Agent
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Interview With Jimi From Agent By Chris 1/3/07
Agent are fantastic alternative metal band from New Zealand.
After hearing their debut album Expand/Contract I was hooked .
They are making a name for themselves in New Zealand has fans overseas.
Read the interview and expect to here more from this band.
Agent Website
1. How did you get into music?
A: I have been into music as long as I can remember. I was singing through the stereo (badly) at age 3 and I started listening to my parents record collection David Bowie, Beatles, Neil Diamond, Led Zepplin etc when I was about 6 years old and pretty much since then music has been all I have wanted to be involved with. I have always wanted to sing and play guitar.
2. Who were your idols growing up?
A: As far as individual idols go I thought Slash and Kirk Hammett were pretty cool and vocal wise I really rated Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford.
3. Who were your influences?
A: Wow, this could be embarrassing ha ha. When I was really young for some crazy reason I thought John Farnham was the man, then it was the likes of Iron Maiden, Guns N Roses, Metallica, AC/DC, then even bands like Oasis, Blur, and Marilyn Manson. I guess I could see things I liked about all these groups/artists. I tried to take the best parts out of each band in my own way I guess.
4. Are you happy with the responses from the new album?
A: Yeah we are really happy with the response we have got, more people know who we are now and we have had some very good reviews. We took a big chance with it and it seems to be paying off.
5. What was the recording process like for the new album?
A: Recording this album was a lot of hard work but also a lot of fun. Basically we laid down all the drums tracks then added the bass and guitars then the vocals came last. It was a very diplomatic process where every added their own two cents but in the end the common goal was to get a decent sounding record on a shoe string budget. In total, from start to finish, including mix and master, it took seven weeks which is sweet bugger all in the scheme of things.
6. Was it different to the first two releases?
A: The whole album had a different approach we knew our sound and direction better for this release plus our other two releases were basically done live so the quality is much higher on Expand/Contract.
7. Is it hard to get radio play in New Zealand?
A: Yes and no. It is hard to get on main stream day time radio but there are people such as Paul Martin, bnet DJ’s, and independent stations, that really get behind bands and give them unconditional support which is bloody fantastic.
8. Is hard being an independent artist in New Zealand?
A: It is hard but at the same time we have a creative freedom which some bands signed to a label can only dream of. Plus we keep most of the proceeds from album sales. I think it is hard being an independent artist anywhere, if we had the right deal on the table we would definitely take it.
9. How did you get a distribution deal with Global Routes?
A: We were shopping for distibution and Global Routes were keen. We had a sit down with them about what we doing as a band and the rest as they say is history, now they distribute Expand/Contract in New Zealand.
10. Have you had much response from overseas labels?
A: We have approached a few with mixed responses.
11. Has the band had much response from radio?
A: Overseas radio stations have been more responsive than labels. We get played in the UK and on some overseas internet radio stations.
12. Do you the internet has helped bands get noticed by labels and industry people?
A: The internet has definitely helped, it has made things easier and information more readily available. At the same time though its getting increasingly hard to stand out from the crowd. But I’m all for it.
13. Any plans to tour overseas or move overseas for the band?
A: Yes it is on the cards but I can’t give you any details as yet sorry.
14. What has been the bands favorite gig so far?
A: That is a really tough one as everyone in our band likes playing in different towns. We have had heaps of cool ones, each great in their own way.
15. What is on your stereo at the moment?
A: Muse, My Chemical Romance, Tool, and Concord Dawn
16. What are some of your favorite musical artists/bands?
A: The list is endless but here is a few….
Tool, Muse, System of a Down, Iron Maiden, Mars Volta, Concord Dawn, Metallica, My Chemical Romance,
Nirvana, Guns N Roses, Rage Against the Machines, Jim Morrison, A perfect circle, Mudvayne, Slipknot…..
17. Are you happy how the band has gone so far?
A: Hind sight is a beautiful thing so there is always things that when you look back you know you could have done differently but for the most part we have worked our asses off and are quietly stoked with our acheivements.
18 Who has helped out the band the most?
A: Our parents and our mates
19. What inspires the band when writing music?
A: Life. Personal experiences. Stuff you see happening around you everyday that you think you should make a point of discussing.
20. What has been the highlight so far?
A: Releasing Expand/Contract and getting it distributed and the support we have had from our fans. Meeting heaps of cool people and occassionally getting really legless and going to the strip clubs 🙂
