Clockwise: Austin Leduc
1/21/03
by Renee Clark
Since
I was too chicken to talk to the guys of Clockwise when they played in
Rochester. I ended up sending them
some questions for an interview and frontman Austin LeDuc was nice enough to
reply. This is an AWESOME band and
I hope to see them really take off this year and in the years to come.
This is because this is a band with real talent that sets them apart from
many of the other bands that are out there who should not be on the radio now.
Thanks Austin!
What made you want to become a musician? Was there any real defining
moment?
Jane’s
Addiction ‘Self Titled’ from Triple X Records, Red Hot Chili Peppers
‘Mother’s Milk’ and in general their albums around ‘92.
When I first encountered them it was just a really amazing experience and
moment. I didn’t want to be a rock star, I just wanted to be able to create
the experience they were giving me.
How did you learn to play your instrument(s)? Did you teach yourself or
did you take lessons?
Most of us are pretty much self taught. Scott’s
probably the most learned cat in the band. The rest of us are a bunch of
ignorant bastards.
What
do you think you would be doing right now if your music career didn't take off?
Do you think you would have perused a different career?
I’d
still be working my shitty day job working on trying to make my music work for
me so I could quit my shitty day job.
How
did your family react when you told them you were going to be in a band?
My mother told me to go to school. The
rest of my family had my back though.
I
know you say that bio's are a "yank fest" but all I know is that you
are from Vegas....tell me a little about how you met or how you got started in
the band!
I pretty much met Alfonso when some big ass mother F#%$er was picking on me and
Alfonso stepped in and told him to pick on somebody his own size. I was 15 and
the dude was picking on me for no reason just like everybody was doing all
through school. No lie, somebody was always trying to beat my ass for no reason.
The rest of us met through the local music scene anywhere from 3 to 4 years
later. The band got together to whatever degree late in ’96. We’ve been
hacking away, bustin our ass ever since.
What
are your goals as a band? Are they any different from when you first
started out?
I’m not really sure what my goals really ever were from one moment to the
next. They definitely never included being a rock star in the traditional sense
of the term. If at all, we all wanted to perform and or entertain, be good at
our craft and quit our shitty day jobs.
What
was the hardest track to lay down on Healthy Manipulation?
None
of them were easy. Most of them, we were writing as we were laying them down. We
never really had time to develop the tunes as we were writing them. As we were
writing them, we were recording them. It kind of f%#&ing sucked.
Where
do you get inspiration for your song writing? Do you get it from personal
experiences or do you write about other people?
Most if not all, are personal experience.
Is
it hard to think of such clever lyrics? Does it come naturally? I don't
know what it is about them but I like them and they really work well with the
songs!
Writing lyrics is a son of a bitch most of the time. Every once in a while, a
phrase and even less, the lyrics for a whole song will come easy. I’m glad you
dig them. I appreciate that. I work hard on them. You’re the first interview
I’ve had where someone asked about the lyrics much less complimented them.
So
what is the song "Beneath" about? Is it about anyone in
particular?
It’s obvious it’s about F$%#ing, even more so though, it’s about having
sex that’s geared towards pleasing the women. You ain’t a man if you don’t
please the women. I can please myself, by myself all day long.
What
do you hope fans will take away from your music?
Most of all I hope they have good time. If they get anything else out of it, I
consider it a great compliment.
Do
you hope that your songs take off on the radio? Like is it important to
you that they do well? I think EVERY song on Healthy Manipulation is great
and better than any of the garbage on rotation right now so if they don't take
off then it is clearly a loss for radio!
Thank you very much first of all. Second of all, if they do take off then
chances are I won’t have to go back to a shitty day job. So yeah, I hope they
take off.
Any
plans for a new tour yet?
We’ll probably be going out with Zebrahead soon.
Are
their any bands you would like to tour with?
Audioslave, Foo Fighters. In any case any band that can draw a half assed crown
for us to play to but we just want to play to some people.
How
do you come up with the energy you guys have to perform? Do you do
anything special before?
We just eat our Wheaties. We
don’t have any rituals and we don’t do drugs anyway.
I
hear you guys like to drink...what is your drink of choice?
For
Dave and Alfonso it’s Crown Royal. For Scott, anything you put in front of
him. For me I’m on a wine trip, Red Wine.
Do you have any crazy stories from the road like the one where Austin wound
up in Buffalo and not Rochester?
That’s
probably the wackest shit that’s happened so far.
Do
you like playing smaller shows or bigger shows the best?
At this point, I’m glad to play any room full or not as long as we’re
exposing ourselves.
Do
you stay out in the crowd and talk to all of your fans for every show like you
did in Rochester? (I think that is really awesome that you guys do that
BTW)
For
sure. I want to connect with people no matter what. It helps me feel better and
it also shows that we ARE sincere.
What
kind of music are you listening to right now(what bands)?
Operation Ivy, and Oasis ‘Master Plan’
Are
there any bands out there right now that you think people should know about?
I’m not sure, I don’t get out
much.
Do
you have any advice for other bands trying to make a living out of being a
musician?
Stay
together and keep writing good songs. It
ain’t all about you, it’s all about the people.
Where
do you hope to be in 5 years/where do you see yourself in 5 years?
The
future’s too damn uncertain.
Is there anything you would like to add (last words)?
Thank
you for your time, the good questions, and the good words about the band. I’m
glad you enjoy the album and let the people know we throw the f%#$ down live.
Once again I appreciate your time and attention. Don’t be a stranger when we
come to Rochester.
Thanks
Renee,
Austin
& Clockwise.