Azimuth Dream is a five-piece rock band hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. Featuring a sound built on a superfluity of styles an influence, which can be heard on their EP Using Lies To Tell You the Truth. Their sound combines ambient, progressive, indie, punk and rock to create a premium blend of genre exploration. With an extensive local following and after opening for bands like Driver Side Impact and From First To Last, Azimuth Dream has slipped into the upper tier of local sovereigns. The guys were kind enough to risk carpal tunnel and respond to a few questions via e-mail for the S*KM faithful. On the docket are topics such as a Linkin Park reference gone awry, the backing band for a Hulk Hogan music project and Chuck Norris and Steven Segal’s fight to the death.
S*KM: We’ll warm you up nice and slow. I’m sure you get this one all the time, but what intrigued you about the meaning behind “Azimuth” and to use it as part of the band name?
AD: Well, to make a long story short, it was the name of a character in a book. It’s also a term used in astronomy. Honestly, we like to say that our name is subjective, because it has a different meaning to almost everyone in the band, and realizing that, we wanted to let people really dive into the name and figure out what it means to them, rather than telling them what it means to us personally, like our music.
S*KM: You guys don’t mess around when it comes to profile views and total plays on Myspace. To what would you attribute the success and buzz you’ve managed to create?
AD: We always try to establish meaningful relationships with our listeners. I mean, a million people can add you as a friend, but that doesn’t mean anything unless you talk to that person and actually establish a relationship. Once you start doing that, you gain loyal fans. I’m constantly amazed how far people will go to support a band they love. We’ve had people call into radio stations trying to get our songs into rotation, posting bulletins about us, contacting friends, etc. When you have listeners like that, they tell their friends and then they tell their friends…
S*KM: In a recent review of your EP in the The Plain Dealer they described your sound as having “hints of Linkin Park sans the hip-hop influence.” How does that make you feel?
AD: To be honest, it rubbed me the wrong way a little bit. But I can understand where that came from. Linkin Park is definitely not an influence of ours, but we do listen to hip hop and rap, so I could see how someone could perceive some elements of our sound as hip hop-ish. BONE THUGS!!!
S*KM: With the loudness war body count rising, and today’s youth listening to a majority of their music on tiny computer speakers or headphones, do you feel there is a lost depth or quality from this shift in medium that directly affects your music, or are you listening to your iPod right now?
AD: Most of us have iPods. But there is something about an iPod that makes me feel like I’m missing out. It’s an experience to go to the music store and buy a CD and go through the booklet and appreciate their artwork. There are a lot more people than just the musicians that put work into a CD (artwork, design, liner notes, etc.). I would just hate to see all that talent go unrecognized. Also, something gets lost in the translation when converting a CD to a computer file. Anyone who has bought a Mars Volta album knows what I mean.
S*KM: Time to size up the competition. In your opinion, who is the best local band that gives Azimuth Dream a run for its money?
AD: Well, there are several bands that we have played with that have blown me away. Here is a short list of some of them:
• Asleep
• NSDWhoa!
• Deep Sleep Empire
• Amplexus
Check them all out.
S*KM: If you had the chance to take the place of any band and play a set for them, who would it be? (No split decision, everyone has to agree)
AD: The backing band for Hulk Hogan’s solo rap album. Hands down.
S*KM: If you could make up your own, non pretentious, “don’t have to dress up and sit through a three-hour ceremony award” that Azimuth Dream would win hands down, what would it be?
AD: The “Most Commonly Mis-Pronounced Band Name” Award.
S*KM: This is for all your female fans out there. How does Azimuth Dream like to be wined and dined when out on the town?
AD: Anything out of the ordinary.
S*KM: You can throw a few punches to figure this one out; who is the most skilled musician, or physically dominating member of the band?
AD: We try to look at the band as a whole as opposed to the individual members. Personally, I couldn’t ask for better musicians to work with. But if it came down to an old fashioned barn burner, I think Brad would win, I mean, he’s like a damn bear!
S*KM: Keeping the testosterone flowing, in a fight to the death who would win, Chuck Norris or Steven Segal?
AD: Wow, that’s weird that you’re next question was about fighting right after I said that. Chuck Norris, all the way.
S*KM: Last question, let’s finish strong. What is the greatest “this is why we started this band” moment for you thus far in your careers?
AD: I think it was realizing that we didn’t want to try to be like all of our idols anymore. We wanted to create something unique and that makes us happy, whether other people like it or not. I feel like this band marks the beginning of that mentality in my life. A band called Ever We Fall really opened my eyes.
You can sample Azimuth Dream for yourself at www.myspace.com/azimuthdream and can catch them live next at The Blue Notebook, in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday, April 25.
A reference to Hulk Hogan’s rap album moves you into my favorite bands. No questions asked.
love these guys