Tosca - Brewing Up Storms

The two woman Sludge/Doom/Noise assault known as "Tosca" are from Canada and already building a fan base if the messages i have been receiving are anything to go by. The Tosca track posted on the Doom Metal Alliance site has been one of the most played tracks in DMA history so that shows DMA supporters must have good taste. "Tosca" are primarily a Sludge/Doom band but at the same time don't sound like anybody else. Check out their Myspace page, they have some killer tunes. Thanks to Therese for this interview.

1. Thanks for the interview opportunity, why don't we start with giving the readers a history lesson on the the two members of the band ?


History lesson? Hmm, let's see. In 700 AD Stef was a Celtic war priestess leading savage axe-wielding hordes into battle against the Roman invaders, and in roughly 1500 I was a southeast Asian jungle witch doctor brewing up storms to sink the Spanish galleons. We met in 2002, became instant best friends, and have played in several projects together ever since, touring Canada a number of times and just generally destroying public property.


2. You also come from another band "Killbourne" which musically speaking is very different from "Tosca" so how did the idea for creating Sludge/Doom Noise Rock come about ?

We both have pretty broad tastes (for instance, her background is jazz, mine's classical). But we've wanted to do "crushing down tempo" for ages, and of all the sub-sub-subgenres of rock music, this is closest to my heart. Most of the modern heavy music that I find the most intelligent, creative, and inspired tends to fall under the sludgedoomnoise umbrella.


3. You both a eclectic range of influences but is there one or two bands you listen for inspiration ?

Lots of old Neurosis. We are both big Isis fans, and about four years ago I saw another Canadian band called KEN mode that more or less redefined modern heavy for me.


4. What is life like in "Alberta" for a band like yourselves ?


Touring in Canada poses a lot of really interesting challenges. In the States, major urban centers are 2, 3 hours apart. Here, they're often 8, 10, 12 hours apart. What this basically means is, if you don't really, really like road trips, you shouldn't tour Canada! But as with any residents of a cold and unforgiving land, we consider it a test of strength and fortitude! Okay, sorry, I'm getting all black metal up in here, I'll stop.


5. What is in the works for future recordings ? It would be cool if you can get a full length album out sometime soon.


Our debut full length will be recorded in the New Year and released by spring/early summer, hopefully! We are currently talking to an engineer whose work I'm a huge fan of, we're awfully excited.



6. OK, this is a bit of a sexist question but there has been a massive increase in the amount of female's playing Doom and Sludge which i think is great by the way but what is your favorite women in the scene ?


That's not a sexist question. A sexist question would be "What's your cup size?" Ahem, anyway... Gallhammer's lo-fi brutality rocks my world, and their ability to meld a number of extreme genres. I quite like Laura's guitar work in Kylesa, and Julie Christmas (from Made out of Babies, Battle of Mice etc) is one of the raddest vocalists out there regardless of gender or genre.


7. I read in your blog that you will never get a bass player. What is the reason for the band making that decision ?


Because we'd rather only have to split the beer tickets two ways rather than three. Just kidding, we're actually not entirely closed to the idea. We have great playing and writing chemistry between the two of us, and we've been friends for so long, it's hard to imagine finding a third person we'd gel with. But if the perfect person came around, we might give it a shot. In the meantime however I prefer replacing humans with giant amplifiers, noisy pedals, and dysfunctional computers.


8. What has been the reaction to your demo so far ?


I am thrilled and very grateful that we have had so much enthusiasm and support. OMG THX GUISE!


9. You plan on doing some shows, will that still be the two of you or are thinking about bringing in a extra member ?


Well, so far we've been a two piece live. Again, we'll play this shit by ear.



10. What styles of music did you listen to while growing up and what attracted you to the heavy music scene ?


I think I was born loving chaotic, harsh, dark, noisy sounds. As soon as I was exposed to it as a kid, I gloomed onto it instantly; "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" was the record that ruined my budding show-choir career at age 14. From there, I was like any good junkie, constantly needing more and more intense highs. I grew up in the 90s and while I listened to all the classic metal, it was always the unclassifiable stuff I loved the most, the extremely heavy and weird shit on the periphery of the grunge and alternative scene.


11. The heavy music scene in Canada seems to be growing judging by the amount of demos i have been hearing from there lately. Is there any bands from your area people should check out ?


Yes! From Manitoba, check KEN mode, Velodrome, Prague, L'Viv... from B.C. check out Damages and of course Bison who are blowing up in a big way... from our own hometown of Calgary check out Monkey, Baikal, Cold Craving... from Saskatchewan check out Lavagoat and Molten Lava (two Lava names, who'd have thunk it?) from Ontario, Buried Inside and 50watthead. Canada is full of awesome!!!


12. Thanks again for the chance to do this interview. Any last words for the readers ?


Ok we all know that the digital age has gimped record sales... the best way to counteract this is GO SEE LIVE SHOWS! As awesome as records are, nothing can quite take the place of live music! Keep them heads banging!


www.myspace.com/toscanoise