1. How did you came up with the name of the band?
Chris - The band name came around as a joke really. We kept coming up with names, play a show and then find out that there was already a band with that name. Upcdownc seemed unlikely to be already used as it was so stupid.
2. Do you have a standard procedure of creating a song? Do you just jam around or is there a main riff and the track is build up on it?
Chris - Sometimes we jam on an idea or a riff and other times there will be a general song/structure already in place where people will then add their own parts to it. We also do somethings completely off the cuff and spontaneously.
3. What are your influences and what kind of music do you hear when you are at home?
Chris - As a band, our influences are quite broad. We all grew up on the 90's grunge stuff so bands like Nirvana, Mudhoney, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins then later Deftones were early influences and then to the tale end of the 90s stuff like Mogwai, God speed and Warp records stuff. Nowadays, it can be anything from Swans, Goblin, Death Grips to The Carpenters, Johnny Cash or Kiss on the van stereo.
Jim - We have a pretty broad taste in the music we like, as Chris just said from bands like Ufomammut to weird 70's horror soundtracks. I think (hope) these varying tastes come across in our music.
4. What’s the first record you've ever bought ?
Chris - Me, personally it was Jingo by Jellybean. Album wise it was either Americas least wanted by Ugly Kid Joe or Aerosmith - Big ones.
Jim - Mine is nothing to be proud of really! My first records were Shine by Aswad and Crazy by Let Loose. First album was Steam by East 17.
Dale - Orville - I wish I could fly
5. Name a band that you would like to share the stage or tour with ?
Chris - Red Fang would be cool. They seem to have as big a love for beer as we do so it would be a challenge plus they rock hard. Always a must.
6. Did the internet and specially the blogs helped to spread your music around the world? Name a place (country) that you were suprised to know your music has reached to?
Chris - The internet is always a big help and a new way of sharing your music seems to pop up every day. It's always interesting to see that someone in Indonesia or China has ordered our stuff or watched our video, as we have never visited.
Jim - I love looking at the stats on our Youtube videos especially the countries when we get views, we've been getting quite a few in America so hopefully we can go out there and play soon.
7. Do you support the idea of bandcamp where fans can decide the price or services like spotify?
Chris - Yes. We have put a few things up for free or name a price.
8. Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Chris - Well, we've been a band now for 14 years so hopefully still playing and releasing stuff. Obviously, as we get older there will be the usual obstacles of starting a family etc but for me, music is an extension of my existence so I can never really see me stopping completely.
9. Is the artwork of an album important nowadays in the digital era?
Chris - 100%. I rarely download, but if I do, then I will always print the cover off. As a band that does it's own artwork, as much thought will go in to the art and cover as will for the music. It's the snap shot you will always think of when you have that album in mind plus it always helps when browsing for records as you always know when something is Death Metal or whatever.
Jim - I'm quite a big downloader, but i must admit i will always buy an album if the artwork is cool before even hearing what the band sound like.
10. What is you favorite album cover?
Chris - Growing up, I always loved the Iron Maiden covers to the point where I had T-shirts with Eddie on before I had even heard the band. To pick one cover is pretty difficult so will go with Nirvana - Incesticide as I have a portion of that on my arm.
Jim - I like it when bands do something special with the artwork so for me Sisterworld by Liars with the concertina CD sleeve.
11. It seems that a lot of people are turning on vinyl again. Why do you think that is and which is your preferable media format?
Chris - I love vinyl. It just sounds so much better and it's great that more and more bands are releasing it in that format. Plus, from an artistic point of view, you have so much more to work with.
Jim - Its quite nice having something big in your hand!
12. What's the funniest story or moment as a band?
Chris -We're all pretty stupid people and as a band, we all share the same sense of humour so we are always messing around. Playing what was essentially a restaurant during someones 60th birthday was pretty funny as we refused to play until they had finished their meal as no one wants a heavy band playing during that.
Upcdownc are currently recording their 6th album, the follow up to Black Sea, at Ranscombe Studios, Rochester! Their new album marks a complete U-turn on their normal sound and is the soundtrack to a new movie “Faster than Evil”. The film itself is in the early stages but is the debut film from Horror director, Dexter Thrasher.
More info: