U N C L E N C H
This interview was done with Steven and Jeff of the hardcore band UNCLENCH. It was done via Email in 1998.

TX: When did you guys get together, who is in the band, who has been in the band (Ex Members if any)?
STEVEN: In the summer of '96 Alex and I started the band. We're cousins and we've been playing together for a long time and trying to get a band going. Our friend introduced us to a drummer, named Steve Hickey. We recorded a demo with him and sent it to Jeff. My sister had met Jeff on the internet. Jeff liked the music so he joined the band. After we played some shows, our drummer quit for no reason what-so-ever. Jeff had been playing in another band called the Unstable Homebodies who lacked a vocalist. He proposed that his drummer and guitarist join Unclench. Everyone liked the idea and they joined the band.
JEFF: So the band's line up now is: Steven DiSebastian, vocals, Alex DiSebastian, guitar, Geoffry Thorne, drums, Virgil Lloyd, guitar, and Jeff Muckensturm, bass.

TX: How would you classify your music if you had to?
STEVEN: I guess the simplest way would be: hardcore. I would say we're a mix of old hardcore and new metal.
JEFF: Loud.

TX: You have a very distinct sound, what type's of music or bands influence your writing?
STEVEN: It's hard to say. We weren't really going for any certain sound. It wasn't like we sat down and said "I want to sound like this style music" or "I want to sound like this band", we just knew we wanted to play heavy, aggressive music. Personally, I would say bands like Inside Out and Judge have had an influence on me.
JEFF: We have a huge mix of influences. I like bands like Helmet, and Season to Risk. Alex likes Korn and the Deftones a lot. And Geoff and Virg like Into Another and cheesy bands like Rush. Geoff is a musical dork. When he joined the band he worked in the classical section of Tower Records. All he does is listen to music all day.
STEVEN: I don't even listen to much heavy stuff anymore. All the hardcore I like is pretty old. I listen to a lot of poppy punk now.

TX: Do you have repeating topics in your lyrics, like several songs about being Straight edge or whatever, or do you write differently each time?
STEVEN: So far we've tried to have different subject for the songs. I'm sure there will be reoccuring themes, but you get that with all bands. Some of our songs are political and some are personal. I feel that the lyrics are just as important as the music itself. If I'm not happy with the lyrics I wouldn't feel right using them. We want to have meaning behind all the songs.
JEFF: I love Steve's lyrics. I wrote lyrics for two songs. They are both about this kid Matt, and my ex-girlfriend. She cheated on me twice, so now I hate her. Matt was my best-friend, but now he's in a gang and does drugs a lot. I don't talk to him anymore.
STEVEN: wa.wa.wa. what a baby.
JEFF: My next song will be about how Alex is getting on my sister.

TX: How's the Hardcore and Punk scene in your city?
STEVEN: well... there's lots of assholes.
JEFF: No one shows up for our shows, cause no one knows who we are.
STEVEN: the scene is pretty beat around here. Not many people are putting on shows and nobody comes out to support the few that are put on. We have trouble finding shows in the area to play. There are a few venues, like the Cabbage Collective, but unless someone huge is playing, no one comes out and supports it.

TX: How many tapes, CD's 7"s have you done, anything new coming out?
STEVEN: We have a 3 song demo/cassette that we recorded when it was just Alex, I, and our old drummer. That's all we have out now. Now that things are going again and we have new members we're hoping to record some new stuff really soon.
JEFF: Yup.

TX: Any plans to tour in the near future?
JEFF: Probably some small thing next summer.
STEVEN: Yup.

TX: What was the best show you've played?
JEFF: The WE-Fest in Wilmington NC. There wasn't many people there, but it was still cool. This band Jostle played too, and they were really nice people. Hopefully we'll get to play with them again some day.
STEVEN: The day we played at the WE-fest was the punk/hardcore show. Not many people came, but they all were very into the music and very supportive. We also played a free show at a local record store, that was lots of fun because all our friends were there.

TX: Any bands you'd like to play with?
STEVEN: No.
JEFF: They don't know this, but I'd like to play with Purpose, and Earth Crisis.
STEVEN: Don't put Earth Crisis. I don't want to play with a band that yells about killing people. I'm lying, of course, because I would play just because there would be lots of people there. I would like to play with Jostle again and there are some other bands around that would be cool to play with too.

TX: What's in the immediate future for unclench and what do you want to do with the band long term?
JEFF: I'm in it for the money.
STEVEN: I'm in it for the wimmin'.
JEFF: Seriously, I'm just looking forward to playing shows around here.
STEVEN: Same here. For right now, I'm just happy playing out. I've been trying to get a band going for so long. It's just nice to finally be playing. Eventually, I'd like to record a full-length release. I'm hoping that the band will be around for a long time.



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