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WWW.DROWN.NET
Last Edit/Update
02 April, 2000
Interview With
Lauren Boquette
of
Drown
Conducted by Mike
Santarpia
Winter 1998
Drown is:
Patrick Sprawl
Lauren Boquette
Sean E. Demott
Marco Forcone
Mike: Where are you from?
Drown: Long Beath California.
Mike: Did you go to college? If so what was your major?
Drown: I tried college for 4 months, but quit. It was impossible to have a band full time,
work full time and go to school.
Mike: What bands did you like while you were growing up?
Drown: Growing up I loved angry punk and old
metal. Favorites included: Rose Tattoo, TSOL, Raven, GBH -- bands that reflected my state
of mind. Angry and dark. I always felt very alienated and music gave me a place to feel
part of something.
Mike: What bands do you like now? What bands do you dislike?
Drown: I love Nick Cave, Ice Cube, Steve Earle, mostly great lyric writers and truly
passionate voices. I want to feel what they're all about. My favorite new band is from
Detroit: 20 Dead Flower Children. They're not fucking around. I tend to hate most
everything on the radio or MTV, not because of those mediums, but it just seems all the
bands they play are lifeless and stale. Bland music for bland people. Complete crap and
completely useless. [ie.] (Bush).
Mike: What, if anything, influenced you to want to make music? What bands influenced
you?
Drown: I never really decided to make music. It seemed to decide that for me. Music is and
always was the main driving force in my life. The only thing I've ever truly cared about.
Mike: What instruments do you play if you play any?
Drown: I sing, write and arrange. I leave instruments to musicians. I don't consider
myself to be [a musician].
Mike: What other interests do you have besides music? Do you like any other aspects of
the music industry? Engineering or producing etc...?
Drown: I have no other interests besides music. Going to shows, writing songs, etc.
Living it constantly. I need it around me. Producing would be fun if the project really
moved me.
Mike: Is there anything you would like to accomplish in the music industry that you
haven't yet?
Drown: Every day, I am alive. I push myself further along in my musical career. One thing
I haven't dont yet that I want to experience badly is playing outside of North America.
Hopefully with the new album we will.
Mike: Have you played with any bands previous to this one? If so which ones?
Drown: I started this band in 1987 and it was originally called: Yesterday's Tear. It is
the only band I have ever been in and probably the only one I'll ever care to be in. It's
mine. When i die, I want it to be remembered.
Mike: How did the band meet? And where?
Drown: We were all mutual friends in the Los Angeles underground music scene.
Mike: Why did you choose your name? What does it mean?
Drown: I've always felt drowning would be the loneliest and most terrifying way to die.
The music comes from the loneliest and most terrifying emotions I deal with. I'm sure
these feelings will kill me or at least will put me in a position where I will find death.
Mike: Do you have any other albums that were released on other labels? Or is the one
you are on currently your first?
Drown: Our first album is called " Hold On To The Hollow" and is available
on Elektra Records. Our new album titled: "Product of a Two-Faced World" was
originally scheduled to be released on Geffen Records, but we left the label, and are
currently in negotiations with another [label].
Mike: How long did it take to record the album? Which is your favorite song on the
album? Why? Is that also your favorite song to perform live? if no then which one?
Drown: The writing process took almost two years and we recorded it in two months.
"Monster" is my favorite track on the new record. It is a self-realization of a
childhood full of violence and how it bred violence. They invented me and now I am left to
deal with it. I have done many things that I am not proud of, but I would have never had
those impulses if they weren't first planted in me. Right now "Monster" is not
in our live set. "The Day I Walked Away" is probably my favorite in the live
set. It just throws down hard.
Mike: Is your band on any soundtracks or compilations? If so which ones?
Drown: There were compilations by our old label as promo tools but nothing available
commercially.
Mike: Were you ever asked to do participate any compilations?
Drown: We were actually the first band offered the "Crow 2" soundtrack but a few
ex-members were against it, so it didn't happen.
Mike: Have you made any videos?
Drown: Yes, one was for "Transparent", a track off our first album, we did it
very low budget with Mark Weiss. It came out really cool.
Mike: What is you favorite city to play? Favorite venue?
Drown: I love Atlanta and don't know why. Favorite venue would be "The
Limelight" in New York City.
Mike: What bands have you toured with?
Drown: White Zombie, Prong, Clutch & For Love Not Lisa.
Mike: Which was your favorite band to tour with?
Drown: Probably Clutch or For Love Not Lisa. Great people.
Mike: What do you think about industrial music in general? Do you feel
Industrial music is dead?
Drown: I am not really a fan of "Industrial" music anymore. The scene was
extremely healthy 6-7 years ago but I feel now bands kind of rehash each other. I find
most of them boring. We don't really consider ourselves to be an industrial band. We use
keyboards and electronics for vibe enhancement and groove reinforcement not to be part of
any particular genre. As for the other bands popularity -- more power to them. I am not a
fan of those bands so it doesn't mean a thing to me.
Mike: What do you think about MTV and the music award shows?
Drown: MTV is completely painful to watch. They just force feed a mindless audience,
mindless music -- it disqusts me. As for the other awards shows who cares? None of my
favorite bands ever won awards.
Mike: Is there anything you would like to add to any of your fans or future fans who
might be reading this?
Drown: All I'd like to add is thanks to all the old Drown fans that have stuck with us
through the last three years. It was an extremely tough time and your support meant
everything! Chek out our new website for constant updates.
PEACE, LAUREN
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