation and punk is Lunachicks. I am currently in Los Angeles, another big city and a mecca for the arts. There is a big metal and rock scene here as well.
MARK – I grew up in the SF bay area during the 70’s / 80’s / 90’s so I got to experience a multitude of music genres and musicians. From Blues to Punk to Metal to Rock, we had it all and on tap.
BLARE – USA, California, Los Angeles – … it’s awesome, bands are happening, clubs, venues all that has come back strong. It feels good again that people are back out there and supporting each other.
CHASE – I am originally from Salem MA and moved to LA in 1994 for a short period and then again permanently in the summer of 1997. I have always had a connection with music at an early age, older brother who turned me on to all the classic Hard Rock and Metal bands of the 70’s and early 80’s. I also had an uncle who played in a Hard Rock band and would sit in on their rehearsals and soak everything in and be endlessly inspired to play drums and listen to everything I could possibly get my hands on. Getting to the point to where I was old enough to attend shows / concerts etc. and eventually to start playing shows myself at 15 and realized that playing drums and music would become my life journey.
What is your latest release?
MIA – We have the song ‘Monkey King’ released and will have another single coming out mid-July called ‘Necron 99’. A lyric video for ‘Monkey King’ is out now as well. Our self-titled album release will be beginning of September!
MARK – Lyric video is out, another single will drop soon, our EP is slated for release in September 2024
CHASE – Latest release is a forthcoming album which I believe is slated for September of this year and I couldn’t be more excited for people to hear it. I think and speaking for myself it came out even better than I expected. This is one of my proudest achievements and drumming-wise I am really happy with the way the drums sound and my performance.
Who have been your greatest influences?
MIA – I definitely have been musically influenced by being exposed to all types of music at an early age by a family of music lovers, from Eric Clapton, Hendrix, Pink Floyd to Ray Charles and Freddy Fender and everything in between. My grandfather, Raymond J. Flores, who was not a musician but a playwright and an all-around creative being, would bring me into the east village. Those trips took me to a whole new world and just blew my mind. I started hanging out in the city on my own as a teenager and that definitely shaped who I am.
MARK – My mother and brother. We had a musical household while growing up, always a piano or a guitar around if not a record player spinning Beatles / Fleetwood / etc.
BLARE – I like listening to all different types of music. When I was in my teen’s I played Classical, then Rock, Punk Rock, Blues, Heavy Rock, Indian music (studied sitar in college – I don’t play it anymore, hard instrument unless you can play it almost all the time forever). Even though I don’t directly play the styles I studied or listen to, it still seeps into my playing and the way I think about playing. So basically, I have a lot of different influences.
CHASE – Influence-wise, that is a big question for sure as it would be near impossible to name all of them. Drummer-wise, just off the top of my head, Neil Peart, Vinny Appice, Terry Bozzio, Billy Cobham, Bonham, Dave Lombardo, Tony Williams, Mikkey Dee, Alex Van Halen, Nico McBrain, the list is endless. Music-wise again, so many it’s insane, but Rush, Sabbath, Slayer, everything from ABBA to extreme black metal and everything in between. If I like it, I will listen to it.
What first got you into music?
MIA – I was born into music. My mom said that I was kicking with Bonham when she went to a Led Zeppelin concert 8 months pregnant. I’ve always loved the drums! I wanted to play drums in elementary school but there was only one set, and the music teacher bamboozled me into playing the clarinet instead. I didn’t stick with it but I can still play “Mary Had A Little Lamb”.
MARK – Listening to the radio as a child. Recording radio shows. Then records / 8 track tapes / cassettes, anything I could get my hands on. I had an older sibling who left a stack of records at the house, Led Zepp and Nazareth and Jethro. This turned out to be very influential.
BLARE – I think it was my Mom, she wanted us to take piano lessons. I didn’t like them very much. Eventually, they figured that out and got me some guitar lessons instead.
CHASE – What first got me into music, my older brother bringing home what now is considered the classics, Sabbath, Zepp, Rush, Kiss, Priest, Cars, etc. This, mind you, was the late 70’s, early 80’s. My older uncle had a Hard Rock band and I would sit in on their rehearsals and soak it all in and see how being in a band worked and sheer volume. It inspired me to buy drums and practice every free second and eventually join my first band.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
MIA – My favourite new band is Mannequin Pussy. I would love to collaborate with them even though our styles are so different. I think we are all creative enough to figure something out and do something cool. I would love to play with Fu Manchu because their sound is so powerful live.
MARK – I’d love to work with Eugene Robinson on pretty much anything. Even if it just ends up being a chokehold.
CHASE – To collaborate with anyone, so many I could think of. Right away, Jimmy Page, Alex Lifeson, etc.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
MARK – I’d love to play Roadburn in the Netherlands. I love how it has progressed into a very wide range of musical styles, compared to 10-12 years ago. I think we’d fit right in.
MIA – Rock In Rio! I hear that Brazil puts on amazing festivals with the wildest fans.
CHASE – Festival-wise, probably any of the big European fests during the summertime. Rock in Rio and anything south of the border, those fans / people are the most passionate on the planet!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
MIA – I don’t think any gift is weird. I love them all. The most interesting one is a welder created a bass wall mount out of wrought iron from an abandoned church. He was very much into the occult, and it possibly has powers. I have also gotten mugs, t-shirts, artwork, and lots of love!
MARK – A large package of hand-drawn art, with random scribblings. I think they were just trying to clear out their storage.
BLARE – Boxers, needless to say, they didn’t make it into the van.
CHASE – Gift by a fan, nothing memorable as of yet.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
MIA – Stick with us, we got lots of cool stuff in store and if you are our fan, I will be yours.
MARK – We love you and cannot wait to share our music with you!
BLARE – Thanks for listening, buy our shit and come to our shows!
CHASE – Please support what we do if you like it. Come see us live, buy merch and spread the word!!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
MIA – I have lost so many rock’n’roll friends, band members and legends that were staples in our LA community – I want them all back. Bianca Halstead, Dee Dee Ramone, Lemmy Kilmister, Kevin McDade, Tia Sprocket, Todd Youth, Howie Pyro, Ben Graves, Johnny Volatile, Johnny Marquez. All rock stars to me.
MARK – Geordie (Killing Joke, RIP). I was hoping for at least one more record / tour from them. I saw them on their last jaunt, and it was spectacular as always so at least I have that.
BLARE – Alvin Lee
CHASE – Neil Peart, Dee Dee Ramone, Chris Cornell, etc.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
MIA – I love when I am with my bandmates, and we are working on something, and it finally just snaps into place, and we are excited about what was just created. I love when we are in stage and in sync with each other’s thoughts and intuitively play off of each other. I love all the blood, sweat and tears that goes into a project that makes it all worthwhile. I also hate having to give all my blood, sweat and tears.
MARK – The love and trust I have for my bandmates. I think this is reflected in the music we make. What do I hate: getting jabbed by guitar strings when changing them.
BLARE – Love creating, hate the business.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
MIA – I would want to figure out a way that the bands can make money and have more programs in the US for musicians to be supported.
MARK – Provide more care for artists, financially and otherwise. I’ve learned that European countries do this very well, at least on the tour part.
BLARE – The biz keeps getting more complicated, more people taking more money. It would be so musicians can have more control and make more money so we can actually earn a living.
CHASE – That is a loaded question – ha-ha. The business side of things stink. To change on thing would be to have the bands and artists make more money.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
MIA – The two that I have been listening to lately is “Coral Fang” from The Distillers and Slayer’s “Seasons in the Abyss”.
MARK – Septic Death “Attention”. This is a crushing noisy crusty masterpiece.
CHASE – One album that comes to mind is Rush “Moving Pictures” and Slayer “Reign in Blood”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
MIA – I like the convenience of downloads, but I like having a physical vinyl because it becomes art that is an extension of the music. I think the most important part is what are you playing the music on and are you getting to hear all the details?
MARK – Whatever you choose, listen to the music. The medium doesn’t matter that much to me anymore. I prefer vinyl for some things, other things I’m happy streaming.
BLARE – Today it’s between downloads and vinyl. I can play downloads in my car and vinyl at home.
CHASE – I love vinyl but I’m old school.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
MIA – I loved our last gig in Mark’s hometown because it felt like family! Good sound, music, food, friends and weather. That sounds pretty perfect to me!
MARK – Recently we played in front of friends and loved ones in my hometown. Opened for YOB and Black Cobra in a previous band, that was pretty good.
BLARE – Warped Tour.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
MIA – I was an artist, but I destroy everything I make if left up to my own devices, that is why I need to be a musician in a band. I don’t do well creating in solitude. I also am an herbalist and work at a witchcraft store, so I make tea and spend a lot of time with Hekate at The Crooked Path in Burbank.
MARK – Making hot sauce and software engineering.
BLARE – Honestly, I’d probably be dead.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
MIA – Besides my band? Because they would be mad if I was canoodling without them! I listen to a lot of podcasts and feel like they are already my friends so I would want Conan O’Brien, Bobby Lee and Khalyla, Burt Kreischer and Trixie Mattel.
MARK – Bill Murray, Rodney Dangerfield, Bobcat Goldthwait, Gilda Radner, John Belushi
BLARE – As long as it’s just for dinner and not a lifeboat situation, besides my wife, my bandmates.
What’s next for the band?
MIA – We are excited to get our new songs out into the world, play lots of shows, write new tunes, record – rinse and repeat!
MARK – Releasing another single, release EP in the fall, more gigs and more song writing.
BLARE – More tunes on the way! More gigs and more interviews and hopefully Europe 2025.
Q. What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Official Website: https://linktr.ee/gigantumband
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gigantumband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Gigantum
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gigantumband/
Bandcamp:
https://gigantumband.bandcamp.com/track/monkey-king
Itunes:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/monkey-king/1746754385?i=1746754389
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3J5KAMybthqKgcBnqi8Kac
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gigantum/1746129682
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?
MIA – I am gluten intolerant so I would call it a bad stomachache.
MARK – I think it’s a Roll…
BLARE – Bun a Cob, it’s fun to say. I’m not sure but I will google it.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
MIA – Thank you so much for the fun time and interesting questions!
MARK – Gigantum loves you!
BLARE – Thank You!
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