When one thinks of Hawaii, it's easy to concentrate on stereotypes; surfing, hula girls, etc. However, Hawaii and a burgeoning ska/punk scene have never been synonymous. Punk/reggae sextet Black Square are looking to change that, and SKRATCH recently caught up with guitarist/vocalist Josh 86 to discuss just how they plan on it.

Black Square is Josh 86 (vocals/guitars), Nick Danger (bass/vocals), Brian Kim (drums), T.R. (alto & baritone saxophone/vocals), G-Bone (trombone), and Babyface McEvans (tenor saxophone.)

SKRATCH MAGAZINE: Is there any significance behind the name of the band?
JOSH 86: The band name comes from the Russian artist Kasimir Malevich who, in 1915, painted a black square on a white foreground which became his most famous piece of work. [The] appropriately titled "Black Square" was classified as part of the Suprematist movement, a theory in which the material matter of art or objectivity was without value and the true value in a work of art was in the feeling it expressed or the feeling it provoked without specifically leading the viewer to specific object-based reflection.

SKRATCH: From a lyrical standpoint, what do you think is the most powerful song in the band's catalogue?
JOSH: "One Glass of Water," the title track of our most recent album, has an urgent and important message calling on people to conserve, replant, and replenish our earth as we have been raping and taking from it for too long now. The song's verses are self-reflective while the bridges and chorus call for the listener to remember the past and to be active in shaping the future of our planet.

SKRATCH: What are some of your goals for 2008?
JOSH: Release our third full-length album, ONWARD. Tour Japan and the west coast again.

SKRATCH: Who are some of the artists that made you want to do this?
JOSH: Local bands like Go Jimmy Go and The Hell Caminos have stepped up and embarked on cross continental tours of the mainland, as well as tours in Asia and Europe. This has been influential in our traveling goals. Musically speaking, Joe Strummer has been my biggest influence. From the Clash to his work with the Mescaleros, he is my most admired songwriter with his political and insightful lyrics along with combinations of pop, punk, and reggae.

SKRATCH: Do think the Internet has been more of a benefit or a detriment to the music industry?
JOSH: From the financial perspective, I'd say a detriment. Bands have gained much better exposure possibilities though, and I believe that is more valuable than the dollar. Artists have always struggled financially, it seems. Those who benefit off the sales of art are almost never the ones creating it. I'd much rather have a million people be listening to our music than making a million dollars off it.

SKRATCH: What would your "dream tour" look like?
JOSH: I'd love to tour South America. I'd like to have everything with us we'd need to play anywhere. All the generators, lights, etc. Playing music to people that have never heard anything like us is exciting to me. I wouldn't even want to hit the big cities. I can just imagine the adventure it would be. Yeah, I'd want to play the Amazon.

SKRATCH: If you weren't involved with music, what would you be doing?
JOSH: I run a non-profit organization that sets up all ages shows in the Islands. I'd love to focus more on that and establish our own venue and art space for bands to play, and to have art and music classes. This type of work involving the youth and giving them tools to express or empower themselves is very rewarding. To encourage and cultivate more music and art in Hawaii's youth culture is noble work I'd like to be a part of.

SKRATCH: What is one of your least favorite things about being a musician?
JOSH: Traveling. As much as it is always an awesome adventure, and memorable, and one of the best parts of being a musician, I get homesick really easy. Growing up on an island makes you never want to leave, or makes you want to get the hell out as soon as you can. I love Hawaii; it is my home, so whenever I leave, I miss it in a way that makes me feel like part of myself has been taken away. A lot of people talk about this feeling when they lose a lover. I feel that way when I lose Hawaii.

SKRATCH: Where do you see the band in five years?
JOSH: I would expect our live show turnouts to grow immensely. I would expect to have visited many cities and countries with fans across the world. Most importantly, I would expect our music to improve greatly.

SKRATCH: How bout ten years?
JOSH: Hopefully living off our art somehow. But who knows, maybe the Internet will have swallowed the music industry by then. In that case, we will instead [have] made over a million fans, and everyone in the Amazon will know our name.