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Doctah J vs. Sirena
On a cold, Friday night earlier this month, while we were in Maine, Manda, Caity, and I went to a local show that Too Late the Hero and First One Out was playing. When we first arrived, we ran into a guy shoveling snow off the venue's patio. That guy turned out to be Mike C., the bassist for the band Sirena. Sirena is a hardcore band out of Piscataway, New Jersey with an amazing stage presence. New Jersey being my second home (I went to university 40 minutes north of these guys,) I had to make them my very first interview. So, Sirena began my headfirst introduction to interviewing, and over coffee we discuss their stint on Taste of Chaos, their love of touring and gaining new fans, and Rich's hidden talent (too risque to share. Sorry!)
"We try to have as much fun as we can and hope everyone watching has as much fun as they can!."
- Mike Cammy: Sirena
So, for our readers who don't know who you are, can you please introduce yourself and tell us what you do for the band?
Steve: I'll go first! I'm Steve, I'm vocals for the band Sirena.
Mike C: I'm Mike C, I'm the bass player for the band Sirena.
Pete: I'm Pete, I play guitar.
Mike D: I'm Mike, I play guitar also.
Rich: And I'm Rich, I play drums.
Mike C: I'm Mike C, I'm the bass player for the band Sirena.
Pete: I'm Pete, I play guitar.
Mike D: I'm Mike, I play guitar also.
Rich: And I'm Rich, I play drums.
How and when did the band form?
Steve: Oooh... Cammy, take that one away.
Mike C: Uhm... Three and a half years ago, me Pete and Rich started playing in Rich's bedroom, I think it was, and we just started being a band and it was awesome.
Mike C: Uhm... Three and a half years ago, me Pete and Rich started playing in Rich's bedroom, I think it was, and we just started being a band and it was awesome.
Cool!
Mike C: It's a weak answer, but...
Hey, it's an answer! (Laughs)
(Laughs)
Steve: I'd say we got really serious with it about two years ago, probably when they got rid of their one vocalist. ... Well, they didn't really get rid of him, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that, but they lost their one vocalist, and they were like, 'Steve, you wanna come?' Cause I'm Pete's brother, so they were like, 'You wanna come to the basement and jam since you know all the words?' so I said, 'Yeah, sure, why not?' and then that just kind of happened from there. But yeah, then we just got really serious, playing shows pretty much every weekend, then Mike D joined the band about a year and a half ago.
Mike C: And now we're here in Maine!
Steve: And now we're here in Maine!
Steve: I'd say we got really serious with it about two years ago, probably when they got rid of their one vocalist. ... Well, they didn't really get rid of him, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that, but they lost their one vocalist, and they were like, 'Steve, you wanna come?' Cause I'm Pete's brother, so they were like, 'You wanna come to the basement and jam since you know all the words?' so I said, 'Yeah, sure, why not?' and then that just kind of happened from there. But yeah, then we just got really serious, playing shows pretty much every weekend, then Mike D joined the band about a year and a half ago.
Mike C: And now we're here in Maine!
Steve: And now we're here in Maine!
So what influenced the decision to form a band?
Mike C: ...Nothing else to do?
(Laughs)
(Laughs)
I figured that was going to be an answer!
Pete: We all love music. We all want to do something with music in our lives.
Mike C: Pete ran track, and he's the only one that did anything with sports. So we really had nothing better to do.
Mike C: Pete ran track, and he's the only one that did anything with sports. So we really had nothing better to do.
Nice. So we all know that New Jersey has brought forth a lot of music legends in it's time, Springsteen and what not, so being from New Jersey, did you find the scene particularly hard to break into?
Steve: Actually, the scene was very welcoming. When we first started, there were a lot of places to play, and then they just kept getting shut down, one after one. There was this one place we used to play called Hamilton Street, which was like our second home pretty much, but they got a bad flood. A hurricane...
Mike C: It was like a tropical storm, nor'easter sort of thing.
Steve: Yeah, and that pretty much just shut it down.
Mike C: Every other venue shuts down, people fighting and stuff. ...So we pretty much put on our own shows. The Firehouse... try to keep some kind of scene in the area.
Steve: It definitely keeps the scene going in that area, our central Jersey area.
Mike C: It was like a tropical storm, nor'easter sort of thing.
Steve: Yeah, and that pretty much just shut it down.
Mike C: Every other venue shuts down, people fighting and stuff. ...So we pretty much put on our own shows. The Firehouse... try to keep some kind of scene in the area.
Steve: It definitely keeps the scene going in that area, our central Jersey area.
Yeah, I went to school in Jersey, so I actually know what you're talking about.
Steve: Oh, where'd you go?
Drew. University in Madison. ...yeah, don't judge me. (Laughs) So, for our readers who haven't seen you play live, can you describe your live show?
Mike C: We try to have as much fun as we can and hope everyone watching has as much fun as they can! We don't just stand there and play, that's boring! You don't pay ten dollars to see a band just sit there, you know?
Steve: Exactly.
Steve: Exactly.
Exactly. What gets the best reaction from the crowd? Is it a song, or something you do?
Steve: Pretty much everything. We kind of just have fun with it.
Mike C: Throwing the guitar in crazy ways. D and Pete get some pretty good reactions.
Pete: I kind of black out in the middle of shows, I don't remember anything that happens on stage.
Mike D: If there's a- I don't want to say weak- but a less strong part, that's where we would pick up our stage presence to get the crowd still into it.
Steve: Usually during break downs and stuff, we're always throwing around guitars and going crazy.
Mike D: We like to have fun.
Steve: Yeah! Exactly. So... yeah. We like to have fun.
Mike C: Throwing the guitar in crazy ways. D and Pete get some pretty good reactions.
Pete: I kind of black out in the middle of shows, I don't remember anything that happens on stage.
Mike D: If there's a- I don't want to say weak- but a less strong part, that's where we would pick up our stage presence to get the crowd still into it.
Steve: Usually during break downs and stuff, we're always throwing around guitars and going crazy.
Mike D: We like to have fun.
Steve: Yeah! Exactly. So... yeah. We like to have fun.
That's a good way to be, fun. What inspires your lyrics?
Steve: The first CD we put out was based on this one girl who pretty much played with me, so, yeah. But now, these new lyrics, are starting to deal with a lot more heavier stuff, a lot more... Like one song that we just wrote, it's about non-comforming to society, pretty much being yourself or whatever, because that's cliched to every band these days. But yeah, we try to steer away from talking about girls that've played with me. Although that's very hard to do. Cause that's the easiest thing to write about.
Is there one specific lyric that means the most to you?
Steve: The best lyrics, I say, is in a new song, just because the delivery is so strong, and it just sounds so awesome, and it's so true. The lyrics are, 'Oh my god, I've fallen for your eyes,' and that happens a lot, you know? And it's just... the way it happens in the song, if you stay around to hear it tonight, you'll see, it just very... [Punches the palm of his hand]
Mike D: In your face.
Steve: Yeah, in your face. ...Fist smacking hand.
Mike D: In your face.
Steve: Yeah, in your face. ...Fist smacking hand.
What kind of message are you trying to get out with the band?
Pete: A positive message.
Steve: Yeah, definitely a positive message.
Pete: Except a lot of bands... I don't know. A lot of bands now label themselves, like, they're a Christian band, so they promote that they're Christian, but... we're just dudes trying to do the right thing!
Mike C: Around us we have a lot of what are called Straight Edge bands, which are bands that'll fight people around them because they smoke cigarettes, or do whatever.
Mike D: That's not true!
Mike C: They get pretty intense! And we're not like that. Your personal choice is your personal choice.
Pete: Exactly.
Mike C: We're here to make music, not judge people.
Pete: Do the Israelites and Palestine's get along?
(Laughs)
Steve: Yeah, definitely a positive message.
Pete: Except a lot of bands... I don't know. A lot of bands now label themselves, like, they're a Christian band, so they promote that they're Christian, but... we're just dudes trying to do the right thing!
Mike C: Around us we have a lot of what are called Straight Edge bands, which are bands that'll fight people around them because they smoke cigarettes, or do whatever.
Mike D: That's not true!
Mike C: They get pretty intense! And we're not like that. Your personal choice is your personal choice.
Pete: Exactly.
Mike C: We're here to make music, not judge people.
Pete: Do the Israelites and Palestine's get along?
(Laughs)
What has been the biggest moment for the band?
Mike C: We played Taste Of Chaos last year, that was pretty awesome. We played with Avenged Sevenfold and Atreyu, and it was kind of a dream come true situation. But touring is getting up there.
Steve: Touring is up there! I was more excited last night when we left then I was for Taste of Chaos because I was in a van with five other... annoying... people.
Mike C: Maybe that answer will be different after this weekend.
Steve: Yeah! We may have to get back to you with that on MySpace.
Steve: Touring is up there! I was more excited last night when we left then I was for Taste of Chaos because I was in a van with five other... annoying... people.
Mike C: Maybe that answer will be different after this weekend.
Steve: Yeah! We may have to get back to you with that on MySpace.
Cool! No problem! What has been the biggest challenge for the band?
All: Oooh...
Steve: Pete, you want to take that one?
Pete: Uh... oh man. Challenge? Uhm... scheduling. Being on time.... help me out here, Rich?
Rich: No. (Laughs) Uh... being late.
Mike D: Promotion, too.
Mike C: Dealing with each other, too. On a constant basis. Like, if we weren't friends, it would never work, ever. If we weren't friend before hand, it never would have worked out, we would have killed each other.
Pete: We all have our fair share of flaws, so...
Steve: But we all admit to our flaws, which is what makes it easier to deal with each other.
Steve: Pete, you want to take that one?
Pete: Uh... oh man. Challenge? Uhm... scheduling. Being on time.... help me out here, Rich?
Rich: No. (Laughs) Uh... being late.
Mike D: Promotion, too.
Mike C: Dealing with each other, too. On a constant basis. Like, if we weren't friends, it would never work, ever. If we weren't friend before hand, it never would have worked out, we would have killed each other.
Pete: We all have our fair share of flaws, so...
Steve: But we all admit to our flaws, which is what makes it easier to deal with each other.
So, tonight, you're one of the odd bands out, not being from Maine, so how does it feel expanding the word of your band to a new crowd?
Steve: Exciting. [All agree] In one word, awesome.
Mike C: Out of state shows are always the best.
Steve: Yeah, out of state shows are always the best, because people don't know you, and you get to show them what the Jersey scene is all about.
Mike C: What we're all about, and they tend to appreciate you a bit more, too. You're a commodity, you're not there all the time. We'll see tonight, won't we?
Steve, Pete: Yeah.
Mike C: Out of state shows are always the best.
Steve: Yeah, out of state shows are always the best, because people don't know you, and you get to show them what the Jersey scene is all about.
Mike C: What we're all about, and they tend to appreciate you a bit more, too. You're a commodity, you're not there all the time. We'll see tonight, won't we?
Steve, Pete: Yeah.
So the music industry is a tough one to be in, what fuels your passion to keep going?
Steve: Playing the shows.
Mike C: It's fun.
Steve: It's just awesome.
Mike C: We're not in it to get signed, but if that happens, cool, if not, we're still going to do what we're doing.
Steve: We've gotten... if we can book, hopefully, knock on wood, a successful north eastern tour, by ourselves, then we can do it.
Pete: I think a big thing that he always says is not having that what if question, you know?
Mike C: If we didn't try full force, with everything we had, and later on, worried about 'What if we had tried this a little harder and we could have made it?' Ugh, that's terrible. I don't want to think about that!
Mike C: It's fun.
Steve: It's just awesome.
Mike C: We're not in it to get signed, but if that happens, cool, if not, we're still going to do what we're doing.
Steve: We've gotten... if we can book, hopefully, knock on wood, a successful north eastern tour, by ourselves, then we can do it.
Pete: I think a big thing that he always says is not having that what if question, you know?
Mike C: If we didn't try full force, with everything we had, and later on, worried about 'What if we had tried this a little harder and we could have made it?' Ugh, that's terrible. I don't want to think about that!
So what advice would you give to other bands trying to crack into the industry?
Steve: Have fun.
Mike C: Never quit. Ever.
Steve: Never quit and have fun.
Pete: Promote! Be annoying.
Mike C: Never quit. Ever.
Steve: Never quit and have fun.
Pete: Promote! Be annoying.
So here at The Sound Faction, we are five of the most random people you'll ever meet, so we like to end our interviews on a less serious note with five random questions, are you up for it?
All: Yeah!
Sweet! So, what was the first album you ever purchased?
Steve: Oooh... Backstreet Boys!
Mike D: Probably Backstreet Boys or N'Sync, not gonna lie, I was one of those kids.
Steve: Yup!
Mike C: Rob Zombie - Sinister Urge.
Steve: Oh such a metal head!
Pete: Probably Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory.
Rich: ...I'm going to go with Hanson.
All: OH!
Mike D: Probably Backstreet Boys or N'Sync, not gonna lie, I was one of those kids.
Steve: Yup!
Mike C: Rob Zombie - Sinister Urge.
Steve: Oh such a metal head!
Pete: Probably Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory.
Rich: ...I'm going to go with Hanson.
All: OH!
Old School!
Rich: Yeah, I'm gonna go there.
Nice! So who's your favourite super hero and why?
All: Ooooh!!
Steve: The universal one, I'm going to say, is probably Gambit I'm going to say, right?
Steve: The universal one, I'm going to say, is probably Gambit I'm going to say, right?
Sweet!
Mike C: Oh no way! Green Lantern! He's so cool, he's just a regular guy, he has no real powers, he's like Batman! No real powers!
Steve: Batman is pretty awesome, Christian Bale Batman-
Mike D: The Green Ranger.
(Laughs)
Rich: Tommy?
Mike D: Tommy.
Steve: Batman is pretty awesome, Christian Bale Batman-
Mike D: The Green Ranger.
(Laughs)
Rich: Tommy?
Mike D: Tommy.
He had a sword, you can't get cooler than that.
Mike D: That's true.
Steve: What was the song? The little flute song?
Mike D: ...I don't remember! [Imitates it] That's it!
Steve: What was the song? The little flute song?
Mike D: ...I don't remember! [Imitates it] That's it!
Name a female fashion trend that confuses you, and why.
Mike C: ...Six inch heels.
Steve: (Laughs) The six inch heels!
Mike C: I think when you're around here, and there's snow on the ground, and you still wear six inch heels? You're asking to fall. And then you fall and you're like, 'Oh, my day is ruined because I fell!'
Mike D: ...I'd have to agree with that! Six inch heels are pretty crazy.
Mike C: Especially those stiletto heels? The small little ones? Your ankles gonna snap!
Steve: You're asking for snappage.
Steve: (Laughs) The six inch heels!
Mike C: I think when you're around here, and there's snow on the ground, and you still wear six inch heels? You're asking to fall. And then you fall and you're like, 'Oh, my day is ruined because I fell!'
Mike D: ...I'd have to agree with that! Six inch heels are pretty crazy.
Mike C: Especially those stiletto heels? The small little ones? Your ankles gonna snap!
Steve: You're asking for snappage.
Bad memories! But what is your hidden talent?
Steve: We know Rich has a hidden talent!
All: (Laughs)
Mike D: Don't say it!
Rich: Nope!
Steve: Keep it PG!
Mike C: It's not quite PG.
Mike D & Pete: ...Hidden Talent?
Pete: Do we have any?
Mike C: Apparently we're all useless and have no abilities.
(Laughs)
All: (Laughs)
Mike D: Don't say it!
Rich: Nope!
Steve: Keep it PG!
Mike C: It's not quite PG.
Mike D & Pete: ...Hidden Talent?
Pete: Do we have any?
Mike C: Apparently we're all useless and have no abilities.
(Laughs)
It can be anything! You can blow milk bubbles, anything!
Rich: ...Brain fart.
Mike D: Yeah, really! I'm stumped.
Pete: Are we really that boring?
Mike C: ...I can take care of fish.
Mike D: Yeah, really! I'm stumped.
Pete: Are we really that boring?
Mike C: ...I can take care of fish.
That's a talent!
Mike C: That's my job, though!
Mike D: A long, long time ago- well, not a long time ago, but when I first got my tongue pierced, it got infected and... well, I'm not going to get into it, but I used to be able to blow bubbles off my tongue, little ones.
Mike D: A long, long time ago- well, not a long time ago, but when I first got my tongue pierced, it got infected and... well, I'm not going to get into it, but I used to be able to blow bubbles off my tongue, little ones.
Oh, cool!
Mike D: So that was pretty cool.
Pete: You're so special.
Steve: I guess my hidden talent is not so much of a hidden talent... but I can sit around all day and play video games.
Mike D: Oh! Dude!
Mike C: I'm pretty good at video games, too.
Pete: You're so special.
Steve: I guess my hidden talent is not so much of a hidden talent... but I can sit around all day and play video games.
Mike D: Oh! Dude!
Mike C: I'm pretty good at video games, too.
Are their any that you're amazing at and you don't understand why you're amazing at it?
Mike C: I was disgusting at Halo, to the point where it made me sick.
(Laughs)
Mike C: And it would get addicting, because you're always rocking kids, and they were talking trash, and then you talk trash right back- Especially the British kids, they're be like, nine years old.
(Laughs)
Mike C: And it would get addicting, because you're always rocking kids, and they were talking trash, and then you talk trash right back- Especially the British kids, they're be like, nine years old.
And the French kids. They just scream French in your ear, and you're like, 'What?'!
(Laughs)
Steve: I haven't played video games recently though, I've been very dry on video games lately, because I got a ferret.
Steve: I haven't played video games recently though, I've been very dry on video games lately, because I got a ferret.
Ferrets are better than video games.
Steve: I've gotta plug in my little ferret.
So if you could have lunch with a famous person from history, who would it be, and why?
Steve: Hmm... famous, lunch, history person...
Mike C: Benjamin Franklin.
Steve: I'm gonna say Jesus.
(Laughs)
Steve: Because he could probably make lunch. And put it in my stomach without me eating it.
Mike C: I say anyone willing to get a kite struck by lightning has the balls to be someone cool to hang out with. And he made glasses, that's pretty cool!
Mike C: Benjamin Franklin.
Steve: I'm gonna say Jesus.
(Laughs)
Steve: Because he could probably make lunch. And put it in my stomach without me eating it.
Mike C: I say anyone willing to get a kite struck by lightning has the balls to be someone cool to hang out with. And he made glasses, that's pretty cool!
And the stove, you'd be nice and toasty warm.
Mike C: Yeah, exactly!
Pete: I don't know... ...John F Kennedy!
Mike D: ...I didn't hear the question, so I don't know.
Mike C: If you could have lunch with a famous person from history, who would it be?
Steve: C'mon, say Jesus!
Mike D: (Mumbles)
Pete: (Laughs) Is that your reason why?
Mike C: What did he say?
Pete: Ghandi, because he needs to eat!
(Laughs)
Mike D: Ah, I'm going to hell!
Pete: I don't know... ...John F Kennedy!
Mike D: ...I didn't hear the question, so I don't know.
Mike C: If you could have lunch with a famous person from history, who would it be?
Steve: C'mon, say Jesus!
Mike D: (Mumbles)
Pete: (Laughs) Is that your reason why?
Mike C: What did he say?
Pete: Ghandi, because he needs to eat!
(Laughs)
Mike D: Ah, I'm going to hell!
You're not going to hell! We promise! And if you are, then we're joining you!
Steve: This is true, I'll see you there!
Rich: I don't know.
Pete: Come on dude, there's a million people!
Steve: Dude! Say a dinosaur! A dinosaur would be fun to eat with.
Rich: Yeah, a caveman, why not?
Pete: Dude, true! The first human ever created!
Rich: I don't know.
Pete: Come on dude, there's a million people!
Steve: Dude! Say a dinosaur! A dinosaur would be fun to eat with.
Rich: Yeah, a caveman, why not?
Pete: Dude, true! The first human ever created!
You'd be feeding him better food than he's ever had, so there you go!
Mike C: No, they like McDonald's too much. They'd be stuck with that. Dollar menu.
Mike D: Burger King, Burger King.
Mike C: Oh, excuse me.
Mike D: Burger King, Burger King.
Mike C: Oh, excuse me.
Wendy's dollar menu is far superior to anything.
All: Oooh...
Yes, I went there. (Laughs) So, to end the interview, here is your shameless self promotion spot. Anything you'd like to add about yourselves, the music, or anything else.
Steve: MySpaaace...
Pete: New music coming out soon! Go to our MySpace, wwww...
Steve: Four W's, dude?
Pete: Ah- Someone else do it!
Mike C: MySpace.com/SirenaRock-
Steve: MySpace.com/SirenaRock.
Mike C: We're always on there, and we'll talk to you, we'll have fun. We won't ignore you and pretend you didn't comment us or something.
Steve: We have WiFi in our hotel. We got lucky.
Mike C: And we're going to have a new EP coming out soon, we're going to play some new songs tonight, It's going to be cool.
Steve: And we'll be in an area near you [Points to the voice recorder on the table]-
Mike D: ...Camera's that way.
Pete: New music coming out soon! Go to our MySpace, wwww...
Steve: Four W's, dude?
Pete: Ah- Someone else do it!
Mike C: MySpace.com/SirenaRock-
Steve: MySpace.com/SirenaRock.
Mike C: We're always on there, and we'll talk to you, we'll have fun. We won't ignore you and pretend you didn't comment us or something.
Steve: We have WiFi in our hotel. We got lucky.
Mike C: And we're going to have a new EP coming out soon, we're going to play some new songs tonight, It's going to be cool.
Steve: And we'll be in an area near you [Points to the voice recorder on the table]-
Mike D: ...Camera's that way.
Manda: I was going to say! I'm over here!
(Laughs)
Steve: ...Oh...
Mike C: None of us looked over there at all.
Steve: I'm talking into this thing so it can hear me and I forget all about this.
Steve: ...Oh...
Mike C: None of us looked over there at all.
Steve: I'm talking into this thing so it can hear me and I forget all about this.
Thank you guys very much-
Steve: HI CAMERA!
Thank you once again to the boys in Sirena for taking the time to talk to us before the show! you can find their MySpace here, as well as a whole bunch of other stuff pertaining to them, so just go, and check it all out!
