Interview with Cazimi

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Music touches everyone to a greater or lesser extent; for me it's the former; it's in our DNA rhythm and melody. Engineering, which is the day job.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Graphic design, scuba diving (not so much now), interviews. Painting, drawing, so I have a very creative mind.

How long has your band been around?

In this incarnation about 2 years.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Sunderland, Jarrow, Cleadon and Gateshead, UK. I can't say that this influences the music specifically but it might.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Chanced upon the term and liked the etymology; it derives from an ancient Greek term and means 'in the heart' which very much describes our passion for music. It's used in astrology also but we have no connection with that.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

We did a great show with Imperial Wax recently who are made up of the most recent incarnation of The Fall, so that was pretty special. Although it hasn't happened yet, I think our forthcoming gig as guests of Punishment of Luxury will end up being the most memorable for me; being musical heroes.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Westgarth and Trillians are both great venues and we've played both. Glastonbury Festival is the dream.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

A festival featuring Cazimi, QOTSA, Hawkwind, The Stranglers, Led Zeppelin, Massive Attack, Leftfield, Wire, The Stranglers, Wet Leg, Sports Team, Gweno, First Aid Kit, Arcade Fire, Goldfrapp, Nick Cave, Pixies, Killing Joke, Radiohead, Simple Minds, This is the Kit, Yard Act, The Blinders, La Luz, Sun's Signature, Buckley & Butler.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Write lots of stuff which will be mostly sh*te - don't give up then the gems may eventually come.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Don't waste time.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

They all mean something, not one more than any other.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

‘Echo’ and ‘Coming Home’.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I start with the music and have a journal of ideas for lyrics/poems. The songs are about the human condition and cover all aspects of love and death, politics, fear, madness, self-delusion and obsession. Sometimes they are vague in meaning because the lyrics come from the sub-conscious: I have a technique where when I'm falling asleep bizarre phrases and ideas come to the fore and I wake myself up and write them down - in some ways like the literary collage techniques used by Burroughs and others. I also keep a diary like most lyricists, of interesting things I read and hear that I use as inspiration.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

There's no message as such, we aren't preaching.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

All the time and it's usually always amicable and ends up with improvements to the songs in one form or another.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We have an EP launch gig at The Vaux Rooms in The Ship Isis pub in Sunderland on 20th August and will be announcing guests soon. Keep in touch at - https://www.cazimi.co.uk/