Rock n' rollers infused with punk attitude is what Ana calls themselves. They have released an EP and have played shows with more in the works! Josh Augustine talks of the EP, shows, and more details about Ana and what the future holds!
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Josh: Ana was formed after my old band dismembered due to me playing bass on tour with Wilson (Detroit / The Agency Group / Easy Killer Records). Once the tour was over with Wilson, there was a dry spell where I became bored. I love those guys to death, and their tunes, but it wasn't for me (especially bass) and they agreed I needed to continue to pursue my own music. So I started Ana with our drummer Kyle Phelps in January 2013, and at the time he was playing guitar and sold all of his gear to buy a kit. Solid dude.
We went about two months with just him and I writing songs until the bassist from my old band, Anthony Palsgrove, decided to hop on the train of rock. As a power trio, we wrote six songs in two months, and recorded four of them with Nick Diener of The Swellers. Played shows all throughout spring and summer with Cancer Bats, Wilson, Bam Margera F$ckface Unstoppable and others until we decided, "Hey, we need that other guitar to beef things up!".
That's when our (now) friend Eric Gerholz was basically forced upon us by Jonathan (Nicks brother / drummer of The Swellers) via text. I think it went something like "You guys should have Eric play second guitar in your band. It would be dope."; and literally that week we had him come out and jam. We barely knew anything about the dude, other than his other hardcore band Shogun and seeing him at shows. Pretty sure we're kicking him out soon, but he hates us anyways!
2. What type of band are you?
Josh: Rock N Roll with a Punk attitude.
3. How would you describe your style? Which bands influenced your music?
Josh: It's always hard to define what type of band you are because with every song, comes a new destination on where your music is going. Also, every band normally starts off this question that way. But, it is true. We like to think we're a heavy metal band, but with pop structure and melody. Think Pantera had a baby with Nirvana: That's us.
We're heavily influenced by 90's grunge era, 80's hair metal, early 2000's "post hardcore" (love 'post' genres - sarcasm) and Slayer. Every member has such a wide variety of what we're into, most people would be surprised: Thrice, Justin Timberlake, Every Time I Die, Pantera, Yellowcard, Refused, Saves the Day, Mastadon, The Misfits, The Smiths, The Get Up Kids, White Zombie, Skid Row, Van Halen, Pennywise, The Beatles; the list goes on. Some of the shit on our iPods could be considered embarrassing, but we embrace it!
4. How did you guys come up with your band name?
Josh: I came up with it. I wanted a girls name so when playing shows, we sounded friendly to kids parents. "Mom! Can I go see Ana tonight with so and so?" - "Sure honey!". Then they arrive at our show to hear extremely pissed off music and a lot of vulgarity. It was between Ana or Elsa. One meaning of Ana was "She who will rise again", and I thought that was pretty rad.
5. What have you released so far and how were your releases received by the public/media?
Josh: We've released an EP "Salute to Solitude" and also a beefed up cover of "Zero" by The Smashing Pumpkins. All of which was recorded by Nick Diener of The Swellers. Everything is on iTunes and Bandcamp (anakills.bandcamp.com) and so far has gone quite well in just a year. We've received a lot of positive responses, and a lot of negatives. Either way, people are listening and that's all that matters. We dig criticism anyways!
6. Who writes the songs, what are they about?
Josh: I usually come up with a riff and bring it to practice to bash it out with the guys to get something rolling together. Sometimes, I have whole songs written. Once you're in the mood, you can't and shouldn't stop yourself. I do prefer writing as a group though. The songs are quite personal. I really don't want to give out what they mean, because someone else could take my lyrics completely opposite of what the song actually means to me; and that's what I go for: I aim to please myself first, but make sure the song can be interpreted in more ways than just one. I most definitely never use "He, She, Girl, Boy" etc. in lyrics. I think that restricts songs. It bums me out when I'm totally into a song, rocking out and then it's branded towards a certain sex.
7. What's new in the recording of your music?
Josh: We just recorded two new singles with Nick, once again; but this time at 37 Studios (Rochester, MI - Chiodos, I See Stars, Hawthorne Heights, YelaWolf, MGK, Attack Attack!, Emmure) with our sidekick Matt Dalton (Who also runs a rad summer festival called DirtFest!). They should be released hopefully by spring.
8. Do you play live as well? How's your live activity so far?
Josh: We do! That's the sole purpose of playing music: the adrenaline rush and satisfaction (or dissatisfaction haha) of playing live. We've played great shows, and awful ones. Regardless, we've always kept our heads up and try to have the best time despite the situation of the night.
9. How do you promote your band and shows?
Josh: Social media of course. That's it… Sike! Word of mouth is still the largest promotional tool. We usually carry around those retro things called Compact Discs with us in our cars, and any spark of conversation with strangers, we mention the band. Plus flyers at malls of course. Gotta keep that 80's DIY attitude!
10. Describe your show, visual and musically.
Josh: Our visual is us four fuckin dudes, sweating and getting down and dirty with their instruments. We try and keep the live version of our songs as close to the recordings as possible, but while still maintaining a show and not looking like Chuck-E-Cheese robots. We don't believe in light shows, gimmicks or any of that nonsense. Just straight "Wear the clothes you wore for the day to the show" rock.
11. What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
Josh: We're four normal, yet good-looking (marketable!) dudes who have been playing music quite a while, just in different projects. Basically, we're family, but family that doesn't fight. We're all on the same track on where we want to take our songs, shows, and a potential career in general with Ana. Can't stop! Won't stop!
12. If you could pick a song or a release of yours for someone who has never heard you before, which would it be and why should they hear it?
Josh: "Army Green" - it has all the flavors of what we're doing: Melody, heavy riffs, punk rock beats, solos, and pissed off singing. It basically defines the band and what we're going for.
13. What are your dreams and goals?Josh: Have a fucking fantastic time writing, performing and recording our music. We want to be the biggest fucking band in the world (Doesn't the majority of artists doing this…?), but with today's industry, we don't want to succumb to the major label turds who basically control what comes out of you. So we're completely cool staying Indie. Dealing with those corporate fucks who know nothing other than how to wipe their own ass, we sure as hell wouldn't give them rights to our hard work and dedication.
14. What advice would you give to fellow bands?
Josh: Play as many shows as possible. Suck and keep sucking until you get better at what YOU do, not what everyone else is doing. Make friends with everyone you can, and enemies will come along the way… But, smile and let them hate you and continue on with what you're doing. Because no one else can be you, and that's why you rule!
15. What plans do you have for the near future as a band?
Josh: Shows, shows, shows, tour and write/record as many jams as we can!
16. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Josh: You can find us online by checking out our music at the following links;
http://anakills.bandcamp.com
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/salute-to-solitude/id721009053
Soundcloud.com/anasheep
17. What inspires you to do what you do?
Josh: It's in our blood. We all couldn't get the satisfaction from playing shows, recording, or even practicing than anything else in this world. It's our release from reality. It IS our reality. Without music, where would any of us be? The next time you think of a musician as a human without a life, think of the life of humanity without music.
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