Sanzen have been around on the Nottingham scene now for a good 5 years, being one of the most known underground bands in the area and with many fans accross this ciy, they are finally getting the attention they deserve with support slots with Skindred & Pitchshifter at Rock City, now with a record due out and dates accross the UK.
Jon – Vocals
Andy – Bass Guitar
Ben – Guitar
Rob – Guitar (M.I.A)
Scott – Drums
We caught up caught up with them at the OLD ANGEL
Steph : Recently you won a Battle of the Bands and got to play Rock City with Pitchshifter and Skindred, how have things been going the last few months and what did that gig do for you?
Scott : Yeah, that gig was great, it was the first time we had played main stage and it was everything we hoped it would be. It has been good cause through my space and stuff we have been getting lots of gigs, both here and out of town and we have been running it all ourselves, we just recorded our album and so its been busy, it has taken it out of us you know?
We have been gigging loads, getting ourselves out there, working with new bands and promoters and just playing any old bill.
Steph : Cool, so where have you been playing?
Scott : York, Southend…..
Jon : Middlesborough and we have Northampton on Friday.
Andy : Worksop, Doncaster, Derby, Liverpool and we are gonna get a couple of gigs in Glasgow!
We have been building up a contact list of promoters and stuff that we are constantly talking to, then we are getting some artwork done.
Jon : The Album is out in July.
Steph : Yeah, how’s that gone? Where have you been recording it?
Jon : It has already been done. It is called ‘This is Gun City’
(Everyone chuckles)
Scott : It is a generallisation about everything we see in this city, it is all based on us and how we see things.
Jon : Keeps it more about us, rather than tryint to be all american as fuck! You know what I mean we are trying to but something more personal, about where we live, about our city.
Ben : It is honest rather than trying to be something we are not.
Andy : We are just trying to keep it our own style and enjoying it you know? We want it to be real for us and say something about us, it is the same with our live gigs, we want to keep it real and not try and be something but just be Sanzen. At the moment we are enjoying all the stuff we are doing and we are having fun writing and playing you know?
We have been doing this for 5 or 6 years now and it had always been an aim to get the backing of a record company, now we have that we just want to keep pushing ourselves….
Jon : Its just about being at the top of the game you know, you get to the top of one fucking ladder, the unsigned and aim to be the best at that and then set the level higher so now we need to work hard at climbing the signed ladder.
Scott : You just got to keep working your way up, we have worked at the smaller level for a long time, played with all these unsigned bands, played with everyone, anywhere and got a good word about us so now we have new challenges and new higher aims.
Ben : It is one of those industries where what you put in is what you get out so we try to work as hard as we can. If your not willing to flog your guts out then you won’t get anywhere, it is hard work but it is worth it.
Andy : Constancy is the most important thing, to be constantly good each night, constantly write good songs and constantly put up with each other is hard, we have all thrown ourselves into this and it is great but it is a big challenge to kepp up that stamina and keep upping your game.
Jon : It is a learning curve too.
Andy : Yeah, we don’t try to pay attention to other bands to much, we just try to do our thing, enjoy it, meet new bands, play new venues and more gigs and get into good relationships
Scott : I have toured round the U.K a couple of times and it is just great meeting all these new people and having a laugh.
Steph : Cool, okay, for people who haven’t heard Sanzen before how would you describe yourselves, your influences and what sort of thing would you say people would like about you?
Ben : It is Rock n Roll old school Metal! All the songs on the album have a Rock n Roll feel but with a heavy metal and hardcore edge to them.
Andy : It is pretty raw but it is catchy enough and has that constant groove. There is a heavy, dirty side but we take every band we see and put it into our own context. If we don’t like a band that influences as much as a band we think are great.
Jon : it is like a big puzzle and over the years you start putting it together and getting your own sound you know? Some bands are great and tight but just have that extra edge missing, we strive to find that and to have that something different, that cutting style.
Scott : Not everyone realises how long it might take to get your own sound. It has taken us years to get it all together.
Andy : Our sound’s changed a lot over the years but time is part of the process of perfecting your own sound.
Jon : it is very rare that a new band is like really original and happy with their sound straight away and everyone loves them, you have to get experience and experiment for a while.
Andy : You can write some songs, and get a set, play a few gigs but at first it is just whoever starts the idea it takes time to get everyones influences involved. It takes time to learn to work as a band and all be involved.Jon : But if we did get everyone involved all the time it would be crazy and sound as funny as fuck!
Andy : Thats the thing though we haven’t ever tried to listen to one band or genre and fit into it, we all have some different tastes but there is an influence of it all, Metal, some old Punk stuff, Jon likes his Grunge and stuff, Alice in Chains and things and then there is a heavier Metal-core influence too but thats how we found our sound by all putting ourselves into it.
Ben : So our not just wearing your influences obviously on your sleeve like drawing from something but not simply ripping it off.
Scott : It is like when I heard Clutch, I used a lot of there ideas not ripping it off exactly as the songs where not Clutch but that influenced me but the others were influenced by other stuff…..it is ok to let bands and bands ideas influence you but you perfect your style from that.
You have to be your self and do it for you, if others like it they like it, great if they don’t, nevermind as long as it is what you want to play.
Steph : Okay guys what is next for you?
Sanzen in Unison : GIGS, GIGS and MORE GIGS! THE ALBUM!!!
Scott : The album is out soon and should hopefully get a launch party at Rock City sometime soon, no date confirmed yet though.
Ben : We aren’t sure of that date at City but we are putting together more stuff and dates for the tour.
Andy : People should just look at the my space as we are updating that with all the tour dates as soon as we have them.
Ben : Realistically, I think we will be just touring and pushing the sound out there to new people as much as we can for the next 12 to 18 months.
Jon : It is paying off though as we are playing all these new venues we have never played before and seeing all these new faces and kids singing along to the songs…..
Andy : No matter what anyone says about my space that is one great thing about it, it has helped us get new people to the gigs and make loads of new friends and contacts and fans.
Steph : Sweet, last but not least, shout outs…anyone you want to mention and thank!
Andy : Can I say thanks to Jonny and Paul who produce our stuff, they helped us get our own sound when we have recorded stuff they are great.
Ben : Mark at In at the Deep End Records
Scott : All the punks!
Jon : …and everyone at The Old Angel, that it I think…cheers like….
Ben : Yeah we should thank Pitchshifter too….
Andy : That was the night we got signed! That was a big night, playing the main stage at City and with Pitchshifter and getting signed was just amazing!
Jon : Nottingham has been the basis of everything we are so we’d just like to thank Gun City!
