Interview: Hellaphant (Written)
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you an interview with hooky skate-punk band, Hellaphant.
Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
My name is Garrington Begner, singer/guitarist fir the band Hellaphant. I got started playing bass when I was young. Always wanted to play guitar or bass. One day I was at a flea market and found an old bass for $15. I had some money, that was supposed to be for something else, but spent it in the bass. Got in trouble but it was worth it. Had a friend teach me some stuff and then kept going. Later on I switched to guitar when I couldn’t find anyone who played the style I wanted.
Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
It’s a tough one. We are hard to pin down. We are punks at heart but love the hooks of pop. We’re angry but happy. So to be honest. I din’t know. We get called punk but more skate punk.
What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.
Right now we are gigging to support the new album “Crumble and Rise” but have booked the studio to record a cover tune in the coming month. At the same time, I’m already writing up a storm for the next album so we’re always up to something and moving forward.
What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?
2 things. Writing and playing is therapy for me. So that is a positive plus i’ve made 3 amazing friends along the way. But we really enjoy meeting new people and new bands.
Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?
Challenges right now are time. Trying to get it all done. We want to do so much but because the industry isn’t paying well we can only gig and such around work schedules and vacation days.
How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band?
Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows? We handle the expectations well. We are self regulated. I am the constant dreamer and planner. Chris (bass) is the realist and usually reels me back in from dreamland. Lol It is time consuming for sure. Our label “Faster and Louder” is always pushing the band to anyone who will listen. The guys and I try and post and promote as much as we can as well. We try and do things slightly differently but we go down all avenues as much as we can daily. We all have busy lives with work etc so we have a schedule for rehearsals and gigs get cleared with us to make sure we are available.
What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?
Currently there are so many things. Gate keeping for “scenes” gets pretty annoying as well as the hypocrisy. It is the monster we chose to get into it with.
Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?
Listen to it, if they like it tell people about it. If they like going to see live music, tell promoters. It all helps.
Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?
I collect vintage toys so I’m always looking. Space 1999, Battlestar Galactica, Micronauts, Evel Kneivel and stuff like that.
Where can people find you?
