Vancouver's Autogramm combines pop hooks with New Wave style synthesizers to create a sound that is not only unique, but highly infectious. But don't take my word for it, their LP and two EP's they've released so far have all been met with critical acclaim. This band somehow manages to make cold machines sound as if they have a heart. Is this the beginning of the rise of sentient machines? Have androids started to dream of organic sheep? If they have, I can't think of a better band to usher in the revolution!
Interview by Jay Castro
Let’s start off by telling me who’s
in Autogramm and what everyone does in the band:
C.C.: The Silo plays drums and does
backup vocals, I play bass and do backup vocals and the multi-talented Jiffy
Marx plays guitar, synth and does lead vocals in the band.
How did you all meet and decide to
play music together?
C.C.: I was actually living in
Berlin playing with the Dysnea Boys when I met The Silo. We did a couple shows
with his former band Black Mountain. Jiffy and I have known each other since we
were kids in the all-ages scene. Jiffy was actually visiting Berlin when we
decided to start the band. I think we were listening to 20/20 at the time.
Jiffy: I actually wrote “Jessica
Don’t Like Rock n’ Roll” on that trip, then went home and recorded the first
demo of it with The Silo, so some might say it was always meant to be.
The band is currently based in
Vancouver BC yeah? It seems like there’s a lot of great bands out there these
days. Do you ever feel any kind of
competition with the other local bands at all?
C.C.: I think it’s the opposite.
We’ve all had a long run of bands so we hope nothing but the best for the other
Vancouver bands, especially the younger bands who are really killing it. The
Sore Points and Chainwhip are a couple of my favorites.
Jiffy: Wait, those dudes are all in
their mid-thirties and have been in a ton of other bands and you’re calling
them “the younger bands”? So you mean younger than us bands i.e. almost all
other local bands!
Silo: We’re the old scene survivors.
All the other rockers our age have gone straight or died. ; /
 | |
| Photo by Ivannia Shibley |
You guys released your debut LP last
year called What R U Waiting 4 on
Nevado Records. One of my favorite songs on there is “Cool Kids Radio.” Can you
tell me about what inspired it?
C.C.: I wrote this one with my pal
Rich Jones who plays with Michael Monroe out in Finland. The original version
is a whole lot different. The original title was “Cool Girls”, which everyone
thought sounded gross. I’m very happy with how these guys made it sound.
And speaking of “Cool Kids Radio” you
guys have made videos for that song as well as “Jessica Don’t Like Rock n’
Roll.” Did you enjoy the experience
you’ve had making them? Are you like me
and wish more bands would do videos?
Jiffy: I wish there were more
outlets for them since they take a lot of time and money to make them.
Unfortunately it seems like reality TV killed the video star.
C.C.: We all had a lot of laughs
doing the videos. “Jessica” was kind of a spin on videos like the Knack’s “My
Sharona” while the video for “Cool Kids Radio” was based on 80’s style campsite
horror films. We’ve been thinking of doing a remake of a Billy Joel video for
the next one.
Silo: Gotta make em fun; fun is
number one!
You name Devo, Tubeway Army, The Cars
and Ultravox among your influences. Is
this a sound you were aiming for from the beginning or did it just develop with
time?
C.C.: The song “Jessica” sounds a
lot like The Cars. It was a bit of a blueprint for the subsequent writing.
Jiffy: Yes, we’ve always been very
conscious of who we’re ripping off;)
Silo: Sonic tips-of-the-hat are an
obsession of mine in the studio. I’m a bit of a new-wave-o-phile.
Autogramm recently came back from a
European tour. What was that like for you guys, did the band come back tighter
and brighter or….the opposite?
C.C.: I think tours always make you
tighter as a band, but I also think we became tighter as friends too. Except
for maybe that one night, hahaha...
Jiffy: Ha well we got super tight on
that tour but played a show a week later and were back to our sloppy punk
selves. And the band didn’t break up afterward (or during!) so whatever doesn’t
kill you right?!
Silo: That tour was the greatest
time. We got good, made friends everywhere we went, and jumped in SO MANY
LAKES! We expected to have a good time together -- we always do -- but the
shows were surprisingly good and we made some fans too!
 | |
| Photo by Ryan Walter Wagner |
It’s clear you guys were influenced
by a lot of music that came out or was big in the 1980’s. If someone came up to you and said “80’s
music is trash”, what’s the one record you would hand them to try to convince
them otherwise?
Jiffy: I understand if some people
don’t like The Cars or The Go Gos as much as we do but if you think ‘Are We Not
Men’ is trash then I literally wouldn't even waste my breath.
C.C.: Well I like everything from
the 80’s from Ratt to Men at Work, so I probably wouldn't be the best person
for that job. I don’t think I’d be very persuasive.
What’s in store for Autogramm in the
near future? Any new music coming down the pipe or more tours in the works?
Jiffy: We have a video coming for
the song “Bad Day” which was released as a Europe-only 7” single by Spain’s
Jarama45 Records. We will also be making it available on audio streaming
platforms for all your new wave punk and powerpop playlisting needs.
Silo: Slowly recording a new LP
record too!
Where can people go to connect with
Autogramm and where can people go to buy or listen to your music?
C.C.: Here’s a few links….
Video: https://youtu.be/XLGzOgXV8-Y
Website: https://www.autogramm.band/
Bandcamp: https://autogramm.bandcamp.com/releases
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autogrammband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autogrammband/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Autogrammband
Jiffy: Just a few...lol. Somebody
tell us if we need TikTok. We suck at “stories” so probably not:(
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We urge you to please help support independent artists, labels, and venues by buying records, band merchandise, or going to shows. You can also show your support by following your favorite bands on social media and "like", "friend", "comment" or share their posts. Help get the word out, every little bit helps believe me.
If you like what you've read, we'd like to ask if you'd please give us a like on Facebook (audioammunition.page/), follow us on Twitter (@AAmmunition), Instagram (audio_ammunition_punk) or simply just tell your friends about us.
If you like our monthly podcast (yes, we now do a podcast!) please give us a review, rating or hit the subscribe button! That way you'll be sure never to miss an episode. We're on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify etc.
Again, thank you so much! - The Audio Ammunition Staff
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