Interview: Downinside

Downinside Questions Answered By Skip Frederiksen (Drums). Interviewed by Pedro

Related Links: Official Website

PRP: Ok, tell me how DIS started?
Skip: Long story.... LOL.

PRP: Hehehehe, well, we don't really have the time, but I'm all ears..or eyes.....LOL
Skip: Well, first it was me and Scott jammin on Nirvana, Metallica and Slayer songs in the early 90's. We met Kidd-B sometime in early '94... then met Sal, like a month later, at a highschool talent show. Fast forward through our "finding our niche" time; Shank came down from Detroit, met him at a Circle K... found out he rapped. We wanted two rappers in the band. Jammed, things clicked.... released a CD.

PRP: Hehehehe, pretty cool. Tell me what each one do in the band. Well, I do know, but people maybe don't.
Skip: Ok.. I'm drummerboy... Sal plays bass/backup vox... Scott plays guitar, weird shit.... Kidd-B raps and sometimes plays guitar... Shank raps... and that's about it.

PRP: Ok....Why you guys decided to move to South California?
Skip: Lots of places to play. Always wanted to move there... we got some band connections out there. Everyone I've talked to from cali, and I mean EVERYONE is really nice: the bands, the people I just found outta nowhere, etc. I like how most people in Cali listen to ska and metal, and pop and punk... everything. A lot of people don't judge you because of the music you like. It's just... we feel it's a good decision. Plus, to play the Roxy and shit like that.. that would be phat. Wanna do some shows with Incubus and Zebrahead and all those bands. It's a phat vibe.

PRP: So, it was everyone's decision? No one didn't felt like going?
Skip: No, we all think it's a great idea. At first, we didn't know where we wanted to move. This was like summer '97, etc, but ultimately, we said: SoCal. Everyone's cool with it.

PRP: Best underground band out there, in your opinion?
Skip: Man, that's a tough question.....

PRP: Will you pass it?
Skip: Hmmm... I really like Discount. Pop-emo-punk band from Northern FL. The singer is a sweetheart. Their music is damn catchy.

PRP: Cool. Never heard them. Need to check them out.
Skip: They're awesome. Alison is cute and she is a damn good singer.

PRP: Of all instruments, why you chose to play drums? Any musician inspired you?
Skip: My cousin Kevin inspired me to play drums initially. I don't even think he plays anymore. I think he plays bass.. LOL. But he was a bad-ass. Drummin' inspiration currently - Chad sexton of 311, Bud from Stuck Mojo and Chad Smith from RHCP has always been a huge inspiration too.

PRP: So, I can say that RHCP, 311 and Stuck Mojo were some of your influences. Any other band ya want to add to the list?
Skip: Actually, I'm not heavily influenced by a lot of the crossover music. I like girl vocal alternative, almost exclusively.... Heather Nova, Sarah McLachlan... that stuff majorly inspires me.

PRP: I see....
Skip: I don't know. When you listen to heavy shit all the time, it gets annoying if you play it too, you know. I like playing heavy music.... more than anything, but to listen to, mellow romantic pop does it for me.

PRP: Yeah, I know how that is....Mark (5lb. Bag) said the same thing. You have to listen to different things so you can make the sound you like with some originality.
Skip: Right. 5lb. Bag is the shit.

PRP: Can't disagree... I notice you, besides maintaining DownInside's Official Website, also maintain The Crossover Index. This site is personally one of my favorites. You make a really good job. How much spare time do you have, so you can maintain both sites, plus your personal one, and also maintain Planet Isolation and Monochrome Vision Records' ones? Cause it's really amazing that you maintain 5 sites at the same time....I can't do it....
Skip: LOL. It's a pain in the ass, Pedro... but I love it, so that's why I do it.

PRP: Well......what would be the tour of your dreams? DIS plus...?
Skip: Oh shit! You ready for this? Here's the Downinside Dream Tour: DownInside - Stuck Mojo - 311 - Phunk Junkeez - Zebrahead - Shootyz Groove - The Roots - Busta Rhymes - Beastie Boys. There's probably some bands I'm forgettin'....LOL.

PRP: Fuck, I'd pay 50 bucks to see that show....hehehe.
Skip: LOL.... hell yeah.

PRP: Tell me, Skip.....you write lyrics for DIS? Cause I know you do write some dope poetry.
Skip: I used to write lyrics. A couple songs on the album are mostly by me: No Games and Who Got Da Groove. But no, my poetry is way different than what I'd like in the band. I love Kidd-B's and Shank's words. It's all oldschool fun shit. I like to keep the positive vibe in the band, and the dark personal side of me in my poetry.

PRP: That's cool. Wookubus told me to ask this one: "In the shower with a sudden urge to urinate, do you let loose in the shower or hop out and pee in the toilet?"
Skip: Piss in the shower. Fuck it. LOL

PRP: Hahahahaha. All Time Favorite Band?
Skip: All time? Ugh.... I'll say five all time favorites.

PRP: Hahahaha. I hope you don't say 5ive as one of the five.....LOL.
Skip: Fuck no. I hate that weakass Backstreet Boys N' Stink shit. LOL. Man. just cause you look good DOES NOT mean you will "never break someone's heart". You know, how they write about that shit? "I'll always be here girl..." fuck that shit! No, you won't. Anyway, top 5 bands. Actually, let me give you a top 10.

PRP: Well.......I hate THEM.....but Backstreet Boys has a song that I think it's listenable....LOL. Like you say: "Fuck yeah, I'm weird".
Skip: Fuck yeah, I'm weird. Hell yeah. LOL.

PRP: LOL.
Skip: Ok, here's my top 10: 10. Pennywise - 9. The Smiths - 8. Madonna - 7. 311 - 6. Zebrahead - 5. Incubus - 4. Blake Babies/Juliana Hatfield - 3. Black Flag/Rollins Band - 2. Heather Nova - 1. The Sundays

PRP: Ok, now some more wookie questions, hahahaha. "You drop a piece of food on the floor. Do you wipe it off and eat it or throw it out?"
Skip: Throw it out man. LOL. Unless it's a Skittle. Then you can eat it. Or an M+M.

PRP: LOL
Skip: LOL

PRP: When you pick your nose, do you roll and flick, or put it in the trash?
Skip: I don't pick my nose, you sick fuck. LOL

PRP: Another one of wookubus. Fuck, these questions are sick....LOL. "You come and see a piece of pet feces on the floor. Do you pretend you didn't see it and wait someone else see's it cleans it up, or clean it yourself?
Skip: Dude, never been in the situation, but I'd probably clean it up.

PRP: Are any of DIS' members in other bands?
Skip: No way. It's 100% DIS, but I like to jam and write other music on the side: punk, techno, etc. Nothing too serious, just that I like writing shit like that.

PRP: That's cool....Is N.A.I.L. one of your projects?
Skip: It was back in 1995. Just some tortured emo hardcore shit. I played guitar in it.

PRP: I saw it at Monochrome Vision Website and was interested in it....Anyway, have your band ever been surrounded by any record label?
Skip: Twice. In early '98, we had an indie interested in us. The company was bullshit though. Now they're like, latin dance music I think... LOL. And Arista Records approached us in November also. Nothing really happened with that either, but who knows? Something could in the future.

PRP: True. How's the process of composing songs in DIS?
Skip: Well, it all happens different ways. Someone will write a riff, we'll build on it, or they'll rap, and we'll build around their raps. In any case, it's a total collaboration. No Hitlers in this band. Fuck that shit. We all just contribute equally.

PRP: That's cool. Damn, Skip....my mind went blank. Oh, here's one question: which was the best show you made with DIS?
Skip: The CD release party was the coolest show. There was such a love and positive energy in the air. You could feel it. It was so awesome. It was at some hall, we played on some tiny stage, it was hot as hell but it was packed and just..... a really killer show.

PRP: Any big plans in the horizon?
Skip: Movin'. We just wanna get our music out there as much as possible. That's the long term goal: play, play, play; get airplay, get airplay, get airplay; etc.

PRP: Well...last show you went?
Skip: Last big concert, or local show?

PRP: What about both?
Skip: Last big concert: shit, we had this local radio festival. Tons of bands: Everclear, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, D Generation, Finger 11, etc. Cool concert. Hot as fuck though, no shade anywhere. Last local show: I never really go to shows. Too busy at home working on shit.

PRP: Wookie: "Have you ever cried while watching Oprah?" LOL.
Skip: Fuck no. But I totally cry at good movies. I do like watching meaningul talk shows though, like Leeza. She's got all this cool shit about kids being abused and shit. Very deep topics. I like television. There's good shit on it. Namely Dawson's Creek... that's a damn good show.

PRP: Any last words?
Skip: Last words? What happened to the other questions? LOL.

PRP: Hahahaha.
Skip: I thought you said this was an intro thing.

PRP: Well, now there are only the wookie questions.....LOL.....and I don't want to ask you that.
Skip: Oh, ok. Anyway, last words....Austin Powers puts the grrrr in swinger, baby.