The Killer Metres

Hello guy’s thanks for taking part in this interview, first could you introduce yourselves and tell us what each of your roles are in the group? 

Karime Kendra; Lead vocalist and psychedelic Diva, Virgil Howe; drums and nudity, Nick Hirsch; Guitar wonder-boy, Kerim (Kez) Gunes; Bass Heavy man, Henry (Broadband) Broadbent; Organ and Synth man and Stephen (Sax) Wilcock; Sax man.

Your Myspace page says you’re signed to Breakin Bread how did you link up with them?

(Virgil) I met Skeg from Breakin Bread when we were both djs on the legendary Itch Fm.We had similar shows,playing the roots of hiphop from funk to rare soundtracky stuff and the cream of the hiphop we liked.So there was an immediate bond there.He also knew of me from my 'Sparo' days on Scenario records and knew The Killer Meters first album.So we got talking about how we (The Killer Meters) wanted to break out with our own material and that Breakin Bread would be our perfect home.

You formed in 2004, what have been your biggest achievements to date and have you accomplished many of your original goals?

(Virgil) I'd say producing a tribute album for the most gritty,raw funk that has ever been and getting away with it is quite a big achievment! But the best is definitly yet to come...
(Henry) I don't think we really had any goals when we set out - like most good things everything kind of happened by accident... Remembering all 19 verses to thankyoufalletinmebemicelfagin is always an achievement.

You’re heavily influenced by New Orleans funk outfit The Metres, what is it about this group that makes them so appealing to you?

(Virgil) Well as i said they were the rawest of the raw as far as any kind of music goes really.Their sound is immediatly recognisable.There has been no-one since to come anywhere near as pure swamp funk as they were,until now...!
(Henry) Its a bit misleading to try to put into words what gets you about rhythm & blues music like the Meters - it just feels so good. What sets it apart for me tho is that its not derivative at all - its completely un-self-conscious, not overly thought out, not self-important, not ego-driven. Its proper team music.
(Nick) Playing The meters stuff is like going to funk school, if The Meters didn't play it, it probably wasn't funky

Can you tell us about the contemporary soul / funk scene in the UK and who is championing the movement?

(Virgil) Its been tough for UK funk since the whole Acid-Jazz scene,no offense to Eddie Pillar! It just stagnated,got too clean and safe.
I think Baby Charles,who we've played with a couple of times down in Brighton,are definitly doing their thing and doing it right.The True Thoughts label has always kept the funk alive,with the early Alice Russell stuff.But really New York (with the Dapkings/Daptone of-course) and Germany,even Sweden have there thing going on better than the UK at the moment.
So really we've got to make it what it is and thats what we aim to do.We're bringing the heavier sound,more Parliment/Funkadelic than Donald Byrd/Roy Ayers.Big drums,big bass,big everything!!
(Henry) Yeah, and it doesn't help when people use the word funky to describe thinks that aren't music - No, that shirt is NOT funky. Funk music worldwide just needed to move on, to absorb some other influences and to get in touch with some different roots than just Stevie Wonder and James Brown. There's some quality afro-funk and psyche funk coming out of NYC at the mo.
(Nick) Vigil played me The Baker Brothers a while back, very good. theres a band called Kling Klang who did a tune called 'Heavydale' its like industrial synth 'Can', not conventional ,like The KMs, but those guys break a sweat.

As this is a hip hop website im sure our readers would like to know what are your favourite hip hop artists and what do you think of hip hop in general?

(Virgil)I'm a total Ultramagnetic freak,along with Lord finesse,Big L and the whole Digging in the Crates sound.From the UK scene Kashmere is number one for me and of-course my mates Foreign Beggars have the best live show.Our label mate Ghost has an unique sound which,hopefully as my own production does,bridges the widening gap between the differing tastes in Hip Hop.Hip hops a funny one for me now,'cos i love it but it doesn't speak to me in the same way it used to.I just found i got less and less oppertunity to play it out and about and moved into 60s psychedelic rock and funk,disco and early electro.I'll always love hiphop,but i've got a lot more choosey lets say.
(Henry) I liked the pharcyde......
(Nick) I've been listening to A Tribe Called Quest, particularly 'Phony Rappers'...your rhyme style is older than a Chrystler Cardova

You’ve done loads of live performances, do you practice much or is it more off the cuff?

(Virgil)We all play in lots of different bands and projects and come together in The Killer Meters bringing all those different influences to the table and seeing what comes out.
We all have ideas and we listen and try all of them before deciding how a tune will work,some take 10 mins others take 10 months!What makes it work so well is that we all have a common goal;to get people to move their asses!
(Henry) The edge of the seat thing has always worked well with The KM's live shows. Makes it more fun.
(Nick) Just playing alot keeps you in the moment which is what good live shows should be,so be it rehearsing, performing or on your own you must use it...like training your funk muscle

If I went to a Killer Metres live show what can I expect?

Super psychedelical madness!
Heart and Soul

We’re nearly at the end of the interview so I’d like to thank you all for taking part, but I have one last question, as its just turned 2009 what can we expect from The Killer Metres this year?

Another killer 7" and a breakthough funk album that wakes people up to our message; "WE GOT THE FUNK"

Interview by Lunatrix