Band interview with Peace talks(Pittsburg/USA)
#^https://www.tumblr.com/stipulatedconflict/785140483600105472/band-interview-with-peace-talkspittsburgusa?source=shareSo, first, I got to know Krystyna from Peace talk due to Sigrun(Draumer/Assistert sjøvmord/Den Bisarre Lyd) asking Oslo organizers if there is anyone would like to setup a show for them. I just started my new band and I was so keen to start setting up our series of numbering shows. So, I and my buddy Kenneth just jumped in to the request. setting up for a cool touring band is always something fun and interesting.
Peace talks is hitting K-town and they setup a nice Scandinavian tour which kick start from Oslo and way down to Copenhagen's K-town. and as always I wanted to interview the band to get to know a bit more about the band not just their music(which is also killer)
Check their music here!
Interview starts from below:
-Hi Krystyna, thank you for accepting this interview. So could you please tell me about how you get into punk/hardcore at the first point?
Hi! Thanks for asking us to talk! I got into punk in a few different ways. My uncles were weirdos and one loved KISS, Motohead and AC/DC. He was a magician too lol. Two of my uncles had bands that practiced in my grandmas garage, one was a butt rock band called City Child (very embarrassing, looked like Motley Crue mixed with Aerosmith) and my other uncle was in a KISS cover band.
My third uncle liked college rock but he also liked Sex Pistols and Black Flag and The Ramone’s. I would watch MTV 120 minutes with him and saw a lot of bands like Suicidal Tendencies on there and I that opened a whole world to me.
I also had an aunt who had a metal show on the radio and she showed me Venom and Danzig.
I turned out way different than all of them but I was really influenced by bands as a kid.
-How did Peace talks start and who is in the band? Did you guys know each other from before, or get to know each other better after forming the band?
Peace Talks started because me, John (guitar) and Chris (bass) were best friends and we toured together with their band Drug Lust and me and John played in a band called Liebestod together. When both of those bands broke up we formed Peace Talks.
I have a memory which may not be entirely accurate depending who you ask ha! Some of us were at a party in the abandoned tennis courts in the woods and made a pack around the bonfire to start Peace Talks. Then the cops busted the party and we all ran ha!
-Did anyone play in any bands before Peace talks?
As far as the guys other bands it was Drug Lust, Lampshades and Pikok (I prob spelled that wrong). We’ve had 4 drummers who all were in great bands. On our LP it was Dave Varney who is currently in Ed Hoculi, our west coast drummer was Noel from Annihilation Time and Holier Than Thou. Jared, our drummer now is in every band in Pittsburgh. Rex tycoon and Stiff prick and United stare.
My old bands were Redd Foxx and Liebestod.
- How did you come up with the band name Peace talks? Is there any special meaning to it?
We liked the name Peace Talks because it can be fluid. It can be taken at face value. we want to be a part of creating a better world. But when we add the “?” after the name it is a nod to the futility of the way the world spins in bureaucratic circles with the powerful people making decisions behind closed doors, supposedly with our best interest in mind. It has a cynical tone or optimistic tone depending on the subject at hand.
-how do you describe your band's sound? Are there any specific influences to the sound you can mention?
I guess our sound is a little hard to put words too. It’s definitely punk/hc but we’re all too weird to follow any specific genre. We like Devo, The Ramones, Willie Nelson, Killed by Death…. We all have a wide range of music we like and we just try to write from the heart and not get hung up on genre.
-What are the lyrics mainly for Peace talks’ songs?
the lyrics are both political and personal, I usually hear words when I first listen to a new song and I try to let the music dictate the subject in a way. I write what I feel, I try to be vulnerable and not judge it too much because it’s easy to feel self conscious about your words. At least for me. So I try to allow myself to be open to all kinds of topics.
-Is there anyone who is deeply involved in any DIY punk activities like running label, writing zines, taking pictures, designing, organising shows etc or any activities which are not any punk/hardcore things? Art, Other types of music, publication, sports or any other?
John has a record store in our neighborhood (Polish Hill) called Pleasant Dreams, he also has an awesome music podcast called Cruel Noise. He has put out several recordings under that name too.
Chris is a painter and all around amazing artist, he plays tennis too.
Jared loves books and has crazy knowledge about music and literature.
I love animals and plants and traveling. I love to workout and watch all sorts of films and bad TV. I love John Waters and other filth so I indulge in garbage tv haha. I suck at playing poker with Chris and my other friends but it’s fun.
John and I also book a festival in Pittsburgh called Skullfest with several other friends of ours. We both book shows through the year as well!
-How do you guys compose the songs? Any main composer or jamming out?
one of the guys will usually come to practice with a riff and we build the song together. I usually will give my input as far as structure and how to make room for lyrics.
-so, in June Peace talks will tour in Scandinavia and play at K-town. How did you get to play at K-town and also get the Scandinavian tour?
I went to Scandinavia on tour with 80HD in 2023 and just loved it! I had friends there all ready Like Per from Sex Dwarf in Stockholm and I became good friends with our driver David from Gothenburg.
Johan from Flyktsoda was kind enough to do a Swedish pressing of our record and we sorta formed a bond and it just made sense!
We applied to K-Town and luckily they accepted us to play this year! We’re very grateful and excited!
-Have you toured outside of the US before? or any very memorable shows you can immediately remember in the past? and why
We have played in Canada a few times and it’s always been great!
We did a short tour in Puerto Rico (technically the USA, but fuck our colonial shit) and it was so fantastic! We played a mountain side shack and people rode horses and mopeds to the gig. Incredible!
-How is the Pittsburgh punk/hardcore scene? Anything interesting going on there now? Any bands you would recommend to check from the Pittsburgh hardcore punk scene?
The Pittsburgh HC scene is so sick, I feel proud of our scene because we all work together and cooperate pretty fuckin well for a bunch of maladjusted psychos.
Pretty much if you hear a band is from Pittsburgh you can bet the probably kick ass and are funny and sincere. For real we push each other to be better. You get inspired to be better by playing with killer bands in your home town.
I’m gonna give a short list to check out, I know I will leave some bands out so sorry everyone
De Rodillas, No Time, Illiterates, Speed Plans, Rex Tycoon, EKG’s, Stiff Prick, Positive Thinking, Grassy Knoll, Deadsky, Ultimatum, Painted Dog, United Stare
-Are there any bands outside of Pittsburgh or outside of the US you feel sympathy due to the sound or attitude?
We have so many influences outside of the US, punk is amazing at the moment! Gotta say Total Nada from Montreal and Mess from Mexico and Taqbir who were formerly in Morocco
I could go on so I’ll just say those 3
-When you hear Norway, what comes to your mind first?
When I hear Norway I think trolls
We also think big cats, big rats, burning churches
-Norwegian hardcore punk scene is probably not very well known or visible from the US. Do you have any impression on Norwegian hardcore punk? the past bands and current bands?Do you have any Norwegian bands you like?
Good Norwegian bands according to john: Draumar, Assistert Sjølmord, svart framtid, betong hysteria & bannlyst
I agree with those and want to add Asinin and we can’t wait to see Que Lindo and Stabber!
-Are there any last words to Norwegian audiences for the upcoming show in Oslo?
I just want to say thank you and free Palestine!!!
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interview(en)#Bandcamp
