I:Scintilla - "Don't Look Down On Me, I Don't Look Up"

I:Scintilla is a name that has become well known to the scene after Alfa Matrix introduced them onto their roster. Their latest full-length effort is known as “Optics”. The quartet combines upbeat industrial elements with Bindrim's sophisticated songwriting and beautifully lavish voice. Brittany Bindrim and Jim Cookas took the time to answer some of our questions. (By Paul Cameron)

SL. Since 2004 the band has undergone an abundant amount of changes. With the support of a label and production by a famed artist, do you consider "Optics" to be more of a debut than "The Approach" ever was?

BB. Yes. Although we are still fond of “The Approach”, we often see that album as a glorified demo. Many of the songs were not recorded with the quality that we intended them to be. We are much happier with “Optics” and the quality of the sound on the new album. We still look back on “The Approach” with appreciation because it was our first sonic creation. It’s kind of like when you look back at old drawings or essays from middle school and with a crooked smile, you think about how you’ve grown.

JC. From a technical perspective, we were idiots when we recorded “The Approach”. We are much better at the whole songwriting/recording/mixing process now. The new album sounds great and the songs are much better.

SL. Define “Havestar”.

BB. “Havestar” is the concept of putting a price on something that is unattainable or to claim something for one’s own that is out of reach. A good example of this idea is naming a star. You can register a star in your name and then receive a little slip of paper that proves your ownership. But what does it really mean to own a star?

JC. This concept is then extrapolated to relationships, the human condition, etc. The explanation may sound somewhat abstract, but don’t look too deep into it.

SL. I:Scintilla performed this year at Wave Gothic Treffen in Leipzig! This is an amazing opportunity; was this the first time that you’ve ever visited Germany? What was the overall experience like during the show?"

BB. Yes, this was the first time in Germany for all of us. Leipzig was absolutely beautiful. The people were friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed and laidback. One of the things I really appreciated about Germany was that the country is very environmentally conscious compared to America. Everything is energy efficient, recycling is the norm, and the streets are clean. WGT was an amazing experience. We met so many fantastic people and musicians at the festival. We played at Parkbuhne, a gorgeous outdoor venue in the middle of a flowering park in Leipzig. We had a blast on stage and the audience was very welcoming and receptive. I felt very grateful and privileged to play at WGT and share the stages with many of the talented acts that played that weekend.

JC. Within six hours of being in Leipzig I made the announcement that I will one day live there. The city has such a rich history and great vibe. The festival was too much fun. We drank a lot (beer, vodka, Jager, etc). We met some great musicians (Angelspit, Clan of Xymox, Suicide Commando, etc). We played a very solid show (big stage, great audience, and wonderful aesthetics).

SL. Brittany, being a graphic designer: do your illustrations ever inspire your songwriting and vice versa?

BB. Certainly. I find it very important to explore different creative outlets. Sometimes I find it hard to convey a certain feeling or idea in one medium, be it in my writing, painting, illustrating, or other artistic forms. But once I find the right method to release the idea I’m trying to express, it becomes much easier for me to manifest it into other forms. For example, a painting that I did of cameras and eyes entangled in electrical wires inspired the song “Machine Vision”. It made me think about the link between how machines see and the mechanical judgments and perceptions of the leaders of the “Moral Majority.”

SL. I:Scintilla has been known as the most promising new-coming bands on the scene by Echo Mortalis and voted best newcomer of the month by Orkus Magazine. Was there any pressure to live up to these statements while working on "Optics"?

BB. We felt honored to be recognized by these magazines, but I wouldn’t say that we felt pressured by their remarks. While working on “Optics”, Jim and I just wanted to make the best album possible. We’re excited about its release and now we just have to wait and see how people respond to it.

JC. Neither of the accolades affected us. We always set higher standards for ourselves to keep improving and I think we succeeded with this record.

SL. Have there been any plans on creating a new music video for "Optics"? Would you work with Chris Folkens again or prefer to do something separate from his "Dual Films" next time?

BB. I would prefer to do something different next time, although Chris is an incredibly talented filmmaker. I think we’d like to try something a little darker and more experimental for a new video. Recently, we haven’t really had the time to explore our options. A music video is most likely in the cards if we find the right filmmaker.

SL. With all the new material, has there been any thought towards what tracks could be potential singles?

JC. We feel that the album is solid from start to finish. I guess with iTunes, any song can be the single, right? It does appear that “Cursive Eve” is getting the best response so far.

SL. "Bolivia" turned into "Cursive Eve", I kind of liked the name "Bolivia", why the change?

BB. “Bolivia” was just a temporary name for the song. I was having trouble naming it because it is probably the song that is closest to me. “Bolivia” definitely didn’t fit the content. Lyrically, it is about the injustice and psychological effects of religion that many women of Christian faiths have to face. “Cursive Eve” just fit much better. There’s also a subtle word play there.

JC. When writing the music, I typically give songs codenames because lyrics usually get added at the end. I’ve always wanted to write a long, epic song called “Bolivia”. In fact, we were thinking of naming every song after South American countries, but we couldn’t find the right music to represent Suriname.

(...)

To read the complete interview, be sure to buy Side-Line issue 59 !

Side-Line issue 59
I:Scintilla - "Optics" 2CD

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