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Turing Machine Interview |
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These former members of Pitchblende
and Vineland have recently released perhaps the best debut album I
have heard from any band. Anyone who plays drums should make it a
priority to listen to "A New Machine For Living" as Gerard
Fuchs drumming is totally amazing. I was lucky enough to chance upon
this band, so make sure you don't miss out especially if you are a
Slint / Tortoise fan. Read on to find out more about the band then
visit their site and download some clips. You won't regret it!
Official website: www.jadetree.com
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Turing Machine are: Justin Chearno,
Gerard Fuchs, Scott Desimon.
Describe your music
Justin: Beat oriented
instrumental rock. Not in any way shape or form "math
rock" we are much more interested in "groove" and
arrangement, rather than playing in crazy times just for the sake of
showing off. In many ways our songs are like dance music performed
by a rock band.
How does your music make you feel?
Justin: I'm
really proud of this band. I can't describe the feeling that I get
from performing, there's the old rock cliche of how "free"
it makes you feel, which is true, but it's even more than that. I
seldom "listen" to our music outside of practice or
performance, but when I've heard it I was at least satisfied with
how it sounded.
What made you pick up your instrument?
Justin: I
saw The Clash on tv in 1982 and I was totally blown away by their
energy. I really thought to myself, "I want to do that".
The thing that made me stick with it was that I finally had a
"thing" that I did, something that almost defined me as a
12 year old -- the kid that plays the guitar. Of course, I was still
just a geeky loser, but I was a geeky loser that PLAYED THE GUITAR.
What was the first proper song you learnt to play on your
instrument and was there any point when you were learning that you
wanted to give up?
Justin: The
first song I learned all the way through was "hungry like the
wolf" by duran duran, really. Naw, I never, ever, wanted to
give up. I really love playing. It's the only "project"
per se that I've ever really followed through on. I was the kind of
kid that bought model planes and got bored with them before I had
completed them... etc. It's almost amazing that I found the
concentration and resolve to learn an instrument...
Who or what music has been most influential in your sound?
Justin: I
can only speak from my perspective, but there have been too many
things to mention. I guess the 4 biggest have been Sonic Youth,
Naked Raygun, This Heat and David Grubbs. Remember that's over 18
years of guitar playing. Those are the sort of people or groups that
made me aware of playing in a certain way, or more importantly
influenced me to find my own style through their inspiration....
Where would you like to see yourselves and your music
heading in the next few years?
Justin: I
just want to keep playing and developing. I'd like to add a full
time keyboard player and do some stuff with vocals also. I just
don't want there to be any "rules" for what we're doing. I
want to keep it loose and stress free as possible.
Where would you most like to play live?
Justin: I've
never played shows in Europe - I think it would be great to play
some shows in France and Germany
What music do you currently find difficult to remove from
your stereo?
Justin: I'm
hooked on the new album by our label mates The Explosion called
"flash flash flash". I haven't been able to take "The
Yellow Princess" by John Fahey off my turntable for a week....
If you weren't making music what would you be doing?
Justin: I
don't really spend that much time doing rock stuff. It's hard to
live in New York and make a living playing, plus there are a few
other things I'm almost as passionate about...during the day I write
research on e-commerce for an internet company, and I'm in the
process of designing a men's clothing line called "mark essex"
that should be in stores spring 2001..
Global domination or a cult following: which would you
prefer?
Justin: Absolute
total global fucking domination. As long as it doesn't cut into my
social life or drinking time.
Have you ever owned or worn rock pants?
Justin: I
guess we haven't met, or you would know that EVERY pair of pants I
have are rock pants.
If you were asked to score a soundtrack which director would
you choose and what type of film do you think would suit your style?
Justin: This
is something I'm really interested in doing. I'd love to work with
jem cohen. he has a really amazing eye for emotion and atmosphere, I
love the way he blends different formats and isn't afraid to hold a
shot for a long while... but that would for more of an
"ambient" thing... I'd love to do music for a car chase in
a crazy expensive action more....
You walk into a pub, Jim O’Rourke’s sitting at the bar
and John McIntyre is playing on the pinball machine which do you
gravitate towards after you’ve got yourself a drink and how come?
Justin: Well,
this is a bad question 'cause I know both of those guys... umm... I
guess I'd go up to McIntrye and tell him to come and sit with me and
O'Rourke when he's done with the game... both of those people have
been an absolute and complete inspiration to me for a long long
time...
Do you ever find the band taking on ‘Spinal Tap’ aspects
whilst touring?
Justin: Naws,
I never heard Spinal Tap moan about the lack of girls at their
shows...
What is the one thing that people don’t know about the
band that you really think they should?
Justin: That
Jerry Fuchs and Scott Desimon are two of the greatest fucking people
I've ever met in my life and that I love both of them with all of my
heart... and that we could give a shit about math rock.
Finally, any plans on touring the UK soon?
Justin: I
would love to, but because of our 'serious' jobs and the fact that
our drummer is still in college (not to mention I can't imagine
anyone in the UK wanting to come out and see us play...) I don't
thing that's in the near future at all..
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Interviewed by
David Majors & Gordon Peppard
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