Discover the genre-defying journey of Trypan, a band blending electronic and metal music. In this interview, they delve into their unique sound, enigmatic personas, and the mission of their music.
1. Your band's fusion of electronic and metal is truly
unique. How did this genre-defying journey begin, and what inspired the fusion
of these two distinct styles?
The journey into our fusion of electronic and metal began when I had a thought
while working on a sweet lil guitar riff. I added a drum and bass beat to it,
which excited me. Over the next three weeks, I composed 10 songs focused on
this newfound excitement. I was hyper focused.
2. Can you introduce the members of Trypan and share a bit about your
diverse musical backgrounds and influences?
I've only met our bass player, Robert, in person. He's been active in the
Houston music scene since the '90s. Our drummer, Oscar, is deeply involved in
the metal scene, playing in two other bands. Atom, our guitarist, is a
photographer and a versatile talent. We're still searching for the right lead
guitarist to complete the lineup. Oh! and me. I'm The Spaceman. I compose the
songs, program the lights, create the videos, and do a little singing.
As for my influences, some are Kyuss, White Zombie, The Doors, Michael Haaga,
Dead Horse, Mr. Bungle, ISIS, St. Vincent, Warpaint, Danzig, Explosion in the
Sky, and many, many more.
3. “Sound to Fight Depression" is a powerful motto. Could you elaborate
on the meaning behind it and how it influences your music?
It reflects a shift in my life and the music. While my last album was more
introspective and focused on personal battles, this new direction aims to
provide a safe haven for listeners to have a good time and forget their worries
for a while.
4. The Spaceman is an intriguing figure in the band. Could you tell us more
about the role this resident astronaut plays in Trypan's sound and identity?
The Spaceman doesn't influence the sound significantly but plays a symbolic
role in the band's origin story. The Spaceman keeps the band on its mission
path, even if his role is enigmatic.
Here’s the backstory on why there’s a spaceman: A super depressed guy ordered
an astronaut suit online because he didn’t want to exist anymore. After putting
it on he found instant peace. He read about a 100 year space exploration
experiment with NASA. He went and applied and was rejected. He walked sadly through
the streets of downtown Houston. He took off his helmet and threw it in a
trashcan. Another man, in a frog costume, saw this happening from across the
street. He went and retrieved the helmet out of the trash and brought it back
to The Spaceman. After conversing with the frog for a little while The Spaceman
smiled and put his helmet back on. The two walked the streets together and came
across 3 other people wearing costumes. They all discovered they all played
instruments and decided to form the band, Trypan. During their first
performance all the members felt the love and acceptance of the crowd.
Everyone, except for The Spaceman, took off their costumes. They all felt they
no longer needed to hide from anyone, especially themselves. The Spaceman kept
his costume on so he wouldn’t get distracted or complacent so he could keep the
mission on track.
5. Trypan's music is often described as creating sonic landscapes. How do
you go about crafting these immersive sonic experiences, and what do you hope
listeners take away from them?
Crafting our immersive sonic landscapes is a bit unconventional. I take
different sounds, blend them without a pre-plan, and don't worry if they make
sense. I hope listeners understand that music doesn't have to fit a mold to be enjoyable.
The goal is always for us all to lose ourselves in music.
6. You choose to remain enigmatic, focusing on your music's narrative rather
than personal personas. What motivated this decision, and how do you use your
music to communicate your message?
I prefer to remain enigmatic because the music itself should create energy and
excitement. I believe people can connect with the music without needing a
personal persona to connect with. I was mainly inspired by Orville Peck and his
presentation.
7. While you haven't played live shows yet, your description of
"ethereal live performances" is captivating. Can you give us a
glimpse into what you envision for your live shows in the future?
For future live shows, we envision high-energy performances with programmed
lighting based off the music and visual art displayed via projections. The
performances are not just about the music; they're also a visual and sensory
experience to immerse the viewer into another dimension.
8. As pioneers of the electronic metal fusion movement, what challenges have
you encountered in redefining musical boundaries, and how do you stay true to
your artistic vision?
We haven't faced significant challenges in redefining musical boundaries. I
take inspiration from the Desert/Stoner Rock genre, which also pushed
boundaries in its formation. Letting go of boundaries has affected my creative
process positively, allowing me to write what I truly want without constraints.
I’ve never written so comfortably before. I hope listeners find comfort in the
music even if it doesn't make complete sense, experiencing liberation from the
need for everything to fit a certain way.
9. How has the journey of blending these genres affected your creative
process and songwriting?
When I stopped forcing myself to write a certain way or fit within a mold, I
started writing exactly what I wanted - even though I didn’t know it when I
started. Letting go helps me create. Also, not having any boundaries allows my
creativity to be borderless. We don’t need any walls, of any kind.
10. Your music is often described as a journey of self-discovery. How do you
hope your listeners connect with and interpret your music on a personal level?
I hope they hear the music and it doesn’t make complete sense and yet find some
kind of comfort in it. Just like throat singing. It’s super raw and out there.
Once you get it though, it’s beautiful. Also, letting go of everything and
knowing something doesn’t have to make sense is very liberating. I just want
people to have fun and feel at peace – even if at first it just seem like
chaos.
11. The name Trypan carries a sense of experimentation and exploration.
Could you tell us more about the creative process behind your music and how you
continue to push musical boundaries?
The name Trypan is inspired by Trypan Blue. “Trypan blue is a stain used to
quantify live cells by labeling dead cells exclusively.” The idea is that the
music finds dead brain cells and brings them back to life. So this and the
overall theme being “Sounds to Fight Depression” makes it all about bringing
someone back to life. That someone was initially just me. Now it’s everyone.
Boundaries? We don’t need no stinkin boundaries.
12. Can you share some insight into the specific instruments and technology
you use to achieve your unique sound?
We use standard band instruments with additional electronic sounds and samples,
either created by me or someone else. Technology plays a role in meshing the
"normal" band instruments with wild electronic sounds, without a
specific focus on balancing the human and electronic elements.
13. Your music is often described as a fusion of man and machine. What role
does technology play in Trypan's sound, and how do you balance the human and
electronic elements?
It’s meshing the “normal” band instruments and then adding in other wild
sounds. There’s no thought to balance. Just doing what feels good.
14.With a growing global fanbase, how has the support of your audience
impacted your creative journey, and what can they expect from Trypan in the
near future?
The support of our global fanbase has greatly impacted my drive. We plan to
focus on the Texas music scene initially and then expand elsewhere. We will be
releasing one song per month until October 2024. That’s all that’s in the works
right now. It could mutate overtime. We’re going to remain pretty flexible.
15. Could you provide some insight into the collaborative dynamic within the
band, and how you collectively shape your sonic creations?
At this point, the collaborative dynamic in the band is just me. The rest of
the band will play a significant role in writing songs in the future.
16. Finally, what message would you like to convey to both your existing
fans and those who are just discovering Trypan for the first time?
I'd like to convey the message that music can be a tool to reach your happy
place. Use Trypan's music and the music of others to escape from daily
challenges and find peace. Music gives you your life back.
https://www.facebook.com/TrypanBand/
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