Category: Interviews, News
Tags: tara mcpherson, Torche

“You should check them out. They are really heavy but… happy, you know? They ‘re amazing!”

(Tara McPherson)

It’s almost impossible to describe what Torche sound like. They conbine feedback- drenched sludge with poppy psychedelia. Live, they are a force of nature, as Greek audiences realized when they played here last Summer with Mastodon, Down, Slipknot and Kylesa. Singer / guitarist Steve Brooks explains…

Interview by Dimitris Kontogiannis

1) How did you get together to form Torche?

Steve: My friend Andy Low (owner of Robotic Empire Records) introduced me to Rick after my old band Floor called it quits. 3 months later we were in the studio recording our first album. Pretty quick start and maybe a little too quick.

2) What music are you listening to these days?

Steve: Hmmmmm? Well, this week I listened to The Wipers, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Slade, Harvey Milk, Mark Lanegan, Rich Robinson and a few others I can’t think of at the moment.

3) The packaging of your albums (especially the vinyl versions) is beautiful. Whose idea was it to take special care of all aspects of your aesthetic, apart from the music? 

Steve: Ours and the record labels that put ‘em out.  

4) Tara McPherson has created a rather iconic poster for you (in fact, her enthusiasm about  you guys in conversation was what made me want to check out your stuff). How did you end up collaborating with her?

Steve: We became friends with her through the years and she mentioned wanting to do a poster for us. She did it and we love it. Pretty simple.

5) During your Summer tour, you guys appeared in Greece (along with Mastodon, Down, Slipknot, Kylesa and others…). How did that tour go? Are you still on the road?

Steve: That tour was great! We got to play with Voivod too in France! That was a dream of mine. It was our first “Euro Festival” tour, so it was something new to us and we loved it. Although, sometimes when you play festivals, the band gets rushed onstage and have no time to prepare or soundcheck and that’s pretty rough, but it’s a learning experience. We’re off tour at the moment relaxing at home and writing new music. Hopefully, we’ll be back on tour early next year.

6) What can we expect from the follow- up to Meanderthal?

Steve: Well, we’re a constantly changing band, so who knows what the next album will be like. We’ve got a few new songs almost done and they’re pretty rockin’. It’ll be different for sure.

7) What are your plans for the immediate future?

Steve: Write a new record that we’re all proud of. Tour our asses off next year and hopefully a tour of Australia. In the meantime, we’re playing local shows here and there and enjoying our time off.

About the Author: CnB