Damon Skank Interviews Killer Squirrel
Killer Squirrel is a one-man band with a debut CD that was released in
March 2004. His one-man label, Operation Phoenix Records, released the
album, and he helps distribute a few albums for other bands, too. Everything
is run from his apartment for that DIY feel.
D: What the hell kind of a band name is Killer Squirrel?
KS: I thought it was a funny name. Back when I was a Junior in high school, I was
walking to the school’s front door one morning with a friend when I almost tripped
over a dead squirrel that was laying in the grass. It had maggots crawling out of its
eye sockets and everything. Very gross. Anyway, I guess it probably came from
that memory. I could have been killed by tripping over that dead squirrel.
D: Were you in any bands during high school?
KS: Yeah, I was in two bands. They were essentially the same band except for the
drummer. We just changed our name when we got a new drummer. That band
broke up after high school, and the bass player and drummer went chasing the next
big musical trend. That’s how I became a one-man band, basically.
D: Why not form another band?
KS: I was tired of the babysitting and hand-holding. You know, stuff like, “my
bass should be louder in the mix,” “we should cover a Beatle’s song,” and “when
are we going to play CBGB’s?” I don’t have the patience for it.
D: So the other band members dropped out of the punk scene?
KS: Yeah. Most of the punks I used to hang out with left the scene by the time they
were about 20. It’s kind of depressing.
D: How old are you?
KS: I just turned 24.
D: I have to say that Self-Released (and loving it) isn’t a typical album title. Why
did you pick it?
KS: It’s in reference to all the bands that only release their own albums because no
record label wants to do it. I don’t want to be on somebody’s label. I like releasing
my own stuff. It’s the only way I want to do it. Plus, I didn’t want to name it
something predictable like “Conformity Sux” or “Sleepless in Suburbia.” There’s
also a slight masturbating reference in my title, too, that I think is funny.
D: How long did the album take you to record?
KS: It was all recorded in about one week. I would record stuff after work or on
my days off. Originally, I only wanted to record enough for an EP, maybe 5 or 6
songs, but it was so much fun that I just kept recording.
D: Did you learn anything during the recording process?
KS: Don’t mix while eating Grape Nuts! But… uh… spend your money on decent
microphones; not special effects crap. Also, experiment with a lot of mic
placements.
D: Are you going to release a vinyl version of your album?
KS: Definitely. I prefer vinyl when I listen to music, but it’s about double the cost
of releasing a CD. I should say the way I want to put out vinyl, it would cost about
double. I’m gonna have color vinyl that’s not flimsy, a great looking cover on
sturdy stock, and a good lyric sheet. If I’d had the money, I would have released
vinyl first. I barely had enough for a CD, so I’ll have to wait. Hopefully, next year I
can release some vinyl.
D: How did you get the money to release your CD?
KS: I sold my car and started riding the bus. Most of the money came from just
that. People don’t realize how much a car payment, insurance, maintenance, and
parking fees add up to each month. Hell, my employer even pays for half of my
monthly bus pass. It’s a little inconvenient sometimes, but totally worth it. I really
recommend it.
D: Why didn’t you ride the bus before this? What stopped you?
KS: I grew up in a small town, so the whole idea of a transit system was very new
to me. I never considered it an option. After I had taken the bus a few times, I saw
the potential, but I lived quite a distance from the major bus lines that I would need
to use. Then I decided to change apartments, and I picked one near two bus routes.
It only takes me about ten more minutes to get to work by taking the bus.
D: Why do you use a drum machine?
KS: I have to record everything in my apartment. If I was playing a drum kit in my
bedroom, I’d probably get kicked out within ten minutes. It’s been years since I’ve
touched a drum stick, so I don’t know if I could even play them, anymore. I do
really like the hypnotic feel of drum machines, though. The drum beats always
sound very driven and tight.
D: Any chance of using real drums in the future?
KS: I’m always up for a challenge. I don’t see it being possible for the next two
albums, but it’s something I would like to head towards.
D: Why don’t you use any crazy/technical drum beats?
KS: I like the simplicity. That’s why I don’t have any real complex songs, either.
D: It’s the same drum beat throughout the song, right? No fills, lead-ins or
whatever.
KS: I’m sure that some people find it annoying, but the way I see it, if you’re not
annoying somebody, you’re doing something wrong.
D: How would you describe your music?
KS: The worst fucking judge of music is the person who plays it. I don’t know
how many times I’ve read some band’s interview where the band says (insert
cheesy info-mercial voice) “We sound like a venerable mix of Black Flag, Germs,
and Ramones.” Then I buy the record and guess what? They sound like the fucking
Posies. I don’t think anybody who makes music should answer this type of
question. It’s never answered right. I say read the reviews and decide for yourself.
D: How about the bad reviews?
KS: Well, don’t read those! We all know bad reviews are just written by jealous
people. Seriously, I don’t care about bad reviews. All the reviews I see for Killer
Squirrel get posted on my web site - good or bad. I’d rather get a bad review over
some generic boring review any day.
D: Is this the first release on your label, Operation Phoenix Records? Anymore
upcoming releases?
KS: Yes, this is the first release. I don’t plan on releasing any other band’s
material, but I do distro stuff through the mail and online for other bands. I’m also
working on a zine called Chaos and Fruit Punch. That should be out in June ’04, if
everything goes alright.
D: Will your zine have reviews and interviews? Or will it be more personal?
KS: I want to, but it will really depend on what people send in. I don’t want a strict
formula type zine, though. I like to keep things mixed up.
D: Does the company name have any meaning?
KS: I picked it out of the book A People’s History of the United States. Operation
Phoenix was a CIA program that killed approximately 20,000 people who were
considered Communist threats during the Vietnam era. They had monthly quotas
of people that needed to be killed. It’s amazing the shit they don’t teach you in
school.
D: Are you planning to sell your music in chain stores like Hot Topic or Sam
Goody?
KS: No, people like that laugh at guys like me while they sit around some
boardroom smoking Cuban cigars. Besides, I don’t have a barcode on my album.
I’m not looking to sell large quantities of records. There is one thing that I should
point out: Hot Topic is not some cute little chain store. They are a publicly traded
company (HOTT), just like Wal-mart, General Electric, and Nike. They are a big
company who is looking for bigger profits every year.
D: Do you have anything else you would like to add?
KS: Well, thanks for the interview. I promise to never use the following words in a
song: relationship, love, broken heart, and concierge.
Anybody can contact me at:
Operation Phoenix Records
PO Box 13380
Mill Creek, WA 98082
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