Interview: GHXST
Published on June 1st, 2012 | Jonny Abrams
New York grunge-rockers GHXST are coming to the UK in June, so Rocksucker fired over some questions to the band’s constituent members Shelley X, Chris Wild, and Nathan La Guerra. First, though, check out the noise they create…
How did you all meet, and how long has the band been going for?
CW: Shelley and I met in college in California and obsessed about playing music together in NYC, so we moved out here…and GHXST officially formed when Nathan came over from San Diego to play the drums about a year and a half ago.
How would you describe your music, if pushed?
SX: Noisy, visceral and alternative rock n roll. We grew up with the rockin’ 90s so our music’s got a bit of the blues, some grunge, and tons of raw distortion.
Where are you based, and what do you use to record with?
CW: Our studio’s in Brooklyn, so a lot of our writing / recording gets done there. All our gtrs and stacks are there, but i also take our sessions around on a laptop, cause we still work a lot in Logic + Ableton. We took a quick flight out to CA this year and Nathan got to tracks some drums in a bigger space, which sounded awesome.
Are you signed to a label?
SX: We’re not signed to anyone yet, but have done a few releases on some killer labels. (XX: Desire, Clan Destine, and soon Club.The.Mammoth/TipTop)
Is there a full album in the works? If so, what can you tell us about it? (Feel free to be as abstract as you like!)
SX: We’re releasing a few singles this summer and prob gonna tour a bit first. Chris and I are always writing, but I know we’re all excited to do our first full length.
Where can we hear your music online?
SX: soundcloud.com/ghxstmusic // ghxstmusic.bandcamp.com
Which have been your most exciting gigs and/or overall moments so far?
CW: Just finished shooting our first music video, and I got to drive a tricked out ‘89 Camaro IROC ;)
Got any more coming up? (Gigs, that is…)
SX: Yup! So stoked for our UK tour this June…dates up on FB and ghxstmusic.com. And prob another secret loft show in Brooklyn when we get back!
Are there any obscure and/or up-and-coming acts that you’d like to recommend or give a shout-out to?
SX: Mazzy Star live @ coachella …so sexy. Also obsessed w/ the new Black Bananas video “My House” – total summer jam!
Finally, if you were forced to spend the rest of your days in solitary confinement, but were allowed to bring the entire works of five different artists along to tide you over, whose would you choose?
SX: The Jesus and Mary Chain + Placebo
CW: White Zombie + Johnny Cash
NLG: The Stooges.
GHXST, thank you.
About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
