1.How did your bands name become to be? Who came up with the name? What
inspired it?
Erika: When we all first got together, there was a lot of dissent about
what the band should be called. Some wanted a playful name, others a
serious one. We argued and must have passed over 200 names back and
forth. Nobody could agree. Finally, after several weeks of grumpy
practices because of the ongoing name argument, Stu brought "Ignitor"
to the table. Acceptance of the name still wasn't unanimous, but when
it went up for vote, the majority won out. We all agree now that
Ignitor is a good, memorable name that captures the intensity and fire
found in our music.
3. What thoughts go through your mind when writting your lyrics. How
does the process for you start in writting a song.
Erika: The music tends to dictate the subject matter. If a song is long
and somber, it will get somber lyrics. An aggressive song will deal
with more angry or intense imagery. I always have 6-7 song ideas
floating around, waiting for the right music to come along for them. In
rare cases, I'll come up with the chorus for a song first and then
we'll build the rest of the song around it. That's how Reinheitsgebot
came to be.
4. How does the area embrace your band when on stage playing?
Erika:
Texas is no Germany, that's for sure. Sometimes the crowd response is
great, sometimes it's lame. People are fickle; many like bands for who
is in them, not for the music they play. When we split with our former
guitarist Beverly, about half of the "regulars" who would come to shows
just vanished. That's about 6 people, mind you. Still, it's always a
rush to play and watch the doubtful faces turn to smiles and finally
huge grins of enjoyment by the end of the set. Ignitor always steps off
the stage to lots of cheers and clapping, so I really shouldn't
complain.
5. Spread the word on what your slicing up for the future as far as
your band.
Erika: We have a new full length CD called Road of Bones which we are
currently shopping to labels with the help of a PR company called
JustRock PR. Hopes are high that a deal will result from that. We're
also back to playing live after a 4 month hiatus while I recovered from
an injury. In May 2007 we'll travel to Germany for a 5-8 date tour,
finishing up at the Swordbrothers Festival. After that, who knows? More
playing live and maybe writing a few new songs.
6.What is one of the best highlights to your band.
Erika: I think our stage show is the best part of Ignitor. We always
give 150%. No shoegazing, no standing in one place. We dress up metal!
We're in your face, stirring up and connecting with the crowd. We want
you to shout and sing along. The metal bands of the 80s always put on
great shows, and this is what we're looking to emulate. Nothing worse
than a great band with a dismal live show, case in point: Opeth. Such a
fantastic band, but goddammit every single one of them has their feet
nailed in place. I would be embarrassed to be that boring in a live
setting.
7.Is it hard to get accepted as a serious musician in the
male-dominated Heavy Metal world?
Erika: Approach and attitude make all the difference. Annah and I get a
lot of positive reactions. I've only had a couple bad ones from the
type of moron who holds the attitude of "no chick, no matter how good
she does it, should be in metal." Whatever, dude. Don't drop your
caveman club because I'll be right behind you, picking it up and
bashing in your moronic thick skull with it. Annah and I are not about
being girly up there - we're about being tough and metal, which is
something guys identify with. I think if I went onstage in a dress with
my hair all done up and nail polish on that guys would take me less
seriously, because then it would be more about a girlish, cute image
and not the metal music. None of those things will ever happen; I get
up there to scream, headbang and sweat. That's what metal is about:
screaming, sweating and headbanging! Stick to that and you can't lose!
Thanks for the interview!
Erika and Ignitor
