Storytelling is the great, albeit fading, American pastime. It predated writing and in many instances, was told in song. In modern times, many musicians have approached their music from a storytelling point of view: Dylan, Springsteen and Waits to name a few. Chicago’s Americana metal outfit, HUNTSMEN, are carrying the torch for heavy bands to be added to that list
Band Members
Chris Kang
Marc Stranger-Najjar
Kirill Orlov
Ray Knipe
Aimee Bueno
Dan Locke: What is your upbringing?
Ray: I grew up in rural Michigan to a family of musicians. I’m lucky to have a very supportive and artistic family, and at an early age they let me know that I could pursue whatever I wanted to, so I would say my upbringing was pretty non-traditional.
How did you discover music?
Music has always been a part of my life, my mother was an oboist and pianist, my father played trumpet and was the high school band director for 40 years, and both of my brothers are extremely talented musicians. I’ve been told that when I was a baby, I loved the Beatles and the Beach Boys, then when I was old enough to make up my own mind I got into classic rock, and classic metal. That turned into getting into punk, then hardcore, then grindcore and death metal, and then to the wide variety of styles I like today.
How did you start to write music?
I started writing and playing music when I was around 12, joining a punk band called “The Hooligans.” I would go play Flint or Grand Rapids, MI on the weekends and practicing, writing and recording as much as I possibly could after school. That band taught me what it was like to play live, and how to thrash out as hard as possible. We sucked – but had a lot of life affirming realizations by playing in that band.
How did you originally form?
Huntsmen originally formed with Marc, Chris and Kirill coming from an older band called “Gorilla Press.” They wanted to play something heavier and more aggressive and thus – Huntsmen was born. I joined a couple years later and it seems like we just continued in the same vein as how the band started.
How the band did get its name?
The name came from the first song they wrote together, “Hunt for Food, Not Sport.” They thought it sounded like apocalyptic cowboy doom and the name “Huntsmen” just sort of fell into place. It was one of those names that represented not only how the band sounds, but the attitude and the theme of the band as well so it just fits.
Aimee- you used to do an open mike? Have you ever done any singer spotlights in Chicago?
(Aimee) Though I’ve never done a singer spotlight, I do sometimes miss the more intimate singer-songwriter setting. I’ve been performing as a singer-songwriter, just me and my guitar, since I was 13, and it can get lonely up there on stage. That’s why I’m really enjoying performing with a group of humans I love, right now.
Aimee- How was your first performance with the band?
(Aimee) My very first performance with the band was just after American Scrap was released. It was literally the first time I’ve ever felt nervous for a performance! I hadn’t played live in years, and it wasn’t my music to mess up. I had a great time, of course, and don’t recall whether or not I made any noticeable mistakes. Which is probably for the best!
What part of Chicago are you from?
(Aimee) I grew up in the far northwest suburbs, closer to the Wisconsin border than the city. At the time, it was more forest than town. I moved to Chicago as an 18-year-old in 2008, and have lived in the Logan Square neighborhood for at least 10 of those years.
Your new cd Mandala of Fear just come out? How did you come up with that title? And why did you decide to make it with almost 2 cd of music within it?
“Mandala of Fear” came from an idea Chris originally came up with as he was healing from getting back surgery. The idea that he could potentially never walk again and then how he dealt with those feelings really echoed into how MoF would get created. The ‘Mandala of Fear’ itself is sort of a meditative guide someone creates in order to find peace and solace amidst fear and chaos. It’s about resilience and courage when everything around you are bleak and scary. The album is 80 minutes long because that’s how long it took us to complete the story and the idea of “Mandala of Fear.” We didn’t necessarily choose for the album to be that long, but that’s the way that it shaped itself.
Since it is a fully formed sci-fi-esque tale set in the near future as unending desert war crumbles into apocalypse. Are you hoping to get a movie deal out of it?
Ha! We have no delusions of grandeur, but yeah – if a movie deal comes along, we would consider it.
What is American Nationalism and Pride?
This is a pretty loaded question, but to me nationalism is a way for some people to accept and buy into the American dream without question. It’s a way those people rationalize making hard decisions for their own gain, and really, it’s about money. It’s how people blindly believe whatever they see on T.V. because its “American.” I could talk about this forever but in a nutshell, Nationalism is for assholes and racists.
How do you feel about Trump Immigration policies?
I think Trumps immigration policies are a disgusting display of racism and bigotry.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Well this is a hard question as well, because I wish that we lived in a world where artists could make money playing music – but that is not the case because people don’t buy physical copies of albums anymore. At the same time – more people than ever can listen and discover amazing music that they never would have been able to without streaming. So, I think streaming is necessary part of music and in the end, I want people to listen and connect to the music I make, and I don’t want to have to dilute my vision down because of album sales.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Vinyl all the way. There is a special feeling you get by taking that physical copy of an album you love, opening it up and setting it on the turntable. The ritual of it makes the listening a special event, rather than just pressing play and instantly getting what you want.
Do you have any plans to tour?
Well right before the Covid-19 pandemic started, we had a Midwest tour and a European tour in the books around Desertfest. So, having to cancel all of that was definitely disappointing, especially when we all have lives and families and touring is very hard for us. BUT we are already looking to 2021 to make up for these missed shows and to really tour as much as we possibly can. Huntsmen is meant to be seen live and we want to deliver.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? And what is the meaning that song means to you?
I’ve been listening to a lot of early Converge lately. They always left a big impression on my musical upbringing and they are one of those bands that showed me the balance between hardcore punk and metal and they usually get me feeling really nostalgic.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Well it’s already left quite an impression on the music business. Bands calling it quits, record labels going out of business, record stores closing. It’s all very sad. But I think the artists will keep the business alive and I really believe we will persist. After all, it’s about the music and the transformative properties in listening to music that people connect to and that’s not going anywhere.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been working from home, painting quite a bit and taking on new projects. The band has been scheming and planning as well so once this is over, we will be back in full force.
Lots of people are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Tell us about yours?
Ours came together immediately after our release show with Om got cancelled. It was March 13th, days before an official quarantine came into effect and we wanted to make sure we could celebrate the release with our fans and friends. Marc made a few calls and got the studio and the videographer to commit and we shot the show the next night. It seemed to be one of those things that was meant to happen as it came together so precisely.
There was an article in the New York Times this week talking about concerts may not start again until fall of 2021. Do you think it could happen?
I certainly hope not, but with the amount of contrasting information coming out right now, all we can do is hope that a vaccine comes together as soon as possible.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
As a band, we want to continue writing from the heart, hopefully we can tour as much as possible and keep putting out new and interesting material.
Anything you would like to say in closing?
Thanks for having me and I hope that you and everyone reading this stays healthy and keeps fuckin’ shredding!
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