The Moderates

Ok, so tell us the current line-up and some personal info about you guys.
Khai Sin(K.S): We are all staying in the westside. I play drums.
Satish(S.T): We are from the West Coast. I try to play guitar.
Daniel(D.N): Ok, my name is Daniel and i play guitar. Mad Noor plays bass and sings.

How did the band get started and what is the motivation behind it?
S.T: Started because of Teachers' s Day celebrations!
D.N: Not really.
S.T.: We started as a grunge band. There was a metal drummer, he(Mad Noor) played bass, I screamed and there was a guitarist who played Guns N Roses a lot. So that didn't work out and the other two guys left and this is the current line-up.

So why do you call yourselves 'The Moderates'?
S.T: Firstly, we are only moderately good, we are not that great. Secondly, as you can see, we are not extreme with mohawks and stuff, neither do we segregate ourselves by only hanging out with punk rock or hardcore people. Our friends range from Ah-Bengs to people who like whatever bands. So by being Moderates, we are not extremely on the left, not on the right, not really in the centre also, somewhere wavering towards the left.
D.N: Why left?
S.T: Left makes sense. But of course certain things like racism you can't be moderately tolerant of. The name suits our band, we have one vegetarian, one Christian, one anti-Christ, one Muslim. So we all don't have the same ideals and everything, you know, so the name 'Moderates' just make sense.

When you say left, do you mean communism/socialism?
S.T: I don't know about the rest, but I believe in moderate socialism, which I think is the best way for a country to be ruled. I don't know whether this term has been used before, some people just calls it 'democratic socialism'.

Who/what influences you guys personally/musically?
M.N: John Steinback!
S.T: And a lot of Fat Wreck bands.
D.N: Yup.

What changes will you like to see in society today?
S.T: A lot of stuff. Can you be more specific?

Ok, let's say political?
S.T: In Singapore or the world in general?

Hmm. The world in general.
S.T: Basically, now the world's superpower is U.S.A. and Britain is a puppet of US. So if you want to see changes in world politics right, the trend should be more towards the left side of politics. In France now they have a right government. I think there should be a leftward shift in politics in the world. That will be better for society as a whole.

What about the rest of you? What do you think?
M.N: We are not so concerned about politics, we'll leave it all to him.

But what about other changes in society? Like social changes?
S.T: NO N.S!
M.N: I wish everyone is a better person than they are, but come to think of it, there's always this balance thing between good and evil, so I don't think it's possible and I will just have to accept it the way it is.
D.N: My views are pretty spiritual and I just want to one nation under God. It's personal, not the band opinion.
KS: No comments.
M.N: Oh yeah, and that local record companies sign The Moderates.
D.N: It's easier.

How far do you think the local punk scene will grow?
S.T: Won't grow, the major companies don't sign punk groups anymore. The trend died already; now it's ska and electronica. So punk bands have to scrounge up money and record yourselves.

But being a punk means being anti-establishment, no?
S.T: Not really. Being anti-establishment for the sake of being anti-establishment is plain stupid.

Why do you think it's so beneficial being under a record company?
S.T: I hate business aspects and when we made this cassette, I was mostly in charge of the business/financial aspects and it was a headache and I think if I don't have to do all that, the band could have concentrated more on the music.

What pisses you off about the local scene?
K.S: Sexist! Extreme sexist!
S.T: Girls have it better. We should all have a sex change operation. If we were girls, I think we will get more gigs, more people will come and see our shows; probably even get signed.
M.N: There's definitely too much bickering about who's punk and who's not. Definitely way too much.
K.S: Yeah, and also what's a sell-out and what's not. I think people should concentrate on more important things.
D.N: Segregation. There're a lot of cliques. It's not easy to mix around so you get lonesome sometimes.

But Satish, don't you think girl bands have to face all the jeering from some guys and people not taking them seriously because they are girls?
S.T: I think that was in the '80s.I think the '90s mindset change a lot already. I think it's beneficial to be a girl nowadays. Next time, I will be a girl.

Most of your lyrics seem to be about self-righteous chauvinists. What do you think?
M.N:I just write about anything that I noticed, and anything and everything that comes to my mind, or any issues that are most current now, like 'the hall' was especially inspired by John Steinback(earlier on, Mad Noor and Satish kept raving about his book 'Grapes of Wrath'.).I never read any of his other books, but it's enough to say he's one of my favourites, though I don't read much, because it's about economy overpowering humanity and stuff; they'd rather save money than save lives and that's kinda shitty I think. The other songs are more social-wise, like 'bigot'.

What do you think of all those early pioneer punk bands who are now doing their reunion tours?
S.T: It's their wish; if they wanna do it, do it.
M.N: I suppose they can't find another way to earn good money( Satish says yeah and laughs) so it's kinda cool actually. I wish I was in that situation where I could just form any band and then "Oh yes man, come to my concert!" ,put some money into my pocket and stuff and at least i get to eat good food right?

If you can be a cartoon character, who will you want to be?
M.N: DOGBERT!
(everyone goes "who's that?" and "what the fuck is that?") M.N: From 'Dilbert' comic strip. The best cartoon strip ever. (everyone looks enlightened.)

Why?
M.N: Because he's so smart! He can rule the world with just a snap of the finger, yes.
K.S: Deprived childhood, no cartoons.
S.T: Dexter from Dexter's Lab.
M.N: HUH? That, I have never heard before.
S.T: You have never seen Dexter's Lab before? *looks shocked* It's an amazing cartoon, Dexter and his sister DeeDee(???),that guy's shiok, he can turn into a monster, he's a short guy, he is a physics expert; something I am not ,so I wanna be Dexter.
D.N: Spiderman. Because he can climb walls, very fun.
M.N: And look at girls. *laughs*

What do you think is the biggest obstacle that feminists have to face nowadays?
S.T: Their ownselves. Some of them are femi-Nazis and they themselves are their own obstacles.
K..S: Shouldn't be any equal rights. Let's say females are better looking after children, why don't they just look after children ;if guys are better working outside, why can they just work outside?
S.T(seriously): I don't know this guy. He's not our drummer.
K.S: Since females are more emotional in the motherly instinct, they are more suited for looking after their children while males who are usually more insensitive and less emotional maybe more suited for economic work. So if a girl is good at politics she should go ahead and there shouldn't be any obstruction. That is what it means by equal rights and not simply setting proportions like there have to be at least two female members in parliament or the husband must help out at home. The same applies for racism.

What else do you guys do besides playing in a band?
S.T: Get sick.
K..S: Study, study, study.
M.N: Play CM2,the best game ever!
D.N: Worshipping God.

What talents do you possess that you feel are being underrated?
S.T: The Moderates. When we stand individually, we are nothing; when we come together, then only there is talent. Because if we go to a guitar shop individually, I think people will laugh at us. When we play together, you can see some talent and that talent is underrated I guess.

Are you guys working on anything now?
S.T: Hopefully, by end of next year we'll have a 12-song CD with some hidden tracks out .Yup, hopefully.

Ok, any last topics you wanna voice out?
S.T: Pritpal, when the hell is your compilation coming out?
D.N: If you noticed, I did say 'no thanx' to my family as they didn't let me get out of my home to record. It's not that I don't like them, I love them, they are my family, I have to support them. So please don't get mistaken.
M.N: I think Fann Wong is very 'chio'.
S.T: Bad Religion and Greg Graffin still rule!
K.S: Studios' got to be cheaper. Recording's got to be cheaper.

Alright then, that's all. Thanks for the interview. The Moderates: Thank you.

Band Contact: moder8@hotmail.com

Satish: Blk 33, Tanglin Halt Rd, #05-07 S142033