Interview by Rachel Jablonski
Out with an EP, Null, and a full-length, Void, California’s Intronaut is touring the states and exposing their progressive metal sound. I was able to speak with Sacha Dunable (guitars/vocals) briefly before a performance in Chicago.
Rachel: Your debut full-length album, Void, came out in the U.S. not too long ago and it looks to be released in Europe this month. It’s definitely one of my favorite albums this year. What is the main creative motivation behind the album?
Sacha: We’re motivated to make music that is forward thinking, kind of a postmodern approach to heavy metal basically.
Rachel: Void is very atmospheric. The album seems to make most sense, at least to me, if heard in one chunk rather than as separate tracks. Was this intentional or are they separate pieces in your mind?
Sacha: They’re definitely separate pieces, but, I agree, it is meant to flow pretty well.
Rachel: Your music is not very centered on vocals or lyrics, but the rough vocal additions are intriguing. The song “Teledildonics,” a word meaning integration of telepresence with sex, love the lyrics [inside a cubicle that looks of detachment is it the size or the angle? The point is clear the mortal erection has run out of skin we’re hooked on electric stimuli]. What is going on in this song?
Sacha: The lyrics are inspired by things I’ve read. First of all, before I even say this, we’re not always writing lyrics. We basically write lyrics because we have to and we don’t necessarily take pride in them. But that song is inspired by the evolution of technology, how it's evolving now faster than it ever has and it just keeps getting faster. Teledildonics is a special term talking about how in the future people are going to be basically able to have sex through their computer, basically a physical interaction with people with computerized sex toys and stuff like that. I just kind of tied those things in together and made a goofy song about it. It’s kind of tongue in cheek.
Rachel: A limited edition version of the album, only 200 copies, with some fancy packaging was also released. What did this packaging consist of and will only those 200 copies remain?
Sacha: Yeah, they probably won’t be doing any more of those for awhile. The packaging was pretty cool. It was in a tin box with a silkscreen logo on the front and this special insert and some cool graphics and stuff. It was nice that the label did that for us because it showed us that they care and that means a lot.
Rachel: Uphill Battle, Anubis Rising, Impaled, Exhumed… all of the band members come from other established projects. Will Intronaut be complementing or replacing these or other projects?
Sacha: Intronaut is our main band right now. Pretty much all of the old bands we’ve been in have broken up. So there’s really no conflicting interests.
Rachel: Who’s going to win next week in football, USC or Cal?
Sacha: [laugh] I don’t even have any idea what you’re talking about. I’m from L.A., but I’m terrible, I don’t even follow that stuff.
Rachel: I can’t wait to see your live show, I expect great things. How do you represent this album live?
Sacha: We play the songs like they’re recorded, everything’s there. But as far as our stage show nothing special. It’s just us up there rockin out.
Rachel: Cool. Do you play anything off your Null EP as well?
Sacha: We usually have at least one old song from the EP in the set at all times, just to throw it in there, cause some people do have that disc as well so we don’t want to ignore old material.
Rachel: You’re in Chicago today on tour with Misery Index and Burn in Silence. How’s the touring been going and what touring plans are up and coming?
Sacha: It’s been going great so far, everybody’s really cool; everybody gets along so that’s definitely a plus. We don’t really have anything booked again until February or March. We’re talking about doing some European things but nothing’s booked yet and I’m sure we’ll do more in the States in the spring and the summer.
Rachel: That’s all I have, anything else?
Sacha: Thanks for the interview! People can check us out on myspace or our official site. Buy our album if you like it and don’t download it and stop listening to mp3s.