Biography
Matt -Slowikowski Vocals, ProgrammingMichael "Chewka" Marchewka -Guitars
Formed in early 2000, The Drowning Season is a guitar based gothic rock band based out of Baltimore, Maryland (USA). The current line-up consists of Matt Slowikowski (vocals) and Michael "Chewka" Marchewka (guitars).
October 2000 saw the recording and release of the four song MCD entitled SIX HOLLOW PERFECT THINGS. Included were the songs "Six Feet Under," "Hollow," "Perfect (Dream)," and "Common Things." These songs would later appear in remastered form on the band's first full length disc, HOLLOW.
A short time after the MCD was released the band embarked on a handful of live shows and began writing for what would become the HOLLOW CD. During this period the song "Hollow" was included on the M&A Music Art compilation ANGEL CHILD VI: THE NEED FOR SILENCE. Also included on this sampler were bands such as Star Industry, Funhouse, and Spares (ex-Children on Stun members).
The debut full length HOLLOW was released in June 2002 on the Morphenic Release imprint. The CD includes ten original songs which harken back to the days of classic guitar goth. Positive response was the norm for this disc and a large selection of its songs are still receiving both club and airplay around the world. In support of this release, frequent live appearances to hone the musically more aggressive live set also took place. Live ventures included performances playing alongside scene favorites like The Cruxshadows, The Mission UK, Voltaire, Gene Loves Jezebel, Stromkern, and Tapping the Vein.
Through the middle of 2003 the members continued to write, record, perform, and promote themselves in preparation for future offerings.
The year 2004 brought the release of a new three song EP titled NEW DISEASE. The EP once again showcased the brand of rock influenced goth forged on the earlier releases. The band quickly returned to live activity. The Last Dance, The Start, and The Cruxshadows were among the high profile acts they would share the stage with during this series of shows. Around the same time, mid 2004, the song "Hollow" would again be featured on a compilation CD. This time on the Cop International issued DARK AWAKENING VOLUME 4. Building on the momentum of the new line-up, as well as both the DARK AWAKENING comp and NEW DISEASE EP becoming available, the members finished up the year playing out as much as possible.
Interview
What is your music background? Did you play instruments growing up?
I've always loved music. The first album I ever owned was Kiss, "Rock and Roll Over," and the second was Kiss, "Destroyer." I pretended to be Gene Simmons around the house and dreamed of being on stage someday. Now I'm on stage and dream I had Gene Simmons' money.
I started taking guitar lessons at age five and quit at five and a half. I must have figured out then that electronic gadgets would come along someday and revolutionize the way made music. I've tried to learn to play guitar several times since then but I've learned to let those who can play do it and to be happy writing the drums, bass, synth lines and lyrics to songs instead.
Growing up, how did music play a role in your childhood/adolescence?
Music was everything, but even that's not saying enough. Music touches some people differently than others, not just specific types of music but music in general. If you have the passion to write and express yourself through music, then you must find the way to do it. Like I said before, throughout my childhood/adolescence I wanted to make music, but it wasn't until I was in my early 20's and I was in an electronics based band that I learned how to write music using a keyboard, drum machine and sequencer.
What other activities / things do you enjoy doing when not playing music?
I love video games, especially those on the Playstation 3. I also read lots of Batman comics and collect Batman related stuff (ie, action figures). Yes, I'm a geek.
Who are your favorite musicians?
Michael "Chewka" Marchewka is the Full Blown Stallone on guitar! If I didn't say that he'd kill me. My all time favorite bands would be three old guitar gothic rock bands: The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission UK, and Fields of the Nephilim. After that the list gets pretty long, but let's say that most of the bands on that list make music that sounds exactly like those first three bands!
How did the band start? Who had the idea and why?
In the late 80's / early 90's I sang in a thrash / death metal band called "Wreckage." We evolved into a goth rock band called "The Drowning Season." We released two demos in 1991 and 1992. Eventually the band split up but the members remained friends. Years passed and I had written some new material that I shared with my old guitarist, Tim, from The Drowning Season. We decided to reform the group, record a new demo, and find a second guitarist to perform live. Justin joined the band and we played many shows, even opening for The Mission UK in Washington, DC. In 2002 we recorded a full-length album called "Hollow" that received rave reviews worldwide. Juston decided to leave the band and was replaced by Michael "Chewka" Marchewka (aka Full Blown Stallone). We wrote new material, toured, and in 2004 recorded an EP entitled "New Disease." Tim then quit the band. Meanwhile Chewka met and married the lovely Alisha who joined the band as our first live bass player / first female member. Alisha's live bass sound added a driving punch to our music, but alas it was short lived, because she and Chewka were to learn that they were expecting a baby. Alisha has put down her bass for now, and we're not sure if / when she'll return for more sonic punishment. Meanwhile Chewka and I have slowly been pounding out new songs, playing live dates, and recording the next full-length CD, entitled "Curse."
How would you describe your music to people?
It's definitely guitar-based gothic rock. If people have never heard of The Sisters or Nephilim, they may have no idea what we're all about. I tell those people to go to our MySpace site or our web site and check out the tunes to make up their own minds if they like us.
Are you happy with the direction the band is going right now? What is the current goal of the band?
Yes, definitely. We're really happy, the only thing that would make us happier would be for someone to dump a truckload of money at our door so that we could finish up "Curse." I want to get that CD out and then look into creating a home studio for future releases. I've finally embraced the idea of home recording, so that would be the next major goal, setting up something in-house.
How do you balance your music with your other parts of life?
It's extremely hard at times, I'll be honest. I'm married, with a child, and Chewka has a wife and small son at home as well. We both work full-time jobs and finding the time to write music and practice isn't always easy. But I guess if it was easy then we wouldn't want it so much.
Growing up, did you want to be a rockstar or did you consider other careers?
I've always wanted to be what I am today: a rock and roll legend. Listen kids, you too can have the magical life I'm leading, just close your eyes and pretend to be a rock star. There you go!
What is the greatest compliment anyone has ever paid to you regarding your art work? What about the greatest insult? How should an artist respond to such compliments and insults? Is it easier to talk about the compliment or the insult?
I think that when people tell us we're great or want our autographs, those are compliments of the highest kind. That's really more meaningful to me anyway. I don't do this for money, so when someone says that they really like a song I've written it means a lot to me.
There's been insults too, especially when comparing our music to that of the bands who were our greatest influence (Sisters, Mission, Nephilim). My favorite insult was when someone called me a "fat Wayne Hussey" (he's the singer for The Mission UK). You couldn't be more right, you bastard!
Learn to accept the compliments with humility and to laugh at the insults. It's easy to talk about both when you remember that ultimately both are opinions and that opinions really are like assholes, everybody has one.
What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?
God does. S/he hates artists and causes mental constipation. I don't know! If I knew what caused artistic blocks I'd never have had the million or so that I've had, or will have. When that happens I usually walk away from things for awhile. It's pointless to beat a dead horse, so to speak. When you're ready, go back to your instrument of choice and mess around, with no clear expectation or demand on yourself. You'll soon find one or two things that you like, and then things will move along nicely again. If not, blame God.
If you could play a show with any band, past or present, who would it be? What music would you want them to perform?
I would probably want to open for The Sisters, Mission, and Nephilim when they were in their heyday, performing the songs of that time. A time when gothic rock was still considered new and these young bands fired up the fog machines and encouraged audiences to "Tune in...Turn on...Burn out..." It was gonzo amphetamine filth with drum machines turned up to eleven. It was something that will never be again.
What are trying to do to people with your art? Inspire them? Move them? Educate them?
All of the above. Inspire them to move on the dance floor and educate them that our CDs are only $5 each. We want people to check out our band live because most local live bands suck and we do not. We want people to check out our music because we're damn good at what we do, which is, write solid rock songs. We're not egotistical, we're just honest. And old. Old and honest.
Where do you see the band in the next few years?
In the basement of my home, recording music for those who enjoy good old school gothic rock. On the stage, playing for ten or ten thousand, depending on whether it's in a bar in Baltimore or at a dark music festival in Europe. Hopefully it will be a little bit of everything with lots of fog and pharmaceuticals along the way.
How would you like to see the local music scene change? Do we need to have better venues? Better ways of booking shows? Which way do you find best to get fans to come out to shows?
I think that the local scene will forever change, like music itself. Clubs will come and go, like styles of music. Some places that you think will be there forever will disappear overnight. We need more venues, sure, but more cool places like The Lo-Fi Social Club in Baltimore, not places that make you sell tickets to play there, so that you make money for the club owners at the expense of the band. Screw that!
MySpace gets allot of crap for being what it is, but for bands, especially for our band, it's been really good. We've met club promoters and booked shows through MySpace and we hope to do more in the future.
Getting fans out is another story. An internet site is only one part, you've got to get to them personally. Flyers are good, but the clubs mostly handle that aspect.
Don't play places that make you sell tickets or worry you about how many people your band can draw, and you won't have that worry on your shoulders. You'll find that more people will freely come out to support you when they don't feel pressured to buy tickets in advance. Just keep playing clubs and you'll make new fans and build on your fan base that way as well. Good luck!
Drowning Season Myspace
I've always loved music. The first album I ever owned was Kiss, "Rock and Roll Over," and the second was Kiss, "Destroyer." I pretended to be Gene Simmons around the house and dreamed of being on stage someday. Now I'm on stage and dream I had Gene Simmons' money.
I started taking guitar lessons at age five and quit at five and a half. I must have figured out then that electronic gadgets would come along someday and revolutionize the way made music. I've tried to learn to play guitar several times since then but I've learned to let those who can play do it and to be happy writing the drums, bass, synth lines and lyrics to songs instead.
Growing up, how did music play a role in your childhood/adolescence?
Music was everything, but even that's not saying enough. Music touches some people differently than others, not just specific types of music but music in general. If you have the passion to write and express yourself through music, then you must find the way to do it. Like I said before, throughout my childhood/adolescence I wanted to make music, but it wasn't until I was in my early 20's and I was in an electronics based band that I learned how to write music using a keyboard, drum machine and sequencer.
What other activities / things do you enjoy doing when not playing music?
I love video games, especially those on the Playstation 3. I also read lots of Batman comics and collect Batman related stuff (ie, action figures). Yes, I'm a geek.
Who are your favorite musicians?
Michael "Chewka" Marchewka is the Full Blown Stallone on guitar! If I didn't say that he'd kill me. My all time favorite bands would be three old guitar gothic rock bands: The Sisters of Mercy, The Mission UK, and Fields of the Nephilim. After that the list gets pretty long, but let's say that most of the bands on that list make music that sounds exactly like those first three bands!
How did the band start? Who had the idea and why?
In the late 80's / early 90's I sang in a thrash / death metal band called "Wreckage." We evolved into a goth rock band called "The Drowning Season." We released two demos in 1991 and 1992. Eventually the band split up but the members remained friends. Years passed and I had written some new material that I shared with my old guitarist, Tim, from The Drowning Season. We decided to reform the group, record a new demo, and find a second guitarist to perform live. Justin joined the band and we played many shows, even opening for The Mission UK in Washington, DC. In 2002 we recorded a full-length album called "Hollow" that received rave reviews worldwide. Juston decided to leave the band and was replaced by Michael "Chewka" Marchewka (aka Full Blown Stallone). We wrote new material, toured, and in 2004 recorded an EP entitled "New Disease." Tim then quit the band. Meanwhile Chewka met and married the lovely Alisha who joined the band as our first live bass player / first female member. Alisha's live bass sound added a driving punch to our music, but alas it was short lived, because she and Chewka were to learn that they were expecting a baby. Alisha has put down her bass for now, and we're not sure if / when she'll return for more sonic punishment. Meanwhile Chewka and I have slowly been pounding out new songs, playing live dates, and recording the next full-length CD, entitled "Curse."
How would you describe your music to people?
It's definitely guitar-based gothic rock. If people have never heard of The Sisters or Nephilim, they may have no idea what we're all about. I tell those people to go to our MySpace site or our web site and check out the tunes to make up their own minds if they like us.
Are you happy with the direction the band is going right now? What is the current goal of the band?
Yes, definitely. We're really happy, the only thing that would make us happier would be for someone to dump a truckload of money at our door so that we could finish up "Curse." I want to get that CD out and then look into creating a home studio for future releases. I've finally embraced the idea of home recording, so that would be the next major goal, setting up something in-house.
How do you balance your music with your other parts of life?
It's extremely hard at times, I'll be honest. I'm married, with a child, and Chewka has a wife and small son at home as well. We both work full-time jobs and finding the time to write music and practice isn't always easy. But I guess if it was easy then we wouldn't want it so much.
Growing up, did you want to be a rockstar or did you consider other careers?
I've always wanted to be what I am today: a rock and roll legend. Listen kids, you too can have the magical life I'm leading, just close your eyes and pretend to be a rock star. There you go!
What is the greatest compliment anyone has ever paid to you regarding your art work? What about the greatest insult? How should an artist respond to such compliments and insults? Is it easier to talk about the compliment or the insult?
I think that when people tell us we're great or want our autographs, those are compliments of the highest kind. That's really more meaningful to me anyway. I don't do this for money, so when someone says that they really like a song I've written it means a lot to me.
There's been insults too, especially when comparing our music to that of the bands who were our greatest influence (Sisters, Mission, Nephilim). My favorite insult was when someone called me a "fat Wayne Hussey" (he's the singer for The Mission UK). You couldn't be more right, you bastard!
Learn to accept the compliments with humility and to laugh at the insults. It's easy to talk about both when you remember that ultimately both are opinions and that opinions really are like assholes, everybody has one.
What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?
God does. S/he hates artists and causes mental constipation. I don't know! If I knew what caused artistic blocks I'd never have had the million or so that I've had, or will have. When that happens I usually walk away from things for awhile. It's pointless to beat a dead horse, so to speak. When you're ready, go back to your instrument of choice and mess around, with no clear expectation or demand on yourself. You'll soon find one or two things that you like, and then things will move along nicely again. If not, blame God.
If you could play a show with any band, past or present, who would it be? What music would you want them to perform?
I would probably want to open for The Sisters, Mission, and Nephilim when they were in their heyday, performing the songs of that time. A time when gothic rock was still considered new and these young bands fired up the fog machines and encouraged audiences to "Tune in...Turn on...Burn out..." It was gonzo amphetamine filth with drum machines turned up to eleven. It was something that will never be again.
What are trying to do to people with your art? Inspire them? Move them? Educate them?
All of the above. Inspire them to move on the dance floor and educate them that our CDs are only $5 each. We want people to check out our band live because most local live bands suck and we do not. We want people to check out our music because we're damn good at what we do, which is, write solid rock songs. We're not egotistical, we're just honest. And old. Old and honest.
Where do you see the band in the next few years?
In the basement of my home, recording music for those who enjoy good old school gothic rock. On the stage, playing for ten or ten thousand, depending on whether it's in a bar in Baltimore or at a dark music festival in Europe. Hopefully it will be a little bit of everything with lots of fog and pharmaceuticals along the way.
How would you like to see the local music scene change? Do we need to have better venues? Better ways of booking shows? Which way do you find best to get fans to come out to shows?
I think that the local scene will forever change, like music itself. Clubs will come and go, like styles of music. Some places that you think will be there forever will disappear overnight. We need more venues, sure, but more cool places like The Lo-Fi Social Club in Baltimore, not places that make you sell tickets to play there, so that you make money for the club owners at the expense of the band. Screw that!
MySpace gets allot of crap for being what it is, but for bands, especially for our band, it's been really good. We've met club promoters and booked shows through MySpace and we hope to do more in the future.
Getting fans out is another story. An internet site is only one part, you've got to get to them personally. Flyers are good, but the clubs mostly handle that aspect.
Don't play places that make you sell tickets or worry you about how many people your band can draw, and you won't have that worry on your shoulders. You'll find that more people will freely come out to support you when they don't feel pressured to buy tickets in advance. Just keep playing clubs and you'll make new fans and build on your fan base that way as well. Good luck!
Links
Drowning Season Dot ComDrowning Season Myspace
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