YES SIR! MISTER MACHINE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCHALK VENTER
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/yessirmistermachine
COUNTRY: South Africa STYLE: Hardcore / Punk / Other

YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW LOCAL BANDS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE “NORMA JEAN, UNDEROATH” DIRECTION WITH YOUR MUSIC. AS FANS OF HARDCORE WAS IT THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP FOR YOU AS MUSICIANS TO TAKE MUSICALLY WHEN THE BAND STARTED OUT?

Well I wouldn’t say that we took the “Norma Jean” direction or any other band for that matter. When we first started out we were looking to play a style of Hardcore that gave us the freedom to write what we wanted to free of any set rules or anything like that and more importantly put on a crazy, energetic live show.

Fair enough, bands like the Chariot are renowned for their on stage energy and complete disregard for any set song writing patterns so I guess it was a good starting point for us. We’ve come into our own since our EP and started changing and adapting our sound accordingly. I think it’s all about content more than anything. Like sounding and moving and dressing like other bands only works for so long. We don’t want to be part of that. Having influences is all good and well but at the end of the day if that’s what you sound like you’ve failed.

SOME OF THE BAND MEMBERS HAVE PLAYED IN BANDS WITH COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STYLES THAN YES SIR! MISTER MACHINE. DID IT TAKE MUCH TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO PROGRESS TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

Surprisingly not hey. We did all come from different musical backgrounds but our mindset on the type of music we wanted to get up on stage and play is what actually brought us together. There was no disagreement as to what we envisioned for the band from the get go. During the time Paul and I were in our previous bands, we always talked about playing a heavier, faster style of music so I guess when the time arose we hit the ground running.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE BAND AVOIDS CONVENTIONAL SONG STRUCTURES TO KEEP THAT EXPERIMENTAL VIBE GOING. DO YOU HAVE CERTAIN “RULES” THAT YOU KEEP TO WHEN WRITING SONGS?

No I wouldn’t say so. I guess our only rule is that the song can’t sound like shit. Nah, we just write whatever sounds best. If it’s conventional structure, then we go with it. If it’s not then that’s just as good. It all comes down to the individual song really. It’s also important to us to write songs that a crowd can really move around and get into so experimentation only goes so far.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPERIMENTAL “SOUNDS” IN YOUR MUSIC. HOW DO YOU GUYS DECIDE WHAT WORKS AND WHAT HAS TO GO DURING THE SONG WRITING PROCESS?

Um, well like I said before, it really comes down to the individual song we writing at the time. The content of our songs are really important to us so building up a song from the ground takes time. We are hardly ever happy with a first draft. We really like to take a song as far as possible, pushing all instruments and vocals as much as we can. The experimental “sounds” are just part of the process for us.

THE BAND HAS RELEASED AN EP SO FAR. ARE YOU GUYS PLANNING A NEW RELEASE ANY TIME SOON?

We looking to release a full-length album as soon as we can so we busy writing for that now. We’re also trying to get back to playing more shows again since we took a break when Paul was in London so the two compete with each other for our attention. Writings going well though and we pretty happy with what’s come out so hopefully in the not to distant future we can give you more details about an album.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS YET HOW YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR MUSIC TO PROGRESS AND WHAT YOU WANT TO ATTEMPT MUSICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

Not really hey. I mean if we knew what we wanted our music to progress to we would just change it now. I think not knowing what we going to be capable of or what we might attempt is what being in Yes Sir! Mister Machine is all about for us. As long as we playing music that we are happy with regardless of what anyone else thinks or says we’ll be happy.

WHAT GEAR AND GUITAR TUNINGS ARE YOU GUYS CURRENTLY USING, AND DO YOU GET “ATTACHED” TO YOUR INSTRUMENTS AS TIME GOES ON OR ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER?

We use Epiphone guitars and a Fender jazz bass. As far as amps go, guitars go through a Hughs & Kettner switchblade stack well the bass goes through an Ashdown. We all tune to C sharp. As far as getting attached to our instruments go, I’d probably say the relationship is an abusive one. I really can’t think of another band that we’ve played with that has been so hard on their instruments.

We’ve been through countless guitars, leads and cymbals and I guess the reason we use the ones we do now are simply because they are the only ones in working order. Instruments are tools of the trade and with the type of live show we aim to put on, we count on our pockets being empty due to repairs.

HAS THE BAND HAD ANY MEMBER CHANGES SO FAR AND IF SO; WOULD SO SAY THE BAND IS STRONGER NOW THAN EVER?

Nope, we started with the bunch of guys we have now and I think that’s the strength.

NOW THAT HASTE THE DAY FEVER IS WELL AND TRULY OVER, HOW MUCH OF A GOOD IMPACT DID THAT SUPPORT SLOT HAVE ON THE BAND?

It was great playing with Haste the Day. It’s one of those things that can only strengthen a band. We really just wanted to treat it as a usual show play accordingly and I feel that’s what we did and I think the crowd felt that too.

WOULD YOU SAY THE BAND HAS REACHED A CERTAIN “PLATEAU” WITH YOUR LIVE SHOWS, OR IS THERE ALWAYS ROOM TO GO BIGGER AND BETTER?

Ah no. Definitely not! Live shows are what this band is about. If we don’t give it our all at every show, regardless of the venue or crowd size we feel disappointed in ourselves. I don’t feel there really is a plateau for us to reach and I think if we ever do, we doing something wrong.

ANY COMMENTS; THINGS FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR OR PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO THANK?

We’ve got a string of shows lined up and a festival or two so just keep checking our Facebook for updates. I think as a band we would want to thank every kid that has been to a show of ours and all the bands that we can call friends regardless of the music.

Thanks.