TWELV sits down with founders of Parlor Social Club Jan Cieslikiewicz and Frederick Ghartey to give a glimpse into the story of co-founders living in New York City.
CAVERNS Interview
July 26, 2015 11:00 AM
TWELV had privilage of chatting with our friends from the band Caverns. The trio hail from NYC and are pretty much all over the music scene here! After a residency at The Bitter End, the group is currently in LA and soon launching a radio campaign. Check out images of the band, our littler interview, and make sure you listen to their music!
-------------- CAVERNS's INTERVIEW --------------
1. How did you guys come together as band?
We all went to LaGuardia High School together in NYC. The band started when Nicola Wincenc (vocals/ guitar) and Russell Holzman (drums) started jamming together during the summer after Nicola graduated. The two called their friend Nick Katz in to play bass shortly thereafter. We then started playing gigs around New York within a few months.
2. What are your musical influences?
Our individual influences are quite varied, but we do crossover on a lot of music that falls under the umbrella of Rock. The heavier side of our music comes mainly from bands like Audioslave, Rage Against The Machine, and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers with grooves coming from classic records by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. We are also heavily influenced by more psychedelic and progressive rock such as Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree, The Mars Volta, Radiohead, Tame Impala, and many more.
3. Did you always know you wanted to be musicians?
We all have parents who are professional musicians, so music has been a huge part of all of our upbringings. We have also all had formal training since we were children, at first because our parents wanted, but then out of love for the craft. Music has been in our DNA since day 1.
4. How would you describe your music for someone who has never heard you play?
It's like Band Of Gypsies meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers on an airplane and midway through the flight they have to refuel and it's Jim Morrison and Jeff Buckley who fly in with the tanker and save the day! We’re a psychedelic from New York! We’re raw and everything you see is everything you get! Don’t use computers on stage unless Russell throws his sticks on the ground and starts bashing the high hat with a laptop Dave King style!
5. How do you guys write your songs? What is your process?
One of us will generally come in with a kernel of an idea, usually a riff or melody and then we will all collectively flesh it out and arrange it. It is definitely a group process. I don't think anyone has ever brought in an entire song and said, "learn this!"
6. What has been your favorite experience with the band thus far?
One of our most favorite experiences as a band has been recording up at Allaire studios in Woodstock, New York! A lot of heavy musical vibes go on up there and we are truly grateful to be able to get creative and record in the effing mountains! We are also really excited at the moment because we are writing this interview from California where we are about to play our debut show at Bardot part of “Its a school night” event, as well as continuing our second radio campaign! This has been an incredible trip for the band and you will be seeing a lot more of us here out west.
7. Tell us about your residency at the legendary venue the Bitter End. What was the best thing about that experience?
Being welcomed at The Bitter End by Ken Gorka (may he rest in peace) with the enthusiasm that we were was a major privilege, and a real affirmation that we were getting something half right! The vibe of the room and the people who came out to see our shows there were a major part of the development of our sound. It feels great to have been included by a venue with such an historic roster of legendary artists, because many of our favorite bands performed there in the early stages of their own development as well.
8. You guys are from New York so what is your favorite NYC venue to preform at?
We're really thankful for our people at the Knitting Factory! It's a great venue in a great location. Other than that we want to shout out The Yippie Cafe where many many early shows were played. It has since been shut down and is now a boxing club run by our friend… great memories from that place.
9. Where did the name "Caverns" come from?
Caverns are deep.
10. What is next for you guys?
After LA and our radio campaign we will be back in NY to play shows and work on our new material. So get ready, and adieu: to the depths.
INTERVIEWED & WRITTEN BY: SUSAN SCHELL
PHOTO CREDIT: CAVERNS
related posts
Keiichiro Nakajima interview
Keiichiro Nakajima is a photographer and director based in Japan, represented by a management and production company called Signo, Inc, which is one of the largest and leading artist management...
SHIN FUJIYAMA Founder of Students Helping Honduras INTERVIEW
Japanese-American philanthropist Shin Fujiyama co-founded Students Helping Honduras with his sister Cosmo Fujiyama.
NEW TYPE #36: Mônot - ELI MIZRAHI INTERVIEW
Beginning with his childhood in Lebanon, Eli Mizrahi garnished inspiration from across the globe to debut his evening wear brand, Mônot, last fall.
RMK CREATIVE DIRECTOR: KAORI INTERVIEW
KAORI is a renowned make-up artist and the creative director of RMK beauty, a flourishing Japanese makeup and skincare brand that is now sold worldwide.
MICHEL GONDRY INTERVIEW
“MAYBE WE CAN BE IMMERSED IN MOVIES BECAUSE WE’RE USED TO DREAMING.”
JEAN PAUL GAULTIER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
It has become almost useless and banal to introduce Jean-Paul Gaultier.The mere mention of his name alone elicits a constellation of images that have become part of our mind and imagination since...
NEW TYPE #35: DARA SENDERS INTERVIEW
Dara Senders, the designer behind the eponymously titled, all size inclusive brand that launched in 2018, has always been obsessed with fashion.
NEW TYPE #35: NTTE HATS
From a small city near Milan to Downtown New York, Paolo, Designer and creater of NTTE Hatsdiscovered his passion for hats and anything vintage at a young age.
NEW TYPE #34 : BEAU WATSON
1. As a new designer, how do you hope to distinguish yourself among other designers?
NIAN FISH INTERVIEW
Nian Fish, creative director of KCD, has been, for decades, a pivotal figure in the fashion world, assembling and producing fashion shows that have become cultural benchmarks unto themselves, such...
CESAR LOVE ALEXANDRE INTERVIEW
Cesar Love Alexadre is a duo of visual artists formed by Isabelle Chaput and Nelson Tiberghien.They met at the Gobelins school of Photography in Paris and now based in New York where they work on...
TOM PECHEUX INTERVIEW
TWELV got a special interview from Tom Pecheux. Read as we host interviews and explore the lives of artists who shape the final product - directors, fashion designers, stylists, ...
ANTHONY VACCARELLO INTERVIEW
Anthony Vaccarello was considered as one of the brightest new talent in fashion: he was part of this new generation of talents the whole industry has kept an eye on to see them grow, to see them...
Why is Everyone in Hollywood Buzzing About Actress Malgosia Garnys?
Have you ever felt like you were beautiful and powerful and the universe was conspiring in your best interest, and your opportunities were endless because you’ve lost people you loved...
INTERVIEW: Bigwig Broadway Producer, Jordan Roth and Acclaimed Choreographer, Michelle Dorrance
R.I.P Chek Wu
We at TWELV are deeply saddened to announce the passing of talented photographer, boundless free-spirit, and our friend, Chek Wu.
GatherNYC: Everything We Love About Church With No Weird Stuff
GatherNYC is Everything We Love About Sunday Service With None of the Weird Stuff
NEW TYPE #33: Catherine Casias Inteview
If fashion is an expression of experiences, Catherine Casias has a lot of area to cover. She has excelled as an Olympic volleyball player, a philosophy major, and a fine artist....
Party Czar Carmen D’Alessio, Empress of the Sun and the Queen of the Night
You may not know Carmen D’Alessio by name.
IKEMEN #39: JORDAN HENRIQUEZ
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
IKEMEN #38: WARREN KAY
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
NEW TYPE #32: ALEXANDER ROYS INTERVIEW
"Introducing an innovative Men’s designer to inspire you with the visions of future and the rise of technology."
Branding in the Worlds of Art and Commerce According to Silvia Mella
Branding is everything. For an entrepreneur, it is the difference between viability and bankruptcy. On social media, we are all our own brands.
Interview: Jackie Yang, Creative Director of Chelsea and Walker
TWELV sat down with Jackie Yang, Creative Director of Chelsea and Walker, in the brand’s New York City...
New Type #31: Angela Mitchell – Krystal and Marilyn Lavoie Interview
We are living in the age of fast fashion, and even Europe’s most storied luxury brands have been moving their factories to Asia to reduce costs.
Ikemen #37: Dominik Halas
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"
New Type #30: Carolina Sarria & Bianca Allen Interview
Both Carolina Sarria and Bianca Allen knew they wanted to become fashion designers from a young age.
Interview & Backstage: Christian Siriano Celebrates 10 Years in Fashion
After the successful launch of his book Dresses to Dream About, a decade-anniversary celebration on the runway, and a whirlwind of striking celebrity looks on the red carpet of...
New Type #29: Jackie Astier Interview
Astier places its identity within the advanced adaptation skills of the modern New York woman.
INTERVIEW: Meet Kiko Arai, Miss Japan-turned Face of Balmain and Zara
Kiko Arai hails from Osaka, Japan, and after winning the title of Miss Japan 2012, the now 27-year old is captivating a new audience– the fashion world.
Interview: Parisian Designer Frédéric Robert's Debut Shoe Collection "ME.LAND"
A vibrant brand of Italian-made shoes for men is emerging this year as one-to-watch.
New Type #28: the Design Duo Behind Maxime Hernandez Interview
The streetwear phenomenon in the fashion establishment is not slowing down anytime soon.
MICHEL NAFZIGER INTERVIEW
With a wealth of experience shooting some for some of fashion's most renowned clients (Yves Saint Laurent, Guy Laroche), ...
IKEMEN #36: Jérôme LaMaar
IKEMEN (ē´k´mɛn): Japanese Slang
"REALLY, REALLY, RIDICULOUSLY GOOD LOOKING PEOPLE"