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AKA-WHAT??
The name Akaname (pron: Ah-kah-nah-meh) is taken from a Yokai demon that appeared in Japanese artist Gazu Hyakki Yak--'s "The Illustrated Night Parade of A Hundred Demons". The word translates literally into english as "Filth-licker" and the loose mythology portrays an Akaname as an ambiguous creature, neither good nor evil, that hides in ones bathroom, nourishing itself on human filth.
IN THE BEGINNING
Akaname was originally conceived (as an idea) when Otis Chamberlain, Ben Jackson and Matt Payne met in Melbourne in 2002 where they discovered a common interest in heavy, experimental and dynamic music. Chamberlain had to return to New Zealand, but 3 years later Jackson and Payne relocated to Chamberlain's hometown - Wellington, there the trio converged and began writing and arranging together as per the original plan. After completing 6 compositions, it was time to find a vocalist... enter Miss Kallie Sparkles : a soft-spoken girl with an unsuspectingly gutteral throat delivery - her addition was complimetary to the bands abrasive, dense and angular sound, and with the textural addition of sample-smith Matt 'Swampy' Faisandier, the band was ready to take their sound to the stage.
DOWN THE GARDEN PATH
From their debut performance at a sweaty Cuba Street house party in Wellington (November 2005), Akaname was eager to develope a live presence, playing as many shows as possible with a diverse range of bands. Their inclusion at varying metal festivals, punk/hardcore gigs, indie shows and house parties - coupled with a sound that encompassed elements of grindcore, post-rock, tech-metal, hardcore, improvised free-noise, doom, and stoner-rock - underlined their ability to cross genres and defy immediate pigeon-holing... the band had begun to cement their own identity in the New Zealand live underground music scene. It was also time for one final added dimension, and 2nd guitarist - Alex Beere - was welcomed to the fold, completing the 6-piece line-up.
FILTH-LICKING GOOD
In January 2007 Akaname enters Inca Studios in Wellington with engineer virtuoso Mike Gibson to record 5 tracks that best represented the diverse aspects of their sound.... the Filthlicker EP. In July mastering is completed by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio in Colorado (Cephalic Carnage, Planes Mistaken For Stars), and the EP is ready to go. As Akaname prepares for an independent release, reputable US indie-grind label Debello Recordings contacts the band expressing interest in releasing the 'Filthlicker' EP. An agreement is reached and Akaname joins with Debello.
THE SHAPE OF GRIND TO COME
September 2007: With a growing shift between instrumentation and vocal elements, Kallie Sparkles relinquishes her vocal duties (on amicable terms) and the band begins writing new material for a collaborative project (3 x 7" records - to feature guest vocalists from peer-bands). While recruiting vocal duties for the project, a replacement vocalist for Sparkles is found in their good friend - ex Graymalkin vocalist and RW Entertainment head honcho Gareth Craze, and the present line-up is cemented.
While the collaboration project will move forward as originally planned - Akaname is currently intergrating Craze in preparation for a full NZ tour in Feb/March 2008, to be followed by a US tour in mid 2008, and an Australian tour is pegged for later in the year.
Band Members:
Ben Jackson (guitar)
Alex Beere (guitar)
Matt Payne (bass)
Matt 'Swampy' Faisandier (samples)
Otis Chamberlain (drums)
Gareth Craze (vocals)
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