EMQ’s with SHADOW PEOPLE

EMQ’s with SHADOW PEOPLE

Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Baton Rouge, Louisiana based Sludge Punk/Hardcore band Shadow People. Huge thanks to bassist Aaron Paul Goings for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Aaron Paul Goings. Bass. Trial and error. DNA’s potential and a primate’s shame.

How did you come up with your band name?

I believe it was drug-induced/inspired. I believe it was from long bouts of amphetamine use, more specifically methamphetamine. Have you ever gone so far that you came back around the other side. I could try to describe how drugs feel but if you haven’t done it for yourself, It’d be like describing a symphony to the deaf. Either do it for yourself or take my word that if you ever do there are glimpses of people who were there before you left ,still moving and breathing. To the eye of a brain that’s been pulled that far and pushed that hard the remnants just look like shadows. No more people than the idea of a ghost but that’s the form they take so that’s the name we choose.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

The country of the United States. The state of Louisiana. The city of Baton Rouge. The scene here is fickle. It’s random bursts of sporadic epiphany living next door to pits of daydreams where great talent vanishes overnight. It’s all heart and no head. With a constant talent bleed. We haemorrhage from the wound of lack of opportunity, apathy & majority rule. It’s like a bad relationship just because we love it doesn’t mean we’re happy or that it’s healthy and I think we could benefit from some distance. long-term, short-term, I don’t know. I think sometimes it takes more than a lifetime to know these things , which means you never do. I hope that’s not the case for us or our peers. The birth rate of passion here is consistent and plentiful and for that we’re thankful.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

1. Album – “Batom Rouge”

2. Single -‘Every Man A Sot’

3. Video- ‘Every Man A Sot’

Who have been your greatest influences?

The conditions and conclusions of lives lived around me, the constant presence of violence, delusion & poverty. The realization that gnashing my teeth and whitening my knuckles had turned to internal decay and the desire to deflect/inflict that somewhere else. Respectful fear for the deep cut of desperation. Simply put instinctive the desire for self-preservation. That’s my greatest influence. I assume this questions designed to invoke a musical influence, but the bands I like(d) only inspired me to buy albums, T-shirts and posters not to make music. It was the life around me and the readily available examples of how deep hell can go. That’s what caused me to make music. That’s what inspired me and what influenced the type of music I make.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

No musicians, maybe a visual artist but I currently collaborate with the musicians I’m interested in.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

I’m truly ignorant as to what festivals exist. We’d play wherever and with whoever would put us in touch with like-minded individuals.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I’ve never received anything. I guess I could say approval and tears, embraces and allegiance, because those are gifts ,but nothing material

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Not to be ominous or rude but I feel like we said/say everything we need to in this songs.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

I don’t have that power, who told you I did?! They were a liar! I mean levitating a few objects with the energy that remains in fresh goat’s blood and bringing someone back from the dead are two different things. I don’t have that power anymore, I mean I don’t have that power, I’m saying I never did, no one!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Justified fulfilment for my ache at night. I’ve burned up years to keep the lights on as the means for someone else’s ends with nothing to show for it but the ash piled up around me so thick you can’t see or move, just choke and panic and music takes that away for me. It’s the inception of reason and the catalyst for possibility. The only thing I hate is that I can’t do it more often. We have to scrape and save for tour (like everybody else) and I’d rather spend that time just playing. I’m sure that’s not a rare desire but that’s my answer.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I’m too ignorant of the details to give a worthwhile answer. It is a vast and complex creature. I am a fan of any method that could banish that layer of dishonest barnacle mimicry (creation & production) into some social/digital/dimensional wasteland.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Audio Fidelity’s – “Stereodisc Demonstration And Sound Effects”

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

They all have their pros and cons. The warmth and novelty of analog vs. the clarity and convenience of digital. I guess it depends on who or what I’m listening to. I’d like to make a record because it has a very specific feeling of importance. Plus, the cover arts bigger (obviously) and as a fan of visual arts I like that.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

The best gig I’ve ever played is like the best sex I’ve ever had . I remember who was there but not when or where

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I can’t speak for the other guys but for myself probably painting. Creatively not houses.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Vlad III the Voivode of Wallachia, Stanley Kubrick, Quincy Jones, Andy Warhol & Garth Ennis.

What’s next for the band?

Record another EP while waiting out quarantine/pandemic ,then try to survive long enough to perform again.

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

I think we’re on actually everything. So, listen as much as humanly possible and drop us a line literally anytime.

www.facebook.com/elpoepwodahs/
www.shadowpeoplebatonrouge.bandcamp.com/
www.instagram.com/shdw_ppl/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCTlf0zGPfwbWGUtBVo_Ocfw

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

I truly have no clue what that is but send me some and I’ll render a verdict. When it comes to cakes and cookies, I can resist anything but temptation.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

I guess I’ll leave you with this last thought ,which is completely false. The previous statement is completely true.

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

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