What is your name and role within the band?
I’m the front dude. guitars and main vox.
How did you start?
This Band was already existing when i joined in the late 90s and was named softcore, mainly playing millencolin covers. After all other members changed or left we decided to change the name shortly before we released our first record in 2005. Some more Members came and went until we got a stable line up since 2009 again and the current one remained the same since 2013 now. Like all other bands we started with covers and then our own songs, evolving and playing a lot of local gigs or supportslots for bigger and smaller bands and started to get some recognition in several parts of the world so we could start to tour more and get more recognition again and some cool festival slots and so on and so on. we did everything diy and this mostly stayed until today so it took us a bit longer 😉
Where are you based?
Munich, Germany. Sorry.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
The typcial moment when you get an idea and start working on it. no formula here, but i do the songs mostly alone at home until they are finished or at least sound like a complete song so that i can show it to the others first and ask them what they think. some songs are ready within minutes, some take months and a lot of changes. while the songs are usually already written we work on the arrangements together and see what fits. i got some ideas there as well but only when everyone like the idea we really do it. the lyrics come last after we all agreed that we want the song to be finished.
What are you working on right now?
We do a japan tour now and then some more festivals like jera on air and punkrock holiday. inbetween we try to do new videos to songs from the new record and focus on new tours or festivals. got some in the pipeline. also one so far unreleased song from the recording sessions and of course we wanna start writing new music asap since this always take some time anyway. we definately dont wanna stop at the moment.
What is your gear setup?
Basic, 2 guitars, drums and a bass that also do backups.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
Almost everything you do outside the music affects it and also the other way around. in my earlier days i skated way more than now and always met people from the same subculture so you stay connected and exchange a lot. Not much have changed since then except the skating part. still love to be out and meet people. new or old. dont care. keeps the mind open. besides that a regular life i guess – work, families, or following other hobbys – movies, reading, hangin round.
How would you describe your music genre?
Skatepunk Thrash would fit. It’s that melodic skatepunk we are based in but with lots of thrash metal guitars and playing. sometimes less and sometimes more. something like a mix of strung out & propagandhi with kreator & municipal waste, disturbed by occasional pop punk songs like no use for a name or even ataris. all deeply 90s rooted with some slight specials like some reggae moments or acoustic ones here and there. not for everyone. but if you like at least one of these genres then you’ll sure find something for you and if you like even more of them you may also really dig the combination in the end.
Do you know any music theory?
No! at least not on paper. i know a lot about music in general and got some detailed knowledge bout some genres but wouldnt call that music theory. collected all these informatinos by myself throughout the years. when it comes to music theory in playing – i cannot read notes or so. i learned all by myself with one exception of a jazz teacher for 3 weeks showing me some basics in playing this. so mostly i have no clue what i am playing at all. haha.
What are your plans for the future?
Trying to reach more people and play more to reach more people and record more stuff to reach more again. did i mentioned more?
How did you get into music?
I dont know. was always interested in it as a kid. discovered queen pretty early and loved this music as a kid. when i was 9 and freddie mercury died i saw some tribute to him and metallica played there. it made me interested in heavy music and a big fan of thrash and death metal until i was 13,14 or so til i discovered crossover, hardcore and punk as well and another 2,3 years later rap, funk,jazz and regggae. i still listen to all of these genres and am always open for new genres or bands cause music is to diverse to consume always the same. Since I was a small kid I always took a tennis racket the other way round and pretend to play guitar so it was pretty obvious that I may end up like that, haha.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Nothing. but earlier today i listened to the last frenzal rhomb record and a cool recommendation i got called “alfa mist- antiphon” great jazz influenced rap like the roots.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Hard to tell but I pick up some :
– Suicidal tendencies for combining so much different music styles and for spreading important messages and critical thoughts in such a positive and often funny way
– napalm death for being one of the most consistend and indestructible bands, never giving up to say uncomfortable things, being relevant music- and lyricwise for so long, defining a whole genre and not getting slower or mellow with age and showing us all that it’s possible to stay angry and inconvenient for so long and still not losing anything of your importance
– public enemy for bringing political and conscious lyrics to a whole new level and not being afraid to offend or shock people and also open to mix and experiment with heavy metal bands as well and even tour with them – they represent that part in rap that got me into that music and seems to be lost there now
– strung out for getting me forever into skatepunk (sure I heard some band here and there before but this one really got me) and mixing it with a lot of metal and progression. One of those things that highly influenced my own way of playing and makind this music. Probably our nr. 1 influence
– queen for bringing me into music in general and for being diverse and timeless on all levels. Maybe the best band that ever existed ?
When are you playing next?
Next week in japan as already said before . cant wait!
Please feel free to include any extra info.
Extra info – 4 funny guys from munich love skatepunk and thrash and would love to come to play at your place as well – so feel free to get in touch with us 😉 stay cool.
https://www.facebook.com/straightlinemunich/
https://straightline.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTGyCF8fn8aMQXyXszDvJZA
http://straightlinemunich.bigcartel.com/
https://play.spotify.com/artist/6GOz8VwScDJPT0qmsML5nQ
https://itunes.apple.com/de/artist/straightline/id986072351
https://instagram.com/p/9HUjwJMnzV/
https://twitter.com/StraightlineMuc
