BETRAY THE EMISSARY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANK PEY
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/betraytheemissary
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Metal / Hardcore / Death Metal

YOU HAVE PERFORMED CONSISTENTLY SINCE YOUR FIRST ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN MARCH LAST YEAR; WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE BAND IS CAREFULLY BUILDING A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR ITSELF LEADING UP TO THE NEXT RELEASE?

GAV: Carefully, no…There isn’t much thought going in to the shows we choose to play. I’d prefer even less. When you start picking and choosing which shows to play and which not to, you begin to limit yourself to a specific group of people that consistently attend shows at, e.g. Wynberg Sports Club. This limits exposure. But of course, there aren’t that many “underground-friendly” venues in Cape Town and Stellenbosch so those kinds of limits might be imposed by this scarcity.

DAN: If consistently is in the region of two shows a month then I guess so. I think the more you in the eye of the public regardless of the shows/festivals you play the better the exposure and development of the band. As far as foundation is concerned I think we built most of the foundation on the release of the first album and have been getting new listeners and as we go along playing shows here and there – however I think the amount of listeners attending shows nowadays is a concern that bands and organisers/promoters should address as it ultimately leads to the success and “foundation” of a band.

CRAIG: I definitely think playing the biggest and best shows help a ton in terms of exposure and making the right connections. It also helps us improve as musicians and learn from what the other good bands in South Africa are doing. Playing arbitrary small shows is where the love for music and performing becomes apparent, as they are less about building foundations and more about just being on stage with your brothers.

BRUCE: I feel that we don’t put much thought into the shows we play. The predominating factor determining weather we play a show or not are the amount of people attending. It doesn’t matter what type of crowd it is. So I wouldn’t say that we are building a foundation “carefully” but rather trying to get maximum exposure wherever we can.

“IN MEMORY OF ME” RECEIVED GREAT REVIEWS, AND IN FEBRUARY A POST ON THE BAND’S BLOG MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON TWO NEW SONGS. HOW FAR ARE YOU GUYS WITH THE WRITING PROCESS?

DAN: I would say the writing process is still at the beginning stages although we do have lots of material already. I think we’re focussing our attentions more to writing just good songs as opposed to writing good parts. We are trying new ways of writing songs and experimenting quite a bit with arrangements etc, however this will result in quite a long process of writing, but will be well worth the wait at the end of it all.

GAV: We’re working extremely hard on trying to develop our sound in many ways. We’re not looking for a niche, or something utterly original per se. We’re just trying to take the good parts of “In Memory of Me” and synthesize them better with the new stuff. This, unfortunately is much harder than we would have liked, but in the end we’ll at least be proud of what we put out. So to answer your question, the writing process is still in the beginning phase.

CRAIG: Well as writing goes there’s lots of back and forth between the members, which is pretty time consuming for us. We’re not the kind of band that pumps out a track at practice, we actually never write at practice. We write our individual parts of the tracks then tab and distribute them, and then we discuss what’s good and what’s crap and start all over again. We’re all stubborn fucks too so the process is a mission, but in the end we’re all happy with each track. Our second new track is nearly complete though, and we have a few more in the pipeline.

ARE YOU AIMING TO COMPLETE AN ALBUM THAT IS HEAVIER OR MORE MELODIC OR A BALANCE OF BOTH?

CRAIG: On the whole we’re looking for an album that makes more sense in terms of sound and technique, where each track is tied into one another. But I’d say it’s going to be more melodic with parts that are heavier than a lonely priest’s balls.

GAV: A balance of both.

DAN: Definitely a balance of both, we are all big fans of melody as well as heavy riffage, I think a more crushing heavy with melodic driven sections will be more of a better description.

BRUCE: A balance of both…….

WHAT GEAR AND GUITAR TUNINGS ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING AND WHAT IS ON YOUR GEAR WISH LIST AT THE MOMENT?

DAN: Our guitar tuning is drop B, I play a SG through a Crate GT212 which is hooked up to the BOSS MT-2 , TU-2 , DD-3 , NS-2 pedals and shure wireless systems. My dream gear would have to be a ENGL powerball series amp and head with a maroon/wine red ESP eclipse.

BRUCE: I play with a Vampire Warwick Rockbass (5 string) and use a Peavey TNT115 200W for amplification. I also use a boss bass overdrive pedal which is a new addition. I tune my bass to standard 5 string tuning while the other dudes are rolling with drop B tuning on their axes. This works out very well for me cause our top string is tuned to B even though I’m in standard. Been dreaming of a white Christmas….and buying an Ampeg amp one day when I’m all grown up. :)

GAV: I’m still rocking the same gear as I always have…some of its beginning to fall apart, but I suppose that just adds character. I don’t know much about amps, but I’d like a Genz-Benz El Diablo, a matt-black ESP eclipse with the white trimming, a Boss TU-2 pedal, and the Boss MT-2.

HAVE YOU DECIDED YET WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO RECORD THE NEW SONGS, AND WHO WILL PRODUCE THEM FOR YOU?

GAV: I think we’re gonna try go-it-alone on the new album. We learnt a lot from Louis at Burning Tone Studios on the last album and we’re eager to try some things out for ourselves. I’m sure we’ll ask advice from Louis and a few of our other sound-dude buddies, but for the most part it’ll be completely independent.

CRAIG: We’ve slowly been working towards being able to record our own material that will still have a ridiculous sound, but we’ll always accept help. It just makes sense to be able to take your time with recording. Looking forward to getting a few preliminary recordings done and released!

DAN: As Gav has mentioned above we will try it alone this time, we are a very hands on band – and have always been there for all the changes and mixing and mastering processes etc.

HAVE YOU GUYS “TESTED” OUT ANY OF YOUR NEW SONGS IN A LIVE ENVIRONMENT YET?

BRUCE: Whipped out “Revealer” At the last trip to Joburg as well as at Wynberg sports club. From what we can it has been well received.

DAN: We just implemented a new song into our live set and we’re working on a 2nd one to follow shortly, as far as reactions are concerned we’ve had little feedback from the new song, but judging from the general consensus of the room the fans/audience are liking what they hear.

GAV: Yes, we’ve played the new song, “Revealer”, 3 times so far. A reaction is still pending…

CRAIG: Hells yeah! I love playing Revealer! People are still getting used to it, but it’s a great step in our new direction.

THE ONE THING THAT ALWAYS SEEMS TO ACCOMPANY YOUR MUSIC THESE DAYS IS A PROFESSIONAL IMAGE, AND WHILE YOU SEE MANY OTHER LOCAL BANDS TRYING TO CREATE A GOOD “LOOK” FOR THEMSELVES MANY FALL SHORT OF DOING SO. DO YOU THINK IT IS JUST A CASE OF BANDS NOT KNOWING WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD DESIGN?

BRUCE: I haven’t found that our reputation in Cape Town has helped us at all as far as people attending our shows in Joburg. I feel that promotion is the issue. Bad promotion=Small crowds.

DAN: I think the DIY ethic that bands have is what develops naturally as an upcoming band in the initial development stage. Being a designer myself I do strongly recommend bands to work hard on getting funds to allow designers, with more experience to tackle the visual imagery of what should portray the band in the eye of the public. I would almost agree with your statement, I think “good” or “bad” design is justified by the knowledge you have in design, where experience certainly separates the good from the bad.

GAV: I’m sure there are loads of guys with great design ideas, but who simply do not have the know-how and technical skills to turn those ideas into graphic or otherwise visual mediums. Nobody in the underground scene earns enough money to get a professional to put their ideas down, every time they come up with something good.

BETRAY THE EMISSARY IS WELL KNOWN IN THE CAPE TOWN SCENE FOR YOUR ENERGETIC LIVE SHOWS. HAVING JUST TRAVELLED TO JOHANNESBURG FOR TWO SHOWS A SHORT WHILE BACK, DO YOU FIND THAT HAVING A GOOD REPUTATION IN CAPE TOWN HELPS TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO ATTEND YOUR SHOWS WHEN YOU PERFORM OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOMETOWN?

GAV: If that is the case, it’s not apparent. I can’t testify to our rep in CT, and the out-of-town shows that we’ve played have generally been poorly attended.

DAN: Bands that are playing live constantly and travelling to different areas I think can agree with the fact that having a reputation in your hometown is completely independent of your reputation anywhere outside your hometown, I think every new area you tackle as a band is a challenge and the only way to build a reputation is keep at it and play as many new places as you can.

CRAIG: I think reputations are location specific in SA, because you’ll always be compared to local bands and there isn’t enough exposure for bands to become well known outside of where you play. Touring is a tough nut to crack, there are so many variables and things that can go wrong that you just need to try get onto the best shows you can and hope for the best.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE WILL EVER SEE TOURS THAT FEATURE ALLOT OF LOCAL BANDS THAT TRAVEL THROUGH MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY LIKE THEY HAVE IN THE STATES OVER HERE ANY TIME SOON?

BRUCE: That’s a huge negative. With the current attendance of these shows there is clearly not enough money or support for something like that. At least not in the underground metal scene anyway.

GAV: Not in the near future. It simply isn’t financially viable, let alone lucrative, to tour. We’ve never been contacted by Durban organizers so I don’t know about their scene. Durban & Joburg opinions of the CT scene are actually quite embarrassing. And our experience of the Joburg scene is tells us that you’d have to be extremely lucky, or clever to pick the exactly right show, on the exactly right night, in order to make enough money. There’re so many shows happening on the same day that it’s difficult to know where and when to play.

ARE THERE ANY KEY ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THE BAND NEEDS TO WORK ON TO FURTHER INCREASE ITS FAN BASE, OR IS IT JUST THAT A METAL BAND CAN ONLY REACH A “CERTAIN” LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN SOUTH AFRICA?

GAV: There are, no doubt, standards to which bands need to aspire in order to gain a following that’s made up of more than just their circle of friends. Some bands reach these standards, and some bands should probably rethink a few things. The live performance is crucial. People are PAYING to come and watch you, and in this day and age, with the kinds of people out there, a band should take a moment to reflect on the fact that this is a massive privilege. Our live performance is as much a need to let go and have fun on stage as it is making sure that people get their money’s worth. Music-wise, we try not to be too flashy, peeling for the sake of peeling, or try to be heavier and add more shock-value to our stuff than the next guy. Somewhere in between trying to write, the sickest riffs, over the sickest double-bass, with the sickest lyrics over that, your songs can just become sick…

YOUR BAND BIO CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING LINE, “…THE BAND WRITES, PLAYS AND PERFORMS THEIR MUSIC FOR THE SAKE OF MUSIC ITSELF…” DO THE LINES GET BLURRED SOMETIMES BETWEEN THE BAND’S VALUES AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACHIEVE?

GAV: Unfortunately yes. Everybody in the band has his own agenda, and has his own ideas of what he wants to do with this or that aspect of the band. Sometimes outside pressures, or our ideas of what those pressures are can influence some decisions, and sometimes can make them for us. I suppose that’s just part of it all. At the end I hope that we will return to our initial sentiments and be happy with just having the times of our lives with it all…sadly, I fear, that’s the most underground bands can hope for in SA.

BRUCE: Yes, the lines do get blurred from time to time. Sometimes life can get in the way.

CRAIG: They’re pretty much linked in my opinion, however compromise is a big part of being in a band because there are 5 of us and we’re all passionate. It’s pretty hard to all be on the same page all the time, but we all perform because we love it and we would all love to break through to the international market. Even if it’s just to play a few shows overseas! Fuck yes!

EXCEPT FOR A NEW ALBUM, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2009?

DAN: Hopefully towards the end of the year, preparation for a music video. Other than that the album is the main priority.

GAV: Work on some of our live performance and make enough cash for a video.

BRUCE: Save as much cash as we can and make a music video.

ANY LAST COMMENTS OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

BTE: Friends, family, and fans. Bands we’ve had the honour of sharing the stage with. You all know who you are.

…and last but not least, thanks to you for the interview.