Interview: Zaum
I met Kyle just over a year ago when when Zaum played Cosmic Carnage at the Windmill, it was trippy as fuck. They released the album Eidolon this year which is very powerful indeed, listen to it if you haven’t yet, think Om meets Master Musicians of Bukkake. This Canadian two piece will one day achieve world domination I swear, so here’s what Kyle has to say about it all.
(((o))): Hi Kyle, how are you?
Things are well! Fresh back from a successful 6 week European Tour for our new record. Really amazing time. That said, glad to be back home with a little relax time no doubt.
(((o))): Eidolon is fucking nuts, I don’t know if I’m overjoyed or terrified when listening to it. Where did that album come from and what were you trying to achieve?
It’s honestly just a pure natural progression for us honestly. I stepped away and looked at what we had created before releasing it, and I wondered if I’d gone too far in a certain direction or another – but in the end, it’s sincerely just as natural as it gets with nothing forced or contrived whatsoever. The only thing we really ever set out to achieve, is to create an album that blows our own minds. Despite my enormous musical palette, I’m incredibly critical of music in general terms. In the end, I really love Eidolon and if others can dig or vibe on it, that’s a total bonus.
(((o))): You don’t sound like a two piece, how the fuck do make all them noises?
I formed this band with the intention of creating a 2-piece simply due to ease of touring (schedules/costs/logistics/etc), but wasn’t interested in it “sounding” like a typical 2-piece. I’m a sound engineer, and so I put that to work with respect to my sound. The idea is to utilize ambient drones and octaves. I go through hell to get the tone I want in the end, but it’s always worth it.
(((o))): Tell us about the music scene in Canada, are there any bands we should check out?
I’m very glad you’ve asked! You all should absolutely 100% check out :
ELEVATOR – https://rickwhitearchive.bandcamp.com/album/elevator-livetaste- oct2000
FLYING FORTRESS – https://flyingfortresstunes.bandcamp.com/album/dirty-rain
MOUNTAIN DUST – https://mountaindust.bandcamp.com/album/nine-years
HARD CHARGER – https://hardcharger.bandcamp.com/album/bad-omens
SHOOTING GUNS – https://shootingguns.bandcamp.com/album/brotherhood-of-the-ram
GREBER – https://greber.bandcamp.com/album/kiln-hardened-psalms
(((o))): Is it true you are coming back to Europe next year?
Yessir – UK/France Tour this April 2017!
(((o))): What was the best gig you played in 2016?
Probably Saint-Petersburg, Russia @ Fish Fabriques on November 4 (I believe it was). Out of control!
(((o))): Best gig you attended?
MELVINS + HELMS ALEE in Northampton, MA, USA on August 27, 2016.
(((o))): Best festival?
OBEY CONVENTION 2016 in Halifax, NS, Canada. Best festival in Canada hands down, experimental/fringe music at its best!
(((o))): What albums released from 2016 have you enjoyed?
My best of list for 2016 hasn’t been finalized yet but – here’s where I’m at currently (still have 21 days left to finalize).
Cauldron – In Ruin
Darkthrone – Arctic Thunder
Yawning Man – Historical Graffiti
Stranger Things OST
God Body Disconnect – Dredge Portals
Abbath – Abbath
Brian Eno – The Ship
SOFTESS – Absolute Truth
Enmarta – The Hermit
SURVIVE – RR7349
Hard Charger – Bad Omens
Ugasanie – Border Of Worlds
Melvins – Bases Loaded
Horseback – Dead Ringers
Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
Brant Bjork – Tao Of The Devil
Goat – Requiem
ZUN – Burial Sunrise
SubRosa – For This We Fought the Battle of Ages
Hoshin – Path Of Dissolutions
Mountain Dust – Nine Years
Earthship – Hollowed
Boris – Gensho
Methadone Skies – Colosseus
Discharge – End Of Days
Hexvessel – When We Are Death
Mike & The Melvins – Three Men & A Baby
The Claypool Lennon Delirium – Monolith Of Phobos
Apocryphos – Stone Speak
Cough – Still They Prey
Dronny Darko – Spira Igneus
Red Fang – Only Ghosts
Gnod – Mirror
The Body – No One Deserves Happiness
Alcest – Kodama
Tid – Fix Ide
Adrian Teacher and the Subs – Terminal City
Private Room – Forever And Ever
Russian Circles – Guidance
(((o))): What the hell are you up to next year?
We’ll record the bed tracks for our next album likely in March. As aforementioned, UK/France in April. Probably do some Canadian dates in the summer and likely back to EU for the fall- but we shall see!
Photo by Jose Ramon Caamaño
