Hi! Today, I have the pleasure to chat with Jean-Marc Singaram, lead guitar from The Aquamaniacs 3rd wave band! Thank you Jean-Mark for taking time to answer us. Let's surf and start the interview if you please. ?
SRR: What year was The Aquamaniacs founded?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We formed in early 2014.
SRR: Who are the members of The Aquamaniacs?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Me, guitar; Jay Cutaia, guitar; Chris Chown, bass; Peter Baumann, drums.
SRR: From which city did The Aquamaniacs originate?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
SRR: Where did the idea to form an instrumental band come from?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay had the idea to form the band as a side project, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own. He had been exposed to surf music from members of his family, so i'm thinking that it was lurking in his subconscious waiting for the right time.
SRR: How did you meet each other?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I were both in a covers band playing in bars and he suggested forming a surf rock band to keep us busy. So it all started with that. Both Chris and Peter answered adverts "Bassist/drummer wanted" and to be honest we are so fortunate to have found them as they both outstanding musicians.
SRR: What are the influences of the band?
Jean-Marc Singaram: When you look at our setlist it truly is a mixture of old and new surf as well as originals of course, for example: The Ventures, Dick Dale, The Atlantics. But then we really like the more modern surf bands too like The Bambi Molesters, The Coffin Daggers, The Ghastly Ones and Daikaiju.
SRR: How did you guys describe the band at the time?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We have always described ourselves as a Surf Rock band. The best compliment was that someone described us a cool, retro sounding band.
SRR: When was your first gig?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We played in my back yard in 2014.
SRR: What year did you do your first recording?
Jean-Marc Singaram: We recorded some demos early on in 2014, but our first original tunes were recorded in April 2017.
SRR: Did you have a label?
Jean-Marc Singaram: No, but always open to offers.
SRR: Which instrument do you use?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I both use Fender Stratocasters. Chris has a number of basses, recently he has been using a Fender P-bass, sometimes a Fender Jazz bass, it always changes. The interesting thing about Peter is that he designs and makes his own snare drum but also has a collection of antique snare drums, so between Chris and Peter it's always a surprise as to what they will be bringing on any given day.
SRR: Which amplifier do you use?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay and I both use Fender Blues Deluxe Reissues.
SRR: Do you use a reverb tank?
Jean-Marc Singaram: No.
SRR: Can we know about which tube you used?
Jean-Marc Singaram: I still have stock tubes in my amp, Jay upgraded to TAD tubes in his amplifier.
SRR: What are the effects used on the guitar?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay uses a compressor, a few different overdrives, chorus, and tremolo. I uses a Mooer Hustle Drive overdrive, Boost/Distortion but I only use boost part, a tremolo and a Flashback Delay.
SRR: What type of strings do you use, flatwounds or roundwounds?
Jean-Marc Singaram: Jay uses Roundwounds Dean Markley Nickel Helix 10-52. I uses D'addario 9-42 and 10-46, I have two strats with different sets of strings on.
SRR: Where can we buy and follow The Aquamaniacs?
Jean-Marc Singaram: we are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and our latest tunes are on Soundcloud, and there are another 4 songs completed waiting to be recorded.
SRR: Thank you very much Jean-Marc for taking time to answer me today.
Jean-Marc Singaram: You are welcome! It was a real pleasure. Speak to you soon. A bientot!