Here's my interview with Janet from Leth I. Fold who answered my questions a couple of months ago. Leth I. Fold consists mostly of just her but sometimes she performs with her best friend Jessi. They're both chapter organizers for the HPA, writers, and rabid consumers of stories.
How did you get into wizard rock?
Interestingly, I wrote and recorded my first wrock song in fall 2009, before I knew what wrock was. Some rhymes about being Slytherin just popped into my head one day, and I scribbled them down. Throw in my love of beatboxing, and this wizard rap had to happen. I made a ridiculous video, put it on YouTube, and saw a bunch of other HP-rap songs in the related videos list. It was a month later that I actually found out that wrock existed.
Wrock is so awesome because it pretty much transcends genre. You've got everything from all-out orchestral arrangements to rap to rock to a capella. That, and everyone in the community is awesome... But that's not news to anyone who reads this site regularly.
Tell the story behind your band's name.
Well, one summer weekend during 2009, I flooed over to Papua New Guinea. Just for a change of scenery. I have a summer home there. (Read: tent I can set up on a beach.) Anyhow, as I was lying awake, I heard a sound like rustling leaves, which was odd since, you know, I was on a beach and there weren't any trees around. Long story short, it was a Lethifold intent on making me his next meal, and he failed. I grabbed my wand, spazzed out, and uttered the first bit of nonsense that came out of my mouth, and the Lethifold literally folded in half and couldn't wrap me to eat me. That was Leth. (But everyone else should call him Mr. Fold.) He and I are on pretty good terms since I set up a blackmailing system where he doesn't devour me in my sleep and I don't reveal the spell I discovered. (Being simpler to cast than a Patronus and all that.) So, really, my band name is more of a victory dance than an actual band name.
What things do you write songs about?
I try to write songs with twists or points of view that I haven't heard in a lot of songs. Leth also sings a couple of songs on the upcoming Leth Speaks EP. Topics range from incredibly silly things to global warming to chapter 34.
What kind of style do you have musically?
I try to have a lot of different sounds, but a good portion of my songs are acoustic guitar singer-songwriter sounding. Apart from the guitar, I've used violin, hammered dulcimer, bass guitar, keyboard, and beatboxing in my music. In the future, I plan to include a lot more. I want a bari ukelele like I want oxygen.
Have you played live shows?
We played at our HPA chapter's Accio Books benefit concert this past March but, being less than a year old, Leth's not played too many places. But we're ridiculously stoked and lucky to be playing at the Wampun Willow at this year's Wrockstock.
What makes your band unique?
I can't be certain that I do anything that other bands don't because I haven't heard them all. (Much to my chagrin.) BUT, I haven't heard any bands whose drums are all beatboxing. However, if there is one, I'd like to make friends.
Who are your favourite wizard rockers and why?
This is a legitimately impossible question that I should not even attempt, but here goes: The Blibbering Humdingers, The Buttermellows, Foundation of Fair Fortune, Nagini, Neville's Diary, RiddleTM, Room of whateva, Snidget, Stephanie and the Quaffles, The Sweetwater All-Stars. I'd also like to add that my favorite bands tend to change hourly, so please don't hold me to this list O.O
What are your favourite wrock songs?
Yes. Everyone. I mean... No, everyone.
What is the funniest experience you've had with wrock?
When I played bass for Lena's set at Infinitus, the crowd literally sprinted in when the doors opened, and people charged the stage and slapped it in triumph for getting front row. No, I take it back. That was more terrifying than funny. But it's funny in retrospect. The funny part being my mild terror? Because, seriously, Potter fans are not scary. They are awesome.
What is the most touching experience you've had with wrock?
It might be during Fred and George the Band's Sonorus set. She played a cover of Grow Old With You (with newer, better, more magical lyrics) and dedicated it to Muggle Mike, and got a little teary-eyed. It was beautiful.
What is the best moment you've had as a wrock fan?
Volunteering at Incendio. I have a deep love for helping to make things run. Not only did I get to sell Harry and the Potters merch, I got to take out the trash. That may sound gross, but it was still awesome. It was like playing a vital part in making an entire DAY full of wrock happen.
What is the best moment you've had as a wizard rocker?
Really, any time someone comments on my MySpace about my music makes my day. There's so little time and money in the wrock community that eensy bands with nonprofessional recording quality like Leth get missed. Most of the bands in my list up there have the same problem. Go check them out. They're way awesome and completely worth your time.
Do you wish you had more time and money to spend with wrock?
Always. I will never forgive Dolohov for letting that hex knock him into that cabinet, destroying all those Time-Turners. With a Time-Turner, I could work fifty different jobs, therefore having enough time AND money to buy and listen to every wrock album ever. I could also afford real recording software, a better microphone, and I could tour year round. All at the same time.
What future plans do you have?
At the moment, everything is focused on the Leth Speaks EP, which will be mostly (if not entirely) from Leth's perspective. Also, if I can save up enough cash, I would LOVE to find some other bands and go on tour summer of 2012.
Is there anything you want to say to your fans and fellow wrockers?
If you visit a band's page and like what you hear, tell them. There's a good chance that they don't get a lot of that and it's a tremendous shame when a band winks out of existence just because they suck at promoting themselves. (Of course, it's also a tremendous shame when a band can't make music just for their own enjoyment.)
How did you get into wizard rock?
Interestingly, I wrote and recorded my first wrock song in fall 2009, before I knew what wrock was. Some rhymes about being Slytherin just popped into my head one day, and I scribbled them down. Throw in my love of beatboxing, and this wizard rap had to happen. I made a ridiculous video, put it on YouTube, and saw a bunch of other HP-rap songs in the related videos list. It was a month later that I actually found out that wrock existed.
Wrock is so awesome because it pretty much transcends genre. You've got everything from all-out orchestral arrangements to rap to rock to a capella. That, and everyone in the community is awesome... But that's not news to anyone who reads this site regularly.
Tell the story behind your band's name.
Well, one summer weekend during 2009, I flooed over to Papua New Guinea. Just for a change of scenery. I have a summer home there. (Read: tent I can set up on a beach.) Anyhow, as I was lying awake, I heard a sound like rustling leaves, which was odd since, you know, I was on a beach and there weren't any trees around. Long story short, it was a Lethifold intent on making me his next meal, and he failed. I grabbed my wand, spazzed out, and uttered the first bit of nonsense that came out of my mouth, and the Lethifold literally folded in half and couldn't wrap me to eat me. That was Leth. (But everyone else should call him Mr. Fold.) He and I are on pretty good terms since I set up a blackmailing system where he doesn't devour me in my sleep and I don't reveal the spell I discovered. (Being simpler to cast than a Patronus and all that.) So, really, my band name is more of a victory dance than an actual band name.
What things do you write songs about?
I try to write songs with twists or points of view that I haven't heard in a lot of songs. Leth also sings a couple of songs on the upcoming Leth Speaks EP. Topics range from incredibly silly things to global warming to chapter 34.
What kind of style do you have musically?
I try to have a lot of different sounds, but a good portion of my songs are acoustic guitar singer-songwriter sounding. Apart from the guitar, I've used violin, hammered dulcimer, bass guitar, keyboard, and beatboxing in my music. In the future, I plan to include a lot more. I want a bari ukelele like I want oxygen.
Have you played live shows?
We played at our HPA chapter's Accio Books benefit concert this past March but, being less than a year old, Leth's not played too many places. But we're ridiculously stoked and lucky to be playing at the Wampun Willow at this year's Wrockstock.
What makes your band unique?
I can't be certain that I do anything that other bands don't because I haven't heard them all. (Much to my chagrin.) BUT, I haven't heard any bands whose drums are all beatboxing. However, if there is one, I'd like to make friends.
Who are your favourite wizard rockers and why?
This is a legitimately impossible question that I should not even attempt, but here goes: The Blibbering Humdingers, The Buttermellows, Foundation of Fair Fortune, Nagini, Neville's Diary, RiddleTM, Room of whateva, Snidget, Stephanie and the Quaffles, The Sweetwater All-Stars. I'd also like to add that my favorite bands tend to change hourly, so please don't hold me to this list O.O
What are your favourite wrock songs?
- Chapter 34 by Riddle TM - because of that gorgeous a capella ending.
- Foot to Silver by The Buttermellows - because it brilliantly captures Harry's grief where he's just so overwrought that he wants to tear the world apart.
- Greater Good by The Butterbeer Experience - because it addresses the other side of Dumbledore.
- Love Song for the Giant Squid(stravaganza) by The Sweetwater All-Stars - because it pretty much sums up my feelings about life.
- There's a song by Snidget, and I don't know the title, but it's about Ginny in Chamber of Secrets, and she needs to hurry up and record it for a second album.
Yes. Everyone. I mean... No, everyone.
What is the funniest experience you've had with wrock?
When I played bass for Lena's set at Infinitus, the crowd literally sprinted in when the doors opened, and people charged the stage and slapped it in triumph for getting front row. No, I take it back. That was more terrifying than funny. But it's funny in retrospect. The funny part being my mild terror? Because, seriously, Potter fans are not scary. They are awesome.
What is the most touching experience you've had with wrock?
It might be during Fred and George the Band's Sonorus set. She played a cover of Grow Old With You (with newer, better, more magical lyrics) and dedicated it to Muggle Mike, and got a little teary-eyed. It was beautiful.
What is the best moment you've had as a wrock fan?
Volunteering at Incendio. I have a deep love for helping to make things run. Not only did I get to sell Harry and the Potters merch, I got to take out the trash. That may sound gross, but it was still awesome. It was like playing a vital part in making an entire DAY full of wrock happen.
What is the best moment you've had as a wizard rocker?
Really, any time someone comments on my MySpace about my music makes my day. There's so little time and money in the wrock community that eensy bands with nonprofessional recording quality like Leth get missed. Most of the bands in my list up there have the same problem. Go check them out. They're way awesome and completely worth your time.
Do you wish you had more time and money to spend with wrock?
Always. I will never forgive Dolohov for letting that hex knock him into that cabinet, destroying all those Time-Turners. With a Time-Turner, I could work fifty different jobs, therefore having enough time AND money to buy and listen to every wrock album ever. I could also afford real recording software, a better microphone, and I could tour year round. All at the same time.
What future plans do you have?
At the moment, everything is focused on the Leth Speaks EP, which will be mostly (if not entirely) from Leth's perspective. Also, if I can save up enough cash, I would LOVE to find some other bands and go on tour summer of 2012.
Is there anything you want to say to your fans and fellow wrockers?
If you visit a band's page and like what you hear, tell them. There's a good chance that they don't get a lot of that and it's a tremendous shame when a band winks out of existence just because they suck at promoting themselves. (Of course, it's also a tremendous shame when a band can't make music just for their own enjoyment.)
RSS Feed
