PHOTOGRAPHED BY NELSON LAU

Maybe it is not a total secret as one can just Google this band’s name and Lilakk is circulating across the Internet. Meet Lilakk a band that we feel is the heart of Indie alternative music. Their sound represents the rawness and passion that go hand and hand with good hard alternative/rock music. Find out what we are discovering about this band; they can ROCK!!!

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Lilakk: Definitely the purity of the music and creative control. Being able to do what we feel. Being an indie band lets us have more individuality by not having to conform into what a label thinks is marketable. In many cases, labels rip off artists, by being indie and in control of our own careers; we get to make the choices, either good or bad.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have built up over the years about you in the process?

Lilakk: Heck, no! You couldn’t pay us enough. Money alone would never make up for loosing that creative control and ability to make our own choices.

Isaac: Spoken like true musicians! AWESOME!!!

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” Factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business? 

Lilakk: We like to stand out by being ourselves, having fun and playing music that really resonates with us. We have a wide variety of influences and we play music that crosses and combines genres. We like adding our own melodic grunginess to the music we make, it makes it our own.
 

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Lilakk: All of their wildest dreams will come true! Ok, maybe not. We want our fans to feel connected to us; to feel like we can relate to their situation, because many times we can. We want them to feel the emotion in our music but also feel the hope that they can work through problems. Whenever someone hears our music, we want them to feel something – to be moved. Some will be moved in a good way and become fans, some will be moved in a bad way and hate our sound. But we want everyone to feel something.

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Lilakk: It is different for each of us. Kirk started played guitar at age 14 as an outlet. It became something to turn to instead of drugs or alcohol. At 14, it helped him deal with teenage issues and soothed the pain. Calli had used acting and boxing as an outlet to relieve stress and aggression, but after moving to Georgia she needed a new outlet. That is what music became for her. DJ has always played music of one type of another. He has often gotten sidetracked on musical tangents, learning to play many types of instruments.

He feels that music is just emotion in a different format. When we met, we were all in a place where music was crucial to whom we are. The more we play together as a band, the more the music bonds us together and the more we want to create and share with the world.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Lilakk: That is hard to pick just one. We relate to Alice In Chains because of the emotion in their songs. It feels like they are singing about our lives. We can relate to Nirvana because even thought their songs are cryptic, all the pieces paint a whole picture about what we are feeling.

Isaac: OMG, Alice In Chains is my all-time favorite band. ALL-TIME!!!

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

Lilakk: It depends on who you ask. Some fans appreciate indie music and go out of their way to find indie bands. Other people say that if you are not signed to a major label, then you must not be good enough to be signed. They don’t realize that in many cases, indie artists have chosen to remain indie, to have control over their music and their careers. We have a lot of respect for indie bands, often times it is not the easiest way to participate in the music business, but it is worth it to stay true to yourself.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?

Lilakk: Adding variety and letting artist be themselves. Too many artists and bands sound the same. Everyone should be encouraged to be creative and express their individuality. Labels should not try to push artists into a more marketable mold.

Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?

Lilakk: If everything keeps digressing like it is, soon all the successful bands will be DIY. Indie is the way to go, and a lot of artists are realizing that. A lot of major labels have bad track records with artists; we have all heard too many stories of deals going bad. With all the access artists have to recording equipment and programs, not to mention the audience the internet provides, now is the best time to be a DIY musician. All the cool kids are doing it!

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Lilakk: The feedback we get the most……”sounds like Nirvana”. Where we live, we really have to hunt up the fans that appreciate alternative music. The fans who appreciate indie music – the ones who are really looking for a new sound – they love it!

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Lilakk: Definitely. We are doing it now without fame or fortune. Music is therapy for us…Emotion in a different format. We could never give up the rush that writing, creating, and performing gives us!

Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?

Lilakk: We don’t mind negative feedback. It gives us a chance to talk music with fans….or be sarcastic, which works best. Performance criticism is welcome, because it helps us improve – but people who have nothing but hate to spread are just not cool. We don’t expect everyone to like our music, but we do encourage everyone to at least listen with an open mind. 

 

Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your quest of a music career?

Lilakk: Some of our family is supportive, friends are supportive. But we find the most support from one another. We will make music anyway, with or without support, but it is always great to have someone to share it with that will be as excited about it as we are.

Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?

Lilakk: We are on ReverbNation, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, SonicBids….pretty much everywhere. Just Goggle “lilakk” and you will find us! It is the benefit of an unusual name. If you don’t want to Google, you can start at www.ReverbNation.com/lilakk

Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..

Lilakk: Listen to our music – spread the word! Share it with all your friends! Be sure to join our mailing list on ReverbNation so that we can tell you when we will be playing a show close to you. We always love meeting new fans. And last, be looking for our album, Soon, to be coming out in December 2011!