Voodoo Glow Skulls - Interview

  by Alex Halls

published: 15 / 2 / 2003

intro

California based ska punk band Voodoo Glow Skulls have just brought out their sixth album, "Steady as She Goes' on the Victory label. Lead singer, Frank Casillas, chats to Alex Halls about the new album and the band's 14 years together

California based Voodoo Glow Skulls are the epitome of endurance, having mastered their ska-punk vibe over a 14 year period. Their camaraderie and dedication has made the band a constantly increasing force to be reckoned with, while their recent sixth release, 'Steady as She Goes', which is 12 tracks of raucous, horn-orientated delight, does much to enforce Voodoo Glow Skulls’ standing within the punk scene,. On stage the band are electric. They recently came off a UK tour with ‘A’ and Goldfinge. At these shows their presence, dynamism and creativity at these shows was beyond belief. Pennyblackmusic met up with lead singer, Frank Casillas, in order to discover what Voodoo Glow Skulls is really about. PB: 'Steady as She Goes' has been described as doing what Voodoo Glow Skulls do best: playing ska-punk fast. Do you think that people have you stereotyped or is this the Voodoo Glow Skulls we have come to love? FC: I definitely think that we have developed our own musical style. There are a lot of obvious influences in our music. For example, ska and punk! I just think that we incorporate it into our own original blend. Our fans recognize this, and continue to buy our records. After a decade we are still active as a band. We must be doing something right! PB: What are the most important subject matters of the album? FC : There aren’t any particular subjects or points that we are trying to get across. We just write what we feel at the particular moment in time. There are songs that deal with some of the current political issues as well as racial issues. We just sing about life in general. Voodoo Glow Skulls have been around for a long time, and like most experienced bands, are now producing albums of the highest quality. Their imaginative songs and tastefully played instruments blend superbly, creating a sound of exquisite nature. PB: There aren’t many ska-punk bands that have lived to tell the tale. How would you explain the longevity of your music? FC: There aren’t any secrets to our longevity. We are fortunate to have guys in our band that share the same passion for music. That is a passion that you have to be born with. There are a lot of people out there with the same passion. You just have to find them! Also, we’ve been loyal to the independent punk scene since the 80’s. The fact that we can say that is a reward in itself! PB: What impact do you feel you have had on the scene so far? FC : I don’t think that we’ve made a big impact because to date we are one of the most underrated bands out there. You never see Voodoo Glow Skulls in anyone’s top ten list. PB: Do you think it is your horn section that makes you stand out from the crowd? FC : I think that our horn section has developed their own style of playing. They play fast and furious! Most bands have horns that are soft and subtle. I think that we have punk rock horn players who aren’t afraid to experiment with their instruments. That alone makes them stand apart. Finding the songs easier to pen nowadays, Voodoo Glow Skulls still get the same rush from producing albums as they had before.They claim that the rush is "our biggest holiday… bigger than birthday or even Christmas" and that "nothing compares to the feeling of making your own music for people to enjoy".. PB: Are there times you have felt that you have overstepped the mark musically? FC: There are no boundaries for our music! I think that we continue to represent that with every album we release. We have made some decisions that have probably hurt our career a bit in the past, but every band is different, and every band has different goals that they want to achieve. We have achieved a lot of goals on our terms. Not everyone can say that in this business. PB: You are now signed to Victory Records.How do you see the future? FC: Just to take every day as it comes. We are glad to be on a record label that is highly recognised within the punk rock community. Our future is about touring and releasing as many records as we can! PB: Finally many musicians see music as their life. Does music becomes part of someone’s life, or is it inherently part of our lives? FC : I think that music is a beautiful gift! It can change lives and influence people in many ways. Some people are born with the gift of musical talent. Others inherit music into their lives. Either way, music soothes the soul! If we weren’t musicians, we’d probably be up to no good, or maybe even in jail, or dead! Voodoo Glow Skulls have proved within their music that they should be rated amongst the elite within the punk rock genre. Their music is hard to get to grips with at times but once past this barrier it becomes a delicacy that is definitely worth sampling and tasting upon.

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