Bangarang is a four-member band hailing from Garland, Texas. Download their mp3 of "Closet Organ" here, or visit their website at bangarang.us. They are currently working on a full-length album.

01. Introduce yourselves for our anxious readers.
(Randy) Hi. I'm Randy and this is Nolan... and together we're: 50% of a band you've never heard of.
(Nolan) Haha.

02. What’s a Bangarang and why did you choose it?
(Nolan) Well, it's from the movie 'Hook' originally, but the direct connection between the two has dwindled since our inception. When they chose it (I had yet to join the band), I guess they thought that the Lost Boy's battle cry was a good example of the kind of energy and focus they wanted to have as a band. Now, it's become even more of a mentality that we've all adopted. Plus, it's got a nice ring to it, I'd say.

03. How did the band start out?
(Randy) It's actually kind of a long, epic tale that we'd rather not get into. However, what I can tell you is that we all met out of desperation in high school, our original name was over 29 characters in length, and one of our previous bass players died. Told you it was a long story.

04. How would you guys describe your music?
(Randy) The most concise description we could come up with ourselves is: psychedelic noise-pop explosion. But everyone knows the best descriptions come from the listeners. Most people don't quite know where to categorize us or what to make of the music. My favorite so far has been, "It's pop music - but it's fucked up!" If you cut out all the nonsense, that's it right there.

05. Where do you guys do your recording? (Randy) For our last two records, it was wherever we could go to get the best quality / cheapest deal. However, we're not into settling anymore, so we've upped the production value a bit for the next album. We're doing it at a studio in Denton, TX known as the Echo Lab. I believe the Polyphonic Spree has recorded there, as well as some of our favorite artists.

06. What is the Texas music scene like?
(Randy) Somewhat depressing. At least for us. It's very regional. As in, you'll get a ton of bands doing the exact same thing depending on what city / metropolis area you're near. Around Dallas, where we're from, everything's sort of focused on either nerdy 3-chord power-pop or metrosexual hardcore / punk. Needless to say, if we're playing anywhere aside from Denton, we've got to be a bit selective about who else is on the bill.

07. Who are your influences?
(Nolan) I think that I speak for everyone when I say that bands like Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Blur, My Bloody Valentine, and The Smiths are huge influences on us all. But really, everything we've heard (and everything we haven't heard) plays a crucial role in arranging the songs.

08. The tracks on the 'Closet Organ' Split EP seem a lot more refined than the previous release. What was the difference between the two?
(Randy) Money, time, and attitude. The first record was us needing SOMETHING down on tape, having hardly any studio experience whatsoever, and hurrying to get done. We were lucky enough to have worked with a great friend of ours for the first two EPs, Donnie DeBoer, who actually produced and engineered both at his house. In addition to us growing as a band and devoting more time to experimentation in the studio, Donnie went through a major gear upgrade, and as far as recording quality goes... you can tell. I think the contrast between the two records actually speaks a little for the variety of sounds we're able to produce as a band.

09. What do you guys have planned for the upcoming future?
(Randy) Most notably, the new record. It's going to be a big job. We're once again taking things in a slightly different direction. It's going to be our first time in a major studio recording to analog tape instead of digital. It's also going to be our first time composing sheet music for our extra players - a horn and string section and a choir. One thing we don't have many plans for are shows. But we hope to be involved in a few festivals here and there.

11. Have you guys been actively seeking a record label?
(Randy) Ha. No. And as far as we know they haven't actively been seeking us either. We did create our own small label for legal reasons. Though we'd love to get the kind of distribution and financial help a bigger label can offer us, we definately don't want to compromise our artistic integrity. Some friends of ours who recently signed with Warner are experiencing A&R backlash right now. We don't want to be pushed for hits or live in fear of getting dropped for not selling enough units. It's scary out there.

12. How important do you think a record label is?
(Nolan) It seems that the label has become of less and less importance as technology has advanced. You can create massive, professional-quality studios in your home (or scrape together enough money to use someone else's), use the internet to get your music to households around the entire globe, and make the cds as they're ordered with your own online 'store.' As I see it, why would I even want our CD at some overpriced store in the mall, or at any other chain? The music is there for those who want it.

13. How have you guys been promoting yourselves as an independent band?
(Randy) We used to play lots of shows, but that didn't really work as well as we'd hoped. Mostly word of mouth, small amounts of CD sales. The interweb's been really good to us. That's how you stumbled upon us, right?

14. If you could form your ideal tour lineup, what would it be?
(Randy) Through Europe with Just Ignore Us opening.
(Nolan) Any band that enjoys playing in a live setting, and does it with grace and style. Bands like Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, Blur, and Sonic Youth can floor any audience in front of them, and that's what is key. Any of those bands would be right at home on my 'ideal' tour lineup. As long as they were playing with us, of course.

15. What do you guys do when you’re not making music?
(Randy) Work, school, eat, sleep. Wait, what do you mean when we're not making music?
(Nolan) School and work take up a considerable amount of our free time, but other than that, we're all very religious and enjoy observing what's around us. We have other hobbies, but who wants to hear about that?

16. Our magazine has a color theme for every month, and next month’s theme is red. What does that color remind you of?
(Randy) The blood of the innocent.
(Nolan) All the other colors that aren't red. That, and communism.

17. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
(Randy) We need money.
(Nolan) Two and two.


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