As much as I love discovering new bands for
‘Setting Sun’ I enjoy even more sometimes discovering
new bands that acts I dearly love form new bands and
listen to what music they are currently working on.
Take the case of early 90’s British industrial
dance band ‘Curve’.
Like many people I know, they were saddened
and shocked when I had heard they had split, like many
of my friends were shocked they had, but I have being
encouraged with work that has surfaced with Dean,
half off Curve now working on ‘The Secret Meeting’
with ‘ kaRIN and Statik’ from two members off another
industrial dance band ‘Collide’ whom I had had
heard a fair bit off also and enjoyed.
I first heard off ‘The Secret Meeting’
through my pal, Jen off Stratosphere (Check out
her link in my links page off ‘Setting Sun’ who
passed over to me a copy of their debut CD,
and when listening to it, I could certainly hear
the Curve influence and sound but kaRIN’s
vocals are very different removing it totally
from both Curve and Collide.
Impressed of course, I e mailed the band on
their myspace.com and kaRIN emailed
me and this interview came through very quickly
indeed.
Thanks to kaRIN for her time and trouble with
the interview.
kaRIN and Statik’s other band ‘Collide’ can be found
here
www.collide.net
The Secret Meeting’s own website is here
www.thesecretmeeting.net
While their record label address is the following:
Noiseplus Music
P.O. box 565
North Hollywood, Ca
91603
Setting Sun: :
How are things and what’s happening at the moment?
kaRIN: (Collide):
At this exact second, I am listening down to vocals on
one of the new Collide tracks from the new album we
are working on.
Setting Sun: :
Next, can you tell us a little bit about ‘The
Secret Meeting’ – what started you off or as I like to
say who fired the starting pistol?
kaRIN:
I guess I fired that pistol then =). I love the sound of
female vocals, I have always been attracted to them.
Of course Statik and I were aware of Curve. We were
very disappointed when we heard that they broke up.
One day I came across Dean’s (who was the musical
side of Curve) solo page. It had some instrumentals
on it. At that second a thought crossed my mind to
write him and ask if he would be interested in having
me do a guest vocal. Dean surprised me by writing
back and sending me some music to work on. After
the first one, we all really liked the results…so
we continued.
Setting Sun: :
Music wise, what are your influences and what are
you listening to at the moment?
kaRIN:
I mostly only listen to new things, or if we are working
on a CD, I am listening to what I am doing. Right now
I am listening to what I am working on. My influences
are a big blend of anything that attracts me…I love songs
that stand the test of time and have meaningful lyrics
that make me feel. David Bowie, Kate Bush and
Pink Floyd always fit that bill.
Setting Sun: :
I am familiar with all of your work outside ‘The
Secret Meeting’ – have you played any concerts yet
under the name of ‘The Secret Meeting’? If so, how do
they compare to your studio work? If not, do you have
any idea how you would approach it?
kaRIN:
We have always been a studio band, that primarily
has been our interest…to make new music that we
like …that doesn’t suck …and for the most part that takes
up all of our time and energy.
We finally took Collide live by adding some live members
and although that was a great experience, it still took us away
from what was really important to us. If the situation was
right, we’d play live with The Secret Meeting, but if not
I am content to just create.
Setting Sun: :
I have being really enjoying your album
‘Ultrashiver’ as I think it is a great marriage of
your all past histories in music while creating a
really good new sound. I think my favourite song off
this so far however has being ‘Am I here’?….
Can you tell us a little bit more this song?
kaRIN:
Thanks, we really appreciate that. Vocally “Am I Here”
basically explores the whole “what am I doing on the
planet” sort of thing. I have always been an outsider,
although I love people…I am most interested in making
things. It is great, but also isolates me and gives me a different
perspective. I have never felt that normal which is a good
thing in my books.
Setting Sun: :
What is the inspiration behind your name ‘The
Secret Meeting’?
kaRIN:
Getting to make music with Dean was like a dream come
true…this secret meeting of sorts felt like a magical place
where we could all explore. The whole thing felt unbelievable
and surreal…I wanted the songs and the artwork to reflect that.
Setting Sun: :
I normally ask next where you are all from, but I
know where you are all from already, so I’ll ask
what’s the music scene like where you are at in the
middle? Have you being to any good concerts recently?
kaRIN:
The music scene is shifting obviously, we are just seeing
where we fit in. We are still obsessive and compulsive
about making music…we just hope that people will
continue to support the music that they like buy buying
stuff from the artists. As far as concerts…wow I have not
been to one in forever…usually we go out to be supportive
if we have friends playing.
Setting Sun: :
A few lighter questions to finish off with now,
firstly what would you be your dream job if you were
not a musician?
kaRIN:
Most of all my working life, I have had my dream job. I am a
accessory designer who runs my own small company and I get to
make anything I want. I started with absolutely no money…so my
talent is creating something new out of nothing. For about a year I
survived off of broken glass from the street. Another year, I
survived from nuts & bolts. In order to survive being a designer,
especially with no money you have to be very creative and
always changing…so I feel that the whole process has really
stretched my creative imagination. I designed jewelry for many
years, now we make leather items, purses and belts,
cases and t-shirts. The fact that I also get to make music is
the exquisite icing on the top. The only downside is I am
sooooo obsessive about creating that I let a lot of normal life go
by as I have absolutely no time.
Setting Sun: :
What would you like to be doing when you
are 60?
kaRIN:
Painting, making music in my closet,
playing with my dogs.
Setting Sun: :
Lastly, what will you be doing when you
are 60?
kaRIN:
Painting, making music in my closet,
playing with my dogs.
