Introducing Primacy, a 5 piece Groove Metal band hailing from West Auckland. Primacy formed in mid 2014 after the split of well know local bands The Blacklight Configuration, Overhaile and Heathen Eyes – the timing was right, the songs were right and the team was right, Primacy came together as a collective around guitarist Adrian Brausch's new and unused material from his former band Overhaile. Jason and Sid from Primacy answered the following questions for muzic.net.nz:
Who are your role models in the NZ music industry?
Jason: The musicians I admire are Jon Toogood and Aaron Tokona, they're still writing, touring and evolving which is something I aspire to do for the rest of my life.
Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?
Jason: I would have to say our new single Shade Black and our newly written song Failure & Sacrifice, I love singing them both as they pretty much use most of my vocal range.
Sid: Wicked Ways would be my favourite to listen to. Catchy, melodic, strange time signature and I enjoy the vocals. However, I personally enjoy playing Transmission most for its groove and generally busier bass line.
How would you describe Primacy’s music in one sentence?
Jason: It varies between brutality and beauty, from dark to uplifting.
What has been your most memorable show to date?
Jason: With Primacy I would say being asked to play an industry showcase gig opening for Headcasey which features DIO's former guitarist – that was heaps of fun and the bar was filled right up, I think that was the first gig I came off stage feeling really excited and didn't pick the performance to pieces.
What local albums have you been enjoying recently?
Jason: The new Head Like a Hole album and Tainted's new album is really good too.... also The Audio Perception Project by Bill Rootes, there is some great underground stuff coming out.
Sid: Not so much albums. More like I sample some music whenever I stumble upon new local bands that are currently gigging. In the last year, I have listened a few times to Key to Infinity by Blackleaf Gardens, The Big Blue EP by JMC and a number of tracks from Remote.
What can we expect to see from Primacy over the next year?
Jason: You can expect to see us playing shows all over the North Island, we'd love to get down south for some shows, that would be pretty epic but yeah, more out of town shows and if everything keeps ticking along we will have more music to release with a music video, we are all pretty happy with how things have come together over the past year.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Sid: Keep doing what you love and don't be afraid to put yourself out there. It's hard work but the rewards are great.
Tell us about Primacy’s next release.
Jason: We went in and recorded 2 singles with Zorran Mendonsa Productions, Shade Black & Devils Cut, we are wanting to do 3 more songs for an E.P.
Shade Black is our first single and it's a very dark and moody song, melodically I took influence from Doom metal bands in the chorus but the verses are lighter and very dynamic... the song sums us up pretty well I think.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Jason: Hmmm I would say probably just getting too drunk and sucking really badly... lesson learnt, drink afterwards lol.
What inspired you to start Primacy?
Jason: Primacy was formed out of the members that quit a local Auckland band called Overhaile.
Will, Sadeer (Sid) and Adrian then asked Steve to come and play rhythm guitar while his band was on hiatus, my band Heathen Eyes had dissolved so I auditioned for the band and everything sat really well. I love Adrian's writing, we had a set ready for gigging in 3 or 4 months – we all love heavy guitars and big grooves so it has gelled quickly and well.
Primacy are 5-piece alternative metal band from West Auckland. They incorporate a groove metal base with other elements of hard rock, progressive metal and a twist of blues flavour.
Primacy were formed in 2014 after the split of well know local bands The Blacklight Configuration, Overhaile and Heathen Eyes – the timing was right, the songs were right and the team was right, Primacy came together as a collective around guitarist Adrian Brausch's new and unused material from his former band Overhaile.
Their first EP Failure and Sacrifice was released in 2016, and followed by a mini-EP in 2017 III.