MUSIC EXTREME: INTERVIEW WITH ESO-CHARIS

lunes, 11 de marzo de 2002

INTERVIEW WITH ESO-CHARIS

1- Why did you decide to form Eso-charis being members of Living Sacrifice?

Well, just to clear that up, eso-charis was formed in 1995, way before Arthur and i had anything to do with living sacrifice. we worked on the album for a little over two years and then recorded in 1997 with barry poynter. he had just finished working on the living sacrifice "reborn" album. we toured semi-heavy for the album, which was released on bruce fitzhugh (LS) label, seize the day. we broke up while we were wrapping up a month long european tour. arthur an i joined living sacrifice about a year later. The album was shelved again for a couple of years until solid state asked if they could release it for a third and final time....(the second release was to a european label, day-glo).

2- Are you satisfied with the way "Eso-charis" (the album) came out? Is there something you would like to change?

i would love to change the lyrics. if i could turn back time, they would be completely re-vamped. we were all really happy with the outcome of the album, especially considering that we recorded it in 3 days essentially, with one extra day to mix. i would have loved to spend more time. But it was expensive.

3- Are you planning some touring to support the album?

We did when it was released in 1998. we aren't planning on doing any shows to promote the re-release. we have been defunct for too long to try something like that.

4- How different is the music on the album compared to the one on the four song demo?

The same songs that appeared on the 4 song demo were re-recorded for the full length. some of the structures changed and the recording was about a jillion times better, but it is the same songs. how the heck did you know about the demo? we only sold those at local shows.

5- Why did you choose originally the name Elliot before changing it to Eso-charis?

Arthur and i were watching E.T. late one night, and we thought that the little boys name from the movie would make a good band name. he was really emotional and misunderstood, so he embodied all of the characteristics of the music we wanted to play. we had to change the name when another band of the same name started to become quite popular. i love the name Eso-charis about 100 times better anyway.

6- Is your main objective to write songs with hooks or the main point in Eso-charis is the energy within each track?

We always wrote whatever came out naturally. Gosh, we never tried to write hooks. i think that our main objective was to make every part of the song give maximum impact...no filler. That's why it took almost 3 years to write 8 songs. geez.

7- Why did you choose Barry Poynter to record the album?

Well, that was bruces idea. like i said earlier, he had just finished recording the "reborn" album and and everyone was obviously really happy with the way it sounded. it was located in little rock , so it wasn't a far drive and we could crash at bruce's place while we recorded. convenience was the key. zao came into the studio a few months after us to record the "blood and fire" album. eso-charis was the second metal band that barry ever recorded. i think he did great.

8- Are you planning to release new material on 2002?

Nope. We arent together and havent been for several years. our final release was in 2000. it was a seven inch with the last 2 songs we ever wrote. 10 songs in 5 years....what a run! it was released on deadself records. we recorded those songs for 3 months just to make them perfect. It is by far the best stuff we ever wrote. Good luck getting a hold if it though. it went out on print about 3 days after it was released. it was called "setting roots for the winter" and the songs were...'house left empty'.....'the absolute progress of a nothing day'. maybe you can find them on ebay or something.

9- Which are the band main influences?

ummm.....smashing pupkins....fugazi....angel hair....living sacrifice..the movie "singles"...alice in chains....honeywell...benchmark.....strongarm....quicksand...c.s. lewis ....blahblahblah..

10- Something more to add?

check out our new bands:

cory - the jade syndicate, welton

matthew - unwed sailor, snailhuntr, living sacrifice

jayson - the handshake murders

arthur - living sacrifice

here are a few links to find these bands:

www.treeofwoe.com

www.esocharis.com

www.livingsacrifice.com

www.unwedsailor.net

www.un-recordings.com