Melbourne blackened rockers Pagan are set to throw a party this Friday at Northcote Social Club to launch their new single Death Before Disco! We were lucky enough to get some time on the phone with frontwoman and head screamer Nikki Brumen to have a chat about the launch event - called The Holy Communion - the new single, and more. Take a listen to Death Before Disco now, and be sure to check out that awesome pink limited edition Death Before Disco 7" vinyl while you're at it.
What can you tell us about the Death Before Disco 7"?
It's the first single from our debut album. We're all very nervous and excited about putting it out because we've never done an album as Pagan. It's been a long time coming as, well because we've been a band for over two years.
The single itself - 'Death Before Disco' - lyrically it's been written about a relationship that I was in, that in hindsight, I saw that the person was gaslighting me in the relationship but I didn't realise it at the time. The song is a story about how the relationship started well, but then turned to shit and basically after the relationship ended I realised that the person had just treated me really badly, but that's what I thought I was worth at the time.
Despite the gloomy subject matter, the track is quite catchy and energetic - can we expect more of this sound on a future record?
You definitely can. This is Pagan's sound now. The thing with this particular song though - I think it sums up really beautifully what Pagan are. It has the disco beats with the blast beats with the Refused-sounding vocals and some growls in there as well. It sums up Pagan's sound really perfectly.
I think [the album]'s going to be more poppy than people expect from us. There's a little bit of risk - there's a couple of songs on there that are quite a lot more pop than we've done in the past. I think we've found who we are as part of the recording process - doing twelve tracks as opposed to just doing a couple of songs and releasing them as singles. Doing a whole album has really helped us shape our sound and I think people are going to be a little bit surprised when they hear a couple of the songs. There are some tracks in there that are heavier, but the overall sound has turned out not as heavy as I thought it would be.
You're hosting a launch party, and the dress code is white. What's up with that?
When Pagan first started out, we had a thing where the band would wear all white. It's always been a little bit of a schtick we've gone with, but also I feel like the band Pagan - we're more than just people who play heavy music. Throwing a gig is more than just a gig - we want to make it an event, like a party. We thought it would be fun to see a heavy music show with people dressed up. We're not trying to do anything to please anyone we're just doing what we want to do.
Do you think many of your fans own a white t-shirt?
No. I know that people are hating me for it right now. They're like "You couldn't have chosen a more unflattering colour" and "I had to go out and buy white jeans". I reckon it's going to look so awesome on the night. We've had some great photographers hit us up just wanting to come because they're intrigued by what it will be like. It's so much more exciting than just having a gig down the road at a pub. This is a party, a celebration, and something different.
I'm hearing a little bit of Kvelertak or maybe even a bit of Oathbreaker. Would you count these guys among your influences?
Oathbreaker are definitely one of my favourite bands. I think that they are so incredible how they pushed the boundaries with their latest album 'Reia'. I feel like that album is unlike anything else I've ever heard. I wouldn't say that I'm influenced by them soundwise, but their individuality inspires me.
From the start we've all really liked Kvelertak. I've always been really into Norwegian black metal, so that's where the blast beats come into play. Xave is pretty into Kvelertak, so his guitar kind of has that 80s sound. Matt, our drummer, is really into French pop and electro music. For me personally, my biggest influence in music is Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs. She's my biggest musical influence. I feel like people who would watch Pagan would never know that.
What's the moment you realised you were into heavy music?
When I was in my early teens, my twin sister and I were always the black sheep of the family, and we found this world in our bedroom playing CDs and exploring punk music together. I grew up in the Peninsula and there wasn't a music scene there, but it was our way of escaping from the rest of our family. We'd shut ourselves in our room and explored all different types of punk music, garage rock, heavy metal, and we'd get fake IDs and go and see bands. Going to gigs and listening to heavy music is part of who I am as cheesy as that sounds.
What would you say to women who want to get involved in playing heavy music?
You just have to do it. Stop thinking about how people will think of you, or how intimidating it is. Just do it. It is so much easier said than done, and they are usually like "but I can't find anyone to play with" or "it's scary", but the more women who do it the less we're going to have that attitude. I think the climate at the moment is great, there are so many more women doing it, but my main thing is to say to them, stop thinking about it, stopp talking about it, actually just do it. I always wanted to be in a band since I was 14, and I was too scared to do it, and looking back I wish I'd done it at a younger age.
What are some of your favourite black metal records?
In 2011 I went to Norway to see where black metal started. I think 'Deathcrush' (Mayhem, 1987) is the most obvious one. I'm also really into Watain, a Swedish black metal band, just beacuse they're so serious about everything. 'Lawless Darkness' is one of their albums that I really like. I really like listening to Bathory - their Goat record. I'm not as in to today's wave of black metal. I used to be a lot more into it. I really liked the theatrical side of it - I have a huge appreciation for that. When we started Pagan, I was a bit more invested in heavier music. Now I don't go out of my way to see black metal bands like I used to.
What have you been listening to lately?
High tension's new stuff is so great. Mike Deslandes who recorded our album, he recorded their new album as well. I've been listening to Bully - their new album is called 'Losing' and it's absolutely phenomenal. I'm so stoked they're coming to Australia for Splendour In the Grass and I'm hoping they do a Melbourne show. I've also been listening to a little bit of Eccavandal - she's an absolutely insane performer, and WAAX - their EP 'Wild & Weak' is one of my favourite things I've heard in my life.
How do you discover new music these days?
Really from going to shows. I think that's why I don't listen to black metal as much anymore - because my band doesn't play with those kind of bands. We play more with punk-style bands. Going to shows and playing festivals is the best way to learn about new music. I live in Collingwood and it's great because I have the best live venues at my doorstep. I just go in during the week. Last night I saw this incredible band called Axe Girl who I've never seen before, and they just blew my mind.
What's your most prized musical posession?
When I was 16, I wagged school to go to Joey Jordison's drum signing with my sister. We met Joey, and he invited us to the gig and he invited us backstage to hang out because we were huge fans. My twin sister and I got photos with every single member of Slipknot without their masks on, and at the time, (this was going back 15 years), nobody knew what they looked like without their masks on, and having those photos was such an achievement.
Death Before Disco 7"
A very special limited edition pink 7" vinyl version of Death Before Disco will be available this Saturday for Record Store Day at Resist Records in Sydney, Poison City Records in Melbourne, Rocking Horse Records in Brisbane, Clarity Records in Adelaide, Landspeed Records in Canberra, and Diabolik Books & Records in Perth. These are very limited, so get in quick!
The Holy Communion Launch Event
Pagan will be joined at The Holy Communion by Ferla, Loobs, Lost Talk, and Bad Batch, plus Ecca Vandal is set to drop by the play a late DJ set! Get tickets now.
Listen to Pagan
