Crowdsurf & Turf Meets: Wargasm.
When London D.I.Y veteran Sam Matlock & international model Milkie Way met at a concert in Camden in early 2019, something strange was born. Wargasm is a collision of two personalities that can be likened only to fighting fire with fire. Though still at the beginning of it’s career, the intent of the project is clear – this is a sound, a visual, a lifestyle. We were lucky to chat to both Milkie and Sam in one of their first interviews since the bands birth, ending in some of our favourite Quickfire Questions to help you get to know your new favourite destructive and chaotic duo.
Happy new year! Does Wargasm have any New Years resolutions?
Sam: Yeah - write more, play gigs more, release some visuals, take it more seriously; above all else the objective is to be MORE Wargasm.
Milkie: I’m starting to properly learn Irish this year! But I’d also like to hone in on some of my music skills too and start singing the right words to Gold Gold Gold live haha.
I feel like 2020 and the decade ahead is crying out for a band like you. Why should people care about Wargasm?
Milkie: I don’t think people particularly need to care about us, but I was also crying out for a band like us… so I got together with Sam and made it happen. If anything, hopefully, it can inspire folks to do the same and take that initiative of “Oh I wished this thing existed… so if no one else is gonna make it, I will.”
Sam: I’m never too sure whether you should tell people to care about art and creative projects, I think that’s all very personal, but I do think you’re right about what this decade wants - it feels like a lot of the traction we’re gaining is due to the narrative and honest nature of this project. People see themselves in us and can see it growing into something larger than life. What started as a bit of fun feels more like a chaotic musical movement now? It’s fucking cool.
What influences Wargasm?
Sam: Sonically we take a huge influence from the 00s and a bunch of metal bands, then I guess that gets mixed in with a ‘punk’ attitude. In terms of what sparks an idea, it’s less other bands and more conversations that you overhear, movies or lines and concepts that pop into our heads, they kind of all have their own sound and tell you where to take them. I’m a bit of a sci-fi nerd and have a lot of opinions on technology and the way the direction the human race is heading in so that has quite a large impact on what we talk about.
Milkie: Our style and visuals as well are very influenced by dystopian pop culture monoliths like Bladerunner and Akira, as well as old shitty cock rock bands and punk icons like Joan Jett and Iggy Pop. I personally take a lot of influence for my vocal deliveries from Romily Alice from Japanese Voyeurs. The perfect combination of sexy and aggressive.
Post Modern Rhapsody and God Of War! What a way to introduce yourselves. What is your normal songwriting process? Apart from being ‘riffy as fuck’ of course.
Sam: Well everything has to be riffy as fuck. It’s part of the natural order. Normally I’ve got a rough lyric and a beat or a riff, then we get together and flesh out the idea, build off of each other, make sure it sounds like our personalities and that its something we feel is true to us. At some points, I might get excited and jump around the room or swing a guitar at Milk when the idea starts sounding awesome - but that’s an integral part of the process…….
Milkie: I like to start writing a song from maybe a quote I heard that I liked or from a line I’ve already written but however we start it’s always very thematic based. We think of what we wanna write about, a concept, and think about how that sounds in our heads, and how we can best translate that into real-life sounds.
You’ve both previously played in bands, including Barns Courtney and Dead! respectively. How did you guys meet and decide to pursue this project?
Milk: I think Sam and I actually became acquainted through this project I used to do called Girl In The Pit where I would shoot bands from the mosh pit with film cameras. Risky business that. But I shot Dead! a few times and when we started to get to know each other the timing couldn’t have been better. We met and jammed and seshed together and thus the birth of Wargasm.
Sam: Coming from such different places as musicians has given us such an advantage working together. We’ve earned our stripes and cut our teeth in the professional AND dirty DIY scenes. Now Wargasm can be both.
You’ve already been announced for Download Fest and 2000 Trees for 2020! How excited are you for festival season?
Milk: I’ve never been as excited for a time in my life than I am for this festival season.
Sam: There is so much more to announce, this festival season is the one. This is our year.
Quickfire Questions:
The best gig you've ever been to?
Milkie: Lady Gaga @ Aviva Stadium in Dublin 2012. She brought me up on stage in front of like 35,000 people and fed me Jameson. And The Darkness supported which was pretty funny.
Sam: My first proper big show - Iron Maiden @ Earls Court 2006 when the power cut out. Mad.
4 essential items to take on tour...
Sam: Hand Sanitiser, flannel, cigarettes and probably a guitar.
Milkie: Menstrual cup, tour blanket, headphones, and a bottle of whiskey.
When not writing music or performing, how do you spend your free time?
Sam: Writing music or at Crobar.
Milkie: Reading with a pint at my local Irish pub. I’ve been reading a lot of history books and graphic novels recently and I like doing so in a homely environment. But likewise on pretty much any given evening you could find Sam and I at Crobar.
Do either of you have any other talents?
Sam: I’d say I’m a above average cook. I cook the meanest roast dinner in London.
Milkie: I can nap at pretty much any given time during the day, in any environment. I can skate too.
If you were curating a festival, who would your three headliners be?
Sam: Because the latest album was so good I’m pretty sure Slipknot would headline the Saturday night at WarFest™
Milkie: I want Sleigh Bells on the Friday and Limp Bizkit on the Sunday.
How can people listen to you & support you?
Sam: The usual Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, buy merch spiel. With a band like this word of mouth really is our lifeblood. Play Wargasm at parties, tweet about us, let your favourite promoters and bands know if you want us on a lineup. Nothing is more powerful and genuine promotion than music fans talking honestly to other music fans.
Milkie: Never underestimate your influence on the industry as a grassroots listener.
What do we have to look forward to from you in 2020?
Sam: This is the year where we solidify our sound. Expect the debut music video and foray into the visual world imminently…
Milkie: Essentially, more chaos.