Interviews
- Home
- Interviews
- Blaqk Audio
Blaqk Audio
Interview with Jade Puget on Aug 24, 2007 by
Blaqk Audio is the new side project from AFI members Davey Havok and Jade Puget. The band's mix of gothic and dance oriented sounds has recently arrived in the form of their debut CD, Cex Cells. Not too long ago, our writer, Amy Meyer, had a chance to chat with Jade on the phone about the new record and different sound.
By: Amy Meyer
Exactly how long have you been working on material for Blaqk Audio?
Jade Puget: Mainly over the last six months even though we've had the idea for a few years now
Would you and Davey [Havok] work on material separately and then combine ideas later or did you usually work on material together?
JP: It's kind of like the band The Postal Service where we used the postal service and through email and computers we put together songs and thru the miracle of technology, we were able to have this project without even being in the same city
When AFI would tour, would you ever work on Blaqk Audio stuff or focus on AFI?
JP: I actually wrote a lot of the material on tour within last six months to year. I had a lot of down time and a lot of time to sit around and program.
What would you say was the biggest change in AFI's sound once you joined the band?
JP: It's pretty obvious, all you have to do is listen to the records before Black Sails In the Sunset. We kind of took a darker direction musically and lyrically.
Did you always want to start a side project away from AFI with a heavier electronica influence?
JP: No, not always, probably since 2002. Davey and I have been fans of electronica music since the 80's and had talked about it. I knew how to write songs, so I learned to program and we decided why not just do this?
Did you teach yourself how to use the programming software with the synths, keyboards and drum machines?
JP: I just started messing around with software, trying to figure out how to program them on a computer and taught myself.
Do Adam [Carson] or Hunter [Burgan] share any of the electronica/industrial influence that you and Davey share?
JP: I'm sure that some of the bands they listen to that have those elements, but Davey and I are more so fans of that music. Adam likes more indie rock and I don't think Hunter is a big electronica music fan necessarily.
How did you get involved with Dave Bascombe (Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Suede)?
JP: We just kind of figured out who we wanted to mix the album. I saw his credits and wanted to work with him. We didn't think we would do it because he hadn't heard of us so we had no credibility and a low budget, but we asked him thinking he would say no and he said yes.
How low of a budget are we talking?
JP: It was basically calling in a lot of favors (to make this happen). Luckily, we did not have to go into the studio and spend a bunch of money since I wrote and worked on a lot of things at home. Mark Webb, who made a lot of AFI videos shot the video, has become pretty recognizable. We did the video at his house in his basement.
Where did the idea for the album title, Cex Cells come from?
JP: It's kind of a double entendre that deals with both themes lyrically, (one being) sexual relations. Not in a sleazy way, but an academic way, more focused on the dynamics of the people involved. It ties into the lyrical schemes of the album.
What about the band name, is there any story behind that?
JP: I came up with it years ago. At the time, AFI was doing a lot of black this and black that so put q on it. It's similar to the Aphex Twin album Druqs. It's just a twist on it to make it a little different instead of straight up black.
Has AFI worked on any material since the release of December Underground?
JP: We just did "Live Earth," which is technically the last tour date of the December Underground cycle. I'm always writing and coming up with things here and there for the next AFI record.
How did you find time to work on Blaqk Audio material with constant touring?
JP: Basically that's why when we started talking about starting this it was technically 2 years ago. We released two of the most successful AFI records (and basically did not have time). On these last few tours I was able to sit around and finally put this album together.
Do you have a favorite track on the record? Why is that your favorite?
JP: It's hard to choose, you are so subjective when you're in the band. The last track, "Wake Up," is more ballady and everything in the song, I never get tired of it.
Does the album have a theme? How would you describe it?
JP: There are a lot of references to sexual relations and dynamics between people. That is the kind of lyrical content you'd never find on an AFI record. If musically someone is trying to find something like AFI, they're not going to find that.
Do you think the buyers of this album will mostly be AFI fans or are you trying to sell to a different audience?
JP: We're not really trying to sell to anybody. When we decided to do this we didn't even care what label it would come out on. There was no trying to get a record deal; it was based on our love for electronica. Since we have AFI, we don't need to go out and conquer the world. Some AFI fans may like it or if electronica fans like it, fine. AFI fans are pretty open-minded, as it is since we've changed over the years.
How is the single, "Stiff Kittens," doing on the airwaves?
JP: Pretty good. Surprisingly, it's an electronica song, so I did not expect it to get a lot of play on the radio and it's actually doing pretty well. It's playing around the country and I think its number 26 on the charts right now.
How did you decide what cities to play on your first tour?
JP: Seeing as we can't play every city in 2 or 3 weeks we're playing some bigger markets.
Are you mostly playing small clubs on your tour?
JP: Smaller places than you wouldn't normally see AFI at, like 500 capacity to a little bigger in places like LA, where we can play bigger shows.
Mostly all ages or 21+ shows?
JP: We're trying to play all ages.
What are you most excited about in regards to the record's release?
JP: Just combination of talking about doing this for so long, it's nice to get it done and finally see how people will react; if they will buy the record, will they like it? It's fun because it's not AFI, so we don't have to have any expectations for it.
Thanks to Jade for his time and thanks to Matt MacNaughton over at Interscope for setting everything up.
