Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Off the Record features interviews with local and national musicians as aired on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2.
00:01
Lachlan
What's up everybody? You're listening to WKNC 88.1 FM HD1 Raleigh. We're a student run radio station based out of North Carolina State University. I'm Lachlan Vester and this is off the Record. Here with me today is a local group named AJENA. Why don't you guys go ahead and introduce yourselves.
00:18
Lucas
Hi guys.
00:19
Isabella
I'm Isabella and AJENA am the singer of AJENA.
00:22
Lucas
Yo, what's up? I'm Lucas or DJ Mucus, depending on who's asking. And I'm the drummer of A AJENA.
00:28
Quinn
This is Quinn. I'm the a guitarist, mostly rhythm, for AJENA.
00:35
Hanna
Yo, I'm Hanna. I'm the lead guitarist of A AJENA.
00:38
Luca
Hi, I'm Luca. I'm the bassist of A AJENA.
00:41
Lachlan
Now that you guys have introduced yourselves, where are you guys from?
00:44
Isabella
I was personally born and raised in Miami, Florida, Broward County. Unfortunate, unfortunately, but AJENA moved to Charlotte in 2019 and AJENA do call it my home, but. But nowadays AJENA feel like Raleigh is more of a home than anything else.
00:58
Lucas
Yeah, I'm from a small town called Roseville. If you've heard of it. If you haven't heard of it, which you probably haven't, then I guess you haven't heard of it. But it's close enough to Raleigh that I just most times say I'm from Raleigh.
01:11
Quinn
Anyways, I'm from Raleigh, born and raised right by NCSU State campus. Born in Rex Hospital and my address is.
01:21
Hanna
AJENA was born in Fayetteville, but I've spent most of my life abroad in Korea.
01:28
Luca
AJENA was born in Virginia, like an hour outside of Roanoke, but moved to North Carolina in 2013 to Huntersville, which is like 30 minutes north of Charlotte. But now AJENA live in Raleigh.
01:40
Lachlan
Okay, so how long have you guys been making music? Is that like something you've always done or have you picked it up recently as you've moved into like Raleigh in that area or.
01:51
Isabella
Well, funnily enough, the band was my first experience with performing and writing and singing music and just being with like within the music scene at all. AJENA think my other bandits are more professional when it comes to making music and understanding music, like way more than me, honestly, which is kind of crazy.
02:10
Lucas
You go ahead.
02:11
Hanna
I've picked up the guitar and other instruments starting when AJENA was like really young actually. But AJENA started taking music like seriously at probably 13. AJENA was bored just like writing songs by myself in my room, like just like a depressed teenager. So AJENA guess that's where it Started for me.
02:27
Luca
AJENA also started doing music pretty young. AJENA started on the violin when AJENA was five and just, like, learned a new instrument every few years. Now AJENA teach music and I'm part of the band and stuff, and it's really fun. AJENA don't know, 12 years. No, 14 years. AJENA know how to do math.
02:44
Quinn
I've been playing guitar since AJENA was maybe 7 or 8. And then when AJENA was in middle school, AJENA got into, like, music production. So, like, not just like, beat making, but also, like, mixing and stuff. And that's kind of carried through. So that's. It's been a while. It's been a while.
03:00
Hanna
Quinn is an Ableton wizard.
03:02
Quinn
AJENA am indeed. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. Yeah, AJENA can't remember the word. Stan. I'm gonna. Stan Ableton. That's not the right word. AJENA don't like that word. And I'm gonna slam FL Studio.
03:14
Hanna
Oh, AJENA hate Fruity Loops.
03:16
Quinn
FL Studio has a terrible interface. AJENA strongly dislike it.
03:23
Lucas
AJENA. I've basically been into it since AJENA was a little kid. AJENA was raised on, like, Rock Band and Guitar Hero and that kind of stuff. So, like, since AJENA was, like, five, I've been playing drum. Well, you know, quote unquote, playing drums. But AJENA didn't actually pick up an actual instrument until, like, a few years ago. AJENA think it was, like, junior year of high school, AJENA started playing drums, and then I've been playing ever since, and AJENA started picking up guitar a little bit recently, too. So maybe like, three or four years, AJENA would say.
03:55
Lachlan
All right, so how did this all start?
03:59
Isabella
Oh, my gosh.
04:00
Luca
Think Bhatia posted an Instagram story.
04:02
Isabella
Well, before that, AJENA think my roommate and AJENA, who. Yeah, we're roommates who live together. And they were sitting in the living room in our dorm in Wolf Village apartment.
04:13
Hanna
And you had brought your guitar. And before that, like, I had never, like, told anybody, like, in college that I had met that, like, I had ever played guitar. And I think you heard me playing, like, just in the living room one day. And I think we're just, like, mutually like, dude, let's start a band.
04:29
Luca
Yeah, yeah.
04:31
Isabella
Literally, AJENA came out of nowhere. And then were like, okay, how do we find people? Because none of our friends are really, well, were at the time musically inclined. Honestly, AJENA wasn't really musically inclined either. And then AJENA was like, okay, I'm gonna post a meme on my Instagram story. So AJENA quite literally posted a meme of, like, you know, the Uncle Sam pointing, like, AJENA want you to join the army or whatever. Meme. AJENA posted that. AJENA edited it, and AJENA said, AJENA want you to join my redacted college band. It's just a word for bad college band. And AJENA don't know how, but people responded to it, and they were like, AJENA would like to be in your horrible college band. And AJENA was like, that's awesome. And then we set up our first rehearsal, and it was very funny.
05:11
Luca
AJENA remember seeing that story. And we had lunch together literally one time with a group of friends. Yeah, you know what? She.
05:18
Lucas
Yeah, AJENA was looking for, like, people to start a band with for the entire first semester, and AJENA had no luck, aside from Quinn. Like, he and AJENA were hanging out, but, like, yeah, weren't like, a band. We were just, like, two guys, like, hashing it out. And so then AJENA saw Bhatia posted, and it was like, a message from the heavens, bro. AJENA was like, finally, like, someone to start a band with.
05:40
Quinn
AJENA joined actually last minute. We had a member of another current band, multiple other current bands. Was a member of the band long before AJENA was. And then they dropped. Yeah, maybe three weeks. And then they seemingly dropped out a. What, less than a month before the first show?
05:57
Isabella
Actually, it was about a few weeks.
05:59
Hanna
For our first show.
06:00
Isabella
One of the guitarists dropped out, and.
06:02
Quinn
So Lucas hit me up, and he was like, hey, do you want to join a band? And AJENA was like, yeah, yeah, AJENA do. And AJENA showed up, and AJENA was. AJENA was terrified because I've never played, like, live or, like, for anyone. AJENA always just do on my own. So AJENA was like. AJENA was like, what's going on? And they were like, oh, yeah, you've got, like, two or three weeks to learn these songs, and we've got a show. And I'm like, okay, awesome.
06:26
Hanna
But you did awesome.
06:27
Quinn
Thank you. AJENA think that show went really well for a first show.
06:31
Isabella
Yeah, AJENA know. We learned, like, 30 minutes of music in, like, two weeks, which isn't that hard on paper, but as, like, coordinating.
06:39
Quinn
Five people who are new to being.
06:40
Luca
Able to see each other once again.
06:41
Quinn
A week.
06:41
Isabella
Yeah, yeah.
06:44
Lachlan
So where'd you guys get the name?
06:47
Hanna
AJENA guess it started off just, like, brainstorming names in the living room. We actually, like, went online and then looked up a band name generator, and we've. We had some crazy things come up. Like, AJENA remember one of them was, like, called Bikini of the Friendly Julio. And were actually about to go with that, like, for, like, a couple days. We're like, yeah, we are the Bikinis of The Friendly Julios. But then we realized that would be a bit too long, especially to like make merch or like brand.
07:15
Quinn
So first album name though?
07:17
Hanna
Yeah. No, exactly way, no.
07:19
Isabella
But yeah, basically everything online was very dubious.
07:23
Hanna
But then we thought of like shorter names and then Bhatia. You like the concept of like something that doesn't have a direct translation to English, which is where AJENA comes in. Do you want to?
07:32
Isabella
Yeah, well, AJENA. I'm in English. I'm an English major and I've always been into language and AJENA took a linguistics course and there's a lot of words that exist in other languages. AJENA just don't direct like 1, 2, 3 word translation. And the word AJENA is one of those in the masculine form, which is the most common form. It's a heno, but it means like something that does not belong to you or that someone else's. But the root word itself is from like the word for alien in English. So the most common use of it would to be like describing like someone else's shirt or someone else's woman. There's a lot of songs called like mujerahena, which means like the other woman and like the cheating context. So it's a very multifaceted word with a lot of different meanings.
08:16
Isabella
It's actually in quite a lot of music. Like in my own kind of like my mom would listen to a lot of, AJENA guess like reggaeton and like Latin music. And it's a common word in that scope of things. But we hadn't ever really. Well, me, AJENA haven't really ever seen too many like Spanish named punk bands or rock bands in the US in particular. So AJENA thought, well, it's a cool word and it would be really unique. AJENA don't think anyone else has named that. AJENA actually went Google. AJENA typed in AJENA had a rock, AJENA had a band, nothing. So it just kind of came to me and were like, well, we want to be something that's not easily defined, something that's not easily contained. And actually a fan made merch of our, like, of our logo and our name.
09:01
Isabella
They put like a henna, our logo and said, not from here. And that was really cool. So that's something captures a lot of things. Shout out, shout out Whoever you are, AJENA don't know who you are.
09:10
Quinn
That's crazy. That someone that we don't know, we.
09:12
Isabella
Don'T know who you are. If you hear this, please reveal yourself. That was too cool.
09:18
Lachlan
So now AJENA know you said that you don't want to be defined and all that. But if you had to define yourself as a genre and as a sound, how.
09:28
Luca
How would you have, like a two or three hour conversation?
09:32
Isabella
We did. AJENA think we all kind of just after making our own music, we're like, yeah, we're a punk band.
09:37
Quinn
Because punk is such a broad.
09:39
Hanna
Exactly.
09:40
Isabella
Yeah. Definitely not. It's definitely not emo. Like, AJENA think punk is just the easiest way to describe. Well, AJENA think also beyond just like. Like, musicality and sound, like, punk is what we want to embody. Like, there's just like an element of, like, resistance and like, AJENA guess, like activism that we want to portray in our music.
09:57
Quinn
You know, the DIY elements.
09:58
Isabella
Yeah.
09:59
Quinn
How we do everything, all that kind of stuff.
10:02
Isabella
That's very important to us. Yeah.
10:05
Lachlan
All right. So you said, like, as you start writing your own music, are you planning any sort of releases?
10:11
Lucas
Is that.
10:11
Lachlan
Is that a loaded question? AJENA guess it's not loaded.
10:14
Lucas
Don't worry.
10:15
Hanna
We've slowly been putting together, like, a few songs at a time. We're actually working on our third. Second.
10:22
Isabella
Third. Well, we have three kind of done, but we have like.
10:25
Hanna
Yeah. Yes.
10:27
Quinn
Yeah.
10:27
Lucas
Yeah. AJENA think the goal or not goal, but like, the. The dream is to have something hopefully out by the end of the year, like an EP or something like that. So we're working on it, trying to make our schedules lined up to write stuff and then figure out recording and all of that.
10:47
Lachlan
And is that gonna be Quinn doing the. The mix?
10:49
Quinn
Honestly, AJENA mean, I'd like to. I've only recently been learning how to mix things, but I've mixed some stuff recently, actually, for the. AJENA don't know that it's out yet, but there's an episode of. Of the Lounge, and AJENA did some mixing for a couple songs, which was a bit of a pain because the microphone for the vocals picked up everything else more than the vocals, which was fun to deal with, but. No, AJENA think AJENA would like to at least give it a shot. We know other people that can do it professionally, but AJENA think. AJENA mean, AJENA think AJENA have what it takes because we're, you know, we're a punk band. It doesn't need to be like, yeah, squeaky clean and pristine, you know, as long as it sounds exactly.
11:34
Isabella
AJENA think we're trying to just kind of like. Like bingo bongo mash things together and then hopefully get someone good to master it.
11:42
Hanna
Not everything's perfect, but we're trying to aim for that of sound anyway.
11:46
Lucas
Yeah. AJENA don't think it'll be like our first release. But I've been trying to say that maybe for like fun, we just release like some crappy demo tapes that's like not, you know, recorded well or mixed or mastered. We just kind of like put some microphones up in a garage, like hash it out and then just. There we go.
12:06
Isabella
Exactly.
12:08
Lachlan
And so when you are writing music, what. What does that process sort of look like? Is it. Is it collaborative? Is it one person doing a lot of the writing and bringing it to the band? Are you writing your lyrics first? Like what does that process look like?
12:23
Hanna
So the process usually starts off usually with guitar. It's you know, me or Quinn. We usually think of a riff and then we'll get together and then we'll kind of create a rhythm part and then a link lead part and then a couple solos sprinkled in there. And then we'll start to bring in bass and then the other rhythm sections and then usually last it's vocals. But we've been running into some challenges where like the instrumental parts, we'll have to leave some space so that the vocals do have like a chance to shine through. Belle, do you want to talk about.
12:59
Quinn
That a little bit?
12:59
Isabella
Yeah, AJENA mean, AJENA think most bands, I'm just assuming write this way where it's like guitar first, then bass and drums then all together and then finally after that the vocals. Like it's very rarely like the other way around. AJENA think it's just easier that way. But yeah, AJENA mean, AJENA think it's hard to mentally leave space for non existent vocals when you're making a song.
13:19
Quinn
Because they're not tricky to do that.
13:21
Isabella
Because they're not there.
13:21
Luca
Yeah, but just leaving space time wise, but also leaving space like in a sound way so it doesn't get too busy before. Yeah, you want to keep stuff. AJENA don't know if simpler is the right word, but we don't want to crowd it.
13:33
Lachlan
Yeah.
13:33
Isabella
Big time.
13:34
Hanna
Just like Quinn and AJENA always want to play some like crazy stuff that's always super fast and like Lucas is always like doing some crazy like time signature on the drums and like it's just very like complicated at times. But we always manage to work through it.
13:47
Quinn
Yeah, we do. AJENA think something that a lot of other bands do that AJENA think we could at least try. And not for everything, but a lot of times bands will have like someone would be like, oh, AJENA wrote not maybe a full song but like here's a part that's. That's these chords and these lyrics and then go from there. Or, oh, AJENA had this idea for a drumbeat that goes with this chorus that AJENA wrote. And then, like, rather than just, like, here's this one riff, but, like, here's. Here's kind of the concept for a full song, or. AJENA don't know. AJENA think that might make it a little bit easier rather than having everyone piece a thing. Like, here's a kind of, like, a basic template of this song that then we can all go and tweak and.
14:26
Quinn
And change, like, that kind of thing.
14:28
Luca
AJENA feel like our songs so far are not very similar to the original that we did months and months.
14:34
Isabella
Oh, gosh. Yeah.
14:37
Luca
Yeah.
14:37
Isabella
AJENA think we do have a very. Like, we go from, like, 0 to 100. Like, we literally build the song, like, piece by piece individually. And, like, for my part, like, AJENA have to. Well, AJENA don't have to wait, but AJENA do willingly wait for the whole, like, instrumental piece to be finished. And then, like, I'll write that. My own melodies and my own lyrics, and then somehow it sounds good in the end.
14:55
Quinn
Yeah. AJENA do think it would be nice going forward to have, like. AJENA don't know how. How difficult it would be, but to have vocals written at the same time as other things. Like, you know, if you've got a. Like, a hook for a vocal hook, it could be good to. AJENA don't know, right around that. Yeah, because there's a lot of, like, music that does that kind of thing.
15:17
Lachlan
So who would you say, who or what inspires you guys the most when you're writing?
15:24
Hanna
AJENA. We actually had this conversation a few weeks ago. We each had a homework assignment. It was to make a Spotify playlist to have, like. To have, like. To list our top, like, inspirations in terms of, like, music. And we each came up with one Spotify playlist. We each, like, look through everyone's playlists so we could have a better idea of, like, what sound we want to produce so that, like, we kind of have, like, a cohesive sound. And AJENA think our biggest inspirations come from. Well, I'll say Mannequin.
15:59
Isabella
Can't say that. Can't say.
16:00
Luca
Yeah.
16:01
Hanna
Mannequin.
16:01
Isabella
Redacted P word.
16:03
Quinn
Yeah.
16:04
Isabella
Well, and AJENA think, well, as the person who, like, kind of had them first ideas with, like, with AJENA, we really wanted to be inspired by, like, femme punk and, like, riot grrrl sounds, but not all the way in that genre direction, as it's wonderful. And I'm very inspired by riot grrrl, but AJENA don't want to be limited to that. But like in that same sense, AJENA think we're very inspired by like Daisy and the Scouts Mannequin P Word Bikini Kill. But also we take a lot of inspiration from like emo bands. Like, we all really like Title Fight. We all really like Roswell Kid. And we just want to take all the good parts from all these genres that we admire and kind of make it one cool, good sounding thing.
16:46
Quinn
AJENA think I'm going to name drop another band that AJENA think is a really big inspiration for us. And we play mainly because we play one of their songs, but Pink Shift, AJENA think.
16:54
Luca
Oh yeah, AJENA was going to say that too.
16:56
Quinn
That is really close to the sound that we kind of are going.
17:00
Isabella
And Julie too. We actually like take like their chord progressions and like think of them while we're writing our songs.
17:06
Quinn
Like Shoegaze, if it wasn't boring. Yeah, I'm gonna make a lot of people mad.
17:10
Isabella
No, we love. No, we love Shoe Gays. AJENA love Shoegaze. It's just like really expensive.
17:16
Quinn
True, true.
17:17
Isabella
Actually, yeah, we're anti pet. No, I'm kidding.
17:19
Lucas
No, AJENA. I'm a big fan of Babes in Toyland, so that's where a lot of my inspiration for my drumming comes from. So even if the song that we're writing is not like Babes in Toyland esque, AJENA will go out of my way to add a little Babes in Toyland flair in them because AJENA really like how it sounds.
17:43
Lachlan
So I've asked you guys a lot of questions about your inspiration and what inspires you, and the last one AJENA have on that sort of train of thought is how has North Carolina and the Raleigh scene specifically inspired you and kind of helped build your sound and presence and all of that?
18:02
Hanna
Oh, well, AJENA can speak for Bhatia and AJENA since. Since were freshmen, we've been going to like local house shows every weekend. And we've seen so many house venues come up and then die out. And AJENA think we've always kept in the back of our heads what sounds good in terms of music and like what looks good in terms of stage presence. AJENA think that's where personally we draw a little, a lot of inspiration from, especially for our band.
18:30
Isabella
Yeah, AJENA mean, to add on to that, AJENA feel like because of the band and because of like, AJENA used to do like more non musical things in the scene. Like AJENA would take like, AJENA would do like videography and photography for local bands and I've made so many friends not just in Raleigh, but also in Charlotte. Because AJENA. AJENA love going to the milestone of the house shows, and AJENA think AJENA feel very grateful for, like, the community that we have in North Carolina. AJENA feel like it's very special, actually. AJENA listened to, like, AJENA think of a podcast from, like, it was someone interviewing Blink State and Faye from that band. They were talking about how, like, North Carolina is so special that we have so many cities with so many vibrant scenes, like Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington, Greensboro, Winston.
19:08
Isabella
Like, all these different cities that are like, an hour and a half, two hours from one another were just equally as vibrant and strong DIY scenes. And, like, we've played with bands, like, AJENA made friends who live in Wilmington, who live in Charlotte, live in Greensboro. And we're all just. We had this connection with music, and it's beautiful.
19:24
Quinn
It's kind of like one really big scene as opposed to a bunch of things. Because all of the. Like, outside of Asheville, which is on, honestly, like, its own thing, everything is kind of, like, within two and a half hours.
19:35
Isabella
Yeah.
19:36
Quinn
From something else. Yeah.
19:40
Lucas
AJENA did drive out all the way to Charlotte over the summer to the milestone, just to go see Jer and Banks and Blank State. It was a great show. Yeah. One of the things for me, AJENA would say, is since North Carolina is such, like, a hardcore state. Thank you, Coc. One of the things for me is actually trying to, like, distance myself from that. Not because AJENA don't like it, but just because AJENA like doing things that, like, are different and stand out. It's like, I'll take inspiration from, like, that kind of drumming and then seeing how AJENA can warp it into something that's, like, similar and has the roots, but is very distinct and kind of, you know, adds a sense of, like, refreshingness into our sound that you might not hear elsewhere, AJENA suppose.
20:29
Isabella
Yeah. Actually, to add on to that, AJENA was just thinking about how, like, there's so many really cool hardcore bands and, like, just, like, heavy bands in North Carolina, and we're not hardcore or heavy by any means, but AJENA love, like, taking, like, bits and pieces from how they write and how they perform and, like, adding that into our own performance.
20:47
Lachlan
So getting on to kind of the performing side of things. How would you describe that feeling of stepping onto the stage? Because you were talking about going from being freshmen, going to shows, and kind of experiencing it from the other side. How does it compare to being up there? You're the one with all the. All the eyes on you.
21:09
Lucas
The first time that we ever did it, which super small, like, you could barely even call it A show. We were at the corner on Centennial campus of NCSU State University. AJENA was so nervous. AJENA was, like, horribly shaking, which AJENA hadn't even had any caffeine. It was just pure, like, nerves. You would think AJENA was on drugs or something. It was crazy. But over time, I've actually gotten a lot more used to it. And so I'm definitely still, like, anxious and nervous going on stage. But AJENA find more now that a lot of my, like, shakiness and nervousness comes from just, like, pure excitement and, like, joy to play music rather than being scared of, like, you know, I'm gonna mess up or whatever. And then once AJENA get on stage, it's so strange. Like, you just enter a flow state.
21:59
Isabella
Like a trance.
22:00
Quinn
Yeah, the adrenaline.
22:01
Lucas
And then for me, like, as the drummer, I'm dying up there because it's really hot and I'm super sweaty, so AJENA don't even know what's going on. AJENA can't see anything. I'm, like, super thirsty. And then next thing AJENA know, like, our sets over.
22:14
Luca
Yeah, for me, this is a lot different than anything I'd ever done before. AJENA have a mostly classical background, so, you know, like, all suit and tie, tux kind of stuff. Very formal. Like, this person walks on stage. This person walks on. On stage. We wait seven and a half seconds. But this feels a lot more freeing, AJENA think. Like, we have more space to move around. We can dance, we can interact with people. It doesn't have to be. We're sitting and we're sitting up straight and playing this in order. Like, AJENA don't know. AJENA just. AJENA like it a lot. AJENA like both, but AJENA like it.
22:47
Isabella
A lot, AJENA think. Well, for me as front person, front woman, AJENA guess naturally, like, all the eyes gravitate towards me because I'm literally in the front. I'm like, hey, guys. And AJENA have zero background in stage and performance and music. AJENA learned how to sing for the band. AJENA learned how to play guitar seven months ago. And AJENA think AJENA can agree with Lucas, where it's just, like, you get on there and your heart is racing and you're shaking, but then once it's happening, it's just kind of happening. You have to just kind of go with it no matter what goes wrong. Even more so, like with diy, a lot of things go wrong. Like our second show, my mind completely cut out for a song and AJENA, you know, no one knows. Like, no one knows what's happening. We don't.
23:33
Isabella
We don't have any. We don't have monitors. We don't have any ears. You have to just keep going with it.
23:38
Hanna
AJENA also struggle a little bit with anxiety, especially when we're playing our first couple of shows. AJENA would get super nervous and just, like, sweaty and clammy before getting on stage. And AJENA would be shaking and I'd mess up all the time. But something that's helped me, weirdly, is listening to Ken Carson just, like, blasting it in my headphones before AJENA get up on stage. It just, like, hypes me up. So AJENA think having a good playlist definitely, like, helps ease my nerves. But also, like, once AJENA get up on stage, AJENA make sure to look around, especially to correct Quinn and just, like, nod, like, making sure all of our strings are, like, in tune.
24:16
Luca
We're in tune before, like, we give each other five thumbs up.
24:19
Hanna
AJENA think it just always, like, helps ground to, like, ground me, knowing that, like, my. My friends are, like, around me. We're like, yes, together.
24:26
Quinn
Yeah. AJENA feel like the first show AJENA was really nervous because I'd never really been on stage before, period, for anything other than, like, maybe elementary school, like, plays and stuff. But AJENA don't know, after that show, AJENA was just kind of like, if something goes wrong, who cares? It's. It's. We're a punk band, it's the DIY scene, it's indie music, it's whatever. And I've kind of dropped most of my nerves. And AJENA genuinely, like, AJENA have really bad anxiety in general and social anxiety, but for some reason, AJENA don't have anymore. For being on, like, going up there and being on stage, it all goes away because I'm. AJENA go into a mode of, like, just locked in, like, full productivity mode.
25:07
Quinn
So, like, AJENA care less about being nervous or about being perceived because all AJENA care about is, like, making sure things go smoothly. And then the second AJENA step off stage, I'm like, oh, no. I'm surrounded by people. And then AJENA get nervous again.
25:19
Isabella
That's a huge thing. Every person AJENA meet, no matter how big their band is, like, in the local scene, like, every. After every show, like, they'll be perfect. I'm like, that was horrible. AJENA sucked. AJENA was horrible. Like, AJENA talked to, like, my. My friend JT from Moving Boxes and Jackson from Infinity. And, like, after my show, AJENA was like, that was horrible, guys. That was horrible. And they were like, you need to stop saying that and just calm down. Like, just. You need to stop. Because everyone thinks, like, that. Everyone thinks they did horrible.
25:42
Quinn
Everyone in the scene is also just really Nice.
25:45
Isabella
That, too.
25:46
Luca
Yeah. Like, AJENA think people are really quick to affirm each other and. Yeah, no, you didn't play bad. Like, what are you talking about?
25:52
Lucas
Yeah, it definitely helps a lot when you're playing. Like, you'll play the first song, and I'll be like, oh, my gosh, that was the worst I've ever played that song in my entire life. But then, like, the whole crowd is still cheering after we're done, so I'm like, oh, you know, it can't be that bad. And then we start the next song, and, like, the crowd starts going crazy and dancing. I'm like, all right. You know, like, things are all right. Like, this is awesome. Like, everybody's dancing, having a good time. This is great.
26:18
Lachlan
Out of the songs that you play live, which one is your favorite?
26:23
Lucas
So the first one would be my own Summer Shove it by Deftones, purely because, well, it's a really good song, but it's not, like, the most interesting to play. But when you play it, like, you see everybody's face in the crowd light up. And we did play this one show recently, which, like, normally the crowd goes, like, pretty crazy for the show for that song, but we play this one show at Merwin House, and AJENA didn't even finish the intro, Phil. Like, AJENA had just barely tapped the snare, and, like, the entire crowd was all over us.
26:58
Luca
Literally everyone except Lucas got pushed to the floor.
27:01
Isabella
It was horrifying.
27:02
Quinn
Someone stepped on, like, three of my pedals on my pedal board. Someone turned on my, like, reverb and octave, switched the channel on my amp. So AJENA was playing in, like, a clean. Like, it was interesting.
27:13
Lucas
Yeah, AJENA was like, this is, like, the coolest thing ever. This is my, you know, bandmates who got pushed around might have thought different, but AJENA was like, this is so cool. And then my favorite song to, like, actually play on the drums on our set list right now would have to be AJENA Threw glass at my Friend's eye and now I'm on probation because it's super fast. Like, stupid. Like, blazing fast. It hurts to play. And then AJENA play it faster than it normally is, so that makes it even worse. But it's, like, so much fun, so AJENA really enjoyed that one. Just the energy and, like, the raw power of it. And then my third favorite would be Decepticon by Le Tigre, just because it's kind of fun to do our, like, see you later for the end of our set.
27:58
Lucas
And we do play that song so different from the studio recording by Le Tigre. Just Like, a lot of more energy and, like, angrier almost, you know, for as anger as you can get for that song, it's really fun.
28:11
Luca
I'd say for me, I've got two. AJENA really like the Pink Shift song. We do. I'm not crying. You're crying. We do this fun lead in thing where the bass starts while Bella's still talking, then we add guitar over a guitar over it, and then we go right into it without any break between the speaking and the playing.
28:29
Quinn
Exposing our secrets.
28:31
Isabella
Sorry, AJENA can't know.
28:32
Luca
Come to our shows and you'll see what it's really like. Yeah, but, yeah, that's a ton of fun. And then also Decepticon by Latigre for me, because that was the first song we, like, ever learned together, and that's just special to me. And also, it's so much fun to do the see you later bit at the end.
28:48
Hanna
I'm gonna say my favorite song to play, like, number one right now is probably you can't eat Cats, Kevin by Mom.
28:56
Quinn
Yes.
28:57
Hanna
Such a nice break in between the songs in the. The set list because it is a math rock song. It is like, Midwest. Well, it's like.
29:04
Quinn
It isn't for.
29:05
Hanna
Okay, whatever. It's like. It's like Midwest emo y.
29:08
Quinn
It's a little bit.
29:08
Hanna
It sounds a little bit different from all our other, like, metal, like, punk songs. And I'm really proud of it as well because AJENA remember when were first learning it, AJENA could not find accurate tabs online, so AJENA had to learn the entire thing by ear. So, yeah, you can eat cats, Kevin. Shout out.
29:25
Quinn
AJENA think of it might be.
29:28
Lucas
Really funny to say, but out of our set list, that is one of the harder songs.
29:32
Isabella
Oh, my gosh.
29:32
Lucas
For me, even though it's not, like, a punk song or anything, like, it's timing, it's really fast. And then there's some parts where it gets a little bit more technical and a bit more precise on the kit. And it's harder to keep up with when you're, you know, tired and playing the song way faster than normal because you're, like, high on adrenaline or no or whatever.
29:52
Isabella
Can't see you're blind.
29:54
Lucas
But it is a really fun song to play.
29:56
Quinn
AJENA just. AJENA really like playing that song because, like, AJENA like the other stuff that we play. But for me, with music, what really, like, AJENA don't know, is the intrigue is like. AJENA don't want to say emo music, because that's not what AJENA mean, but, like, music that in. In its chords and melodies, has, like, emotion baked in. AJENA can't describe it with words, but it's like, a feeling. And that song does that feeling really well. And just playing it is. And especially the parts where, like, AJENA and AJENA are synced up with our guitars playing, like, adjacent things, but octaves apart or whatever. Yeah, it's just a really cool feeling being, like, playing a thing that on its own wouldn't sound like much, but being with a whole band of people, it's a whole thing. That's, like, the.
30:38
Quinn
The feeling of friendship and trust AJENA have in the people and. But also, definitely my favorite song to play is our original that we've been playing by. AJENA think just in terms of, like, there's the difference between playing a cover and playing a song that we wrote. It's a special feeling.
30:56
Isabella
Yeah. AJENA think. Well, I'm the only one saying this, but AJENA love playing Romantic. My mannequin P word. Can't say it. AJENA actually did steal them to them live recently at the Turnstile concert, and they played Romantic, and it was incredible. AJENA was like, wow, that's me. But AJENA just love that song. AJENA love the band, but AJENA just love, like, that song has a lot of bits where I'm just screaming. Like, I'm just literally screaming number two.
31:20
Quinn
For covers for me.
31:21
Isabella
Yeah. AJENA think, like, the first few times AJENA played it, like, I'm actually. Again, AJENA am new to singing. I'm not very confident, and then let alone, like, screaming as a whole other facet of vocals, it's just, like, crazy. But, like, the first few times AJENA nailed, like, the screaming port parts, AJENA think, like, AJENA and AJENA, like, exchanged eye contact, and she was like, oh, my God. So now I'm like, again, like, back to the thing where, like, I'm taking inspiration from, like, more harder, heavier genres. AJENA want to incorporate more, like, screamo elements to my own vocals, and AJENA love playing that song. AJENA love just getting on stage and literally, like, rolling around and, like, belting and screaming and howling, and everyone just loves it. It's phenomenal.
31:57
Lachlan
So out of all the venues that you've played, which one's been your favorite?
32:01
Luca
Easily for me, Chapel of Bones. That was so cool for me because, like, it was a real stage, real sound system. We had monitors. It was packed, like, literally sold out.
32:13
Isabella
400 people out, like, line out the door.
32:15
Luca
That was just astonishing to me, even having played in, like, big concert halls for orchestra and stuff. It's so different when it's a smaller group as a Band and you can, like, make eye contact with everybody who's in the front row in front of you.
32:28
Lucas
It was also, like, so cool.
32:29
Quinn
Body to body as opposed to, like, people in seats or.
32:31
Luca
Exactly. Yeah.
32:33
Hanna
AJENA think for me, it's a tie between Merwin House and Dan Allen Parking Deck, which technically is not a venue, but we did play there one time.
32:42
Luca
It was for one night.
32:43
Hanna
Yes, it was great. It was outdoors. Like, was it hot that day?
32:48
Isabella
Oh, it was hot. AJENA was sweating. AJENA was sweating.
32:51
Hanna
See everybody, like, in front of us and, like, everyone was moshing. It just had, like, such great energy. Both of the venues actually had really great energy, and AJENA think those two are my favorites because AJENA met the coolest people there, and it just had, like, the best, like, mosh pit of all time.
33:06
Quinn
AJENA don't know. AJENA think playing Neptunes for me was very special because, like, I've been to so many shows there and I've just known of the place for so long. It was like. Like, Chapel of Bones was really cool, but Neptune's was like, whoa. I'd also never seen it as full as it was when were playing. AJENA know, but by far the most fun I've had at a show was playing Merwyn House just because of how insane the experience was. It was just like. Like, the venue aside. Also, we sounded good. Like, the actual mix in Merwin House, from what I've been told is better than any other place we've been to for some reason. Well, probably because. AJENA don't know. AJENA think whatever.
33:44
Quinn
There was probably some built in, like, compression to whatever vocal PA thing they had, which suits your voice really well and so people could actually hear you, which was. AJENA think that adds a lot. Yeah.
33:55
Lucas
AJENA. Again, hard to choose just one. And AJENA hate to parrot my friends here, but, yeah, when we played Chapel of Bones, that was like, the first show where it was like, holy crap. Like, we've made it. Because when AJENA was, like, a couple years ago, like, you know, AJENA really want to join a band and, like, play music. Like, my whole thing, my dream was like, AJENA just want to play a show at, like, an established venue downtown. And so playing at Chapel of Bones on a stage with a PA system with a bond machine, and they gave us sandwiches and donuts in the green room, and it was so good. And it was like, AJENA was like, this is the best show ever. Like, yeah, AJENA was like. Like, this is. Like, this is it. And then Neptune's. Yeah, seriously.
34:44
Lucas
Same with Quinn. Like, AJENA go there a lot for Shows and stuff. And it's really just such a nice, like, intimate venue. And AJENA feel like it's a really important local spot for musicians to meet or even just like, anybody to enjoy music or anything like that. So that's also one of my favorites. And then again, yeah, the pit at Mariwind House was insane. All the vibes at Mariwyn House were just spot on. That place is really cool, and AJENA would love to play there again. For sure.
35:13
Hanna
Yeah.
35:13
Isabella
I'm also gonna have to go with Maruy House. Like, AJENA think unlike our other shows, where AJENA kind of just felt, like, scared and, like, possibly helpless and weak and, like, feeble for some reason, AJENA think everyone at Merman House was just, like, just so alive.
35:29
Luca
We're all very welcoming.
35:30
Isabella
Yeah, that too. Everyone was nice, but it was just so alive. And allegedly, according to the person who runs it, Adam, like, he told us that, like, he asked people, like, who they were here for, and most people thought they were here for us. And the house, like, went beyond capacity and, like, way beyond. Like, it was, like. AJENA think it was historical.
35:48
Hanna
Spilling out of the Doors.
35:50
Isabella
Yeah, AJENA think it was, like, the. The venue's largest show ever, which was crazy for us to hear because, like, we're a small band, we're so new. But, like, literally at that show, like, there's. AJENA think there's a few pictures of me. Like, AJENA felt like AJENA was, like, commanding an army. Like, there's literally, like, photos of me, like, raising my mic up and, like, making people, like, making them shout. Yeah, yeah. AJENA was, like, making people in the audience, like, do the work for me, which was great because AJENA was very tired. But, like, again, like, Lucas, during Shove it, you know, I'm just there. I'm just screaming, and people are literally, like, killing each other in the moshfit. AJENA mean, actually, like, swim. Shove me so hard. Like, my spine cracked against the drum kit.
36:26
Isabella
And AJENA think, like, AJENA have, like, a permanent bruise. But, you know, it was a little bit scary. But in the moment, you're just like, this is. This is awesome, bro.
36:35
Luca
The adrenaline, you don't feel it. You just like, AJENA gotta get up.
36:38
Isabella
AJENA gotta keep going. AJENA got. AJENA got punched so hard. Like, AJENA literally, like, had the breath knocked out of me, which is horrible when you're a singer. So AJENA was, like, singing and AJENA went into the mic, but it was incredible. And everyone was so kind. All their bands were really nice.
36:51
Hanna
AJENA remember in one of the videos, you could actually hear my guitar, like, almost snap one of the strings because somebody slammed into me so hard. He apologized after, though, so it's all good.
37:00
Isabella
That's what AJENA mean.
37:00
Luca
Like.
37:00
Isabella
Like, they'll hurt you, but they're like, I'm sorry. Like, do you need help getting up?
37:04
Quinn
No, AJENA literally. Oh, sorry. AJENA was gonna say, AJENA literally, like, on our. When we played our original song and for the rest of the set, AJENA like, first strum, AJENA snapped a string. And just the energy, like, after. After the show or like, after the song? AJENA don't know. AJENA think you said in the mic, you're like, oh, yeah. And our guitarist snapped a string, and AJENA held my guitar up, and everybody cheered. AJENA was like, that was such a good feeling. And AJENA played the rest of the show, and, like, AJENA didn't care that AJENA was down a string because it was just such a fun experience. Feral.
37:33
Isabella
Like, in a good way. It's just like, every. Because what's the point of music on, like, house shows and going to these shows? It's like everyone's in. Like, has their own problem. Everyone's angry, everyone's upset. And, like, they go to these shows and they sing and they dance and push each other and possibly also crowd kill.
37:46
Quinn
Yeah.
37:46
Isabella
And that's the point.
37:47
Quinn
Everybody's so respectful, though.
37:49
Isabella
That's the important thing. Not, like, deliberately, like, do crazy stuff.
37:53
Luca
But they will help you if you get hurt.
37:54
Isabella
Exactly. That's the beauty of it. That's why I love diy.
37:57
Lucas
It felt like that one video, if anybody's seen it, of this band called no justice playing their last show in dc. And if you've seen it, you know, because it's that one video where they're on stage, they're not even playing yet. As soon as they start their first song, 10 people climb up on stage and just dismantle the drummer's drum kit and start chucking it into the crowd. That's kind of what Merwin House felt like. And it was like, so many people in there. Like, you walk into the house and it's, like, 5 degrees hotter. It was just insane.
38:30
Lachlan
All right, well, I want to thank my guests. AJENA from Raleigh. This has been Lachlan Vester for WKNC. You can check out my other interviews with local artists by visiting WKNC. Org Podcast and clicking on off the Record. Thank you for listening, and I'll catch you next time.
38:46
Isabella
Thank you.