VAGUE
Vague is Jan, Yudhis & Gary. A three-piece hardcore/punk band from Jakarta.
VAGUE: “If we could play our songs without screwing up too much and having fun doing it, then it's mission accomplished.”
[interview.ak / pics.anggia murni / May 2014]
When we first hear of Vague, it's like a breath of fresh air for us. Vague and Barefood totally stands out among the other new bands coming out. Did you guys at Vague specifically choose this sound to play or is it just jamming?
Yudhis: Haha thank you so much. Vague started with Jan and I jamming in a studio for fun. We were going for Ramones/The Wipers sound and failed terribly. We didn't know what we were doing. I started writing songs for the band and Adit (our previous bass player) joined shortly after. From there on, it’s a series of trial and error and learning process. Usually I come to the studio with a riff, or half-complete songs or even a finished one. We’d play it in the studio and just tweak it according to our collective tastes. Also, Gary has written two songs for the band so far.
Jan: It’s such a thrilling experience knowing that our music has grown completely different from our first demo. I guess the whole process of song-writing plays a very vital role in our music, because that’s where we continously draw our inspiration from, jamming and making errors, trying to figure out what’s best and what’s not and what would fit into our style, etc.
Gary: We have no aim in imitating or trying to sound like other bands. At the same time, there is no denial that we have our own taste and preferences when it comes to sound.
Vague reminds us of early bands like Rites of Spring, Jawbreaker and Dischord bands. How does those bands and scene influences you guys as an individual or as a collective?Yudhis: Those bands you mentioned are definitely some of my biggest influences. There are so many different sounds within the hardcore/punk umbrella, but “Revolution Summer”/DC sound, the reason it came about and the kind of attitude it brought to the table has always resonated with me the most. The personal-is-political lyrics, their attitude towards record labels, recordings, ticket prices, all ages shows, violence in the scene, and the melodic-but-intense music approach is just very appealing.
Jan: Those bands’ music resonate a lot of intensity that we wanna bring in Vague. I personally love the fact that those bands have done things that others haven’t, their music and their whole vibe are different from your usual textbook punk rock bands.
Gary: I was not much into Dischord bands. I listened to hardcore punk and attended hardcore punk gigs whenever I could during my teenage years (until now) but bands like Jawbreaker and One Last Wish were on my top playlist when I was still in school.
What did you guys try to bring in your live performances? Is it raw power stage antics like At-the Drive in or noisy-loud-ear bleeding sounds like Dinosaur Jr?
Yudhis: Neither. We don’t have the intensity that ATDI had nor the money to buy all those amps J Mascis has hahaha. If we could play our songs the way we like them to be played, not screwing up too much and having fun doing it, then it’s mission accomplished.
Gary: I usually dont do much on stage nor do I care about sound except during that one show when I was wicked drunk and started to mop the floor with my body hahahaha.
What's the biggest challenge as a three-piece when performing live to have a tight sound?
Yudhis: To be able to sound “full” when performing live. I use two amps to get a “wider” sound. Singing while playing guitar also took me some time to get used to. Song arrangements also play a big part in it. It’s fun because you are forced to be more creative with your tone/gear. It’s how to achieve more with less number of people/instruments. Oh, and lots of practices of course! Ssslothhh is probably the best local three-piece right now.
Gary: For me, the biggest challenge would be to stay sober hahahaha..
For Yudhis, what are the gears you currently uses? What's your favorites?
Yudhis: I play a Gibson SG Special. I don’t have my own gigging amps yet since they are so expensive haha. I use a few pedals : distortion, fuzz, delay, reverb, etc. I’m pretty much set in guitar department, although a Black Beauty Les Paul, an EGC jazzmaster or a 330 rickenbacker guitar would be hard to resist hahah. Ideal amps would be Marshall JCM 800, Fender Twin Reverb, Hiwatt (any), Ampeg (any).
Jan and Yudhis also play with the indie rock band Jirapah. Any projects that Vague will do with Jirapah? A split EP maybe?
Yudhis: The song “Pepper” that Ken and I did is probably the closest thing you will ever get for Vague/Jirapah combination haha. A split is not a bad idea, and perhaps it can happen in the distant future.
Are you guys working for a new recording? How's the recording process going?
Yudhis: We just finished recording a few months ago. We recorded 12 songs; 9 will be on our full album entitled “Footsteps”. It’s being mixed and mastered by Ababil Ashari (Tsefula/Tsefuelha records) and should be out soon. CD version will be put out by Sonic Funeral Records while tapes will be put out by Ruang Kecil Records. Two different songs are being mixed by Dimas of Als Studio for 7” (Stockroom Records). It will come out later, possibly at the end of the year.
Would you guys rather be performing or recording and experimenting in the studio?
Yudhis: Two totally different animals. As of now, i like performing/practising better since it feels more organic and natural. Recording process is a lot more restrained and there are more elements involved.
Jan: I like doing both.
Gary: I personally prefer to be on stage. Playing at a show is way more exciting, especially when the crowds go nuts.
Fvgazi talked a lot about personal politics, and sometimes Husker Du talks about love. What will Vague sing about in your upcoming releases? Will it be a personal type of lyrics or a social commentary?
Yudhis: The lyrics theme will be quite similar to the EP that we released a while ago. It’s still very much personal; usually revolve around adolescence, self-Identity, soul searching, corroding faith, etc. I just write about what I know and feel like writing.
What hardcore/punk bands did you guys grew up listening too? And each of you, tell us your favorite bands..
Yudhis: I grew up in the 90’s with MTV and later Channel V. Whatever was being played on those channels, i was into. It was a lot of Green Day and The Offspring for me. I didn’t start listening to the more “underground” hardcore/punk until I was 16/17. Favorite bands? So many... Fugazi, The Wipers, One Last Wish, Rites of Spring, Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine, Unwound, Husker Du, The Exploding Hearts, Extortion, Off Minor, White Walls, Minutemen, etc.
Jan: Well, I personally grew up listening to lots and lots of good ol fashioned hardcore punk. Preferably NYHC circa early 80s til early 90s. You know, New Breed Compilation, Early Revelation, Breakdown, Altercation, Warzone, Straight Ahead & Boston Hardcore in general (everything from the past til present). My taste in hc/punk is pretty random, depending on the mood. One day I could go all NY, the other day I could go all Japan....but yeah punk rules.
Gary : Oh man... way too many... I grew up listening to Jawbreaker, Discharge, Bad Brains, the casualties, cockney rejects, kid dynamite, Dillinger four, waaay too many too mention and I'm not embarrassed to say that at some point in high school, I listened to Blink 182 and Green day hahahaha. My fav. bands in 2014 is career suicide, Knucklehead from Calgary, The Kuda from Bogor, Cheatahs (chek 'em out from wichita records, they're really really good!!) Male Bonding, School Jerks, and Jawbreaker.
Weirdest gig experiences when performing or attending?
Yudhis: I saw the band Meatlocker (UK) playing on Sunday afternoon on a friend’s kitchen. That’s right, in a kitchen. There were maybe 20-25 people in the room and people were crowdsurfing. After the show, there were foot marks on the kitchen ceiling. It ruled.
As a performer, there are some gigs that are memorable for me. Our first gig ever was at a studio show in East Bekasi. It was horrendous and my left foot was shaking the entire time. Then there was that time when Vague played Hard Rock Cafe. Aside from a few friends in front of the stage, the entire audience was made up of families eating steak at their tables. It was kinda strange. We played Jogja with Wicked Suffer this one night. We played last (it was really late) and Gary had had too much too drink that night. During the fourth song, my D string broke and we jammed one last song. It was a weird D-Beat number with random parts i made up using 5 strings left. After the song Gary threw out his bass and dived into the drum kit. He was out of it.
Jan: Can’t remember shit.
Gary: I went to lots of basement shows back then and one time, Total Chaos were on tour and my friend put them on a house show. When they were about to play, their guitarist urinated in front of the crowd, I think he was drunk... and I took photo of him hahahaha. It was awkward... and hilarious.
Any new local bands you guys recommend for us?
Yudhis: The Kuda and Sex Sux (Bogor), Seaside, Duct Tape Surgery (if they’re still around), Sorra, Somnyferra, Wreck, WeThePeople, Ssslothhh (Bandung), Talking Coasty, Rabu (Jogja), Guttersnipe (Malang), Cotswold (Surabaya). I’m probably missing a few here.
Jan: Lerpe (Gary’s pogo punk band, drunk with power!).
Gary: Not really new but keep your eyes and ears out for Hell on Fire (Jakarta), Cotswold (Surabaya), We the people (Bandung), Wreck (Bandung), AUMAN (Palembang), The Kuda (Bogor)
J Mascis or Kevin Shields?
Yudhis: I lovee My Bloody Valentine, but the answer is Master J!
Jan: Both.
Gary: Easy, J Mascis.
Glenn Danzig or Michale Graves? Haha..
Yudhis: Joey Ramone!
Jan: Not a fan..
Gary: Fuck both of them haha..
Last shout outs? Thanks for doin the interview guys!
Yudhis : Thank you for taking your time to come up with these questions! Much love from Jakarta!
Jan : Yo, shout outs to Sonic Funeral, Ruang Kecil, United Blood, Trueside, all my boys on Raincoat, Jirapah, Whiteboard Journal, yada yada..
