Inukshuk

Who are you and what do you do?

Matt Rai (me) - Guitar, Vocals- I’m a fire fighter with Nott s F&R.

Alex Krasevskis – Drums - a manager at Dawsons Bakery

Igor Artcher - Bass Guitar, Production - Chef on a fishing boat some where in Regia, Latvia which makes it difficult for us to practice sometimes.

Miss Laptop - she is brilliant. (We play to a backing track)

How did you end up doing it?

I lived in Canada for a year, played some acoustic sets in some bars and clubs. Then I travelled north into the artic circle, northern lights n all, and realized that it’s the only thing I really want to do. Hence the name Inukshuk (in-nook-shook). It’s a Canadian (specifically an Inuit) term.

What are the best bits?

For me it s seeing the songs being born and growing into either sweet blue bear or a psychopathic… blue bear. I write the songs on an acoustic guitar or piano and the boys bring them alive in a way that only they can. I m genetically ¾ Indian (though my musical influences are largely British) and Alex and Igor are Latvian so I think that brings a very unique flavour to the songs and sounds we come up with.

New tracks we’ve written called ‘Yeah Rose’ and ‘Silence as Bombs Fall Down’ (as well as ‘paint and ‘morninglights’). When we finished writing those songs were like ‘stone me that’s freakin awesome. I can t believe we wrote that!’

And the worst?

There has not been a big Nottingham based band for an awful long time… has there ever been? As a band we harbour ambitions to fly the flag for Notts in the future. But the powers that be tend start in London skip past the Midlands and settle in Manchester and Sheffield. I do understand why people tend to focus on these areas given the history, culture and musical success of the aforementioned cities. I am not saying that Nottingham has been void of any attention. There is however much talent in Nottingham that is not being fully utilized for whatever reason.

What kind of music are you into?

Sigur Rós, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, but that s just me. The boys are into some other really obscure stuff that I’ve never heard of but got to number 16 in the charts in Russia. We covered it and it was wonderful!

Anyone local?

Becky Syson – Notts. folk with a little rock. singer/song writer, wonderful live with band.

Make a Halo - Notts

Jet Set Disco - Derby

The Tivoli – We’ve played with at The Fly in London. And really like those guys too!

Any advice for our readers?

Read books - Man s Search for meaning- Victor, E Frankl

Shantaram- Gregory David Roberts

The Alchemist - Pualo Carlo

Travel a little. Drink green tea- you’ll get used to it! Listen to Inukshuk and eat cakes.

Pics by Mike Spring

www.myspace.com/inukshukmusic