METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello Kel. So glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
How are you? How are things going so far for you and your band with the year 2017 almost coming to a close?
KEL BARRETT: I am well, thank you so much for having me. Things are going great, it has been a crazy busy year for the Interitum crew. We have had an amazing time recording the EP, we were gigging quite a bit only having two months off since March, really working at getting ourselves out there. We are looking forward to smashing 2018, we have some great stuff in the works.
MPAP: Before we talk about your new EP release, Conformed Suffering, let’s do a proper introduction to everyone that might not have heard of your band yet. Interitum is a Sludge, Stoner, Groove metal band from Launceston, Tasmania that formed in 2015. For those of you that haven’t looked at a map recently, Launceston is a riverside city in northern Tasmania, Australia. Care to add anything to this that we should know more about?
KEL: For sure, yeah, Trent and myself started Interitum in 2015. We had a different name back then. We started writing and thought we should put a call out for some members to complete our sound. Interitum had a few lineup changes for a bunch of assorted reasons but at the end of 2016 we had it complete, and in early 2017 we hit the recording studio.
MPAP: Introduce the band for us, if you may? Who are your partners in crime and what do they do?
KEL: Interitum is made up of Paul Wallace the power house on Drums, Trent Barrett on Bass, Jarrod Gaye and Freeman Cumbie-Wall on Guitars, and myself on vocals.
MPAP: What inspired you to become a singer and start Interitum with your husband Trent?
KEL: I wanted to sing and make music from a very early age, but I was a shy kid, so I worked hard, and I practiced my craft. I have had my fair share of bumps along the way. It has not been easy, but those times have given me fuel and I am thankful for it. Haha Trent had been saying we should do something together, I wasn’t sure, I mean, we can’t even put (IKEA)Flat-Pack furniture together, without world war three breaking out lol, but we sat down one night to start writing and it just flowed. We were like yeah this needs to happen. It has been an amazing ride.
MPAP: So now let’s talk about your new EP called Conformed Suffering that came out October 14th of this year. The spotlight is yours. What do you want to tell us about it? I’m sure a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into it?
KEL: Thank you, yes, we worked like crazy. We had so much fun writing the songs and I must give the guys credit, they worked so hard in the few months leading up to the first recording date. Everyone really stepped up and gave it their all. I am very proud of it.
MPAP: After hearing it for the first time what are you hoping the fans will walk away with? Is there a message you want them to absorb into their eardrums once they hear that first note?
KEL: Art is in the eye of the beholder as they say. I wrote these lyrics from strange places in my life. "Mermaid Parts" is a crazy dream I had once, "Rabbit" is a powerful message about the many deaths that were happening because of the 'coward punch' [*]. The music is a major refection on the mood of the songs. I hope people can get into the songs and enjoy what they hear.
MPAP: "Plastic Whore", "Dead Flesh", and "Mermaid Parts" are some of the songs on the EP? Is there one that stands out the most that you love to play live for your fans?
KEL: I love them all, but I have to say that "Plastic Whore" always gets a great response from the crowd.
MPAP: Conformed Suffering, contains 5 songs, clocking in at 25 minutes. During your live shows, are there any other songs that you play to fill up the time on the set?
KEL: Yeah, yeah for sure, we have actually already written three songs for the next album. So, we pump them out. Our set is about 45 minutes long now, we are trying hard to write a short song for the next album haha.
MPAP: Another song off of Conformed Suffering is "Beneath the Filth", which is also the debut single and video. Tell us about the video is about?
KEL: "Beneath the Filth" video is about those times in your life when you feel like you are stuck or that your hands are tied. The pain of having to make a hard decision of change can feel like you are going a little crazy, so I played with that idea in our film clip. It was really fun to make, film and put together.
MPAP: You’re not on a record label yet, so being in a band isn’t an easy feat correct? What keeps you going, moving and pushing forward to keep your head above the water for Interitum?
KEL: Yeah, we are completely self-funded. We like having control over everything we do so it has not been a problem yet. The music keeps us going, I know that probably sounds cliché, but it is true.
MPAP: Interitum suffered a few lineup changes in the beginning, but with the addition of Freeman Cumbie-Wall and Jarrod Gaye, both on guitar, things seem to be finally set in place? What did they both bring to the Interitum table that you were obviously missing before?
KEL: It is a funny story actually; both the guys were in the band at one point at the start. Jarrod had other commitments at the time and was unable to travel, and Freeman was in an accident that affected his hand, so was unable to play. It came around in a big circle. They both have very different ways of playing that just works with Interitum’s sound. Paul was our biggest piece of the puzzle, what he bought to the band has been amazing.
MPAP: Briefly, let’s go back to talking about your hometown Launceston for a moment. For those of you that still didn’t look at the map closely enough, Tasmania is an isolated island off Australia’s south coast that is surrounded by the Tasman Sea. To sum it up in further detail; there is water, water everywhere. Eventually, in every direction you travel in Tasmania you will come to a shoreline?
KEL: Haha yes, we are on a small island state just below Australia. We have amazing beaches here, but we have strange weather patterns, it is not uncommon to get 3 to 4 seasons in one day lol. Just as an example it is summer here with 32 degrees’ Celsius days, which is 89.6 Fahrenheit, then within days we had snow on the mountain’s. It is a funny place Tassie.
MPAP: With that being said, that must limit the music you get to see play live there?
KEL: We don’t get as many bands down here, as mainland Australia does for sure, but we have been getting some great bands making the extra trip. For example, Napalm Death, Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah played this year and we have Once Human heading down next year. They also have a few music festivals a year in Tasmania. In saying that we do need to catch a plane or hop on the boat to see most of the great bands that head to Australia.
MPAP: I'm sure living on an island limits you as a band on how far you can reach others to spread to the masses about Interitum and your live music?
KEL: We have great venues and bands down here in Tasmania that support local acts, so it has been good that way. We are planning a tour for 2018 hitting places we have not yet played.
MPAP: According to Google Maps, the closest major city to Launceston is Melbourne, which looks like it can take over 13 hours to get to on a ferry? Is that the closest place you can see a major big band?
KEL: Yep a lot of big bands hit Melbourne, it is a 30 or so minute flight, or the boat is good if you want to take your car and is an overnight or day trip. Yeah it can take 12 or so hours depending on the conditions.
MPAP: One last question before we bring this interview to a close. If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer? But before you answer that, let’s rephrase the question. If you woke up to 2,000 new music bands and could only listen to 300 of them, how would you choose to listen to which ones?
KEL: That is a hard one as I think every band deserves a listen. That is someone’s heart and soul, I can’t go off pictures or social media likes because you just never know.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Kel, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what Interitum does in 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all your fans out there?
KEL: Cheers Metal Pulp And Paper. I would like to say thank you for the support, we really appreciate it. If you are new to us please check out our EP and drop us a line we love to chat with the fans.
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©metalpulpandpaper
How are you? How are things going so far for you and your band with the year 2017 almost coming to a close?
KEL BARRETT: I am well, thank you so much for having me. Things are going great, it has been a crazy busy year for the Interitum crew. We have had an amazing time recording the EP, we were gigging quite a bit only having two months off since March, really working at getting ourselves out there. We are looking forward to smashing 2018, we have some great stuff in the works.
MPAP: Before we talk about your new EP release, Conformed Suffering, let’s do a proper introduction to everyone that might not have heard of your band yet. Interitum is a Sludge, Stoner, Groove metal band from Launceston, Tasmania that formed in 2015. For those of you that haven’t looked at a map recently, Launceston is a riverside city in northern Tasmania, Australia. Care to add anything to this that we should know more about?
KEL: For sure, yeah, Trent and myself started Interitum in 2015. We had a different name back then. We started writing and thought we should put a call out for some members to complete our sound. Interitum had a few lineup changes for a bunch of assorted reasons but at the end of 2016 we had it complete, and in early 2017 we hit the recording studio.
MPAP: Introduce the band for us, if you may? Who are your partners in crime and what do they do?
KEL: Interitum is made up of Paul Wallace the power house on Drums, Trent Barrett on Bass, Jarrod Gaye and Freeman Cumbie-Wall on Guitars, and myself on vocals.
MPAP: What inspired you to become a singer and start Interitum with your husband Trent?
KEL: I wanted to sing and make music from a very early age, but I was a shy kid, so I worked hard, and I practiced my craft. I have had my fair share of bumps along the way. It has not been easy, but those times have given me fuel and I am thankful for it. Haha Trent had been saying we should do something together, I wasn’t sure, I mean, we can’t even put (IKEA)Flat-Pack furniture together, without world war three breaking out lol, but we sat down one night to start writing and it just flowed. We were like yeah this needs to happen. It has been an amazing ride.
MPAP: So now let’s talk about your new EP called Conformed Suffering that came out October 14th of this year. The spotlight is yours. What do you want to tell us about it? I’m sure a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into it?
KEL: Thank you, yes, we worked like crazy. We had so much fun writing the songs and I must give the guys credit, they worked so hard in the few months leading up to the first recording date. Everyone really stepped up and gave it their all. I am very proud of it.
MPAP: After hearing it for the first time what are you hoping the fans will walk away with? Is there a message you want them to absorb into their eardrums once they hear that first note?
KEL: Art is in the eye of the beholder as they say. I wrote these lyrics from strange places in my life. "Mermaid Parts" is a crazy dream I had once, "Rabbit" is a powerful message about the many deaths that were happening because of the 'coward punch' [*]. The music is a major refection on the mood of the songs. I hope people can get into the songs and enjoy what they hear.
MPAP: "Plastic Whore", "Dead Flesh", and "Mermaid Parts" are some of the songs on the EP? Is there one that stands out the most that you love to play live for your fans?
KEL: I love them all, but I have to say that "Plastic Whore" always gets a great response from the crowd.
MPAP: Conformed Suffering, contains 5 songs, clocking in at 25 minutes. During your live shows, are there any other songs that you play to fill up the time on the set?
KEL: Yeah, yeah for sure, we have actually already written three songs for the next album. So, we pump them out. Our set is about 45 minutes long now, we are trying hard to write a short song for the next album haha.
MPAP: Another song off of Conformed Suffering is "Beneath the Filth", which is also the debut single and video. Tell us about the video is about?
KEL: "Beneath the Filth" video is about those times in your life when you feel like you are stuck or that your hands are tied. The pain of having to make a hard decision of change can feel like you are going a little crazy, so I played with that idea in our film clip. It was really fun to make, film and put together.
MPAP: You’re not on a record label yet, so being in a band isn’t an easy feat correct? What keeps you going, moving and pushing forward to keep your head above the water for Interitum?
KEL: Yeah, we are completely self-funded. We like having control over everything we do so it has not been a problem yet. The music keeps us going, I know that probably sounds cliché, but it is true.
MPAP: Interitum suffered a few lineup changes in the beginning, but with the addition of Freeman Cumbie-Wall and Jarrod Gaye, both on guitar, things seem to be finally set in place? What did they both bring to the Interitum table that you were obviously missing before?
KEL: It is a funny story actually; both the guys were in the band at one point at the start. Jarrod had other commitments at the time and was unable to travel, and Freeman was in an accident that affected his hand, so was unable to play. It came around in a big circle. They both have very different ways of playing that just works with Interitum’s sound. Paul was our biggest piece of the puzzle, what he bought to the band has been amazing.
MPAP: Briefly, let’s go back to talking about your hometown Launceston for a moment. For those of you that still didn’t look at the map closely enough, Tasmania is an isolated island off Australia’s south coast that is surrounded by the Tasman Sea. To sum it up in further detail; there is water, water everywhere. Eventually, in every direction you travel in Tasmania you will come to a shoreline?
KEL: Haha yes, we are on a small island state just below Australia. We have amazing beaches here, but we have strange weather patterns, it is not uncommon to get 3 to 4 seasons in one day lol. Just as an example it is summer here with 32 degrees’ Celsius days, which is 89.6 Fahrenheit, then within days we had snow on the mountain’s. It is a funny place Tassie.
MPAP: With that being said, that must limit the music you get to see play live there?
KEL: We don’t get as many bands down here, as mainland Australia does for sure, but we have been getting some great bands making the extra trip. For example, Napalm Death, Dillinger Escape Plan and Meshuggah played this year and we have Once Human heading down next year. They also have a few music festivals a year in Tasmania. In saying that we do need to catch a plane or hop on the boat to see most of the great bands that head to Australia.
MPAP: I'm sure living on an island limits you as a band on how far you can reach others to spread to the masses about Interitum and your live music?
KEL: We have great venues and bands down here in Tasmania that support local acts, so it has been good that way. We are planning a tour for 2018 hitting places we have not yet played.
MPAP: According to Google Maps, the closest major city to Launceston is Melbourne, which looks like it can take over 13 hours to get to on a ferry? Is that the closest place you can see a major big band?
KEL: Yep a lot of big bands hit Melbourne, it is a 30 or so minute flight, or the boat is good if you want to take your car and is an overnight or day trip. Yeah it can take 12 or so hours depending on the conditions.
MPAP: One last question before we bring this interview to a close. If you woke up and had 2,000 unread emails and could only answer 300 of them, how would you choose which ones to answer? But before you answer that, let’s rephrase the question. If you woke up to 2,000 new music bands and could only listen to 300 of them, how would you choose to listen to which ones?
KEL: That is a hard one as I think every band deserves a listen. That is someone’s heart and soul, I can’t go off pictures or social media likes because you just never know.
MPAP: On behalf of myself and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, Kel, for being a part of this interview. We look forward to what Interitum does in 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all your fans out there?
KEL: Cheers Metal Pulp And Paper. I would like to say thank you for the support, we really appreciate it. If you are new to us please check out our EP and drop us a line we love to chat with the fans.
©metalpulpandpaper