(((O))) Interview: Katerina Economou from Escuela Grind

Escuela Grind have been a formidable force in grindcore over the past few years with their razor sharp grind/powerviolence sound which was cemented by the release last year of debut album Indoctrination. The band are currently wrapping up the highly anticipated follow up album and Gavin Brown had the privilege to speak to Escuela Grind vocalist Katerina Economou to hear all about it and when we can expect it as well as the band’s new single, their recent live shows and upcoming tour, their first ever music videos and the grindcore scene all over the globe.

E&D: Your new single ‘That Which Does Not Bend Must Break’ is out now, can you tell us about the track and its creation?       

Katherina: This track is one that we’ve played live for years, but never recorded. We wrote the song with our original lineup, when we were based out of Ithaca, NY., the town where Carl Sagan lived his life. Sagan’s ideas were really influential to this track. One of the lyrics is an actual quote of his, “We can judge our progress by the courage of our questions and the depth of our answers”. It seemed fitting last year during the pandemic, to record this track at our home studio and release it as a single.

E&D: You are currently in the studio, working on your new album Memory Theater, how are the recording sessions of the album going? 

Katerina: We just wrapped up recording instruments at God City Studios with Kurt Ballou. It was a great experience for all of us, totally surreal at moments. I respect Kurt a great deal and to have the opportunity to record with him is really like a dream. Can’t sing high enough praises about his work.

E&D: What can we expect on the new album?

Katerina: Total death-grind-powerviolence. There are nine songs on the album, and each one really is unique in its own way. I feel like the tracks are my kids at this point. Krissy, Jesse, and I have been playing in this form of Escuela for a while now, and we are really honing in on what the band has to express musically. I think our friends and fans will be able to tell our influences, but also how we are growing as a band together. Thematically, the album is about “the Memory Theater” which I like to describe as your imaginary and figurative, internal, architectural make-up. This creation plays out inside you like a piece of theater. Although we construct this Memory Theater of immaterial things, it is still structural to our core beings… remove it without support, and you crumble.

E&D: You released your debut album Indoctrination last year, what has the reaction to it been like?

Katerina: Really incredible! We honestly couldn’t ask for more. To see a group of songs that we recorded in our house pressed on vinyl and shipped around the world is mind-blowing. We released Indoctrination literally the day that our state imposed the lock-down for COVID. It was up-in-the air about how it would affect the record, however overall, our fans are amazing and they supported the album in every way.

E&D: You also released the GGRRIINNDDCCOORREE and PPOOWWEERRVVIIOOLLEENNCCEE EPs last year, can you tell us about the ideas behind them and how they have been received?

Katerina: We got this idea on tour to do a 4-Part EP collection where we write songs in each of the genres that most influence us as a band. It’s kind of like an exercise. So we released the first two digitally in 2020 and we have gotten a lot of love for it. The songs on the PV one are catchy as hell and really fun to play live. We will have a physical release once we complete all four, whenever that may be.

E&D: You donated profits from the GGRRIINNDDCCOORREE EP to the Black Lives Matter movement and LGTBQ+ rights. Do you feel that you are still educating and raising support with your music?

Katerina: Yes always. We always feel like it is important to give back, especially since we hold a platform with our music. That will not change for the band.

E&D: You have also made music videos for ‘Inspirational Significance / Hyper-Victim / Private Vice, Public Benefit’ and ‘These Insects Lived As Men / A Ladder of Seven Rounds / Zalongo’. Can you tell us about these videos and how much fun was it make them? 

Katerina: Both videos were directed by our friend Seby X Martinez. He’s based out of New York and affiliated with Troma. In the past we have provided music for a Troma film and performed at their events so the pairing was natural. The production was a very DIY process. The first video was inspired by those QVC blooper on YouTube… like the ones where they demonstrate a knife and cut themselves, or fall off a ladder, but with our own absurd twist on it. We shot it in an afternoon. Our second video was shot over a week in a cabin during COVID. We decided to mash up The Sims and Evil Dead into a gorey production. It was extremely fun to think up ideas and produce on the spot. Much love to Seby and the Troma crew for making it all happen!

E&D: You’ve just played a few live dates recently, how have those shows gone and what have been some of the highlights? 

Katerina: The shows have been incredible, everyone is so eager to experience music again and it’s really a great attitude. I hope we all collectively keep it up. So far we’ve played Worcester, MA, which was our first show there, and it was great. During our set a bunch of people started doing push-ups in the pit. I love that shit. Then we flew down to Texas to play shows in Dallas and Houston. It’s always a great time in Texas, and we got to play with some killer bands and rappers.

E&D: Have you been playing much new material and how has that gone down?

Katerina: Hell yeah! So far it’s been the most rowdy part of our set! There are two songs in particular you’ll see us play on tour that have the dopest riffs and just everyone starts dancing all at once… it’s beautiful. We’ve only played them three times live, but every time it has hit so hard. We’re just so excited for people to hear these recordings.

E&D: You’re doing a full US tour soon too, are you looking forward to hitting the road again?

Katerina: Immensely. Everyone’s been dreaming about it for a year and a half now, and it’s just around the corner for us. Definitely never taking that for granted again. Planning on being safe on the road in all ways, especially with our health. We are playing a lot of places that we have never performed in before, so that is always the most exciting part… unlocking a new part of the map, if you will.

E&D: Have you got plans for touring elsewhere once the new album is released? Hopefully you’ll make it over to the UK and Europe!

Katerina: Absolutely! We are playing Obscene Extreme 2022 so expect a full UK / European tour around those Summer dates. There are plans in the works in Mexico City and a Brasil tour as well! For sure we are going to consistently tour the US and Canada too very soon.

E&D: What have been some of the most memorable gigs that you’ve ever played?

Katerina: I guess in no particular order… we’ve been really lucky to play some insanely cool gigs. Playing with Infest and Converge at AS220 was incredible, both of those bands are such influences on myself. Earslaughter Fest in Montreal as well as Grind Your Mind Open Air. (Long Live Grind Corn!) When Wormrot, Sissy Spacek, and ACXDC played matinees in our basement while on tour. All of the mixed-genre bills we’ve played with softer bands like Speedy Ortiz and acts like Xenia Rubinos. Playing with Mr. Pookie in Dallas was such a fucking fun show, he was so chill with the heavy bands. One of our earliest shows stands out in my mind as being totally off-the-wall, basement depravity, it was with Penis Geyser, Spacegrinder, and Cunts from Japan. Too many to recount!

E&D: What do you think of the grindcore scene across the world presently and what bands would you recommend to check out?

Katerina: For being a niche genre, grindcore has certainly been able to be sustained all over the world for years. I don’t know of another genre that can have such reverence for tradition but also maintain relevance with its fans from childhood to adulthood in most cases. We cannot wait to tour outside of North America more because the amount of international support we have received. It is so special and often shocks me. In terms of international grindcore/pv bands check out: Test from Brasil, Gadget from Sweden, Parlamentarisk Sodomi from Norway, Wormrot from Singapore, Implore from Germany, Chulo from Colombia, Maxxpower, Uncle Ray and KickassViolence from Canada.

E&D: What have been some of the highlights in your time with the band so far?

Katerina: Everytime I am able to step out on stage with my bandmates is a blessing. For someone who never believed in their abilities, being able to share my voice and music with others is both empowering and cathartic. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and every show reminds me of this. I know that’s a corny half-answer but it’s so true.