galaxy of tar: a bite out of space

Do you think it’s a fear thing for women?
N: I don’t know what it is, but I have noticed that sometimes I will be the only woman in a room full of men.

What is the difference between being on a fashion runway and being on stage?
N: I think in fashion, people are constantly chasing an idea of what beauty is and what’s going on at the time. With music, especially with alternative music, beauty is just being exactly who you are and exploring what that means. The whole rainbow of who you are. Rather than making you up to be something that’s popular at the moment.

(Naima with Tyra Banks after winning America’s Next Top Model season 4, web photo)

So, would you consider your new album, “Pneuma,” not popular at the moment? When I listened to your new album I closed my eyes and felt like I was floating in space, not sure if it’s the name of your band that got my imagery there.
N: That’s so nice.
E: Well that’s how you interpret it and that’s how it makes you feel. To me, our music is chaotic and crazy.

Signed to any labels?
E: No, we’re DIY. It’s kind of like, if you don’t have to, why bother? You have control of your music, what your CD covers look like. Why should you be held to this machine?

Speaking of machines, what did you guys think of Iron Man 2?
N: I liked it. I saw the previews and I didn’t think there was going to be much of a story behind it, but I liked it.

Avatar or Iron Man 2?
E: Avatar. The story behind Avatar goes along with what’s happening with the earth and how I feel about that.

Do you guys feel like one day computers are going to take over humans?
E: I don’t believe that.
N: I don’t think so either. I think that laziness might rule us. And thus give a lot of leeway to having machines control our lives.
E: Even if machines do take over a majority of the people, I think there will be a few rebels like us that would be like fuck you, were going to go underground.

Does the chaotic and crazy sound of your music come from your band members having a mash-up of ethnicities or just pent up aggression?
E: It enhances it in a different way. I come from a more Latin oriented background so there is a lot more groovy stuff and then Namanian brings the metal and shredding. It becomes grooves mixed with metal, its like a clash that ends up happening.
N: I look at my artwork in that way, I don’t like to follow trends, go with the flow with what everyone is playing. Like Elias said, he is from the Dominic Republic, I’m mixed with black and Mexican. We’ve come to create something new.

(Galaxy of Tar after performing their new album, from left to right, Nemanja, Naima, Elias, and Samuel)

What kind of people do you dislike to work with?
N: That is such a hard question. I guess, people who choose to act stupid. That sounds arrogant, but a lot of people choose their behavior.

How many close friends would you say you have?
N: Maybe about ten and fifteen. But I have really close friends that I don’t talk to for months and then ill get back in touch with them its like we never separated.
E: I definitely only have like four. Not counting family, maybe three.

Are you a Tom or Jerry kind of person?
N: Wait, Tom’s the cat? I like Tom better. Fuck that little mouse.
E: I’m more of a Jerry kind of guy. Being little and getting away with things.

What are you addicted to right now?
E: Listening to music. That’s like, wherever I go, if I don’t hear music.. it’s like I feel fancy, like put the radio on, please. And I can listen to any dude, from Santana to Metallica.
N: Sugar.

The lovin or the sweetener?
N: What? Oh, no, the stuff you eat.

If you were alone in the desert, what would be your first thought?
N: Water. Then second, sun screen.
E: Day time or night time? What are we talking here?
N: Yea, is it a windy desert?

Why should the people in the Afro-punk community listen to your new album?
N: Because it’s awesome. Beyond that we try to make intellectual music as well. I think people, human beings deserve that. Its music, it’s candy to your ears.