CHROMIUM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS PREYSER
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/chromiumtheband
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Rock / Metal / Other

THERE IS ALLOT OF TALK ABOUT YOU GUYS PLAYING OVERSEAS, HOW IS THE PLANNING TO PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER GOING SO FAR?

HANNES: Better to ask our Manager, but as far as I’ve heard, We are getting some venues in place for UK, then we’ll move on to USA.

JARED: Well, myself, Chris from Knave & Duncan our manager went to the UK to meet with some of these people and it’s really opened our eyes to just how hard it’s gonna be. But we’re up for the challenge and dates are being booked as we speak!

SHAUN: We are hitting up the UK in August and a US tour is in the pipeline for 2010…

YOU TOURED THE COUNTRY EARLIER IN THE YEAR WHICH ENDED WITH THE ALBUM LAUNCH OF YOUR SECOND ALBUM "CONFESSIONS OF A HERO"; DO YOU THINK THE BAND HAS BEEN “BATTLE TESTED” ENOUGH NOW THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH YOUR LIVE “SHOW”?

HANNES: I’m happy to an extent with our live performance, but there’s always room for improvement.

JARED: There is always room for improvement, but we are confident now and super comfortable on stage. This is our dream, we’re gonna hit it hard!

SHAUN: I think Chromium has a very intense live show which involves the fans from the back of the club to the front. Playing live definitely improves the tightness of you’re performance but the energy and passion should come from somewhere deep inside of you.

IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO PLAY LIVE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ALWAYS BE “AROUND” AND STAY IN THE BACK OF EVERYONE’S MINDS?

HANNES: If you want to be a tight band, you got to play live (a lot). And yes, the more you’re out there… the better.

JARED: Yes and no… we wanna be AROUND yes to play to those who have stuck around since the beginning, but we also have to make thoughs who haven’t quite converted to a FAN, miss us, u know?

SHAUN: From a band’s perspective it is very important to play live regularly but also to benefit the local music scene by sticking to it and supporting it.

WOULD YOU STILL PLAY A SHOW IF THERE WERE ONLY TEN PEOPLE IN THE CROWD?

HANNES: Yes! We don’t play just for the crowd. We play for ourselves because we love it. But… the more the merrier.

JARED: Yeah have… and we would, if there’s 10, we play to those 10 and we make them know it!

SHAUN: We have many times! :) And it is still worth it…

HOW LONG DID THE WRITING PROCESS TAKE FOR "CONFESSIONS OF A HERO" AND DID YOU RECORD THE ALBUM YOURSELVES (JARED GUNSTON) OR DID YOU BRING IN SOME OUTSIDE HELP?

HANNES: Difficult to say for the writing process, because there we’re riffs that we wrote 2 years back, and some in studio. We didn’t bring anyone from the outside in, just Chromium.

JARED: Album was done by myself, we were writing material since before the release of Intro Spectre. The actually recording process took around 7 months.

IF MY HEARING IS OK IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU USE SOME VERY LOW GUITAR TUNINGS, HOW DO YOU STILL GET EVERYTHING TO STAND OUT AND SOUND SO “CLEAR”?

HANNES: Because of the drums :)

JARED: Hehehe, practice? Naa I’m kidding! The correct picks with the correct String Gauge, EMG pickups and Hughes & Kettner Amplification.

SHAUN: Hats off to the amazing Hughes&Kettner!

YOU GUYS USE SOME REALLY COOL EQUIPMENT, DOES IT ACTUALLY HELP TO INVEST IN THE EXPENSIVE STUFF OR CAN ONE STILL GET GOOD RESULTS WITH “CHEAPER” GEAR?

HANNES: Cheaper gear does tend to lack a few things. There is also cheap stuff that sounds great, so it’s kind of a 50/50, but you can get away with cheap equipment if you know how to get the good sound out of it.

JARED: You can get a result from cheaper gear, I mean our Vortex heads are not pricey, BUT you can’t buy them anymore! If you want quality you need to put in a little bit of dollar!

SHAUN: Higher end equipment will always be the best option no matter which way you look at it… It’s understandable that starting bands sometimes can’t afford expensive equipment and you can still get the most out of a smaller combo and certain pedals, but having higher end equipment is essentially cheaper in the long run because of reliability and low maintenance and of course it creates an overall professional image.

THE BAND HAS ALSO SECURED A FEW ENDORSEMENTS. HAS THIS PROVEN VITAL IN PEOPLE TAKING THE BAND MORE SERIOUSLY WHILE TRYING TO OPEN DOORS FOR YOURSELVES IN THE INDUSTRY?

HANNES: It does! It also helps getting the good equipment for a lot cheaper than the store sells it for.

JARED: Definitely, to have names such as Hughes & Kettner, Music Connection & Jagermeister, it definitely proves that we are doing SOMETHING right! Hehe – let us know when u figure it out exactly though…

SHAUN: Definitely, Jagermeister have been great in sponsoring the band’s merchandise without which life would have been a lot harder and then of course Hughes&Kettner for promoting the band all over their website and endorsing us!

WHERE CAN PEOPLE GET THEIR HANDS ON YOUR MUSIC?

HANNES: Our live shows, there is a bunch of music stores around South Africa. A lot of online stores to get it. Best is to go to www.chromium.co.za and check there.

JARED: Stores around the country, Kalahari.net, itunes.

SHAUN: Most local music retail stores, if they don’t have it ASK FOR IT!!!! :) And then online stores such as iTunes and Kalahari.

YOU GUYS DID A REALLY COOL VIDEO FOR THE SONG “THE LAST TIME”, WHAT WAS THE CONCEPT BEHIND THE VIDEO AND ARE YOU PLANNING ANY MORE FOR THE FUTURE?

HANNES: In a nutshell, someone would doesn’t realise she’s dead.

JARED: Yes we are planning a follow up video to be filmed shortly. The Last Time is about taking those in your life seriously, respecting them, cause you don’t know when they’ll be gone. The video shows you just one angle of who that can be lost.

WITH THE RELEASE OF "CONFESSIONS OF A HERO" YOU HAVE STARTED TO GAIN SOME MEDIA ATTENTION AS WELL. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO YOUR “SUCCESSES” SO FAR IN YOUR OPINION?

HANNES: Having an awesome manager. Social networking. And some TV appearances.

JARED: Showbiz, ETV and MK have defiantly help push our awareness. Our manager Duncan has helped us grow to a more “professional” level. All the sponsors for taking us around the country, merch, etc… but most importantly Word of mouth!

YOU ALSO HAVE A PROFILE ON EVERY MAJOR SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE, BUT WITH THE INTERNET THAT HAS GIVEN ANY BAND GOOD OR BAD THE CHANCE TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES HOW DOES ONE STAND OUT THESE DAYS?

HANNES: Anyone can record a nice sounding album, or even a demo. Being a good live act is what separates good bands from “kak” bands.

JARED: Very true, and difficult to answer, I’d have to say, just keep contacting with your fans, be friendly, you are never too big you are never BIGGER than them, and keep ego and attitude out of it!

SHAUN: These days it’s very easy to make anything sound good recorded… That’s why I still firmly believe that a band or artist should be heard or seen live. With a great live show the rest will go without saying.

ANY LAST COMMENTS/ADVISE OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

HANNES: Play from your fucking heart.

JARED: Advice… live life for now, paranoia is a replication of the past, hold on to all that you have, and… it begins…. here!

SHAUN: Just thank you to every single fan and individual that have helped Chromium to rise up and let go! :)