Jemayel bass player for Charts and Maps took time off his busy schedule to support the Musical Brochure with this Interview, Enjoy!
Yeah, we were just sitting around after we started jamming, trying to think of a name. Charts and Maps was the only one that everybody could agree on. I found out that Maps and Atlases existed literally a week after we named ourselves, but we figured it didn't really matter. I mean, yeah, we're both progressive bands but we do sound quite different. There's another band called Maps as well, so all three of us could go on tour together, charts and maps and maps and maps and atlases"
When did you guys become a band?
John and I have been playing together since we were 15-ish. We had a band in high school called Soli i Sombra. The rest of us all met at USC--we all actually lived together for a year. We began jamming in this format in like May of 2007-
I enjoyed 'Charts and Maps Killed a Man' from the controlled chaotic solos to the organic fills. What's your favorite song to play live off that EP?
As of this point, the only song off of that EP that we play live is Bury Pierre. We sort of discarded the rest. We often discuss bringing 10:58 back, but it's just so long that it takes up a significant portion of any set we're likely to play. We just think our new material is better. Charts and Maps Killed a Man has pretty much the first five songs we wrote together.
How did you guys get involved with The A.M.A.R. Collective and what is your opinion on the collective organization?
I think I started chatting with Andrew Newton (of ars poetria and like 10 different bands) on the 'ol interweb-- i think he was into our really old project Soli i Sombra-- and things just sort of rolled on from there. I think AMAR is excellent. Not only as a conceptual idea, but also the people involved that I have met have all been so open minded and laid back. AMAR really gives bands and artists of all kinds an opportunity to showcase their talents, involve themselves with a community of like minded individuals and grow through connections with people. We're really happy to be involved with them.
Growing up as a kid I was forced to listen to Bob Marley, Carlos Santana, Talking Heads and because of my mother Prince but I thank my parents for that because it's made me so open minded. What did you guys listen to growing up? what influenced you to pick up a musical instrument and make that a passion?
When we were in high school John and I both had musical awakenings of sorts to the album 'El Cielo' by Dredg. It really showed us what music could be and made us begin to look outside of the box with our creative impulses. Before that we hadn't necessarily sought after music that challenged us. After El Cielo, even to today, we try to challenge ourselves in the composition of every song.
I read up on the interviews Jemayel did and he always asked this question so looking it from a different perspective. What do you think about filesharing?
Personally I fully support it in all forms. The majority of media companies are run by corporations who are selling a product more than they are facilitating art. Independent and smaller labels will be able to do fine by adapting to a new business environment. ---in my mind music is free. I'd be quite happy if all the major labels crumbled.
I saw you guys had some shows up north how did those go and how did you guys get those gigs?
Fervent e-mailing by us and the danger bees.Pretty much we were willing to play anywhere that would house us, and if they gave us gas money, then excellent. We got lucky that a couple of really cool venues were into us. Specifically, The Comet Tavern in Seattle was a lot of fun with a real cool crowd.
What's Charts and Maps plan for this year?
Well, we're recording again in June with Chris Schlarb, whose projects are on asthmatic kitty records. So that's really exciting. We're in the process of replacing Alec, our rhythm guitar player who was just so busy he couldn't commit fully to our band. Instead, Jay Watford, who also plays in Danger Bees, is gonna be playing with us. We finished our new EP (finally), titled 'Trouble at the Old Mill,' so we're trying to get that into as many ears as possible in the meantime. People can download it free from our myspage page. Um, also, we're in the process of starting an art collective with Pride of Kenya, Danger Bees, us, and a few visual artists--it's gonna be called Heard of Elephants (i think) and we're gonna get going in July. It should be fun.
Recommend me some music?
Well, I know you keep up on your music, jerry, so here goes anyway: tinariwen, dosh, harry nilsson, we're all massive battles fans, extra golden
Why should people listen to your music?
Well, if it brings them pleasure, they should do it
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