Titan by Matt Dixon, April '09

All Photos by Burkhard Müller (facetheshow.com)

His Eminence from Split with June Paik

1. It's safe to say that you don't waste any time. In just a few short years you've released a 12" EP, a split 12" with the amazing June Paik, a split 7" with In First Person, not to mention seemingly relentless touring; all the while remaining dedicated to the DIY ethic and being quite vocal about it. I have a lot I want to get to; but I'd like to begin the interview by getting your impressions of what Titan means to you and what drives you to work so hard at your craft.
(laughing) You actually forgot that we wrote and recorded another EP called Colossus in 2008, but have sort of been sitting on it looking for the right home. We had some interest from a couple labels but it didn't end up working out. I think we have something solid in the works now but we'll need to wait and see just for sure.

I can really only speak for myself when I talk about what Titan means to me. I think we all probably have different ideas and interpretations of what we do and what drives us. For me Titan is pretty cathartic. Writing songs and playing shows is a release; a way to just pour out all the stress and the bullshit. We've become like family over these last 3 years, we've really grown together through a lot of hard times and shitty situations, so on another level Titan means family to me.

As far as what drives me, I don't exactly know what it is. There's just something inside me that won't let me give us. When past bands have broken up, I've always been looking forward towards the next project. There's some part of me that finds fulfillment in the act of making music with other people. And when you create something that you're proud of, you want to show it to other people. The only real way to show other people is to tour. I mean, the internet is great and all, but it's just not the same as playing live or seeing a band live. Not too mention, playing shows and touring is way more fun than our "regular" jobs! I've met so many great people through touring and made some really close friends.

2. I'd like to expand on the touring aspect of the band a little bit further. I've noticed your tour itineraries tend to include a number of house shows and shows at DIY spaces. Could you please explain your relationship with the DIY ethic and how it has influenced the band and how it goes about its business (putting out records, booking tours, etc).
I love house shows because they're so intimate. There's something fun about being crammed into a small place with a bunch of kids. house shows are usually just a great vibe. We've been really lucky to play some awesome houses around North America and Europe.

As far as DIY goes, I've always had a close relationship with it. But I'm careful to be critical of it as well. I really don't think DIY should be taken literally, where some band would do -everything- themselves. One of my favourite parts of being involved in music is the community that is associated with it. So when it comes to putting our records, we'd much rather work with labels that are our friends than release our records by ourselves. I love being able to work together with people where we all benefit, rather than focusing on doing it ourselves. Maybe some people disagree with it, but that's my interpretation of it at least. We've done a bunch of records with React with Protest now, and they're basically like family to us. We stayed with them at their house for at least a week while we were in Europe and they really welcomed us with open arms and treated us as though we had been friends for years.

For the most part we take care of our own booking. Over the years I've gotten a pretty awesome network of friends who are always more than happy hook us up with a show when we're passing through their town. The best part about booking with friends is that they never judge you or get pissed when your cheap ass van breaks down in the middle of nowhere and you have to miss the show! haha. For me it all comes down to that network, that community. I've met so many awesome people and made a lot of lasting friendships. I guess that sums up my relationship with DIY.

3. I want to talk about the European tour, but first I'm glad you mentioned React With Protest because I would like to get into your relationship with them a little bit. They've done quite a few good things and have been involved with a lot of rad bands: Ottawa's Buried Inside, Italy's La Quiete, Raein (also from Italy), Utarid from Malaysia, Louise Cyphre, Merkit, the list goes on and on. How did you first get involved with the label and how did your relationship flourish to where it is now; putting out records together and as you said regarding them as family?
That's actually a funny story. I first came in contact with Lars because he asked my previous band to be on a 12'' compilation that he was putting together. Titan recorded the Chrysanthemum Pledge as a demo and I sent it around to a few people. Lars wrote us back and said he really wanted to release it as a 12''. Not surprisingly though, that guy LOVES canadian hardcore. And the rest was history. Lars booked our tour of europe in June 2008, where we supported the Chrysanthemum Pledge 12'' (which actually went OOP at our last show of tour) and the Titan/June Paik split 12'' that React with Protest also released. Lars and his wife Sabine really went out of their way to take care of us while we were on tour and made sure everything was going smoothly for us. We really bonded. It was awesome. We basically lived at their house for about a week. We all helped chip in with the cooking and the cleaning. It ended up feeling like one big family.

4. I look at the bands they've (React With Protest) worked with and it strikes me as essentially a sample of everything that is right about punk / hc today. How does it feel to be listed alongside such fantastic bands from all over the world? I'm going to put you on the spot here and ask who your top three React With Protest bands are.
Ahhh, that's such a hard question!! Well, Buried Inside is number 1. I love that band. 2. is probably June Paik, and 3. is a tie between Battle of Wolf 359 and Grinding Halt.

When we played Cry Me a River Fest, almost all of the active React with Protest bands played. It was awesome to get to see them all and to have been able to play with bands from all over Europe and North America.

5. Speaking briefly now of your European tour; how long were you there for and how did you find the European crowds? What were your favourite cities to play? Apart from staying at the React With Protest house; do you have any tour stories you'd like to share?
We spent about three weeks in Europe last summer (2008). The crowds in Europe were awesome. Like, it's hard to even explain... from the smallest sweatiest practice room show to CMAR and Trashfest, they all ruled. I can't even pick my favortie cities. Almost all of them were my favorite in different ways. Some highlights were Leipzig, Hamburg and Peckeloh (CMAR) in Germany, Paris and Besancon in France, Trashfest in the Netherlands.

We definitely have a lot of stories from that tour. I could probably write a book haha. I'll just give a point form run down:
- Brandon got a tick in his leg and had to have it removed in a sketchy German hospital.
- We didn't get paid for our show in Berlin because the promoter was mega sketchy.
- A crack in the rental van windsheild ended up costing us 300 Euro.
- A gas station attendant told us the van would fit through their car wash... not so much. Luckily the gas stations insurance covered the 1500 Euro in damages.
- Our driver decided he was going to breath fire during our set in Leipzig but accidentally swallowed the lamp oil and had to go to the hospital. We had to drive the second half of the tour ourselves.

There's tons more, but that's probably enough!

6. Wow, those sound like some wild times! With that in mind... could you explain what happened at the Annex Wreck Room and is it true you were responsible for the power outage in the Bathurst and Bloor area?
Well, we we set up and got ready to play, as usual. About a minute into our first song, the glory of the fleet, my amp blew a fuse, moments later, all the power went out in the venue. Apparently the entire block blacked out. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not.

7. I'd like to get into your latest record Colossus. Could you tell me about the writing process with this one and the growth of your seemingly ever evolving sound. What brought about the decision to add a second guitarist?
Well, I guess I had an idea of how I always wanted Titan to sound and I toyed around a lot with running multiple heads and cabs to try to increase the heaviness; but it just got to be too much. Also, I really love writing harmonies, I always write them and record them, but we could never play them live. That eventually lead us to get a second guitar player. It really beefed up the heaviness in our live set and we have a lot more freedom in our writing process.

Also around the time that we got a second guitar player, we all really started getting concerned with our tone and trying to find the heaviest most crushing tone that we can. We're all on the quest for tone

Our writing process usually starts with me having the main riff of the song, sometimes I'll have a rough sketch of a few parts. We'll jam it out and everyone will throw in their two cents. Aleks and Brandon are pretty good at coming up with complimentary parts and some times stuff Aleks writes on the bass gets turned into a guitar riff. James usually tosses in his input on the songs, he's really the one who pushes us to get our best out. James writes his lyrics independentally and arranges all of his vocals and the backup vocals on his own. Once we have some songs together, we'll usually do some pre-production so we can actually hear what it sounds like. Then we'll start playing some songs live, because playing them live always seems to change some parts here and there.

8. Apart from continuing the search for that ideal tone; where do you think 2009 will take you as a band? What future plans do you have?
Well, hopefully we'll finally see Colossus released in 2009. We currently have a few things in the works. We've got a tour set in June with Lords from Kentucky which will take us all through Ontario and Quebec. As well as a potential tour with Circle Takes the Square, though nothing is confirmed there yet. We've already begun working on a full-length record, we're hoping to have 8 or 9 songs ready by the end of the year. We'll hopefully be getting in a lot over touring over the summer and fall, but there's nothing set in stone yet.

9. The end of civilization will be caused by?
Either nuclear winter or the heath death of the universe; whichever comes first.

10. Any final words?
Thanks for the interview Matt. hopefully our paths will cross in PEI sometime!

Everyone should check out/support these awesome bands:
www.myspace.com/vilipendmusic
www.myspace.com/starringjanetleigh
www.myspace.com/blackships
www.myspace.com/orcawails
www.myspace.com/ourfatherband
www.myspace.com/burninglovers

Listen to Titan:
myspace.com/titanslays

TITAN KNOCK OUT THE POWER FOR CITY BLOCKS
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