Hockey Island Interview

On the cusp of worldwide acclaim and notice, Virat Shukla, head of Hockey Island, allowed us to prod him with some questions about the band. With a new EP lurking about entitled Chopping Block and with an increasing number of shows on the East Coast, the four-piece will likely become your new favorite thing. Hugs and kisses should be directed at Virat directly.

What instigated the formation of Hockey Island?

!. Boredom and. disenchantment with the painfully boring life of an art school student. You know, the same circumstances that inspired the formation of all great rock bands.

What does each of the members bring to the table?

Each member brings his and her personality to the table along with very different reasons for wanting to be in a band; which, frankly, are a mystery to me. What's more important, though, is what they don't bring to the table which is their egos and preconceived notions of what it means to be in a band and how it works.

How does Hockey Island differentiate itself with other bands?

It doesn't. In a sense, we're Everyband, self-absorbed enough to think that everybody should listen to our music because it's so damn good. What I mean is that there's no gimmick. The real answer to that question remains to be seen because it comes down to "what are we able to accomplish given our allotted time and resources."

How is the band different from your affair with the Oranges Band?

It's completely different. I joined that band because they needed someone to flesh out their sound and because I wanted to know what it was like to go on a real tour across the country and back. It was the best time I think I'd ever had doing that kind of thing. I'd done it before on a smaller scale but nothing like that. The whole experience convinced me that I needed to front my own band. I'd been writing songs for some time by that point. The result turned into the current incarnation of Hockey Island, in which the lessons learned will be applied. Not just lessons that have to do with playing music but also dealing with people. That was the classroom and this is the proving ground.

Has the Oranges helped you out with this band?

They have helped a lot. They are all very supportive, they are into the music and they know what it's like for bands just starting out. At least two of them are at every show in Baltimore, their home town. We played some of our first shows with them and hopefully will continue to do so.

What is Hockey Island's near term performing plans (e.g., tour prospects)?

We are looking to play as much as we can while we develop our repertoire. There's an abundance of raw material, demos and such, to choose from. It's a matter of figuring out what works and what doesn't. From there we put out a record or an EP and tour, maybe just an east coast thing first, increasing our range as we consolidate our resources.

What are the source materials for Hockey Island's songs?

Musically, I rely on history. I shamelessly cut and paste. If I hear it, it's up for grabs. I've ripped stuff off of friends, lovers and people who I think are complete assholes. Mostly classic rock. Lyrically, I rely heavily on anecdotes. Stuff I heard someone bitch about at a party or something that happened at work. I make stuff up. I pretend to be fictitious characters. Most of the stuff is phrased so that I am talking to someone.

Have you thought about incorporating other instruments to your sound (e.g., electronics)?

We have thought a lot about incorporating keyboards into the sound. We will probably do it at some point but the kind of keyboards we like are hard to come by and big. Simple logistics have a lot to do with what we do and how we do it.

If you had to come up with a political ad what would it look like?

It would probably be something like "Rock the Vote".

What do you think the new trend in music will be?

I think it will be Hockey Island.

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