For The Flames Beneath Your Bridge
The band that to the date has been standing for freestyle hardcore from Jakarta, For the Flames Beneath Your Bridge (FTFBYB), has just released their first album, entitled LXX.VII. It is an album that reminds us upon our sins, which frequently we do them unconsciously. The album also pledges an ‘ear orgasm’ that reaches maximum peak. Uncluster.com has got precious chance of interviewing Ekrig, the vocalist, who is actually the only original personnel of FTFBYB.
Where or what was the origin idea of the name For The Flames Beneath Your Bridge?
That was taken from the title of the song of Life in Your Way, a band from Indianola Records. Because we firstly made a cover of Life in Your Way’s song, and by chance that was the favorite song of Life in Your Way, so we used it. But, we had a permit for that, and we sent them an e-mail about it too.
How was their response?
They said; “Indonesia? How could our music reach there? If you want to use it, just go on. We are happy if somebody appreciated our song.“ Just like that. Hehe.
Where is a music influence to yours coming from?
Uhmm, Talking about that, we had a progress about it. At the beginning we played metalcore, such as Life in Your Way’s songs and other bands from Indianola Records, up to the date. Influences for our music have been still improved, but one influence that has never die is Converge haha
What about your performance? What or where is the influence coming from, the most?
That’s quite difficult. I have principle; just “trash it”, haha. Such as every time I got on stage, I always bawl ‘lets fuckin do this’. Haha then on the stage, I just express my pure emotions.
It is only you who is the remaining original personnel, how can the band change its personnel over and over?
Standard matter, we found plenty of disagreements in many things. For instance, someone was not serious in the band, as he comes to rehearsal session as he prefers, he comes to gig as he likes. That was the most incompatibility found, but we did not fight anyway, we still take care at each other to the date.
Can you name those who has once joined FTFBYB as personnel?
Jimmy, who is now with Self-Control, Alfan (was in) Broken Heart Syndrom, Dochi is now joining Pee Wee Gaskins, Willy is now studying at ITB, and then Fakih—if I’m not wrong he has once with Tumor Ganas, Edward Conway (Losing Insanity), and Davi is now with Killing Me Inside as well as Roses.
Being the original personnel of FTFBYB, what is your personal motivation of upholding this band?
Because I have no other job hahahhaa, no, not like that. It is because we have not arrived yet at our initial mission. Our mission, among others such as; producing releases, do gig every where, and becomes opening act of Converge. Whenever those missions have done, then perhaps we might ask ourselves, shall the band be continued or not.
Can you tell us in brief about Abinara (drummer of FTFBYB)?! He is a kind of mysterious personnel, as he is not appeared on the sleeve album’s picture?
I tell you, one day Abin said he wanted to take a break from FTFBYB and also his another one band. He told me that it would only until the early year, since he intended to manage a business. Then, suddenly he performed with another band, so that was the thing I cannot understand. He told me he wanted to focus on his job as he asked to take a break, I just cannot get it hehe. Then, we waited for him up to the early year, but he did not give us any confirmation. Up to the time when we must take picture for the album’s sleeve, Abin could not come because once again, he was busy. However, that time he told me that he asked for another a little bit time because his business was about to proceed, and he wanted himself to be still in FTFBYB. So, that means he is not presented in the sleeve’s picture. And now, we only have to wait for him, but when any gig request is received we still can do, as there is an additional player.
That means to the date he is still a personnel of FTFBYB?
He is, officialy we cannot afford to lose him, haha. Irsan from Catharsis used to be helping us once, but now we get a help from our friend, you just see when we perform.
If the music of FTFBYB is described in one sentence, what is that would be?
‘Ayo berangkaat!‘ (Let’s go!)
What about if someone asking ‘where are you going?’, how will you response it?
To the unconsciousness world, let it be a Romy Rafael alike, but we don’t wear kerchief.
Hehe OK, now, what does LXX.VII refer to?
LXX.VII is the Roman number of 77. We cited Jesus’ conversation with Peter, as written in Matthew; “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. So, in Christian, when somebody does a sin to us, we shall compensate it by 77 times of goodness. Yes, we expect that by offering the theme of seven deadly sins, we may be awake to that.
Hmm I see. By this theme, do you afraid that public may judge you as a Christian band?, whereas, not all of the band’s personnel are Christian.
Umm.. No, we are not afraid, we even hope that Solid State would like us, instead haha.
Hahhaa, So there IS a purpose to that goal, other than expectation that you told us?
Proposing such theme was on purpose, so we had to check bible, anyway.
Who did suggest the seven deadly sins theme?
Nash.
After he suggested that, how was other personnel’s response? Then, what are the essence and the objective of proposing such theme?
The others just followed it, I am personally animated, as I do love Se7en movie, and I am interesting of proposing such theme into our music. Essentially, as I told you before, ‘therefore we may be aware upon our behavior to the date, anything that might be done by our unconsciousness. We sometimes do sins that are included in seven deadly sins.
Who is the author of lyrics in this album?
Nash and me.
How did the production process of this album? When did it start?
Wow, it was quite long, I don’t even remember that since when. One thing obvious is we found several obstructions since last year. It was all about money, the biggest one. As we release this by ourselves.
Can you tell me about the artwork? Why you put a picture of headless priest?
Michael Killian of hellohtriangle.blogspot.com made the artwork. I like his works since the time I saw them, they are darky, and by chance his style is suitable with the album. I just told Michael about the theme, a kind of dark, and the rest I freed him to explore. About the headless priest, it was actually purposed to made the public see it, if someone’s has no brain, no matter what you do you’ll be useless, that made us contemplate and look ourselves, because in my opinion, most of us are just do something without thinking it before, it is just a reflection.
What do you think the most effective promotion way (for the album-ed)?
Through lots of performance, as plenty as possible. If it is not possible, maybe we will give free stuff (our people prefer free stuff, absolutely) such as stickers, poster, etc. As well as be active in internet, that’s a mandatory one.
Hehee That’s correct. What is the favorite track of this album? Why? Is there any other musician involved in this album?
Luxurious Lust, I Am The Wrath, Envy: The Rottenness of the Bones. Such a very chaos …. Kenny, Awf of D.I.E.G.O, Adhe of Backalley Adi of KutungguJandamu and Ashleika Adelea
In your opinion, why people should buy LXX.VII? What is your pledge through this first album of FTFBYB? And, what kind of impact that you expect might be caused by the album’s listeners?
Hmm Because we are cool, hahaha, let me think, actually, I am not thinking it too exaggerated on how many people would buy it. I prefer small number of people who would buy it, but really like the album, rather than ‘sold out’ but the album would just be contemporary, or follower. So if you asked why people should buy LXX.VII, I may answer just try it first, download/borrow to friend, if you like it so buy it. If you don’t like it, return it back or delete it from your hard-disk. My pledge; FTFBYB’s pledge is not to pledge anything except ear orgasm.
From the first time you run FTFBYB, was there any very bitter incidence that made you hopeless upon the band?
Lots of them. For instance, everybody dislikes us. Actually we are confused, there were lot of people dislike us (to the personnel, not the music), but the mentioned people even do not recognize us at all. So, we asked ourselves, why do they dislike us? That is the bitter one.
Such as the case occurred at the forum of local metal?
Yes that’s it, it was slander, somebody put our name, whereas we took our oath by the name of anything, we have never been to the web, I don’t understand. It was a slander on purpose, absolutely, haha just like we’d like to ask ‘what the fuck is wrong with us?’ Haha
What was the essence of case in the forum actually? Can you tell us the real one?
Firstly, there was someone met us, I forget the name, he told us that FTFBYB has humiliated particular scene in the forum of scene mentioned (which is we have never been there at all). At last, we tried to see it, we were surprised. Finally, after clarification about that, the administrator of the web traced the IP Address of someone who wrote the slander posting. Finally, it was found, it was from Surabaya. If I’m not wrong, it was originated from internet public kiosk or wi-fi spots. After everything is clear, that it was not us who did the slander, the case was resolved, thanks to the administrator of the forum. However, after the incident there were still some people thought that it was obviously we, who wrote the article. Perhaps it was because we did not read the thread to the end.
Other than performances in Jakarta, have you ever performed in other cities?
Jogja, Bandung, Bogor, Semarang, Serang, and Bekasi
Which one that you think it was the most lively?
Serang. People were very enthusiast. haahaha..
You are from Jakarta scene. In your opinion, how does the cutting edge scene in Jakarta look like?
Wahaha, I’m just a home-kid, well I do not know. Other cities’ spectators are indeed they like music too, and we found that other cities’ spectators are more responsive than those in Jakarta. That does not mean there is no enthusiasm in Jakarta, but if it compared with other cities’ crowd, or perhaps just because we were on stage? haha. Maybe they don’t understand our music, or not compatible with Jakarta’s crowd’s taste or maybe they really want to listen to us. But, we don’t care about it, we love to perform. So, it should be infested or not, we shall go.
Nowadays, lots of bands’ releases are absolutely DIY (do-it-yourself), self-release, what do you think about that?
That’s good. That indicates eagerness to music is getting stronger. Instead of waiting for any records labels’ uncertain offer, we might release our product ourselves, if it is possible. You must ask people to listen to your music for a while. Rehearsals, live gigs, and recordings shall be pointless, if our works would never be released. Just, come on make releases as much as possible!
Any last words?
Um.. Buy physical copy from your fave artists!
(Translated by Rizkal Dicky Satriadi)
Filed Under: Interviews
