Closure: Axel

12/30/02

by Renee Clark

What made you want to become a musician? Was there any real defining moment?
I started playing guitar in high school when a couple of my friends were talking about starting a band. We formed a band but during that time I was very much into making films. After high school I went to LA to pursue a career in the film business and I almost didn't bring my guitar with me. I've found the guitar to be very frustrating at times so I quickly developed a love-hate relationship with my instrument . There actually was a real defining moment for me. After arriving in LA and meeting many new people who were also trying to break down the doors of the industry I discovered that almost all of them were pretentious pricks. It got so bad that I would get physically ill just being near those people. That's when I decided to drop the camera and pick up the guitar. I soon started playing around town and it was just a much better environment to be in. For the record: Over the years I've been living in LA I've met a lot of great people who are film makers that I like a lot.

What do you think you would be doing now if your music career did not take off?
Probably still playing in local bands dreaming of the big time. Making and playing music is really a terrible addiction that cannot be shaken easily.

How did you guys all get together (how/when did you meet)?
I'll try to keep this story short. Closure started about two years ago with Robin, the drummer, and I. When we first met, Robin asked me if I wanted to start a band with him. After we jammed, hung out, and wrote a couple of tunes together we decided starting a band would be a great idea. For a while it was just the two of us. For months we tried many singers in LA but we just couldn't find the right one. Then one day Robin was talking to friend of his from Vancouver Canada. After Robin mentioned our plight his friend said the he had a friend who was a singer and was looking for a band. It just happened that this singer was coming down to LA so we met him just a few weeks later. His name is Brian. After jamming and hanging out together he joined the band. Not only is Brian a great singer but he brought his great song writing talent to the table that helped bring Closure to a level beyond that of any one individual in the band. Soon after completing our four song demo we got a record deal. And we were still missing a bass player. We went to Vancouver Canada to record our album. Our manager knew a guy that could play bass who lived in Seattle. His name is also Brian. So for our first rehearsal Brian drove up from Washington. We Jammed and hung out.  It was like magic. It was so great we knew that he was the final piece that completed the band.

Are you done recording the new album? If so what was the hardest track to lay down?
We're finished recording the record. It just needs a few more little mixing tweaks and then it will be mastered. The hardest track to track?

I don't know. Each track had it's own set of intricacies. However the electric guitar in the intro to the track "Crushed" was particularly tricky.

Do you know when your album is going to be out yet exactly? Any plans for the name of it yet?
Well, in the business of rock there are no dates that remain stead fast.  With that said, the target date for the albums release is April 18, 2003. The album will be self titled.

What is going to be the first single? Are you going to get a chance to make a video?
Last I heard the single will be "Whatever made you hate me" It should be out on the radio in February. There are plans to make a video.

Who or what inspires your writing?
Everyone in the band writes. For me, inspiration comes from my band mates, CDs I could be listening to, a lot of the times I'll just be playing with my guitar and little riffs and melodies come out that I then try to capture and play with until they either fade or gel into something memorable.

What do you hope your fans will take from your music?
I hope that the audience will be able to connect to the music is some personal way. I want to inspire people. When I watch an amazing show it makes me want to run out of the venue back to my guitar where I'll then usually play it for hours because I'm filled with inspiration from the performers performance. For me that's giving back, or rather, passing on what artists before have given me.

What has been the best band to tour with so far?
Our last tour was great. All the guys from the other bands, Sevendust, Stereomud, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Cinder, were very cool. Nobody was a "rockstar" so we all got a long. Life on the road is so much better and easier when everybody gets a long.

Is there a certain band that you would want to tour with?
No, there's not a particular band we want to tour with. As long as they're cool it doesn't really matter. Of course we want to tour with someone whose music compliments ours and vice versa.

What goes through your head before you hit the stage do you have any rituals?
We all have our own thing. There's usually some guys pacing, swinging the arms to get the blood flowing. Some nights it's chill and we chat.  Other nights you can feel the energy rising in you and you can't wait to get up on stage because you think your about to burst. Those are almost always good nights.

Whats the hardest thing to deal with when you are on tour?
There's so much more to touring that just getting up on stage and playing your songs. When a few small things go wrong it usually spells catastrophe. And it's something different everyday. Examples include dining experiences, bad hotels, getting sick, losing stuff, etc....If you can think of something, it probably happened. I guess to answer your question: stress. You can't let it get to you otherwise you'll breakdown and when you're on the road it's really hard to get back on your feet.

Do you have any favorite stops (places to eat ect.) when you are on tour?
Yeah we do have some favorite places. We almost always stop at a Cracker Barrel. You can never go wrong with some good country cookin'. Also, we like to find local diners. The food and the service is usually amazing.  Much better than fast food. Eating that stuff everyday will make you sick and feel gross.

How do you pick your set list before a show? Same every night or do you
change it?
The set usually remains the same from show to show. We occasionally switch it up if we're bored. It actually does change through the first couple shows as we're feeling out the tour and what we think will have the most impact on the audience.

What do you think sets you apart from the other up and coming bands?
I think we have a familiar but unique sound. And we have a great live show. There's a good dynamic in the band. We all have our own unique personalities which makes the sum that equals Closure greater than its parts.

What kind of music or who are you listing to right now?
Right now I'm listening to the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Queens of the Stone Age, Failure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beatles, and Nirvana. I have an ipod that has pretty much my entire CD collection on it so I'll skip to some old favorites as well.

Any plans for another tour?
Yes. There are plans for another tour in the new year. Right now it's a little early to say when and with who but we can't wait to get back out on the road.

Where do you see yourself in five years or where do you hope to be?
A lot can happen in five years. We're all very excited over the opportunities we've made and the opportunities we've been given. All of us want to be hugely successful and this year could be a big year for us.