Pre-Bloodstock interview: Akarusa Yami

Akarusa Yami logoDue to the huge number of bands playing at Bloodstock this year, and the fact that our two roving reporters will actually want to watch some of them, we’re doing a little round of pre-festival interviews this year. We’re focussing on the bands playing the Jagermeister and Hobgoblin New Blood Stages so they get a chance to convince you to go and watch them. Remember, these guys and gals are the future of our musical world!

Vocalist Tom Brumpton resonded on behalf of Akarusa Yami.

Simple things first – where are you guys from

We’re all based in and around Nottingham. I’m originally from Lincoln, and our drummer, Adam, presently lives in Mansfield.

How did you meet?

Tom Clarke (Guitars) and I met a few years ago. He was looking for some help in promoting his other band, we got talking, and decided to work together. He later brought in Adam and Jake. Our other Guitarist, Julia, joined earlier this year.

How long have you been playing together as a band?

Since 2010. Initially it was a studio project that evolved into a live band.

Where does the name of the band come from?

*Laughs* I’ve blamed Tom for this over the years. We wanted something interesting and different, and Akarusa Yami seemed to work. It translates to “Opposite of Darkness, Opposite of Light” in Japanese.

What are your influences – individually or as a band?

As a band, we’ve got a pretty broad taste in music; classical, jazz, industrial, funk. I think we’ve all been in metal bands for a while now, so it’s nice to have a broad pallet. Right now, I’m between Dropkick Murphys, Chris Botti (Jazz trumpet player), David Arnold, Gin Wigmore & The Haunted.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

We’ve always sat between being an industrial band and a progressive metal band, and I think our new record, “Heavy Climb”, is a pretty good marriage of the two. We’ve never been afraid of embracing the technical and electronic side of things, and I think that comes through in the music.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

We haven’t played a great deal, for a few reasons. That being said, our live shows are a lot of fun and very energetic.

When/how did you find out you’d been selected to play at Bloodstock?

I got a very excited email from Simon Hall *Laughs*!

What sort of setlist can we expect?

We’re mainly playing tracks from our new record. It’s a comfortable mix of the technical, the melodic and the heavier side of what we do.

Which main stage band do you most hope you’re not clashing with so you can see them play?

Napalm Death! Every f***ing time I cross paths with that band at a festival I’m usually in a press tent or on stage! *Laughs* So them, just so I can watch them live!

What are you working on at the moment?

We’ve just finished the new record, which is out in early October. So, we’ll mostly be promoting that for the rest of the year.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done on tour?

While we were recording in late 2012, our old guitarist felt the need to tell us that he had been photographed being spanked in Bizarre magazine a few years previously. That was enough for us, we never want to see those pictures! *Laughs*

What advice would you give to a young band just starting out today?

Treat it like a business, if you want to take it all the way. If not, make that clear with everyone from day one. Stuff like that can really be the death of bands.

If you could be part of any 3-band line-up who else would you have on the bill? One band above you and one below – a chance to plug a smaller, unsigned act!

Not sure about below us, but if we could go do something with Devin Townsend and/or Periphery that would be pretty awesome.

Akarusa Yami are playing the Hobgoblin New Blood Stage on the Saturday.

Akarusa Yami: facebook | twitter | flickr | soundcloud | reverbnation | spotify | tumblr | youtube | vimeo

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July 31, 2015 9:02 PM

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