20 May 2007 // An interview by Shade
What is your greatest achievement?
Greatest achievement in my eyes would be putting out the album, and having that released through 1157, along with touring and selling the album all over NZ and Australia. When we started this band I was just psyched to play out of town once and awhile, playing in my hometown was crazy enough!! Now we have gone to Australia twice, heading back there in a couple of weeks, played hundreds of shows around NZ, and met the best people ever through this band... So yeah ha-ha all of that.
What do you think could be done to make NZ music even better?
Less Indie rock more everything?? We seem to focus on whatever genre is in 'fashion' right now. You know we go all about hip hop, now it's all about indie rock. It'd be good if all bands (incl. the heavier side) got the help that these shitty rip off bands get. All these grants to take your music overseas, when the band hasn't done anything over here, maybe written ONE good song, (but all their other songs sound like shit) and have no steez on stage. I'm just sick of these bands that came and go, that gets a bunch of
grants make a video and then they are gone. When a heavier band won't get a second glance.
Where do you see yourselves in 5 years?
Man I don't even know where I'll be in a year. We will probably be all dead anyway, America would of started some war and nuked most of us. Or some disease will wipe us out because we don't know how to look after ourselves or the world anymore.
What is the best thing about making music?
The best thing that I’ve felt due to making music was our last trip to Australia playing somewhere on the gold coast where all the kids were singing along and going crazy. And this was the first time we had ever been there. The best thing about it is connecting with people, all these people saying that my lyrics have changed their mindset in one way, opened them up to veganism etc has totally made any struggle and hardship worth it for me. but seriously thinking about this question a little longer what isn't the best thing about making music? If you're doing what you love, playing the music you love, with your friends then that’s the best thing ever, for real.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Don't follow trends & don't try to make it big. Just play the music because you like it and it's what you love then you will have the best time ever. Don't try to be something you're not! And go vegan.
Antagonist is Sam (vocals), Kris (guitar), Ross (guitar), Josh (bass) and Israel (drums)
Their album 'These Cities, Our Graves' is out now.