Online
interview with Danny Ashbrook (Lead Vocals) and Bob Wilson (lead guitar)
April 2004
www.traumamusic.com
Trauma,
formed in Southern CA in the summer of 2003, started as an escape from each
member's individual full time projects. Pulled in by a few scattered rehearsals,
the band soon realized that they had a rare chemistry, and were all committed to
writing honest music walking in the footsteps of true creativity regardless of
genre or scene, and avoiding the pitfalls of their pasts. Inspired by their
common interests, the band wrote and recorded a six song E.P. in a four week
period with the intent of releasing a collection of music that reflected their
dedication as well as their disregard of what's accepted in the hardcore scene.
With drive and focus, the band has committed to writing and playing shows with a
truthful, passionate, and open vision as only these five connected friends can.
(www.traumamusic.com)
Dennis: Trauma is a pretty new-formed band, tell us
a little about how you got together and tell us about why you chose the name
Trauma.
Bob: Danny and Tom
were judges for a battle of the bands that my old band played at. They gave us
second to last!!! (jerks) and then had the nerve to ask us to be in a band. Jay
just wanted to have a reason to grow his hair out again and wear women’s
clothing, and he try’s to say I wear girl pants, but he is just covering his
own tracks up. The name Trauma is a symbol of how much crap a band goes through
to make a career out of being in a band... actually I just made that up. We
don’t have a reason for the name; it was the only one we all agreed on right
before we were about to draw pistols.
Danny: Ya, we are extremely new. One could even say "overnight".
I know God put this band together for a reason, because everything has fallen
into place. We all come from different bands and started TRAUMA as a side
project. Apparently God has bigger plans.
Dennis: Strike First Records (www.strikefirsterecords.com), a
division of Facedown Records (www.facedownrecords.com), sent us your EP and
guys..it is FREAKING amazing! I can’t get over the style. It is truly a
mixture of so much with a primary focus on metal and hard core. I love how there
is so much chaos in the style at times and even touches of goth in the mix. What
are some of your influences with your music and do you label your genre?
Bob: Yeah, we consider
ourselves to be a Less Then Jake rip off. No, we do not really label ourselves
anything. When someone asks what we sound like I just say metal with breakdowns,
and anything else we can fit in. It is not easy to say what our influences are,
we just do whatever we thing will work, or what pleases us the most.
Danny: I think every band cringes when they hear this question... labeling our
style. Well every band trys to claim they are different. I think what
really makes us different is the wide variety of music we enjoy. We love metal,
hardcore, and a lot of rock and roll. We are definitely not sticking to the
"manual" of hardcore or metal. We honestly write music that we are
into, not structuring songs by saying "there needs to be a breakdown
here" or "here comes the two-step." We just write what comes
natural.
Dennis: The intensity of your style is also carried over into your lyrics
dealing with some very tough issues. The metaphors are incredible and definitely
feel the pain and release of pain within them. A lot of artists like people to
interpret the lyrics for themselves but could you give us maybe a sentence about
your message behind writing each song.
Birds Have Wings And So Do Angels: Danny:
I wrote the lyrics to this song with a sense of failure, being sick of this
world. I know there is a purpose for my life, and sometimes I just get caught up
in the ways of this world. It is a call for help, reaching out, and just putting
my trust in God.
A Room With No Shutters: Bob: I wrote this song to
ask, why do people feel this way? It is meant to challenge someone to think
about how other people feel when they treat them badly.
Danny: So many people take the easy way out, and just give up. It is our duty as
Christians to show love to people who feel that suicide is the answer.
Because you can't solve your problems by giving into the lie that suicide cures
your pain. All it does is spread your pain to others.
Eye Candy: Danny: "Eye
Candy" is about dealing with the lust of my flesh. Women are so beautiful
and are a great thing, but at the same time can ruin you. This song was my
expression of the way girls can bring me down.
Scissors For Hands: Danny: This one is
about the movie "Edward's Scissor Hands" I always loved that
movie and related to the character. He was an outcast, but inside was more
normal than anyone in that town. All he wanted was to feel loved.
Wake Up Before You Die: Danny: This
was my attempt to write a song about heart break. My emotions of pouring out my
feelings only to be trampled on. I think we can all relate to this song.
Dennis: I know bands don’t always want the label of secular or
Christian band but you goes are open about your Christian faith. With the
intensity musically and lyrically how does this carry over in your witness as
Christians. In other words, where do you feel God leading your band?
Bob: : What I fear most about being
labeled as either is, that I don’t want people to think we are an alternative
to a secular band; and being said we are secular seems like we put our faith in
the back seat to make money. This band is, and is not, a ministry. We all feel
that to show people what were about is to lead by example, and we don’t want
to shove anything down anyone’s throat. With our lyrics we just want to talk
about all aspects of life, emotion, and how things happen in life for a reason
The song "A Room With No Shudders" is just a glimpse into someone who
feels they just don’t belong anywhere, and is somewhat suicidal. There really
is not anything in it that says ‘this is wrong’, or ‘here’s a
solution.’ It addresses that this is going on a lot, and asks what it is we
are going to do about it, to show people they are doing this to others. They
make them feel this way. God moves in mysterious ways (duh everyone has heard
that). So whatever He wants us to do were gonna do it, but we do not have one
main focus in what we write about. We just write what God has put into our
minds.
Danny: I'm not sure
where He is leading us quit yet. I have faith in
Him and know His plan is better than mine.
I just hope (personally) I don't let anyone down.
I know I will fail, mess up and not always make the
best decisions. I can only encourage people to
follow God and not man.
Dennis: A lot of discussion goes on in our site dealing with the issue of
secular music. Our stance towards Christian teens has always been that they must
weigh whether the music is a positive or negative influence in their life. What
are your thoughts on the influence of secular music on Christian teens?
Bob: That is really hard to
answer. I don’t want people to think they should only listen to Christian band
because they’re singing about my God, or whatever. But I do think that you
should think about what the band you are listening to is saying, and whether or
not you want to subject yourself to that. When you like a band, you sing along
with they’re music, and even if they don’t cuss you are saying exactly the
same thing they are, whether or not you believe what they’re saying, it still
sticks in your mind.
Danny: Hey, if it is going to bring you down spiritually, I don't recommend
listening to secular music. As for me, I listen to everything. I want to know
what others are expressing in the scene and how they feel in their lives,
Christian or not. I learn from every life experience.
Dennis: Now after answering that I throw this one at you haha. A lot of
people on our site always want to know what music the bands we interview are
listening too. So, let us know with discretion haha
Bob: Right now I am listening
to Damien Rice, Soilwork, Less Then Jake, Radiohead, and the Edward Scissorhands
soundtrack by Danny Elfman.
Danny: Poison the Well, The Bled, As I Lay Dying, Avenged Sevenfold, Norma Jean,
Converge, God Forbid, Nodes of Ranvier, Symphony in Peril, Sinai Beach, etc... I
really could go on all day.
Dennis: Your ep is freaking amazing, have I said that yet haha! I can’t
wait to hear more from Trauma! Releasing this EP with Strike First, what are
your hopes for your next project and when will you guys be releasing a full
length album?
Bob: We want to be in the
studio by the summer, and have a full length out by the end of the year. We have
already started writing, when we have the time. The new music still has metal
and hardcore at the core, but we are branching out even more, and incorporating
a lot of other styles to our music, such as polka and maybe some riverdance
breakdowns!! Shake it like a Polaroid picture!!
Danny: It in going to devastate people. I promise.
Dennis: The Christian church today seems to be missing so many teens and
those that look, act and sound different than those that fit into the Christian
mold. What do you think the church needs to be doing different?
Bob: The Church seems to be trying
to hard to fit in with the outside world. I went to another church one with my
family for Fathers Day, and instead of a sermon they had a play!! I am sorry,
but I do not go to church to be entertained, I go to learn and to be taught. The
biggest problem is the church is trying to get people into the seats. In doing
so, they sugar coat the truth to make it easier to swallow-which is lame. The
truth is meant to be shocking. Telling people, as long as you’ve been alive
you have been in sin and are basically wrong- that hurts, but the church does
not want to frighten people away. Then there is the other more conservative
church, that still uses an organ, hymns, and won’t allow any change to happen.
The biggest complaint I hear from a teen about not wanting to go to church is
that it’s boring. So the church thinks ‘Let’s make it going to church more
fun’, so they head in the direction of entertaining people while trying to
teach something. Then the conservative church doesn’t pay attention (or at
least that’s how it would seem) to teens. To me, the road between the two is
what makes the most sense to me. I also think that to get teens in the seats, it
rests on the youth groups of the church. To go out and evangelize and show the
world how great God is while slapping them in the face because of how much love
they’re missing out on.
Danny: I think a lot
of churches are starting to see and understand the
hardcore scene. We aren't a bunch of kids who want
to kill each other in the pit. It is our
way of expressing ourselves. For the most part, everyone
in that pit loves each other and considers what
they do an art. But the church I come from seems to
be scared of ruining their "image". They
would never have a hardcore band play there. I
won't mention any names, but it seems the bigger
churches are scared to take a chance.
Dennis: If there is one band, past and present, you could tour with..who would
it be and why?
Bob: Thrice, because they seem like
really rad guys, and would be good friends. Plus its Thrice! and Led Zeppelin,
just so I can brag and steal a lock of Jimmy Page’s hair and sell it on Ebay.
Danny: Wow, there are
so many...that is really a tough
one. I guess it wouldn't be a particular band, more
like a tour. For instance The OZZ Fest or Warped tour,
and Hell Fest. Those would be fun, on the main stage of course. (and in a
big tour bus) ha, ha.
Dennis: Well, this is your chance to plug
anything you want. Give us your favorite ice cream, tell me how cool I am..what
ever you want..it is all up to you.
Bob: I don’t eat ice cream,
I have cavities. When I did eat ice cream though, my favorite was coffee toffee.
And I would like to say that Katherine Abernethy is the best person ever!!!!!
And I tie my shoes like I am a lefty but I am really a righty...just wanted to
let you all in on that secret.
Danny: Thanks so much
to Facedown / Strikefirst and our friends,
families, and all the kids who support TRAUMA.
see you at the shows, and BRING THE MOSH!!! Katie,
you are awesome. Thank you Dennis for your time,
support, and promotion. Keep up the good work.
Dennis: Thanks guys! And to all those reading this interview, make sure
and check our album review of their latest EP. IT IS FREAKING AWESOME!