The Malcognitas

If you have not heard of the Malcognitas yet you’re your in for a treat. I have been on the island for quite sometime and heard of them early on, but with all the shows I wanted to see and different weekend get always I always seemed to miss them. One night by mistake rather than by design I finally got to see what all this hype was about. It was a sweet relief to the ears. I was surprisingly awestruck by the entire atmosphere of the band and the music. It seemed to draw me in, in ways no band has done in years. Every breath the lead singer took and note belted out sent chills up my spine. Her voice is so sexy and sultry I found it hard to even believe so much sound is coming out of this beautiful small structured person. The bass, the drums and the guitar seemed to melt into each other and then started carrying me away with it. They can not be compared to any music on this island; they are in a class of their own. It turned out to be the best show I have seen on Oahu thus far and I am really looking forward to their shows and the bragging rights of saying I got to see them way back when… I am now officially a Malcognitas groupie.

How long have you been playing music for (individually and as a group)?

YVONNE: Individually: cello-15 years here and there. Guitar- almost 1.5 years, Ara taught me chords when we met and started 7/10. As a band I believe one year (ask Lorenzo exactly).

JACK: I've been playing drums since I was 10.

ARA: I've been trying to play guitar since I was 17, I had really strict parents so they decided to give me a guitar and I eventually figured out how to play some chords. As a child, I always loved to sing and dreamed of having a deep sultry voice. My first real band was Teradactyl (2000-2003) and they kicked me out of the band shortly after I dumped one of the members. After that I met Yvonne and we started writing sappy love songs and started 7/10. I met Jack and Lorenzo through Yvonne and they invited me to join the Malcognitas.

LORENZO: I've been playing music for 8 years. The Malcognitas have been together as a whole since April 2005.

What song do you enjoy playing live the most? YVONNE: Eyes Closed JACK: Well, each song has its own mood. There is a range of emotion and intensity when we play through our material. My enjoyment comes when my band mates, the audience and I all melt together. ARA: I really like playing Disabled, because Yvonne gets to use her Line 6 pedal. LORENZO: Currently ‘Hott Stuff’.

If you compare yourself to other artists or genres where do you think you fit? YVONNE: It’s just another form of rock and roll. JACK: The music is dark. I like Christian Death (the band), the Cure, Gary Numan...in some ways I think our vibe is similar. ARA: I agree with both Jack and Yvonne, I think it would be easier to just call us a Rock band. I think when we write our songs, we're more focused on story telling and conveying emotion rather than worrying about what genre we fit in. I know in the beginning, Lorenzo wanted the band to have a Gothic like appeal but at this point, we're just writing whatever is naturally coming out, gothic or not. We do like dressing in black though. LORENZO: Realistically I'd say whatever category the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and similar bands are in. Besides music do any of you have other creative outlets? YVONNE: Sometimes making instruments with friends. JACK: no. ARA: Well, I do dabble with the graphic arts. LORENZO: Art, particularly illustration/graphic novels. Where are all of you from? Local? If not where have you transplanted from? YVONNE: From Hawaii. JACK: Born here. I wandered around a bit and planted myself back in Hawaii. ARA: I was born in the Philippines, but my family lived everywhere but. I've lived in Hawaii for about 9 years now. I would say that I am local. LORENO: I was born and raised here in Honolulu, though lived in San Francisco for four years. Who are your greatest influences both in music and in art? YVONNE: Oddly much different from the music that is the Malcognitas. Klezmer such as new Klezmer trio, Masada, Bar Koksbah sextet. Agro noise like the Ruins, Boredoms, Melt Banana, Sun City Girls, God Speed, Brad Crutchffield, Arco Santi and the Space Invaders. JACK: My parents were a great influence on me musically. They were into all kinds of stuff like classical, jazz, ABBA...as far as drumming, Buddy Rich would be the guy that made me get some drums and start playing. He was such an exciting and compelling performer. The energy and power has stuck with me till today. ARA: My musical background actually has more RnB, dancehall and hip hop. I used to live in Prince George County in MD and I went to a predominantly black high school. A lot of my influences back in the day were Aretha Franklin, Sade, Anita, Shabba Ranks... When I turned 17, I think my taste started changing because of the people I was hanging out with and I started listening to Everything but the Girl and Massive Attack ... that kind of thing. Now my taste is probably on the same level as any "indie" artfag my age. LORENZO: For music: Siouxsie and the Banshees, Alice in Chains, Scheer, Luna Sea, Christian Death, Bauhaus, Swans. For art: European artists like the kind in Heavy Metal magazine. What can we look forward to seeing in the future from the Malcognitas? YVONNE: Fretless and paisley. JACK: I am pleased to report we have an album on the way... ARA: More new songs. We'd also love to tour in the future!! LORENZO: A whole lot more new music, with musical diversity. Who is your favorite local band? YVONNE: Explore. JACK: Yvonne Elliman. ARA: I'm a big supporter of At Sea and Explore. LORENZO: I'm honest, and I have to say it's the one I'm playing in. If you were stranded on an island in the middle of the ocean…..and you could have only one band from the mainland with you, who would it be? JACK: The Velvet Underground, as long as I could jam with them… YVONNE: umm Deerhoof. ARA: hmmm.. Broken Social Scene? Because there's about 12 of them. So chances are one of them would know how to start a fire. LORENZO: Any band as long as they're signed and very popular. Cos the chances of rescue are greater if they vanish during the tour. Get more of the Malcognitas here: www.malcognitas.net www.myspace.com/themalcognitas