{"id":23126,"date":"2014-09-17T00:18:22","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T14:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/?p=23126"},"modified":"2014-09-17T00:27:10","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T14:27:10","slug":"antiskeptic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/2014\/09\/antiskeptic\/","title":{"rendered":"ANTISKEPTIC"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n<\/a>\u201cAfter you\u2019ve been in the studio for a long time \u2026 you\u2019re itching to play live. When you\u2019ve been playing live for a long time, you\u2019re itching to get into the studio!! I love being in front of people. It just feels right and I get a real kick out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

From release: Formed out the back of a record store in 1999, Antiskeptic shot to the forefront of the early naughties’ rush of exciting Australian rock bands like Gyroscope, Kisschasy and Parkway Drive. Their impressive 9 year run saw the band release two albums, tour relentlessly and gather a hugely dedicated fanbase. In 2008, the band drew the\u00a0curtain\u00a0on this dream run, with a sold out Melbourne Hi Fi Bar show filmed for a gorgeous DVD release.<\/p>\n

Adored for their famously exciting and energetic live shows, Antiskeptic’s fanbase have stuck with them since the act’s disbanding, so much, so that they assisted in funding\u00a0‘Stare Down The Ocean’\u00a0<\/em>via successful Pozible campaigns that raised over $20,000. Working closely with admired producer Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus), Antiskeptic have crafted their most cohesive and anthemic release to date, highlighting singer\/guitarist Andrew Kitchen’s signature soaring vocals, catchy melodies and\u00a0emotionally\u00a0resonant songwriting.<\/p>\n

We had Andrew Kitchen, vocalist for Antiskeptic answer some questions for us about the band, their new album \u2018Stare Down The Ocean\u2019 as well as what the future holds\u2026<\/p>\n

Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us\u2026 now, six years between drinks is a long time, why was now the right time for Antiskeptic to grace us with your presence once again?
\n<\/strong>We actually reformed in 2011, and did a successful run of the country. After sorting out the line-up, and getting the songs together, successfully securing an Arts Victoria grant, renovating our studio, writing the songs, managing a few fan-funding campaigns, doing random show etc etc \u2026 here we are in 2014 with a great finished album! These things take time.<\/p>\n

Your forthcoming album is called \u2018Stare Down The Ocean\u2019 can you tell us about the title and what it represents to you?<\/strong>
\nI guess there\u2019s been a bit to sort of over-come to get the band rolling again. You don\u2019t want to come back as a shadow of your former self, and with finishing up in 2008, we started with $0 in the bank at the outset!! So to me, \u201cStare Down the Ocean\u201d is about facing your fears, or concerns as they come in \u2026 wave after wave, and learning to over-come them together as a band.<\/p>\n

Well I\u2019ve heard the album and it sounds bloody amazing, now when you heard the finished product for the first time what went through your mind?<\/strong>
\nThat I\u2019d made the right decision! Half an hour before receiving and hearing the finished mixes, I\u2019d decided to quit my full-time job and just take some time out of the work force. Hearing the album settled it in my mind \u2013 I\u2019m a musician first and foremost, and it is time to take it more seriously than ever before! On a mix level, I was blown away \u2026 Forrester had taken the songs to an amazing place, and they just sounded world class.<\/p>\n

In terms of the songs on the album, were any of these ideas you\u2019d had for a while or was it a case of starting fresh with everything?<\/strong>
\nSeveral actually. Kids Aren\u2019t Scared (track one), nearly made it on the Monuments EP in 2006!! It\u2019s always been that way with Antiskeptic albums. There\u2019s ideas that float around for years before the find a home and make it on an album. Hey Dissident (the first single), I actually wrote for another band that Nick and I were talking about forming after we wrapped in 2008, but when we decided to do kick off the band again, it just felt like and Antiskeptic track anyway.<\/p>\n

So did you have an idea of what you wanted to do with this album or how you wanted it to sound or did you just let the album happen?<\/strong>
\nWe talked a bit about wanting it to sound high energy, with really good production values (but not over the top). We tracked the drums with Forrester, but everything else at my studio \u2026 which meant we had all the time in the world to explore ideas and try things for each song. I guess we wanted to give each song individual treatment, and allow each song to have a character and a clear reason that it was on the album \u2026 but also wanting the album to flow and sit together well (which I think we\u2019ve achieved).<\/p>\n

In this day and age the crowd funding campaigns seem to be the best way to do anything, and yours was a massive success, is there a bit of pressure then on you to deliver for those that have put their complete faith in you? (Side note, trust me, they will be happy)<\/strong>
\nYeah in some ways it is massively freeing \u2026 and immediate. You can start a fan-funding campaign, and all going well, get on with what you are wanting to do. There\u2019s not waiting for labels to create a schedule and then fit in with their release roster. But it did occur to me \u2026 that we weren\u2019t just trying to please one or two record company people \u2026 we actually had (initially) 120 supporters who had forked out to make it happen. I was confident with the songs, and the product, I just wish we hadn\u2019t left them waiting for so long. But, all good things right?<\/p>\n

I loved your video for \u2018Hey Dissident\u2019, and I have to ask so who\u2019s idea was the awesome Back To The Future homage?<\/strong>
\nNick (drummer) came up with the concept and it was developed from there by Ryan from Robot Army (video production company in Geelong). It was a real team effort that clip \u2026 I made the flux capacitor, a Geelong company printed the \u2018Enchantment under the Sea\u2019 banner, we found a guy nearby with a Delorean, a friend of one of our Facebook followers had a hover board, and a guy who owns a PA company in Geelong lent us a rad Shure Super 500 (classic old-school looking mic). That\u2019s just to mention a few things that fell into place to pull it off. It was a real blast.<\/p>\n

Other side of that, you\u2019re just about to drop your new video for \u2018When The Night Comes In\u2019 what can we expect from this one? Maybe a BMX Bandits homage this time around?<\/strong>
\nOh BMX Bandits \u2026 that would be amazing. Great idea \u2013 we\u2019re totally doing that. No, that one is a zombie-inspired video clip. Same production crew and a rad setting at an abandoned farm. It has come up really well actually, and another great idea by Nicko.<\/p>\n

Touring wise, you\u2019re out in September for some shows, what can people expect at a typical Antiskeptic show?<\/strong>
\nSome old stuff, some not so old stuff and some new stuff \u2026 lots of smiles, lots of laughs and a good time rocking out together.<\/p>\n

Are you pumped to be out there playing shows together again?<\/strong>
\nYeah definitely. After you\u2019ve been in the studio for a long time \u2026 you\u2019re itching to play live. When you\u2019ve been playing live for a long time, you\u2019re itching to get into the studio!! I love being in front of people. It just feels right and I get a real kick out of it.<\/p>\n

So is it safe to say that Antiskeptic is back to stay?<\/strong>
\nYes \u2026 back for good, until we get old and more deaf.<\/p>\n

Lastly, grab your crystal ball, gaze into it and let\u2019s predict the remainder of the year. So if you can finish this sentence for me\u2026 by the end of 2014, Antiskeptic will\u2026<\/strong>
\n.. have released an album that we\u2019re really, really proud of, that pays for itself and opens a few new opportunities up to the band.<\/p>\n

Seriously, congrats on the album guys, thanks for your time and May the Rock be with You!<\/strong>
\nNo worries \u2026 And May the Rock be with you also!!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Catch Antiskeptic on tour at the following dates:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday September 25th<\/strong>
\nSydney \u2013 Newtown Social Club
\nwith Special Guests Young Lions + Cambridge
\nTickets via\u00a0www.newtownsocialclub.com<\/a>\u00a0or 1300 724 867<\/p>\n

Friday September 26th<\/strong>
\nNewcastle \u2013 The Small Ballroom
\nwith Special Guests Cambridge
\nTickets via\u00a0www.oztix.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday September 27th<\/strong>
\nAdelaide \u2013 Enigma Bar
\nwith Special Guests Young Lions + All Year Round
\nTickets via\u00a0www.moshtix.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday October 4th<\/strong>
\nBrisbane \u2013 The Brightside
\nwith Special Guests Young Lions, Alibrandi + Beth Lucas
\nTickets via\u00a0www.oztix.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday October 11th<\/strong>
\nMelbourne \u2013 The Evelyn
\nwith Special Guests Young Lions + Portraits of August
\nTickets via\u00a0www.oztix.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Essential Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From:<\/strong> Melbourne, VIC, Australia<\/p>\n

Sounds like: <\/strong>Rock<\/p>\n

Band members:<\/strong> Andrew Kitchen, Nick Coppin, Jarrod Salton, Tavis Wardlaw<\/p>\n

Forthcoming Release:<\/strong> Stare Down The Ocean (Independent \u2013 out September 19 \u2013 review coming soon)<\/p>\n

Website:<\/strong> http:\/\/antiskeptic.com.au\/<\/a>
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