This is my second in a three series interview run. This time with the band Spheres of Chaos. You can check out their official website spheresofchaos.co.uk! Or check them out on myspace!Names:
Joe Heffer - Bassist Joe Allen - Drummer Mike Cook - Guitar Alex Fenwick - Guitar
Band name: Spheres of Chaos
Where did you get the idea for your band name? Joe A: Spheres of Chaos is the title of an old video game, similar to Asteroids, for the Acorn originally, I believe {editor's note: you can download Spheres of Chaos HERE}. Before we even started practicing Mike was like I know what we can call our band!, and in my head I was like It sounds like some really bad space game. But then I downloaded it, and played it and its actually really good. You should check it out. We emailed the creator Iain McLeod and he gave us permission to use the name.
Where do you currently reside? Joe A: Sheffield, UK.
What was the first video game console you ever owned? What memories do you have with it? Alex: NES, Battletoads (the 1st one) was solid. I loved the castles in Zelda.
Joe H: The Acorn BBC Micro, the mouse had two buttons.
Joe A: NES also. I remember going to the electronics shop just before my fifth birthday, I think. The SNES had just come out, so the NES was pretty cheap. My dad bought it and we took it home and played it that day. It came with the Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cart and we had a lot of fun. I never really bought too many games for it afterwards though, and I cut the wire off the NES Zapper so I could use it like a real gun. You don’t value things as much when you’re a kid. So many more memories.
What is your favorite console? Why? Mike: I don’t know, I don’t want to make them fight.
Joe A: Probably the NES, basically for the impact it had on my life. The kind of games, music and graphics are so cool, although I maybe didn’t appreciate them at the age of 5 - in fact I wanted a Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in the US) just to play Sonic. I remember making friends with this guy in my class just because he said he had Sonic, but it turned out he didn’t in the end. Im actually glad I started out with a Nintendo console I feel it really shaped my life. If it had been anything else I might have turned into a PlayStation fan or something.
What is your favorite video game soundtrack? Why? Joe A: One of my favourites is the soundtrack to Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Gamecube. It has loads of different Nintendo themes on which is cool. I actually own the soundtrack CD.
Joe H: Tony Hawks
Joe A: I like Tony Hawks too it introduced me to punk rock.
Mike: I like the music on Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for the Game Boy. I recorded all the tunes onto a cassette.
Alex: Prince of Persia: Warrior Within.
Joe H: Command & Conquer and Command & Conquer: Red Alert. What is your favorite video game? Why? Joe H: Spheres of Chaos
Alex: No!
Mike: Oh, thats not fair. It just depends
Alex: I have favourites on each console: Half Life PC, Halo X-box.
Joe A: Super Smash Bros. Melee again. So much Nintendo on one disc, so much to do. I also love the Mario Kart series, especially Mario Kart 64.
Mike: Mario, Pokemon
Do you still play a lot of video games? Which ones have you been playing most lately? Joe A: Yeah, when I have time, not as much as I used to. Meteos, Mario Kart and Tetris for the DS.
Joe H: Nothing just fond memories.
Alex: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
Mike: Ninja Gaiden, Chuck Rock, and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse.
What type of music besides video game music is most influential to you? Mike: Dragonforce! Oh, what type? Rock and metal.
Alex: Metal, not so much rock.
Joe H: Thats about right. I mean you could put a bazillion different things in.
When did you first start making video game related music? Joe A: As a band about 7 or 8 months back. I personally had wanted to combine playing music with video games for a while though. When I heard Mike had the same idea we met up for a practice with Joe and I think one of the first songs we played successfully was the Pokemon theme. It sounded so cool. We just like stood there in amazement.
What instruments and electronics do you use to make your music? Joe: Acoustic drums, electric guitars and bass. FamiTracker sometimes to create openings.
Mike: MadTracker to write sometimes. Theremin. Haha
Any advice to other people trying to make it in this genre of music? Mike: Don’t bother. Were the best.
Joe A: Make sure people get what you’re doing.
Mike: Decide your direction and go for it wholeheartedly and use the power of your dreams.
Joe A: If you’re in a band, try and really include something that's got that video game sound, so that people can make the connection. If you’re using mainly computers its much more simple to get that sound. Most people wont get what you’re trying to do unless they’re really into video games or you explain it to them at length. Go for it though. Its fun to feel like you’re doing something that's seen as pretty strange and I don’t think Id have as much fun playing normal music as I do playing video game inspired music. There also seems to be a real community for this type of music (especially on the net) which is good, so get involved. Oh yeah, make it sound professional too, so people will want to listen.
Anything else you might want to add? Mike: Add 2. That's too literal. Iced Gems taste good.
Joe A: Especially in milk.
Mike: And tea.
Alex: If you haven’t started playing an instrument from 12 you're screwed.
Mike: Yeah, if you’re over 13 and you cant play then you'll just embarrass yourself and shame your family.
Joe A: Thanks very much for the interview. Check us out if you haven’t already and give us some feedback. We should have a website up and running fairly soon. Watch Zathura too, if you haven’t already.
----- I would like to thank the band Spheres of Chaos for their time and cooperation! remember to check them out.