Very unique in sound! After the change from OHM to Opus Dai
VMU had to get behind the scenes!
AND IT BEGINS!
VMU: Hey guys how are you doing?
Opus Dai: Really good.. Excited to wrap up this album
get it out there...
VMU: Could you tell us who is the current line up and
how long have you been together?
Opus Dai: Jagger, David, Atsushi, Chris .. the four of
us have been playing together since 1999.
VMU: You guys have a very unique sound now, is there
a big difference playing live compared to OHM? (your
former band)
Opus Dai: Well besides the member change... Opus Dai
has a rawness that lends it self to the stage
and there seems to be a newly found focus and energy
within the band. When you go thru something like a
member change, it pulls the band closer together in a
way... it was kind of like loosing a family member and
gaining one all at once.
VMU: Could you tell us what gear you use live and in
the studio?
Opus Dai: I think we would all like to have better Equipment.
But i am really happy with my DWs...
VMU: How many releases have you put out and who
produced them?
Opus Dai: This will be our first, (untitled at this
point) debut LP... self produced.
VMU: Are you guys currently shopping your release or
are there any deals in the works?
Opus Dai: Yes, we just signed a deal with a new indy
called Double Blind (
http://www.doubleblindmusic.com)
they are the newly established rock label, sister to
the electronic label System Recordings (
http://www.systemrecordings.com/)
i think its a good home for us, everyone there is
really open minded and excited about the music.
VMU: Do you guys prefer live or studio recording?
Opus Dai: They both have there pro's and con's ...
what we really enjoy is creating, In all its forms.
VMU: The songs "Rain" "Nightingale" and "Bella
Christa" are VERY moving and emotional! Do we expect
a full release with the same vibe or more variety?
Opus Dai: Definitely.. and then some.
VMU: What are your guys influences musically?
Opus Dai: It runs wild, from Led Zeppelin to
Metallica (the earlier stuff) ... Pink Floyd, Dead Can
Dance, At the Drive-In, Beatles, Janes Addiction, Jeff Buckly,
Refused, Iron Maiden, Sabbath, Radiohead .. I could go on
forever... we draw allot from what is around us too. What we see in
the media and feel is happening socially in the world.
VMU: What was the worst experience playing live?
Opus Dai: (stumped on this one... we had a pretty
disastrous experience closing for System of a Down in
the 90's Also, there was this Marathon we played few years
back, in San Diego... not realizing that we had to
play until the last person crossed the
finish line... we must have played our set 20-30
times... it was about a 16 hour long session ... but
it was for a good cause, so it wasn't a bad experience,
tested our endurance tho (I think we are all a little
masochistic when if comes to the music)
"There are a few good bands getting some
well deserved attention... and a ton of mediocre ones
getting most the attention." - OD
VMU: Any tours to look out for?
Opus Dai: Touring is in the works, but locally we are
at the Roxy in Hollywood, March 22nd with
Apocalyptica, more info at:
http://www.opusdai.com/showdates/shows.html
also, we are at the Troubadour in Hollywood, April 9th
with Powerman 5000
VMU: How do you guys feel about the mainstream music
scene?
Opus Dai: "Mainstream" is a loaded word... I guess its
all relative. There are a few good bands getting some
well deserved attention.. and a ton of mediocre ones
getting most the attention.
VMU: What do you express lyrically in your music?
Opus Dai: It varies, i can't say it has any one
message. But this next LP is loosy strung together
with this abstract concept ... i think there is
general out look of enthusiasm and hopefulness, amidst
tragedy and chaos... sort of about finding that
element of creation that lays in the aftermath of
destruction and disillusionment.
VMU: Being in the music scene for awhile now, what
would you say to the young up and comers that try to break into the
scene?
Opus Dai: Keep true to your self, if your in a place
like LA, you'll get allot of opinions, some of which
have alterer motives. Just stick to your guns and work
hard. REALLY HARD.
VMU: Thanks guys for your time! Any last words?
Opus Dai: Stay tuned to our site, we have an as of yet
un-titled, full length LP dropping this summer!
Also we are on a comp CD called "{un}Known compilation
(Volume 1)" coming this June. Its a collection of
rare, un-released material from several Indy bands,
including the demo version of our very own song
"Rain"... its full of great bands like He is Legend,
Dead Poetic, Boys Night Out, Halifax, Hopesfall,
Project 86, Fivespeed, The Revolution Smile, The Apex
Theory and 32 Leaves, so keep any eye out for that.
There will be more on this at our site:
http://www.opusdai.com
~Jagger / Opus Däi
info@opusdai.com
http://www.opusdai.com
VM UNDERGROUND
MARCH 31 2005