Clandestine

"Clandestine is poised to make the jump to the big time. "

"I have to admit that I think I might choose Park over Amy Lee"

"Some of the hottest guitar work of 2009"

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Clandestine – The Invalid 2009, Clandestine

Clandestine has been making waves in Los Angeles’ underground music scene, mixing Progressive Metal with lush electronic sounds and the dynamic voice of June Park (vox, programming). The band is rounded out by Dan Durakovich (guitars, programming), Mark Valencia (bass) and Apex Theory alum Sammy J. Watson on drums. August 18, 2009 sees the release of Clandestine’s second album, The Invalid. Mixed by Sylvia Massey (Tool, The Apex Theory, System Of A Down), Clandestine is poised to make the jump to the big time.

Clandestine sets forth with Fearless, a vibrant and heavy modern rocker featuring the fabulous vocals of June Park and the intriguing guitar work of Dan Durakovich Fearless is ready for Modern Rock radio and may have some crossover potential particularly if it were placed on the soundtrack of a psych thriller or horror film. Disappear finds Clandestine venturing into some seriously progressive territory, showing the sort of creative construction and funky time signature work that made bands like Rush. Drummer Sammy J. Watson sounds like he might have spent some time studying Neil Peart, if nothing else. Silent Sin heads more for a middle-of-the-road pop sound likely designed to increase Clandestine's marketability across demographics, walking a similar path to Evanescence (although I have to admit that I think I might choose Park over Amy Lee).

Clandestine bounces back a bit hardcore on Philistine, ripping up vocals chord, tearing off the roof; generally melting face. Philistine questions existence, purpose and generally the meaning of life in urgent overtones with some of the hottest guitar work of 2009. Fracture has an urgent feel, threatening to fly off the rails at several turns winding around a melodic core like the winds of a musical hurricane. Dead To The World is an exquisite piece of Prog-Metal; Park is in perfect voice, and the arrangement soars over funky signature changes, arrhythmic progressions and a searing mix of guitar and synth to create a sound that's at times, other-worldly. The Invalid is a song about the right to die from the perspective of someone who has no control over their life. The song is angry and violent in tenor and thought provoking in content. It's a bit more cerebral than your typical Prog-Metal piece without sacrificing a bit of quality in the music. Be sure also to check out Comatose.

On The Invalid, Clandestine takes the unique sound of Evanescence and crosses it with the inventive progressive rock/metal styles of Rush to create one of the more unusual and welcome releases of 2009. June Park offers up a powerful voice that can croon a lyric line or scream like a banshee, whatever the moment calls for. Clandestine is incredibly talented musically, and the writing's not so bad either. There's too much power and too much talent here for Clandestine to stay hidden from public view. Clandestine just might be one of the next heavy hitters in the world of Rock.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) You can learn more about Clandestine at www.myspace.com/clandestineband. The Invalid hits the streets on August 18, 2009. Expect wide availability. Keep checking the band’s site for more information. - Wildy's World

"a rhythm section that takes no prisoners"

"Labels take note! Unless I'm mistaken, Clandestine are going places, with or without you"

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It's been a while since I touted the virtues of MySpace in a review, so let me do that here. Sure, there's lots of stuff that MySpace (or its users) do wrong, but the one thing I've always liked about MySpace--and the only reason I even created an account--is discovering new music. Sometimes it's by my own actions, but more often it's a lazy Saturday morning where I go through all of the requests from bands and see which are worth following up on. Recently, one of those requests was from Los Angeles, CA's four piece Clandestine. Formed in 2006, the band won the title "Best Female Fronted Band" from an LA magazine. After a lineup change, picking up Sammy J. Watson formerly of The Apex Theory, they released this full-length this year. I liked the samples I heard online, so they sent me a copy to check out the rest.

At the risk of offending everybody involved, even though I mean it as a good thing, there are times when I want to describe Clandestine as a cross between, say, Lacuna Coil, Flyleaf and Dream Theater(-lite), as fronted by Gwen Stefani (when she was awesome in No Doubt, not as a pop starlet in her solo career). That's not to say vocalist June Park always sounds like Stefani; just the inflection on some songs such as "Disappear in You" reminds me of her. There are some progressive tendencies on display and lots of exploration of textures driven by electronic sounds and synth keys. The title track starts off with a very moody atmosphere, and when the main verse kicks in the electronics add a sense of chaos to the guitars. Other places on the album have guitar riffs or fills that were (intentionally or not) probably lifted from the school of John Petrucci.

The album opener "Fearless" also has a long electronic-driven intro, setting this listener up for a massive headbanging groove of an intro. The verse of that song is otherwise driven by an interesting off-time riff, something that wouldn't be out of place in a math metal song if it were expanded upon. "Dissapear In You" shows off Park's scream as a counterpoint to some of the more haunting, melodic lines she turns out. "Disappear In You" also has a great catchy chorus that I found myself singing after not having heard the song for several days. Another highlight is "Philistine," again with a greatly hooky chorus and a rhythm section that takes no prisoners.

There are a few missteps on the album, such as the slower-but-not-quite-ballad "Pretend" which doesn't really do anything for me other than slow down the momentum halfway through the album. The vocals may not appeal to everybody, as Park's vocal range is often higher than other similar female-fronted bands and the mixing is a little hot. For the most part though The Invalid is a strong first step into the full-length arena by Clandestine, showing a knack for strong songwriting and a great mix of metal with more adventurous electronic sounds. Labels take note! Unless I'm mistaken, Clandestine are going places, with or without you.
- AntiMusic.com

With many female fronted hard rock and metal bands like Otep, Echoes of Eternity, and My Ruin having emerged from Los Angeles, CA, this popular city is becoming the breeding ground for women to bring their abilities out to the forefront. Another band is bringing the same energy and excitement to the scene even if they are Clandestine.

Clandestine are a four-piece with a passion and a love for the music they play, which is a dark symphonic rock blend of intricate guitar, lush and harsh vocals, and progressive sounds with catchy programming.

The band released an EP last year featuring four songs: ¡°D.O.D¡±, ¡°Far From The Light¡±, ¡°My Lord¡±, and ¡°Bleed On Me¡±. The EP has gained international fans through their on-line promotional efforts, reaching places like the UK and Philippines.

Lead singer June Park¡¯s strong vocals couples with her forceful lyrics bring the band together.

¡°The lyrics are raw expressions of a true state of mind, the emotion that you had at the moment of a powerful yet devastating event in your life,¡± June said. ¡°I tend to not suggest solutions to the problems-how you should deal with your pain-because as soon as you know that you will survive through it; your true emotion that was derived from the pain is gone.¡±

Park said that her lyrics are undoubtedly dark and personal.

¡°My lyrics come from the suppressed memories that are too vulnerable to be verbalized in real life,¡± she said.

The band cites such bands as Dream Theatre, Black Sabbath, Dimmu Borgir, and Mudvayne as some of their influences. Each member has a different taste in rock, which blends nicely to create the Clandestine sound.

¡°We are not trying to be something other than what we are,¡± June said. ¡°We just do what we love the most, and what we think is best as Clandestine.¡±

Guitarist Dan Durakovich came up with the band name Clandestine, meaning ¡°concealed¡± or ¡°kept secret¡±.

June said that the name implies the bands musical and lyrical direction.

¡°We are about expressing what is hidden behind people, because what is shown from their appearance or attitude is not usually everything about them,¡± she said. ¡°It can be fascinating to find out what people really have in their minds, and at the same time, disturbing. Clandestine's sound and performance is to state the beauty of secrecy in which it exists in everyone. The contrast you hear and see from Clandestine is the result of revealing the secret¡±

As for the future of Clandestine, the band are working on new material and planning a tour.

The band is writing new music for their first full-length album tentatively out early next year. June said that listeners can expect to hear the concepts on their EP, but expanded.

¡°From the lush melodies and dynamic ups and downs, to the dark undertones and pounding, progressive rhythms,¡± June said. ¡°The band has grown so much since the EP's release, we're all very excited to record all our new material and release it to our fans.¡±

On top of that, the band is planning a tour of Northern California and Nevada in mid June. Clandestine will be playing regularly in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The band sees that they have a bright future ahead of them and the bands goals are clear. They want to play and reach as many people as much as they can through technology and innovation.

¡°To not forget where we come from as individuals and to deliver the purest music to our crowd at all times, no matter how far we make it through today's tainted music industry,¡± June said.
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Indie: How has the reception been to your 2006 ep?

Clandestine: We received lots of great comments on the 2006 EP. It was recorded and produced by ourselves at home and practice lockout. Despite the environmental challenge, it came out quite nicely. Each song was received equally well, which we were pleased to see because we put a great amount of effort into each song. Through on-line promotions, we have gained international music fans as well. We shipped some CDs to the UK and even the Philippines, among other domestic and international regions.

Indie: Is the band working on a full-length and if so, when will it be released?

Clandestine: We are hoping to have a full-length CD released in early '08.

Indie: What can fans expect from the new material?

Clandestine: You can expect to hear the concepts from our EP, expanded upon. From the lush melodies and dynamic ups and downs, to the dark undertones and pounding, progressive rhythms. The band has grown so much since the EP's release, we're all very excited to record all our new material and release it to our fans.

Indie: When is the band going to be touring?

Clandestine: We're planning a tour of Northern California and Nevada in mid June of this year. We'll be hitting up the bay area, Sacramento, and Reno.

Indie: Where do you plan on playing shows/touring at?

Clandestine: We'll be playing regularly in Los Angeles and Orange counties. It's always good to get out of the city though, to reach new crowds. We had a great response when we played in San Francisco and are definitely planning and playing up there again.

Indie: Who would you cite as your influences? Who would the other members cite?

Clandestine: Undoubtedly, the best part of this band is the contrast of influences. While each member is influenced by bands in the "rock" vain, we all come from different backgrounds of "rock". Additionally, each member has a vast list of favorites that stem from many different genres of music to which they bring to Clandestine. Particularly though: Dan's (guitars) roots stem from progressive rock/metal bands. (i.e. Dream Theater, Symphony X, Porcupine Tree) He adds a tastefully complex flavor to the music. Greg (drums) can cite influences from all aspects of rock music. (i.e. Marco Minneman, Virgil Donati, Mudvayne) And Chad (bass) comes from metal bands, new and old alike.(i.e. AC/DC, Metallica, and Black Sabbath) My personal influence varies from gothic/black metal to progressive rock bands such as Theatre of Tragedy, Dimmu Borgir, and Tool-basically, dark, dramatic and dynamic sounds.

Indie: What do your lyrics focus on?

Clandestine: The words are to express a pure message of an introvert. I don't write lyrics just to grab others' attention, just because that's not how I am. The lyrics are raw expressions of a true state of mind, the emotion that you had at the moment of a powerful yet devastating event in your life. I tend to not suggest solutions to the problems-how you should deal with your pain-because as soon as you know that you will survive through it; your true emotion that was derived from the pain is gone. Leaving it unresolved helps me convey the genuine emotion through live performance.

Indie: Where do these lyrics stem from?

Clandestine: My lyrics come from the suppressed memories that are too vulnerable to be verbalized in real life. Without a doubt, they are dark and personal. When people ask me what my lyrics are about, I sometimes have a hard time telling them the truth. Some subjects of the lyrics are still very difficult for me to talk about. Writing about them in a musical form is the only way I can let it out of my head. However, not everything I write is about my self. It is also my interpretation of others who inspire me to write the words for them.

Indie: Who came up with the band name and what is the meaning behind it?

Clandestine: Dan (guitarist) came up with the name Clandestine. The word directly means "kept secret" or "concealed". It implies the band's direction, both musically and lyrically. We are about expressing what is hidden behind people, because what is shown from their appearance or attitude is not usually everything about them. It can be fascinating to find out what people really have in their minds, and at the same time, disturbing. Clandestine's sound and performance is to state the beauty of secrecy in which it exists in everyone. The contrast you hear and see from Clandestine is the result of revealing the secret.

Indie: Have you ever played with any notable/signed bands?

Clandestine: No, we haven't played with signed bands yet. However, we will be opening for The Vixens on April 28th at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Just want to mention that a lot of great bands are DIY these days.

Indie: Los Angeles seems to be a breeding ground for female fronted bands like Otep, My Ruin, Echoes of Eternity, and Mankind is Obsolete. Has the band ever played with any of these acts?

Clandestine: We've been good friends of MKIO for some years now. We've always tried to setup a show with each other, but our schedules have never been able to coincide yet. However, we've always tried to help each other. They even lent us some microphones to help us record our EP! Natasha (vocalist of MKIO) played keyboards and sung harmonies in Clandestine for a short period of time. I had sung harmonies for a couple of their shows as well. Dan also played for them when their guitar player was not able to play a show.

Indie: How do you feel about the emergence of female fronted bands, especially in your area?

Clandestine: I think it is one of the very natural aspects throughout the world that females are emerging out of society. It is definitely great to see how females are contributing to heavy bands. They add difference and quality to their bands by delivering talent and beauty. It should be nothing unusual to see a woman fronting a band in a couple of years, and the term "Female Fronted" won¡¯t be used as much as now. Well, that's what I hope at least.

Indie: What's in Clandestine's future?

Clandestine: We honestly think we will have a bright future as a band. Every member is into the band and loves music with passion. We are not trying to be something other than what we are. We just do what we love the most, and what we think is best as Clandestine. As far as we keep playing, I don't really think there will be anything to go wrong. Los Angeles is a tough area for a new, DIY band. We just hope to meet the right crowds who are willing to communicate with us musically. There already are a few people who really gave their hearts to us, and it is one of the greatest things to know that somebody is really capturing what we try to convey through music.

Indie: What are the band goals?

Clandestine: Playing as much as we can, and reaching as many people as we can through technology and innovation. To not forget where we come from as individuals and to deliver the purest music to our crowd at all times, no matter how far we make it through today's tainted music industry.

Indie: Any final words/additional comments?

Clandestine: We appreciate your interest in Clandestine, and professional questions that are very informative of the band. We hope to keep in touch and all the best to Indie In-Tune in the future. What you guys are doing is truly valuable to all of the indie bands who are striving for the love of music.

- Indie In-Tune (By Star Child)

"The Invalid never fails to deliver"

"A treat to listen to"
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From Los Angeles, California comes the band Clandestine. They combine elements of metal, alternative and modern rock sounds with electronic and prog (of all things). It is a pretty interesting vision this band has that can be heard on their debut release "The Invalid", a 10-song 45-minute slab of hard-edged rock that never fails to deliver. The band is fronted by the relentless and diverse vocals of lead singer June Park and also features in it's ranks former The Apex Theory drummer Sammy J. Watson.
The opening track on any CD should set a definite tempo and atmosphere for the CD, and this opener "Fearless" does just that. It starts off with some electronic sounds before the band furiously joins in and the song is just a pounding tune and the vocals of June Park are quite impressive in leading the way. Next is the great "Disappear In You" which begins with an otherworldly scream by June before she brings it down and shows the kind of range that she possesses in her voice, which is quite impressive. This song also has a wickedly infectious chorus and melody, another impressive track. "Silent Sin" slows things down a notch and has single written all over it - it would be a solid choice if the band chooses to put one out. Another great song with a great melody. Following the (potential) commercial appeal of the previous song the band go in the opposite direction with the ultra-heavy and gritty "Philistine". "Pretend" is another melodically charged rocker and another highlight. Other highlights include: "Fracture", "Dead To The World", "The Invalid" and the closing number "Comatose" really wraps things up perfectly. The songs are really well written, both the music and the lyrics and the whole thing is well done and was a treat to listen to.
There is a lot going on in "The Invalid". Also impressive is the bands ability to go from aggressive to melodic and back again, sometimes even throughout the course of the same song. Far be it for me to predict super stardom for any band/artist - god knows, I've been wrong before - but it seems to me that Clandestine, just maybe have what it takes to grab the ear of the main-stream and "The Invalid" is a good start.
Rating - 90/100 - Femme Metal

http://www.metal-waves.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=426&Itemid=26

A very in-depth webzine out of Tunesia just wrote a review of our EP! Click the link above to check out the site as well as the review page. Since it is written in French, we've posted the translation below in all its raw and unedited glory. Hope you all enjoy!



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"Clandestine is a Goth Metal formation originating from Los Angeles,
California. Since they had recently been elected "Best Female Fronted Band"
by Rock City News for their self-produced demo released in 2006, I wanted to
see what they were made of. I wasn't disappointed.

With their first track, "D.O.D", the band immediately plunges us in a rather
unusual ambiance. The band is no pale copy of LACUNA COIL, it has its own
identity made of personal touches such as its synth, which sounds quite different from the rest of the field.

The female vocal is strong, her timber at times young, and at times approaching harsh. It's ingenious that one vocalist produces that precious duality that's become an unavoidable element of the bands of that genre.

The whole is accompanied by a synth, the arrangements of which are very
interesting, though a little bare in my opinion. He doesn't seem to want to
establish a mood and to make it evolve, but rather he slips little melodic interludes into the tracks along with a few basic cords. He does distinguish himself, however, in the track "My Lord".

What also strikes us in this band's songs are the occasional very progressive touches: riffs of unconventional structure inter-cut with rather well-designed bass and synth sections. A bass that is not as discreet as that of other Goth bands. Its more expressive and occasionally distinguishes itself from the guitar. It allows itself some good interludes like in the track "Bleed On Me". As to the drums, they are fairly basic on the first three tracks, and vary a little between calm and progressive rhythms on the last track.

A good demo for this young band that's starting to make itself known. We
can only hope that the band will polish some of its compositions a little, adding a little more symphony, which would fill-in certain parts of their tracks that sound a little hollow."
- www.metal-waves.com

December 23, 2007

"Combining orchestral synths with progressive metal guitar riffing, LA's Clandestine offer up a heavy sound filled with intensity and passion. Band members June Park (Lead vocals / programming), Dan Durakovich (Guitars / programming), and Chad Whitaker (Bass) and Greg Collister (Drums) have been tearing up the stage at such LA hot spots as the Knitting Factory and the Dragonfly since 2005. Despite only being together for a few years, Clandestine's musicianship, sense of melody and tight arrangements suggest otherwise.

On their self-titled EP, Durakovich, Whitaker, and Collister plow their way through a sonic wall of beefed up guitars, solid bass playing, well executed solos and hammering drums, leaving a wake for vocalist June Park to open up and shine. Park's voice transitions from a breathy whisper one moment to a blood curdling scream the next. Check out the song "Bleed on me" in which Park, doing her best Linda Blair impression, exorcises her demons right back to hell where they came.

Clandestine knows how to build momentum and intensity in a song without losing sight of melody and dynamics. It's with this mindset they stand apart from the norm." - Bryan Roy

About a year and a half ago I was stumbling around myspace, when on the front page I discovered a band called Clandestine. I decided to give them a listen. Since then they have been a staple on listening radar. When I heard they were in the studio recording I decided to check in with them for an interview and see the makings behind an amazing Cali band. So, without further ado, I give you, Clandestine in all their glory.

Can you please tell us who we have the pleasure of talking with today? Could you also tell us the members of your band, and what your respective role in the band is?

Dan: Guitarist, programmer, songwriter
June: Vocalist, programmer, songwriter


How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?

June: I was looking to form a band while I was in a music school in Los Angeles, and that's where I met Dan. At that time I wanted the band to be a Symphonic Goth metal band, but it didn't turn out to be that way in a real life.


What's the origin of your band name?

June: I've always found it interesting that the people you meet everyday are often putting on a mask to deal with even the most common of situations. It can be very fascinating and at the same time, disturbing to find out what's beneath the mask. The band is about expressing those hidden thoughts/feelings - revealing the clandestine person underneath.


When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

IDan: June came to me with a few original songs and she needed a guitarist. I knew she had an incredible voice and a true talent for the stage so I sat down with her and worked out some parts. She naturally has an ear for great melodies and energetic orchestration whereas I was always into technical progressive rhythms. Our styles brought an interesting balance to the music that we wrote.

June: It was about 3 years ago that the band was formed but obviously it took a while to find a permanent line up, that is if such a thing exists. Clandestine's sound was like an accidental discovery in my kitchen-putting different things in a pot without looking into a recipe book, and being very happy with the result!


What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?

Dan: Hate to sound cliché, but we really do have a hard time pinning down our style. We're more dynamic and dimensional than "metal" and we're heavier and more dramatic than just "rock". As far as recent influences, I've been listening to Porcupine Tree, Apex Theory, Mudvayne, and Michael Jackson lately. Yes, seriously… The guy truly is the king of pop, even if he is also the king of creepy.

June: To make it simple, we would call it progressive hard rock, but of course there are different elements throughout such as electronica and heavy metal. Currently I'm into Katatonia, Tool, and Porcupine Tree. I especially like Katatonia's latest album, "The Great Cold Distance". It has a great balance of intricate rhythms, structure, and catchy melodies in a dark atmosphere, which are the materials for great music in my book.


Who writes your songs? And how have they evolved since the band started?

Dan: June and I have been the songwriters since our 2006 EP. The songs on our full length album haven't really strayed from the sound of our EP, rather just expanded. As most musicians do, we've just been bettering ourselves as composers and as musicians.

June: I think our sound is becoming more balanced and complicated in a good way. The key is the open-minded collaboration. I both experienced joy and frustration while learning to collaborate with band members, but the outcome was truly worth it. You always learn something while writing with people. It can be uncomfortable at first, but you need to realize what you are lack of by discussing your creations with others. When you have a band, your songs can't be personal anymore. We all learned that even if your song means a lot to you, if it's not good enough to be heard by many others, it needs improvement or to be omitted. .


What has been your biggest challenge as a band?

Dan: Keeping a lineup!! Musicians are such a different breed of people, it's so hard to find "the right guy". We're realizing that getting four people together to have the same visions and goals is pretty rare.

June: It's something that every band goes through. But since we need some progressive chops from the drummer, it has been harder to find one who understands the music in our terms. Our songs can't be played through by rocking out hard, but require some thought before figuring out the parts. Not that our songs have a lot of it, but I noticed that there are very few people around our age who really know how to play with odd meter. This is more of a general problem in L.A. area, that there aren't many skilled people here who are genuinely searching for a band to join without a financial interest. It's a good thing that musicians get paid for what they do, but as an unsigned band, that's not what we can offer at most times. In L.A., it's very common that bands don't get paid a penny after playing live. Sometimes they even pay to play at popular places. So it definitely can't be about money, but it has to be a genuine love of music to be in a band like ourselves. It's also unfortunate to see people joining a bunch of bands at the same time to pick the one that takes off. Having a band should be like raising a family. It needs commitment to make it happen. At least we are lucky for that we don't have problems like drug or alcohol addictions.


What's your ultimate direction for your band?

June: First of all, keeping it honest is what we want. We don't want to make music to impress certain people or follow trends because that's just not us. We understand that our type of music is not what is considered to be marketable these days, and we are fine with that. It's not because we don't need money, but because we need to be true to ourselves as musicians. And let me tell you that I'm a terrible liar.

Dan: Also, we plan on adding a lot of new ideas to live shows. We want to be able to be so much more than just four people recreating music from their album. We want fans to get more than what they pay for when they come to our show.

June: We realized that even if we were watching one of our favorite bands live, after a few songs we were getting bored. So we thought that could easily happen with our fans too which we obviously don't want. We are always thinking about the ways to make our stage more interesting. I can't share it right now because it's still work in progress, but I can tell you that we are pretty excited about it.


As an unsigned band, is there a struggle to get your name and music out there?

Dan: Yes but there are plenty of ways to expand your fanbase. Networking with similar bands, innovative marketing techniques, communicating with band-promoting webzines (You guys rock!). Sure, having a distribution company or record label do all the legwork for you is the way to go. Being independent just means you have to work harder.


I understand that you are currently working on a new album, how is that coming alone? When can we look forward to possibly hearing some new stuff from you guys? And look forward to a possible tour?

Dan: We just got out of the studio, although not done with the album yet. Just taking a few weeks break and then we'll be back in to finish up. We're very excited about how well the production is going. We're working with a very talented engineer who has worked with Velvet Revolver and A Perfect Circle, among others. Even more exciting is that Sammy Watson from The Apex Theory will be drumming on the album. It's a good sign that even after all the writing, tweaking, and recording we're still just as excited about the songs as we were a few months ago. We envy bands that go to the studio and record 20 songs and only use 10 of them on the album. I can't even fathom doing that. We put so much time and effort in to every song that each one has every intention of ending up on the album. Look for the CD and MP3's to be available in October. Of course there will be some sneak previews. Check out the website to stay tuned in. A tour is a bit different to predict as we are still looking for a live drummer.


What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?

June: Really think about why you are in a band. You should understand that you can't count on being lucky, but remember that we are already in a lucky situation that anyone can have a band as long as they work hard. There are a lot of successful DIY bands out there. Of course, if you define "success" as becoming a millionaire, that's not applicable.

Dan: Yeah, it's one thing if you want it to be a fun hobby. But if you want it to eventually be your career, it's a completely different animal. You NEED financial stability and you need to throw every dollar you make into the band. You have to treat it as a long-term investment because you surely won't be making any money early on. Writing good music is only half the battle, but of course you still have to make sure that the music is perfect in your mind. The industry can be so ugly that sometimes the only thing that keeps you going is the fact that you still believe in your music.


How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?

www.clandestineband.com – Still being designed but it will directly link you to our myspace page where you can hear our entire EP. Stay tuned here to sample the new album when it's done!


The Sound Faction is make up of six staff members who are random at best, love to laugh and make others laugh. We try to ask all of our interviewees five random questions at the end, so here goes.

If you could have any non-standard superpower (flying, x-ray vision, etc... comic book stuff), what would yours be?

June: I want to be able to transform myself to many different animals and experience different lifestyles.

Dan: Ha! Well, similarly I'd want the ability to talk to animals. I find animals to be much more interesting than most people are so being able to talk to them would definitely interest me. Or at least turn me into a total tree-hugger. hmmmm… maybe not, then…


If you were a flavour of Potato Crisp, what kind would you be?

Dan: Original – I have fairly simple tastes. Music being the exception.

June: The purple tortilla.


If you could be the champion of anything, what would it be? (and if you say The World, I might have to die of laughter!)

Dan: The Champion of Beer Brewing.

June: I'm sorry but I can't imagine myself being so good at something.


What's your favourite 5-letter word?

June: Puppy.

Dan: Balls.


If you could be any old school rock god for a day, how would you abuse the power?

Dan: Fainting Goat races.

June: I would drink to death and still be alive.


Thank you again to Dan and June for taking time out of their schedules to talk to us. Keep an eye on their music and their MySpace. - The Sound Faction