GODFED STATIC IS A ROCK/GRUNGE BAND STRAIGHT OUT OF ELMA, WASHINGTON WITH A COMMON QUEST. MUSIC THAT MATTERS.

MUEN: HI GUYS! THANKS FOR TALKING WITH MUEN. YOU GUYS HAVE A REALLY GREAT SOUND AND I HAVE ENJOYED LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC. FOR BEING SO YOUNG YOU SOUND LIKE VETERAN MUSICIANS. HOW DID GODFED STATIC GET STARTED?

Josh: I had been writing these songs for about 9 months before the band started. I realized if I really wanted to get the music out there and to improve I needed band mates. So I began recruiting the best musicians from around my school, converting a saxophone player to a rhythm guitar player, a trumpet player to a bass player, and a snare drum player to a drummer. Levi already had everything we needed to get started. We just all got along really well and we started cracking down on getting good.

MUEN: ELABORATE FOR US IF YOU WILL ON WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY MUSIC THAT MATTERS?

Levi: Basically, we mean that we aren't all about the sound of the music we're playing, we are also about the messages that our songs convey to our listeners, both lyrically and musically. Most of the songs we play are from different perspectives than most other bands would play them. For example, one of our songs, "Untitled", is from the perspective of a crazed killer, but instead of saying that murder is bad/good, the song just talks about what is going through the killer's mind, and lets the listener decide about the morals. Most of our songs are like that, and it's all meant to make the listener choose for themselves what's right and what's wrong. We don't make the choice for them, and that's what we mean by "Music that Matters."

Josh: Music that Matters also kind of means that this is a new, unchartered style of music and lyrics. As a lot of other stuff out there sounds overdone, we took it upon ourselves to do something new and unique. And that matters very much.

MUEN: WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE TALENTED SONGWRITER BOTH LYRICALLY AND MUSICALLY OR DO YOU WRITE THE SONGS TOGETHER?

Levi: Yeah, that would be Josh. Ha ha. Actually, we all contribute to the songs in one form or another, but it's Josh that writes the vast majority of our material. He is a very talented songwriter, though he always wants our input and ideas as to how the songs could be better, but for the most part, we love them the way he wrote them. I write lyrics and vocals for a few songs, such as Aerosol, but Josh is the main creative force behind our songs.

MUEN: WHAT KIND OF MUSIC ARE YOU GUYS INTO? WHO DO YOU LISTEN TO THAT INSPIRES YOUR MUSIC?

Josh: Inspirations are hard because they can be so different than the whole "sounds like" thing. I've been inspired by The Beatles, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, etc. A wide variety of influences. And of course all my band mates have influenced me. Not only musically, but they've influenced me to write, to teach, and to keep this band going. I'm just a member in a band and it wouldn't be a band without them. My guitar playing influence came from playing in my last band. I was the drummer and my guitar players Carter Foster and Sean Strozyk basically lead me down the path (how to tune, how to play power chords, the beauty of dropped D tuning, etc.) Everything has taught me how to play the music I play and to keep it in the ball park of what I want.

Levi: Well, my main vocal influences would have to be Kurt Cobain, Scott Stapp, Layne Staley, Chris Cornell, Aaron Lewis, and Sully Erna. Just like Josh, I try my best to maintain my own sound, but if you listen closely, you can tell that I have adopted vocal styles from my influences. I can sing in many different styles, and I'm always trying to broaden my horizons vocally by learning and adapting to new vocal styles.

Nathan: I'm not into listening to bass or guitar players themselves. I'm more into the music as a whole. I also like a variety of music. Rock is definitely my favorite, but i like country, jazz, techno, rap, and many other styles. The only kind of music I'm not really into is probably opera, but i respect it as an art. My biggest influence would definitely be Josh, though. I didn't know how to play guitar at all when I first joined the band. Josh told me he'd teach me if I was willing. So I bought a bass and I started learning. Now, I'm still learning but I've got so much better since then. I wouldn't be where I am without his help.

Corey: Well, I listen to a variety of music. From the Beatles to Nirvana and everything in between. However, my main guitar influence is Josh Charette...he's been playing guitar for about four times longer than me and he's basically taught me everything i know.

Ryan: The person that probably has influenced me the most would probably have to be Travis Parker, the drummer from Blink 182. I listen to a variety of music though, everything from Funk to Techno, to soft rock, but my all time favorite genre would have to be Alternative/Rock/Punk.

MUEN: WHICH SONG BEST REPRESENTS THE BAND AND WHICH SONG IS YOUR FAVORITE TO PLAY?

Levi: The song that best describes our music as a whole is Cannibal Man because "We don't wanna be dead and innocent, we just wanna be dead and Rockstars!" Our favorite song to play would have to be a toss up between ZooBorn Rabies and Aerosol.

MUEN: DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A CD OUT? IF SO, TELL US ABOUT IT. IF NOT, WILL YOU BE RELEASING ONE SOON?

Josh: Well we just got out of the studio about a month ago. Which means our first album will be coming out in a month or so. It is a seven song EP titled "A Long Time Coming." It features some of our best work and it will be something that everyone should get their hands on. It was really fun to make and I think it contains all the energy and creativeness that is Godfed Static.

MUEN: ARE ANY OF YOU INVOLVED IN ANY OTHER MUSICAL PROJECTS?

Josh: Corey, Ryan, and Nathan are in school band, but besides for that, GS is the only thing for us.

Levi: Josh and I have been in a couple bands in the past, but this is definitely our best. We are pure Godfed Static, and that's how we're going to stay.

MUEN: HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAY SHOWS? WHERE IS THE CRAZIEST PLACE YOU EVER PLAYED?

Levi: We try to play shows as often as possible, and we are always looking for new venues to play. The craziest place we've played would have to be the Polish Club in Aberdeen, WA. The audience loved us, and we would love to play there again.

MUEN: SO... DO YOU HAVE GROUPIES????

Levi: No, no groupies. We all have girlfriends. We aren't into the whole groupie thing.

MUEN: GUITAR HERO SEEMS TO BE THE REALLY BIG THING RIGHT NOW. DO YOU GUYS PLAY? WHICH ONE OF YOU IS THE TOP ROCKER?

Nathan: Since I'm pretty cocky, I'll say I OWN at guitar hero. I have to say that playing guitar has nothing to do with being good at guitar hero. Corey sucks at it. I can beat the game on expert. But guitar hero isn't as challenging as it looks. I've seen 10 year olds ace it on expert without missing a note. But it's a fun game. I'd like to get our music on there someday. Guitar Hero 3!! Ha ha.

MUEN: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM GODFED STATIC IN THE FUTURE?

Josh: Rock, big productions, CD's, music videos, merchandise, headlining tours, smashing guitars, record labels, and all the other perks that come with being rock stars.

MUEN: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG MUSICIANS LIKE YOURSELVES TRYING TO GET A START IN THE BUSINESS?

Josh: First thing, don't try and sound like someone else. Do what you want to do, when you want to, how you want. Don't try and imitate your favorite band. I mean, of course you might make something up that can remind you of your favorite artist, but the music industry is full of copies, ripoffs, and cheap imitations. And of course, practice, practice, practice. Don't settle for good enough, go all the way. Don't let anyone tell you that you suck. There's a lot of jealous people out there. Don't sell out once a record label is interested. And the last thing, STAY TRUE TO YOUR OWN MUSIC ALWAYS!

MUEN: ANY FINAL WORDS???

GS Thank you for taking the time to interview us. We appreciate everything that MUEN does for musicians, and the music industry. We also hope that everyone out there listens to our music, and spreads the word about us. Remember: Live Long, Love Strong, and ROCK ON!

MUEN: WE AT MUEN LOVE GODFED STATIC AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW AND I'M SURE WE WILL BE HEARING ALOT MORE FROM YOU.

Interview by Shauna O'Donnell