EMQs With Tatara
EMQs With Tatara
25/11/26
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Metallers Tatara. Huge thanks to Jacob, their bassist, 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?
My name is Jacob Dubé. I play bass and share vocals with George in Tatara. The band started when Dave (our drummer) wanted to put together a serious Metal project and brought George in, since the two of them had played together before, jamming in projects and stuff. Around the same time, I made a post on Fcebook looking for a Metal band that needed a bassist, and Dave reached out, so we all met up and clicked right away.
We started practicing in Dave’s garage and the songwriting came together pretty fast. Actually two of the songs on our new album,’Angel of Fire’ and ‘With Eyes Sewn Shut’, were written within the first week of us meeting. At first we had a dedicated vocalist, but when he left, we couldn’t find anyone who fit, so George and I decided to split the vocals and teach ourselves. It wasn’t the plan, but it ended up giving our band its own sound.
Tatara is the first real band for all of us, so once we realized how well we worked together, we decided to take it seriously and make something we were proud of from the ground up.
How did you come up with your band name?
I came up with the band name. I’ve always been a fan of Japanese noise artist Merzbow, and he has a track called Tatara that always stuck with me. I liked the sound and texture of the word, and it fit the raw, DIY energy we wanted. I pitched it to the guys, everyone liked it, and the name just stuck.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We’re from Edmonton, Alberta, and the Metal scene here is a lot more active and supportive than people expect. Edmonton isn’t known worldwide for Metal, but the city has a long history of great underground music, with classic Punk bands like SNFU and The Smalls. The current scene is really underrated, especially the Hardcore and Metal side. Everyone is supportive, the musicians are genuinely kind, and every show feels like a tight community. It’s a great place to be a new band.
What is your latest release?
Our latest release is our debut album, Through Gritted Teeth. We’ve been working on it for around three years, basically since the band first formed. From day one the goal was to make a full album, not just singles, so finally releasing it feels huge for us. It’s the first real statement of who we are as a band.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Everyone in the band has different influences. Dave, our drummer, is into Metal like Gojira, Machine Head, Lamb of God, and Korn. George leans more toward Hardcore and Sludge, with bands like Crowbar, Knocked Loose and Sepultura. I’m drawn to DIY and punk influences, like Dystopia, Sanguisugabogg, Volcano, and Black Flag.
I also take large inspiration from artists like Lady Gaga, Eurobeat artists like Lesley Parrish, and Eurodance artists like Aqua, especially for the energy and tension they create in their songs. The energy they bring in the studio is unlike anything else, and it inspires how we approach our own music and shows.
What first got you into music?
What first really got me into music was the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, especially the scene where they perform ‘Keep Yourself Alive’. It was the first time I really listened to music and thought, “Wow, this is cool and different.” Seeing Rami Malek portray Freddie Mercury and command the audience inspired me and made me realize I loved that kind of raw, intense performance. From there, I started listening to Queen, which led me to Slayer, System of a Down, and many other bands. It’s been a journey ever since.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
If I could collaborate with any current band or musician, it would definitely be Sanguisugabogg or Knocked Loose. They’re both heavier than us, but they’re active, touring everywhere, and they’ve been a big inspiration for showing that Hardcore and Heavy music can be fresh and exciting in 2025. Another band we really admire is Ethereal Tomb, a doomy street Metal band we’ve seen live in Edmonton a few times and they’re just amazing.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
If I could play any festival in the world, it would be Sound and Fury. Their stage setup is incredible, the lineups are always stacked, and the vibe is amazing. I love how they mix Hardcore and Metal, and every band I’ve seen there from YouTube has been fantastic.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
It wasn’t exactly a gift, but one fan made a huge metal Tatara sign in their class and brought it to a show. It was this enormous welded piece of sheet metal with our logo on it. Pretty sure he even put it on his car like a license plate. It was sick and definitely one of the most unique things we’ve seen from a fan.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
My advice to fans would be to live honestly and intensely. Seek out experiences that make you feel alive, push yourself to create and pursue what matters to you, and spit in the face of apathy. Life doesn’t need to have some grand meaning to matter. What matters is that you live with intensity, defiance and honesty, and inspire others to do the same.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
I would bring back Cliff Burton from Metallica. It feels like he was just starting to find his voice in the band before his death, and it’s sad because he had so much more to express, especially with his classical musical influences. He was only getting started, and I think he still had so much more music to share.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
What I enjoy most about being a musician is being completely raw on stage and in the music. I get to push myself as far as I can and pour every emotion into the performance. You can hear that intensity on the album, especially on “The Future,” where I was in such an “out of it” mental state while recording because I was pushing my vocals and performance to the limit. It’s like the ultimate outlet for expressing myself honestly.
What I dislike is the networking side. I’m more of an introvert, so approaching people and doing the business side of music can be tough. I love connecting with new people, but I don’t always have that natural extroverted mindset, which can be challenging.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the music industry, it would be making it a more feasible career. There are so many talented musicians who never get the chance to release their music because they have to work other jobs and don’t have the time or resources to create. If that were different, the musical landscape would be so much more diverse, and it would be amazing to see more artists able to fully pursue their music.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
One of my all time favorite albums is ‘Homicidal Ecstasy’ by Sanguisugabogg. The way the guitars and drums lock in to create the boggs signature groove is incredible. I’ve never heard a band where the rhythm section conveys so much power and cohesion. The vocals are interesting too, their vocalist Devin mostly stays on one note, which gives the instruments space to breathe and adds to the raw intensity of the album. It’s an impressive and unique approach to death metal.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
For me, downloads are the way to go. I’ve never really been into vinyl, cassettes, or CDs, it’s more about getting the music itself out there and being able to listen to it anytime. The format doesn’t matter as much as the experience of the music in my opinion.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
The best gig we’ve played so far was our album release show in Edmonton at the Starlite Room main stage. It was an all Alberta band bill, and we were really proud of the turnout and the promotion we put into it. The crowd was mostly young people, many of whom are in bands or know someone in a band, which was amazing to see. It felt great to help energize the local scene and inspire others our age to pick up instruments and get involved in music.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
If I weren’t a musician, I’d probably be a performance artist or doing something off the wall. I’ve always been drawn to raw, intense performances, putting myself completely out there on stage and creating something visceral for an audience. Although I also love drawing and designing our CDs, as well as most of the Tatara merch.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
I’d invite Jonathan Davis from Korn, Devin from Sanguisugabogg, Klaus from Dead Kennedys because of his bass playing, Isaac from Knocked Loose for his guitar work, and Ned Russin from Title Fight for his vocals.
What’s next for the band?
Our next goal is to organize a Canadian tour this summer to promote the album and get our music out to more people. We’re excited to see who will connect with it. We’re a very DIY band, and since none of us have been in a band before, we’re still figuring things out. Even small details, like ordering CDs in the right format for physical release, have been learning experiences because we don’t have a real manager. So fingers crossed organizing this tour will be relatively straight forward.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Instagram is our main hub for news, but we also post on Facebook to keep people updated. I’ll attach our linktree for everything else
http://instagram.com/tatara_band
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550744067878
https://linktr.ee/Tatara_band
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. And we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!
I consulted our British guitarist George for this question and he said: “It’s a biscuit and I’m tired of this debate. Is an oreo a cake because it has a crust and filling? No, it’s a cookie because that’s what it is”. Take that as you will.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
A huge thank you to everyone who’s listened to our album or come to a show. We’re really grateful for the support this early on, and it means a lot to see people connecting with what we do. And thank you to Ever Metal for taking the time to talk with us, and to Beth Morait for conducting this interview!! We really, truly appreciate it.
