Osker

Interview by Carlo Gironi with Devon

Osker is the youngest band signed to Epitaph Records and althought this thing would make a lot of guys proud, they just don’t care. The band has just released their second full length album "Idle Will Kill", after their previous "Treatment 5", that was more influenced by pop-punk music in the vein of Green Day and old Rancid style, especially the vocals. Devon, the lead singer and guitarist ( not to mention, songwriter), doesn’t talk much, maybe he talks even less than Fat Mike, but he says what he thinks and that’s cool … I asked him some things about the band, their music, Epitaph, and the punk scene today, and I bet you will be surprised to read his answers.

Carlo:It’s almost a month that your new album "Idle Will Kill" is out . How do you think it is the response of the public ?
Devon: The response from the public about the new album has been good. We knew that a lot of the people that like our first album wouldn’t like our second one, but oh well. We have to do what we have to do.

Carlo:Are you satisified with this new record ? Does it sound like you wanted it to sound?
Devon:I’m definitely satisfied that people recognize our growth and I’m happy we’ve changed. It sounds how it should sound.

Carlo: By the way, what do you mean with "Idle Will Kill" ? Is it referred to something/someone in particular ?
Devon:Idle Will Kill means that if you focus on one thing you will perish.

Carlo: I think there has been a kind of progression since your first record "Treatment 5", both musically and lyrically … how did you do it ? Did you want to change or it just happened naturally ?
Devon:I think we changed because we got older and found our own identity like many people should.

Carlo: Your new song "Strangled" … I think it is one of the best of the new album, can you say what this song is about exactly ?
Devon: "strangled" is about not liking what I see and trying to go beyond all those useless things.

Carlo:How does it feel to be the youngest band on Epitaph Records ? Are you someway glad or proud, whatever ?
Devon:The fact that we are the youngest band on epitaph is irrelevant at this point.

Carlo: Osker is a very young band … can you tell us how you met, how you started , and how you got in touch with the Epitaph guys ?
Devon:We started when I met dave in 8th grade (he is 4 years older than me.) and he gave me milk.

Carlo: What do you try to sing about in your songs ?
Devon: I write songs about things that relate to me and affect me.

Carlo: On the new record, I saw you are just Devon and Dave … did your old drummer quit ?
Devon: We let are old drummer go because it wasn’t working out.

Carlo: Always about the new CD, it has a very simple and clean artwork , just when you look at the cover you realize it ( another example, inside the booklet there are the lyrics, but not the titles of the songs they refer to) … was this your own idea ? Why ?
Devon: The artwork is simple there is no dumb filler its just a cover song titles and lyrics. what else do you want?

Carlo: What is in your stereo right now ? What are you listening to…
Devon: Rival schools is in my stereo.

Carlo: Are you going to go touring this year ? If so, where and when ?
Devon: We are touring the us from the end of july until november.

Carlo: You toured a lot with varios bands : Guttermouth, Millencolin, Automatic 7… which is the best show you remember so far ? And the worst one ?
Devon: Touring with Millencolin and Guttermouth were equally fun because theydont’ care.

Carlo:How would you rate the punk scene nowadays ? Is it still alive ?
Devon: There is no punk scene to speak of.