YOUNG & RESTLESS
YOUNG & RESTLESS: “Fuck it! Let's just call the band Young and Restless”
[interview.aldy kusumah / photo.cybele malinowski / from ripple #55]
Tell us about your name! Are all the members in Y & R is young and restless too?
NUGIE (NU): Hahaha. I think the decision on the name was a spontaneous spur of the moment one. Don’t know how the rest of the guys would describe themselves, but yes I am young, restless not so much - well maybe for certain situations.
KARINA (KU): We had to come up with a name for the band last minute. It was the least shit on a list of band names we made. We were like, “Fuck it! Lets just call the band Young and Restless. ”The name basically reflected us as a bunch of kids who like to cause riots, fights and our “party till we puke” vibe.
So your band like to cause riots and vomits a lot. Ever been in a barfight before?
NU: Not in a while no. Let’s keep it that way.
KU: Nugie and I fought Mark the other day, for no reason - we just wanted to punch each other, the result was bruises, carpet burn (grazes from the carpet, as it was an indoor fight), and tenderized cheeks.
MF: Karina, Nugie and I staged our own barfight after the last gig we played (don’t worry - we’re still friends!!!)
I hate to compare, but your band reminds me of Hot Snakes, Fugazi and a lil bit of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. did those bands meant a lot to you?
MARK (MF): Fugazi have been one of my most respected bands for ages and ages. One of my friend’s older sister had their cd’s and as soon I heard the first few tracks off “In on the Kill Taker” I went and bought it the next day. Apart from their awesome guitars and vocals I really respect their DIY attitude and how they try keep all their shows all-ages and minimal cost to get in.
KU: Massive fan of Hot Snakes - I saw Hot snakes play just before they broke up, I nearly got some dude’s blood on my favorite top whilst watching in the front row, Suicide Invoice is one of my all time favorite albums. Massive fan of Steve Albini bands (especially Big Black and Shellac), Mark is a big time Fugazi fan. We get the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s comparison ALL the fucking time, we’re used to it now, it’s like being told I look Asian. It’s no big deal, at least we’re not being compared to shit bands, and I know that we are not trying to emulate them so it doesn’t bother me.
NU: Hot Snakes is a band we all, as a band and as individuals, can enjoy. It’s often played in the van when we are on tour. But yes, all of the above bands mean a lot to us.
So How’s the Aussie music scene?
KU: It’s alright, the climate for independent music is very diverse, genres become undefined, it would be very difficult to explain. We also have a lot of music elitists who dislike anything that has become “popular”. At the same time though, there is huge support for independent music.
MF: It’s ok at the moment but it seems to have gone it a bit soft - not enough good metal, hardcore and punk bands.
NU: The Australian music scene in my opinion is healthy. There is not only one, which is great. Even though I have not experienced them all, I am sure there are scenes which support different types of bands and genres and have followings of there own.
This one’s for Karina and Nugie. Is it hard for brother & sister to be in one band?
KU: At first I was skeptical about getting Nugie to play drums in Y&R because he is my brother and you know, I thought that it might be weird. I guess personally, there were a lot of things that Nugie would find out about me. But turns out we’re the same crazy people with a big party appetite, we’re very similar in a lot of ways, but also very different and our similarities and differences work in our favor. It has more advantages than disadvantages though, one big pro is that Nugie isn’t afraid to tell me if something I’m doing sucks.. whatever.. he’s my brother so I don’t mind when he tells me I’m shit. We also take care of each other, and we have each other’s back you know- it’s a cool relationship.
NU: No, not at all. It might be for other siblings, but it isn’t for Karina and I. We are close and very honest with each other. If anything being in a band with Karina is an advantage, seeing that she will not hold back on criticism towards me. She will let me know if the beat or tempo is crap and I will tell her if I dislike the vocals.
I’ve just downloaded “Kapow”. Damn! That songs makes me want to dance hard and trash some loser face with a beer bottle! What is it about really?
KU: It’s about dancing hard, playing hard and saying whatever the fuck you want really.
NU: I don’t think I am the one to answer this question hahaha. However, I do believe music can mean whatever you want it to. A listener more often than not develops their perception of a song on their own merit - if they are happy with their own interpretation why should anyone tell them otherwise. It’s theirs to own.
I hear Police-police is gonna be the single and you have made the video. Tell us about it! Love the graveyard settings, reminds me of cheap 50’s b-movie.
KU: Police Police was the first ever song we wrote- our very first time in a room together in April 2005- we came out with that song. The lyrics don’t make any sense because it’s all improvisation… so it’s open to interpretation, lazy? nah.
My costume was actually inspired by “Cindul Bolong” with the open stomach (I know hers is on her back), we dressed up as dead people and we had zombies because Police Police is a song about being ‘dead’, not literally dead, but dead when you’re out of it, or pass out or simply choose not to care. When you avoid the inevitable- you’re dead.
NU: We worked with an extremely talented crew. They were open to ideas and knew exactly how to get things done. What else could you ask for really? We spent two days on set and every moment was worth it in the end when we saw the final edit.
Do you all hate or have some resentment towards the authorities?
NU: What, the Indonesian’s or Australian’s? hahaha. Business should never be mixed with politics, wherever in the world it may be, if you get my drift.
KU: We all know the authorities do fucked up things. We all see corruption in front of our eyes, especially in Indonesia. I don’t have resentment, more so we should be finding solutions to problems that exist and build a stronger understanding towards issues at hand.
MF: The Howard government is pretty awful - we’re heading towards being a mini USA!!! Multiculturism, education and health - pretty much the important essentials - have all taken a big step backwards under the current Liberal government. Hopefully the Labor government gets voted in during the elections later this year so that the growing gap between rich and poor in this country can stop.
Enough about politics. The lighter side of the interview: How’s the band fashion statement?
KU: We just wear whatever the fuck we want. If it sucks.. so what? If it’s cool? It’s unintentional. Music and fashion go hand in hand whether you like it or not. Even when you don’t want to be labeled as a fashion-conscious band, you’d still be labeled as an anti-fashion band. I think the most important thing is to remain comfortable, otherwise you just look like a bunch of dicks.
NU: The fashion statement is that we are not a fashion band. Whatever labels are given to us have a right of their own, whether we like it or not, and everything is bound to have an image - no image is still an image in itself. But no I did not realize that we are putting forth a particular fashion statement.
The album sounds pretty damn good. Your album seems to capture that ‘brutal energy’ in your live performance. How’s the recording process?
KU: All live raw and energetic. The closest you can get to an actual Y&R riot live show. We entered the studio with a lot of expectations, we worked hard, and we were able to experiment and do things we couldn’t do live, recording is an amazing process. I can’t wait to do it again.
NU: A strenuous one - both physically and mentally. Don’t get me wrong though I had a lot of fun and learnt so much. The best thing about making our record was not only having the opportunity to create a creative outlet but also being able to learn so much on the way. Tom Larkin (from Shihad) is an excellent producer and mentor. He has excellent ideas of his own but at the same time gave ultimate creative control to us, the band. Before we even entered the studio he knew what we were about and what type of sound we were looking for.
Is the album gonna make it here to Indonesia?
NU: Let’s hope so. Hopefully before the end of this year. Tour?
KU: Fuck yeah. Just prepare yourself. We’re gonna be throwing bakso in your face. Live. I can’t wait to see the album in cassette version.
What’s the latest album you hear?
KU: Battles. Mirrored album - fucking phenomenal.
MF: I just keep listening to the latest Slayer album “Christ Illusion” that came out last year!
NU: I’ve been listening to the new Interpol album - Our Love to Admire.
Cool. What’s the best occasion and condition to listen to yer album?
KU: When you’re going through puberty, that’s the best time to listen to anything. I would listen to the album on long drives, getting wasted at parties, wherever you listen it has to be loud.
NU: Anywhere, as long as it is put on extra high volume! Though for me headphones on a plane is the technology of choice hahaha.
Is Daniel Johns a big celebrity there?
KU: Daniel Johns claimed he smoked pot with Peter Garrett (Midnight Oil) and Bono from U2- he later denied it and said it was a joke. He had to take it back because Peter Garrett is in politics now and it could/have made an impact to his reputation. Daniel Johns is so famous that he can’t just say whatever he wants anymore- it sucks to be him.
NU: Yep.
