How long have you been playing Darius?

Since 2002, so that would be about 4 years. But I’ve only been playing seriously the last two years since I’ve moved to Bloemfontein and could join a band. (There were NO bands in Koffiefontein, where I attended High School!)

How did you get started?

The first time I thought about playing bass was when I listened intently to Angel with the Scabbed Wings by Marilyn Manson. I heard what I thought was a bass guitar (It turned out to be lead, haha) and decided I wanted to learn more about the instrument. Sure I’d heard of a bass, but like I said, Koffiefontein had NO bands and NO bassists. (I think I was the first). So I started looking around on the Net and listening more intently to some songs I liked and realised I really like the idea of the instrument. Who wouldn’t dig the idea of being (like you said) “a low-frequency space cadet”?

So I bought my first bass and never looked back!

So it appears you don’t really come from a musical family?

Quite the contrary. My only sister and my dad both sing very well and have been asked to sing at weddings, in the church, etc. He also plays classical guitar and played tuba in the West Rand Symphony when he was in school. She plays the piano. I also had piano lessons for about four years in primary school, but I quit because of the teacher, whom I didn’t get along with. It’s just that none of them had ever played or played along with bass. My dad never joined a band, he just prefers to entertain everyone around a fire or at a function or such.

What’s your favourite band?

I guess Chevelle, I think they’re Canadian. I just love the way they can make music that’s somewhat heavy and still be so melodic and moving. The first time I heard “Closure” on the DMX channel, I just wanted more!

Have you got a favourite solo artist?

Nope. I think the genres I like don’t have many solo artists. Except maybe Skin, but she was better when she was still part of Skunk Anansie.

What are the amps and instruments you currently use?

I have a Washburn XB 500 bass (They don’t make those anymore, which is a shame!), an Ibanez SoundWave 65w Bass Amp and a Boss effects pedal which I recently found for a ridiculous price at the local Music Shoppe.

What instruments would you like to have if money were no object?

I’ve never seen or held one, but going on a picture and the specs on their website, I’d say the Ibanez K5, which is Fieldy from KoRn’s signature model. It’s beautiful! For an amp, I’d say the Ibanez Thermion TN120, with a stack consisting of the TN412A and the TN412S. As the website says, they’re all-tube baby!

What have you been doing for the last five years or so?

I joined my first sort-of band (me, my sister and a friend. We called ourselves “Fytte”) when I was in High School. We couldn’t find a drummer, and my sister went to varsity, so that didn’t work out. When I moved to Bloemfontein in 2004, I joined a band called Inferno Flame (no, seriously) and we played mostly covers of stuff I didn’t like, but it was a learning curve, so I stuck with that for a while. After the band broke up, I concentrated on my studies, but at the beginning of this year I got a call for a Battle of the Bands at the local Stones. Me and my flatmate Janus, who was the guitarist for Inferno Flame, immediately started looking for a drummer, since our other drummer had moved to Rustenburg, and together with a friend of his, Erich and a female vocalist we’d met a few months before, we formed Helm’s Deep. We played at the Battle, and lost… After that I met up with a friend at a concert with The Narrow, and asked him to join the band. Janus and Erich left, we got a few other guitarists, the band got renamed to Ichor, and voilà! Go check out our site at www.ichor.co.za , we’ve been rocking Bloemfontein for a few months now and we were mentioned on Barney Simon’s SA Rock Show the other day.

What recordings that you’ve played on would you recommend for listening?

We’re still recording our first EP, so you’ll have to wait a while. I wouldn’t recommend anything from the other bands, like I said, it was a learning curve.

What’s been the low point in your career so far?

Playing covers of songs I hate (that’s even worse than living in a town without drummers or bassists).

And what has been the high point of your career?

Every gig I’ve played with Ichor has been one to remember. I love our sound, our shows, our music. And I love playing with these guys, I really think we’ll make it far one day.

Have you visited the South African Bass Players site www.bassplayers.co.za yet?

Of course! I actually visited it today and realised you have a Band Bio section. We’ll have to talk about that 

What are your goals currently?

I want to better my technique, especially by brushing up on my scales. I also want to see the band grow and become famous one day. Like I said, go check out our website! www.ichor.co.za !

What do you get up to when you’re not making music?

These days most of my time goes into my studies (I study Accounting at UFS). Other than that I just enjoy watching movies, relaxing with my girlfriend, Minki, or hanging out with friends.

Thanks for the Interview Darius – best wishes to you and your Ichor bandmates.