[LOCAL INTERVIEW] Polar Dust

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The Metalist za’s writer Jessie Berndt caught up local legends Polar Dust to get the down low of them as a band and about upcoming events we have to look forward to.

 

To start off, we at The Metalist want to thank you for taking the time to chat to us, we are excited to hear more about what Polar Dust is all about and the upcoming events you have planned.

 

Polar Dust is quite an unusual name, what made you choose it?

Sara: I originally formed the band while living in Iceland and we had actually been playing for about 6 months before we came up with the name. Being a South African living there I have developed an infatuation with the cold and the snow. Especially with daytime only lasting for 3-4 hours, days were very dark and when it snowed it lit up the day even though it may have been overcast most of the time. Freshly untouched snow covered my way to work most mornings and it was like dust glittering when the wind blew. Living in the arctic it was my perception of snow: Polar Dust. 

Please give us a brief history of your band.

Sara: We started the band in September 2006 and were originally an all-girl band. With Guðrún Sif Eldon on bass and Ellen Augland on drums, we were only a 3 piece band at the time. With long winters it was a great way to spend time without having to get drunk to pass the time until summer again.

We made our debut at the Lung-A festival in 2008 in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland. After 7 years of exploring the Icelandic music scene & culture I returned to South Africa and reformed the band in 2010.

Today we are a 4 piece band Johan Vos on guitar, Leon Kemp on drums and Rhett Freeman on bass and then myself on vocals, programming and guitar.

 

Where do you draw the inspiration for your music from?

Sara: The mind has always inspired me… The choices we make when faced with challenge; the things we feel and the situations we find ourselves in. Everyone around us is like a mirror of our own reflections. How we deal with fear is often the most difficult thing to do, balancing the tug of war that often manifests with in us.

Genre-wise I have always liked to try and combine genres that usually clash. Taking elements from jazz, kwaito, pop, post-punk and creating a unique sound. 

Johan: According to Oscar Wilde: Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.” I draw inspiration​     from life and all the emotions escorting it on sometimes a path of pain, sadness, anger but also hope, contentment and happiness.

 

 What do you wish to accomplish with your music and what mark do you want to leave behind?

Sara: We would like to travel abroad and share our music with the world. I would say getting

recognition is important but mainly it’s important to stay humble and remember why you made

music in the first place, ultimately for me it’s about feeding not only my own soul but other souls out

there. And lastly remember to have fun creating/performing music.

Johan: I concur, the journey of creating music and breathing music should never be underestimated.

Music is a lifeblood and hence, I need to create and perform. I’m just honoured and humbled to be

able to do this..

What are you looking to gain from this experience?

Sara:  We would like to travel abroad and share our music with the world. I would say getting recognition is important but mainly it’s important to stay humble and remember why you made music in the first place, ultimately for me it’s about feeding not only my own soul but other souls out there. And lastly remember to have fun creating/performing music.

Johan: I concur, the journey of creating music and breathing music should never be underestimated. Music is a lifeblood and hence, I need to create and perform. I’m just honoured and humbled to be able to do this.

 

 Who predominantly writes the songs in your band, what are they focused on?

Sara: I wrote and composed all of the music on our first album while still living abroad. Nowadays the 4 of us try write together. I do like to write my own lyrics to keep the emotion and interpretation authentic.

Johan: I focus mainly on riffs or adding extra riffs/weird sounds as long as it suits the song.

 

 

Are there any songs you have released that some band members did not approve of?

Sara: So far, I don’t think so, I’m pretty sure they would have told me if there was a song that they detested playing live. I’m pretty sure they would have let me know, haha!

Johan: I love playing live with Polar Dust, so no.

 

What do you do to promote your band?

Sara: We have only been using social media for that but you have to send you music to the right label or radio station at the right time in order to get radio play abroad. I do think the best way to promote your music nowadays is to play live everywhere. With the current state of radio stations, it’s very difficult to find a local radio station that will play a niche band like Polar Dust. Be visible, be tight, have fun. 

Give us a rundown of your show, visual and musically.

Sara: We like to create a captivating and intense mood musically. For The Freakquency Transmission we are planning to have some smoke machines, a projection and an interesting look to create a theatrical experience that’s memorable. We would want to transport people to another space in their minds… You should even forget that there is a beer in your hand.

What is your opinion as a band about downloading music online?

Sara: This kind of comes back to what we have mentioned before, I remind myself of why I am making music, to feed the soul. I would feel flattered if people would download my music. Of course it would be nice if fans would pay for it ☺

People want music for free yet if we don’t put a price on it people won’t value it. 

What’s your outlook on the South African Metal industry today?

Johan: Some very talented bands out there. And we had some great gigs with tons of metal bands. Ironically, we’re not a metal band. We also don’t like to be boxed in, we just want to create music.

What’s would you consider as the bands claim to fame?

Sara: Being out of the extraordinaire.

Johan: We’re definitely a unique band in the current South African musical landscape.

Do you believe that art is separate from entertainment or do you feel they are one in the same?

Sara: For us we try to find a middle way, creating art that is still accessible to the masses. It’s a nice challenge. The main idea of Polar Dust was bringing contrasting ideas together and still keep our signature sound. 

Johan: As a musician and artist you need to be able to entertain. But there’s of course commercial pop, which I don’t necessarily consider art but rather purely money driven.

What are some of your favourite songs you guys have written and why?

Sara: Mine is my own enemy, because that’s what we are, our own worst enemies. It’s about that button that says “Don’t push” and you push it and boom, regret ☺

Is there anything you would like to say to fellow bands?

Sara: Song writing above technique.

Johan: Believe in your music, and it helps to practice, practice, practice… And remember to stay humble.

What is the most Rock Star thing you guys have ever done?

Sara: For me it was doing a double show with Balcony TV the afternoon and then later that evening doing another show at Arcade Empire. I stayed in the same clothes for 2 days because of where i ended up later that night and then the next evening did another show at Rumours… It was fun! So many gigs in one weekend 😉

Johan: I still need to keep my day job…

How does music affect you and the world around you?

Sara: Music is like food, we need it to feel sane and that we are not alone. Not having music would be like having a lobotomy, to not feel emotion. And what would be the point of living? Feeling is life.

Johan: I’m a melomaniac. I learn so much from listening to music constantly. As a guitarist/musician you can never stop learning. Emotionally it can take me either to nirvana or on a downward spiral, etc… But I will always experience some form of emotion when listening to music, although I need to relate to it in a metaphysical sense.

Is there any news of an upcoming album?

Sara: Yes, We are currently still in the writing phase of our 2nd album, we don’t have a deadline yet but we are aiming for some time this year.

What are currently your bands biggest obstacles?

Sara: Having a day job. Yet, having the day job makes me yearn to write new music but it can be very tiring at times and as they say energy flows where the attention goes. When you lose momentum in the band you have to start all over again getting stuff done.

What is the weirdest gig or venue you have played at?

Sara: We were a naughty bunch one evening when we were playing one of the SA Wacken battles, everyone drew their slots on the stage and we ended up playing last in the evening and stayed at the venue for 4hours and we all had a little too much to drink by the time we had to go on stage. For me personally, it was a little bit of the twilight zone on stage while we played, but all in all we had good fun!

Now we have a special rule that we aren’t allowed more than one drink before we play a show.

Give us some information about upcoming shows and why you think we should attend.

We will be hosting our biggest event yet at The Good Luck bar on Good Friday the 30th of March 2018. It’s Called The Freakquency Transmission. The rest of our line-up consists of legendary post-punk band No Friends Of Harry and they’ll be re-releasing their 3rd album – 15 SECONDS on 7 inch vinyl, limited edition full album vinyl, CD and online.

 They will be performing along with the following phenomenal dark/alternative/ Industrial acts, In Misery, Mr Morgue, then also experimental extraordinaire, The Goldilocks Effect and grunge band, Apocalypse Later. Expect some literal flames and a few other surprises in-between their sets.

It will be a night of celebrating and embracing the dark/alternative arts. Not only will these bands blaze the stage, but they will be joined by some freakishly extraordinarily performers as side show entertainment. The evening will feature two exquisite, sensual belly dancers and also performers on a bed of nails, body angle grinding, a human ashtray and fire/knife juggling.

People are encouraged to dress up carnivalesque for this musical masquerade.

Interviewed by: Jessie Berdnt

Date: February 2018

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