Published: August 10, 2008 10:36 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Interview
Michael Hazani of Optimus Sound
Optimus Sound
Check out Junior’s Cave’s recent interview with Michael Hazani from Optimus Sound. Optimus Sound, a group out of Boston, Massachusetts, is the perfect choice for any rock music lover with their melodious tune and catchy lyrics. I hope everyone enjoys our interview with lead vocalist and guitarist, Michael Hazani of Optimus Sound.
[Note: Optimus Sound are: Michael Hazani - vocals and guitar, Pier Luigi Salami - Keys, Bruno Esrubilsky - Drums, Sean Sinclair - Guitar and vocals, Mark Strubler - Bass]
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Michael: Definitely rock. It's not simple to pigeonhole music these days, with so much cross-genre activity everywhere and so many different influences - but at the very heart of it, rock is the idiom we work in. The music's major influences include Radiohead, The Cure, Sigur Ros, some U2 for good measure... It could be different tomorrow, but that's where we are right now.
Isaac: How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Michael: We all go to Berklee College of Music; I've met Sean and Pier during my first week of school. A few months later I've met Both Mark and Bruno under completely random circumstances. Berklee is like a goldmine in that aspect; if you're looking for musicians, you're bound to find them there. And if you're lucky, they're also great people.
Isaac: When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
Michael: The band originally started out as an outlet for the frustration I've felt throughout my early experience in Berklee. I've been playing all these acoustic gigs, open mics and such, but my songs just 'wouldn't fit': many of them called for much more intricate arrangements, more dynamics, more energy. So I called up some friends whose musicianship I admired and put together a recording session, in order to at least have some presentable demos. The demos turned out pretty decent, but the best thing that happened at that session was that we discovered that we work well together as a group; that we have an immediate musical connection to each other, and that we should probably keep playing together. Personally, I knew I had to hold on to these guys.
Isaac: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Michael: Being a relatively new band, we've only recently 'come out of the basement' and started performing seriously. However, the next couple of months are going to be quite heavy on the gigging side for us. We have shows planned in Boston venues such as All Asia, Harper's Ferry, Bill's Bar, etc., as well as a couple of festivals and outdoor events. We do have several favorite venues we plan on playing, but as a struggling band, we're fully aware of the fact that every gig is a worthy gig. We'll play any venue in which there's a place for our music. To find out where the next gig is going to take place, visit our myspace: www.myspace.com/optimussound.
Isaac: Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
Michael: We have a comprehensive set list which we work from; naturally we adapt to the requirements of the gig and the venue. Covers are always a joy to play (and, properly placed can make or break a gig), and we always try to do them justice in our own way.
Isaac: Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time?
Michael: I bring lyrics, melodies, initial concepts of 'tunes'. The rest, as well as the lion's share of the arranging process is done collaboratively, during rehearsals. For example, Sean could come up with a great Bass line for Mark, or Bruno will run a couple of grooves by us and we'll try to ascertain which one works better. It's a joined effort.
As for lyrical themes and topics, it's hard to narrow it down. We have songs about sugar rushes, musicals, painkillers, witnessing the End of Times during a Sox game - subject matter is quite flexible.
If anything, there's a common emotional thread to many of the songs; a sense of discomfort, as well as longing for someone or something. I suspect that this overtone will always be prevalent in what we do.
Isaac: What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Michael: We usually meet once a week for two hours. If I had it my way we'd be rehearsing on a daily basis, but we are all busy college students, and we all have our own lives and different responsibilities to juggle. I am somewhat satisfied by the fact that we don't settle for anything less than weekly rehearsals.
Isaac: How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Michael: I like to believe that the music becomes tighter and a more cohesive every time we play together. There is an unavoidable process of learning to work together, to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts; I believe we're getting better at that. Naturally, we still have a long way to go - but we enjoy the road!
Isaac: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Michael: We've undergone several recent changes in our lineup, due to having a member leave Boston for the summer, another member experiencing medical issues, etc.. There's 5 of us, but we've recently performed as 3 - or 3.5, if you will - and at its worst, the idea of playing together again as a 5-piece seemed intangible and distant. But luckily, we're not only band mates - we're mates. I have a lot of confidence in Optimus Sound, and in the fact that we can overcome a lot of things. Come next September, we'll have the full lineup ready to rock And roll.
Isaac: What's your ultimate direction for your band? Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Michael: It would be materialistic and utilitarian to seek that, yet complete naivety not to. Honestly, I don't think anybody's expecting to make a fortune out of this project in the near future. Personally, I want to make people listen, and give them something worth listening to. When these two things happen, I'll be satisfied. After that you can bring on the Nike ads and Malibu beach houses.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
Michael: fans-to-be are more than welcome to visit our website at www.myspace.com/optimussound, where they can find our most recent music, as well as up-to-date information about the band and upcoming gigs. An EP will be released in 3-4 months, and will be available on iTunes, as well as available at gigs.
Isaac: Any last words?
Michael: Oh, we've got entire books to write before we get to our last words. For now, thank you, and we hope to see you in one of our forthcoming shows!
