"Go to a store, let me get that and that...I got some exposure in my pocket!"

Point well taken from Candiria's frontman Carley Coma on the downloading issue. Candiria is back on the road again still recovering from a near death accident that almost killed them a couple of years ago. Now, they are tearing up the tour circuit with Shadows Fall and All That Remains and takin' no prisoners. In support of the intense and deep lyrical album "What Doesn't Kill You" Carley and mates express how they feel about such deep topics as family and touch their fans just as if they were having conversation with them. In this interview Carley talks about trippin' on mushrooms, the French and their reactions, the accident and of course downloading.

Sharita: You being from Brooklyn I would think that the thrash band Prong would be one of your big influences, would that be a fair assumption?

Carley: Yes, when we were younger definitely.  Of course when you get older things changed and I listen to some of that stuff now and I say what the fuck was I thinking. (laughs)  Prong is not one of those bands.  In fact Beg to Differ was a really phat album and I was like 17 when that album came out so it was a really big influence.  It had a big influence on the way we write music as well, so when you dig deep you can hear that.

Sharita: As far as your other influences John is really into Jazz and the band lists Miles Davis as a big influence.  We heard some of that during the set and the Chicago audience wasn't really getting it.

Carley: You can say that but I can't (laughs).

Sharita: Right well, does that discourage you when the fans don't really understand what
you're trying to do on stage?

Carley: I tell you what, there are one or maybe two cities that (I know of) that no matter what we do don't seem to get it but we have fans.  In LA, NY, Texas, and Japan, they lose their minds.  They like to sit and watch but it doesn't mean they don't like it, they just react to it differently. I know in France they spit on you. (laughs)

Sharita and Kimisha: Ah, are you kidding?

Carley: You can't do that in Brooklyn, they're gonna to pull out a .45! (laughs) So in some cities they just react a lot different like a Chicago, it's sort of an underground thing, they just don't move as much.  I know we are the type of band, (especially me) that feeds of the crowd and if they're not moving, we're not moving as much.  95% of the time the crowds moving or spitting (laughs).

Sharita: Yeah actually I was just saying to my partner Kimisha that people probably treat Candiria as they do Mastodon, not really in the same vein of music.  However, they like it but they are just trying to understand what they are hearing.

Carley: Yeah, that's good.  Um we were playing a show yesterday.  Where were we yesterday, fuck...don't print fuck .(laughs)

Sharita: Oh yeah we will! (laughs)

Carley: I forgot where we were yesterday, (just for the record they were in Cleveland) we were playing some classic songs and by the third song the place erupted in applause and people started flying off the stage, so it was cool. So that is usually what happens by the time we get into the set they dig it and (appreciate) it.  We get a good crowd response but it takes them awhile (if they're not familiar with us).

Sharita: I don't want to focus on the accident too much since it has been well covered, however, tell us how that affects you touring right now?

Carley: Yeah, when the RV kind of moves funny I think about it a little. Actually today I flashed back to my head going through the window but it's not a fear thing, I'm not scared. I mean while it happened I was scared but I don't want to live my life in fear.  Of course if it happened (again) I'd be buggin' out like oh Jesus (laughs). I mean my back, knees, and shoulders still hurt, we are all in pain but we don't want to show it on our faces. I don't mind talkin' bout the accident, I feel like 50 Cent...uh (starts posing) (laughs) no. The reason why I like talkin' about the accident is because some of us, not all of us, were takin' certain stuff for granted.  Like our relationships with each other or whatever. When you wake up on the side of the road and you see your brothers with their heads split open, ears hangin' off, don't know if their gonna make it, you start to realize what's important to you. So that's the reason why I like (talkin') about it because it reminds me of what not to take for granted, gettin' it out of your system.

Sharita: Yeah I'm of the mind that you want to focus on the negative instead of the positive and while the band was recovering from the accident, three of you worked on a jazz album called Ghosts Of The Canal, could you tell me about that? 

Carley: Well that was, uh, well I got no money for that so I have nothin' to do with that. (laughs) They get the finger! (laughs) No, It was a project called Ghosts in the Canal, I would call it more of a fusion type or experimental music rather than jazz. They had an album before the accident, then after they did a lot of jammin'.  I really don't know that much about it, that's messed up (laughs) kinda' foul. (laughs) Well I own the album but don't know much about it because I never listened to it, no I used it as a coaster.  (laughs) I'm joking, pretty good album. (Kimisha and I join him in hysterical laughter)

Sharita: So tell me about COMA productions, I read that you wanted that to be a promotions and record company, a clothing line, hows that going?

Carley: Well COMA is definitely still in effect but the main thing that we are focusing on is Candiria. Once we get that to the level we want it to be then it will fall into place.  The record label thing that fell apart,  once we left Lakeshore records, I can't talk about it legally but we couldn't agree on anything so we parted.  As far as the label I really didn't want to deal with all that crap, you have to give bands money, I'm tryin' to make money, how am I gonna give you money (laughs).  I'm tryin' to build myself up (laughs).  I'm just keepin' it real.

Sharita: I hear ya' you have to make some before you start givin' it out.

Carley: Or I don't have to give shit out at all. (laughs)

Sharita: I know you would love to continue in Candira forever but like 5 years down the line would you like to do some  promotion or production for other bands?

Carley:  I would do hip-hop, right now I do promotion for hip-hop, have a lot of them saved on my computer.  Kenny does things for other bands and John does the same thing. Me, I would like to start my own clothing line, because I'm black. (laughs) You know us black people have to have our own clothing line.

Sharita: (laughs) Like Jay-Z or something?

Carley: yeah (laughs). Yeah that and promote hip-hop and stay at home.  I mean tourin' is cool, but sometimes it burns you out.  It's hard being away from your friends and family all the time.

Sharita: Talk about the Children of Mental Awareness (COMA), how did that come about?

Carley:  I was trippin' on mushrooms...hard. (all of us laugh hysterically)

Sharita: Wow!

Kimisha: Were you really?

Carley: No, I'm not jokin'! (laughs)  Then I fell asleep, woke up and started thinking' of (stuff), Soma, Boma, Coma.  Oh alright. (I am still laughing) I was trippin' really hard tho'. I don't trip anymore, but...I was listenin' to Alice In Chains,  I was like I'm gonna shoot heroin in my neck! (laughs) I was buggin' out, All I do now is drink...heavily! (laughs)

Kimisha: Wow! (laughs)

Sharita: I was not expecting that!

Carley: I mean the name just means to be mentally aware of everything around you and who you are.  Man, that was good, print that!!!

Sharita: As far as with touring, reading other interviews at that time you hadn't toured Europe.  I suppose you guys have toured there now right?

Carley: Oh yeah!

Sharita: Well talk about the reaction over there, I know you said in France they spit on you (laughs)

Carley: Naw see I'm for Brooklyn, they're not gonna spit on me! (laughs) I don't mind pickin' up a foot. (laughs) Japan, Germany, Holland the crowds are amazing.  They are a lot more open-minded than they are over here.  Like in Japan you can't understand anything they are saying but they understand every word to a song by like say Metallica.  That's real interesting, they know your shit, just tryin' to have a conversation with them... I don't want to say anything derogatory. (laughs) But, It's real cool. (laughs) (as an Asian man walks past us) I got like perfect timing up in here, I'm like Madam Cleo, Call me now! (all of us laugh)

Sharita: Talk about the album, What Doesn't Kill You, I mean it has a lot of deep lyrical content, like songs that talk about your father for example, what else inspired you to write lyrics like these?

Carley: Well I'll tell ya' again it's the accident.  I mean I don't want to say it softened me up but it made me more open-minded towards certain things and want to open up more to the fans. One night I remember before the accident, the show we did was intense and I felt invincible, before the next one, we got hit by the semi-truck and I realized just how vulnerable and frail we are.  I wanted to capture that on the album and by screaming I feel invincible by singing I felt vulnerable.  So when I wake up I'm not angry all day, I go through different emotions. The album seems like I'm having a conversation with another human being. I don't know what the hell I just said but it sounded nice!  (laughs) You got to print that! (A fan walks up and congratulates Carley on an awesome show)

Sharita: It sounded good!!! What is the writing process for your band, do you guys cram into a room and just start writing?  Tell us about that. (Just as Carley is about to answer a bum walks up and ask Carley for money, he says no and comments  he looks like he is an addict)

Carley: That was some rude shit.

Sharita: Yeah.

Carley: Don't print that. (laughs) Uh yeah the writing process, we all get in a room together, it's a democracy so everybody comes with their ideas and (it can be) a good thing and sometimes a bad thing because we are all trying to get our ideas across and we all have votes and when (majority rules) that's what shapes the song. There is no one boss even though a try to be. (laughs) I'll get my way like a baby like I said I want...(laughs) I am not above that, I will (whine) to get my way.  In the end we all get our way though so it comes together, like macaroni and cheese.

Sharita: Like macaroni and cheese? (laughs) What do you think about downloading?

Carley: I think it's cool, if you're paying for it. (laughs) The record companies are losing money so they are tapping into artists guarantees and merchandise, I feel there should be repercussions. I mean we got a good deal but all our friends that have signed with major labels, they are losing their guarantees because the (labels) are really losing on this.  However, the companies deserve it because if you are selling CD's for $22 I would rob me too, as a matter a fact I have. (laughs)  But I feel that you can pay 99 cents for a song, it won't kill you, I mean if I can go to McDonalds and get something that's not good for me then I can pay (the small amount for a song) because it lasts longer.

Sharita: That's a really good point.  I've talked to other artists though who've said it gives good exposure to the band.

Carley:  Try to go to the store and say let me get that, that, and that, I got some exposure in my pocket. (laughs) Let me buy it with some exposure, I mean I ain't got no dollars but I got exposure. (laughs) Exposure don't pay the bills.  I mean if you're going to download a couple of songs and you like it go buy the album.  I'm an artist and I lose money when people download whole albums, fuck that I hate that shit.  Please if you like it...

Sharita: Pay for it. I agree!  Last Question, how has Type A been treating Candiria, I've seen ads for the band and all, have they been good to you guys?

Carley: Yes, Type A has been great.  We plan on going to radio with a couple of the singles, so we can see what's happening, the word is getting out, fans are coming to see us but we plan on going to the next level.  Once that happens then you see, what kind of label we're (workin' with).

Sharita: Well thanks so much Carley for the interview.

Carley: You're welcome, that was the best interview I've done in some time, thanks.

Thanks to Carley Coma for being so entertaining, Eric

(Candiria) for setting it up with us, and Valerie (Type A Records)

Click either photo of Carley to access the review of tonight's show