Interview With 'Pyrotechnica'
Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?
Scarlett: My name is Scarlett Chang, and I front vocals for Pyrotechnica. We came to be because Ben and I missed being in a band. That's actually how we met--through our last band. This started out as a nameless, not-so-serious project that was...basically some pretty, clean vocal melodies over really heavy instrumentals. I'd like to say that [Pyro] now, come up with music that's fun, a little beautiful, but still packed with a lot of “umph.”
Josh: I’m Josh and I play drums. I joined Pyrotechnica in fall of 2017.
Dustin: My name is Dustin Russell and I am the guitarist. Ben and I met as music instructors at GC, and
he soon asked me if I wanted to audition for his Metalcore project. I agreed, auditioned, and
we’ve been playing music together ever since.
Ben: My Name is Ben and I play Bass. Going off what Scarlett said. We both missed being in bands and performing so we took this idea and ran with it. Originally we were just doing it as an outlet and picked people locally we knew that could handle the music but it eventually turned into our passion and our lives.
What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?
Scarlett: I met Ben from a previous band.
Josh: Prior to joining I had quit music and anything about it. Just working full time thinking of a new plan
to finish my degree. Music was always a dream but felt unrealistic until joining Pyrotechnica.
Dustin: Originally I wanted to be a software engineer when I first moved to Tucson from Hawaii. I would
teach music on the side, but soon found that music was my true calling. So I graduated from the
University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in music theory in 2012, and now I teach music
and hope to inspire students of all ages and musical backgrounds. But, being a Metalhead at
heart, I’ve always wanted to be a part of a Metal project as well.
Ben: I’ve always been a musician at heart. Ever since I picked up trumpet in 3rd grade I knew music is what I wanted to do. I’ve been nuts about it and went on to even study music and get my degree as a music educator.
Tell us about your latest Album and why our readers should check it out.
Out latest album was released in 2017 and is a collection of our early works. It’s a mixture of a lot of things we experimented with and our journey in finding our sound. A lot of the themes deal with endurance, love, toxic relationships, and acceptance in life struggles.
We currently have two singles released as music videos (“Stereo” and “You Cant Phase me Out”) off our upcoming album that is still in the works. These two songs we feel really represent us now and show how we’ve grown as people and musicians. The songs display Pop vocal styles, Dance like synth melodies over heavy, low - tuned guitar tones with a mixture of groovy and driving drum beats. If you’re into anime opening music you’ll probably be into what we do! Definitely this upcoming album will showcase not only our musicianship technically but our song writing, as that is our main goal as a band.
Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?
Scarlett: I met Chrissy Costanza from Against The Current (NY), who completely wrecked the
stage with her vocals, crowd engagement, and presence.
Josh: Pat Thetic, a drummer from a Punk band I grew up listening to. Man gave me the biggest
genuine hug and you can tell him and the band still really appreciate their fans after 20 plus years
Dustin: Once we opened for Thank You Scientist, and I had the pleasure of speaking to their guitarist,
Tom Monda. Even after killing it on stage with a fretless guitar, crazy rhythms, jazz chords, and
shredding lead lines; he was still incredibly humble and expressed a need for continued
improvement. It was simply inspirational.
Ben: One of our first shows was opening up for Entheos in Tucson, Az and it was the first time I got to see Evan Brewer play bass live. Before the show us as a band got to hang with the whole band too which just had me starstruck. If you’re familiar with his playing you’d know why I was simply blown away!
If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?
You can expect two things. One being our performance on stage. We make an effort to be high energy, demonstrate high musicianship, have crowd participation, and genuinely loving what we are doing on stage. The second thing being before and after our show. We love talking with people at shows and watching all the acts we perform with. We love performing and without the support of people coming out to shows there would be no artists.
If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?
Scarlett: You're asking me to choose between Don Broco and One Ok Rock. I can jam/dance to their music all day, all night. Their CD's are forever in my car. It'd be amazing to be embraced by that overwhelmingly powerful and positive energy I felt when I saw both bands live.
Josh: Saosin.
Dustin: Coheed and Cambria. Although I am a big fan of heavier music, I feel like our styles would blend
together well for a show. Also, they are definitely one band that I do not mind listening to the same songs over and over again.
Ben: I can’t decide so I’m going with Trivium and Ariana Grande. Trivium because they’re just amazing live and seem like the coolest dudes in person. Ariana Grande so I can loose my voice singing to all her songs every night!
You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?
Scarlett: I want to meet CL (formerly of 2NE1), and I want that girl to show me how to sing and
dance like her. We can get tea/coffee and some sweets, and she can help me with some
moves.
Josh: Dave Grohl.
Dustin: Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth. Opeth is one of those timeless bands that still somehow always creates something new within their realm of sound. I would ask what/how he thinks about composing and experimentation within music.
Ben: Marcus Miller. King of slap bass and we’d speak bass and musical composition!
And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?
Scarlett: I know it's not actually a Christmas movie. But it's set during the holidays, so can we
PLEASE answer “yes” to piss Josh off?
Josh: No.
Dustin: Yes, of course it is.
Ben: Never saw it…..
Website - www.pyrotechnicaofficial.com
