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System Noise are a Progressive Rock/Punk band from NYC who blew me away when I first heard them. If you're looking for something out of the box then I really do suggest you give this band a listen. On the basis of a CD they later sent me I really did have to interview them for Street Voice. Here's what they had to say for themselves.
Street Voice: First off can System Noise introduce themselves to the world?
We're Sarah, Kurt, Pouth and Dave – a group of diverse musicians dedicated to their craft, intent on creating groundbreaking music and committed to bringing it to the widest possible audience by any means necessary. In our spare time we're just a quartet of tricksters and hooligans poking fun at the world's little ironies.
Street Voice: When did the band first get together and what inspired them to start a band in the first place?
We met at Jesus camp and decided to spread the joy… oh, sorry. But seriously, Pouth and Kurt met in 1999 when they played in a goth band together. Sarah and Kurt met in 2001 through a mutual friend of Pouth's and then worked on an alt rock project while Pouth split town for a couple years. On his return we felt the need to create something completely original and decided that we could only do that together. The intent was to create a sound that would inspire the most crazy music junkie and hook an audience not used to serious music. From the get go, we wanted to be a cross genre project – putting together ideas that had not been tried before in pop culture, and drawing inspiration from the margins of accepted culture. We met Dave through, of all things, a craigslist ad when we were having bass player issues about a year ago. A kindred soul, he immediately blended his unique style with ours – creating a new evolution in our writing and playing.
Street Voice: So how long have you been playing together?
Kurt and Pouth have worked together on and off since 1999. Sarah and Kurt have worked together consistently since 2001. The System Noise project proper started in the summer of 2003. Dave joined us in 2007. The New York scene can be a community like that – you seek out players you haven't played with in a while, and you add the new players when they come in, until the witch's stew is purrfect.
Street Voice: You take your music to a level that most will never be able to deal with as they can't label label you so would you ever compromise your wicked music to reach more people?
We don't really think about it in that way. While it is often easier for the media to group bands and fans into cliques, we'd rather straddle the fence and try to make something new. While we always do think about how an audience might respond, we also feel like the audience will respond if it is good – and that is always reinforced in our live shows. Having a pop hit isn't an ambition of the band. Having an ever increasing following that finds meaning in our music is. And if someone's greatest ambition in life is to listen to the latest pop monstrosity loosed on the public by the mainstream media machine, quite frankly, we highly doubt they'd ever listen to us even if we wrote the catchiest song in the world.
Street Voice: As musicians do you think it's sad that most bands today wont push the boundaries like you do?
We think there are a lot of bands out there pushing the boundaries in every direction, maybe not the direction we're pushing, but pushing nonetheless. By the same token, what boundaries are left to push? Rock in many ways still has a lot of catching up to do with respect to other general classifications of music. When musical boundaries are pushed intentionally it usually feels contrived or uninspired. The great thing about this band is that we all bring different musical styles to the table and try to integrate them into traditional pop forms – verse/chorus/bridge, hooks, groove, etc. If we can get someone dancing to an eastern European folk chord progression with a ska meets metal beat and a cabaret vocal, mission accomplished. At the same time, within our current milieu, it isn't the bands so much as the distribution chokehold constructing walls against creativity. Decades ago, the major labels abandoned anything different. There have been flare ups by various independent scenes, but mainstream media has quickly appropriated and repackaged them as something 'they' created… of course, those of us in the trenches have always seen it for what it is. But as the old distribution networks break down, the potential for a renaissance increases, so we would hope that in the near future bands that do push the boundaries, as we do, will start to find a greater audience in the music deprived public… and we hope that we can help bring good music back to the forefront.
Street Voice: What inspires you to write the lyrics that you do?
[Sarah] I see people in their situations and how that affects them and how they affect other people. I comment on and question their ideals and their pain.
[note – Sarah writes the lyrics]
Street Voice: When can we expect to see an album from you guys?
Well we are definitely excited about "Give Me Power" and will be getting the word out about it for a while, but you can certainly expect a new album from us next year.
Street Voice: Are there any plans to release a full length player in 2008?
If you could teleport us off this rock, we could probably produce an album every couple of months. Alas, there is this thing called 'money' [and that's said by a band that owns their own studio].
Street Voice: Sarah has one of the best voices I've heard from a female in years so is this her natural voice or has she had vocal coaching?
It was clear at a young age that I was musical and my parents encouraged it so I grew up doing theatre, dancing, playing the trumpet and all that. I did study voice a bit but it's expensive so my parents couldn't always afford it. I didn't really start developing my chops until I moved to NY and began singing in bars and bands. Now I keep my voice in shape by doing vocal exercises before every performance...just like an athlete, you need to make sure you're warmed up or you might hurt yourself. To answer your question, it is a bit of both.
Street Voice: She's also very beautiful so has modelling ever been an option?
[Sarah] That's very flattering but never in a million years would I have considered that an option. For one thing, I'm only 5'2...and I think I would find it tremendously boring.
[Dave] Stop hitting on our singer dammit!
Dave I'll send over them two cases of strong beer in exchange:-)
Street Voice: So where and how far do you guys want to take System Noise?
We want to take it wherever and however far it goes. We're all dedicated to the music we write together and we're all pros. There is nothing more to want than to be able to write and perform music for the rest of our lives, inspire people, touch them in ways that make positive contributions to their lives, and make a living at it. All of us are long past the idea of stardom, but if it comes, bring it on – it can only expand an audience for the values we try to live, whenever it is that we get the time to live. But none of us will hang out pantyless in Hollywood, just for the tabloid crotch shot. [Well, maybe some of us ☺]. We want to be respected musicians.
Street Voice: Being from NYC are there many places who'll put on shows for bands like yourselves or do you have to go outta town?
The NYC scene has changed considerably over the years. Whereas in 1997 it was pretty easy to get a gig at The Mercury Lounge, good luck now. But because every booker, bar staff and promoter we've worked with is pretty blown away by our live shows, it is easy for us to get a gig in town. The question is do we want it? We're at a point now that we want to make our gigs count. So we need to cut out the interlopers and make the scene for ourselves – something we're endeavoring to do now. Outside the city can often be hit and miss: sometimes a Country and Western Bar ala the Blues Brothers; sometimes a kick ass show where we meet truly great people; sometimes 'we don't have wine, but we have wine coolers and the best restaurant in town is an Arby's'.
Street Voice: Apart from the band what else do you guys get up to?
We work… We pay the rent… We try to do our best to support our lives and families in a country that has little institutional support for artists and musicians.
But as the middle finger pulley's itself to an acceptable angle, we continue to dream about a world in which the things we create help create better things, and from person to person, help others have epiphanies. And we hope that whatever we do will inspire others to do likewise.
Street Voice: Anything you'd like to add?
We want to actually meet people and learn about their lives… It is our inspiration. Contact us via Myspace. Come to our shows. They're a blast. As Sarah says, our music is about people's lives, so share away – you might even end up as the subject of a song.
Thanks to System Noise for doing the interview and for making it a good one. Do check them out as I know for sure they'll win you over. Can't say any more really apart from these guys are the nuts.
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