The FAIM Project

Tue 15th Dec, 2009 in Features

Fasterlouder’s Timmy Cahill catches up with Stefan Caramia and Noah Skape from the FAIM Project to discuss, broken equipment, The Artful Dodger and recording the new single.

Hailing from Albany, the FAIM project have caught Perth’s attention
with one of the more engaging live shows in town. The band has become
renowned thanks in part to frontman Noah Skype’s penchant for the
destruction of instruments and equipment, suspending himself from the
ceiling and getting thrown out of venues half way though shows…

Noah – The first gig in Perth would have been at the Castle after
Buffalo German, I think the impact we made was more due to our stage
presence than for our music…

Stefan – Though it came at the expense of our bass guitar which was
destroyed by the second song… mic. stands too… Also there was
Rocket Room gig where Noah was thrown onto the kerb for swinging off the
lighting rig… we carried on with a free form blues jam for the rest of
the show.

Noah – I had to go back and apologise as we had shows booked there in
the next few weeks, fortunately they were very understanding…

And where do FAIM get their ideas from?

Noah – We draw influences from many genres, Dom’s an Indie chick who’s
grown up on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Brian Jonestown. I’ve
been in theatre since I was young, grew up on Andrew Loyd Webber…

Stefan – I remember seeing you in the Albany Light Opera Company doing
Oliver as the Artful Dodger… the funniest thing I’ve seen in my life.
He wasn’t the main character but by the time he was finished, nobody
gave a shit about Oliver. I think a lot of people who would have seen
that and came to a FAIM show would see a lot of things in common.

How did you go about capturing the live performance on the new single?

Noah – I wasn’t concentrating so much on the technicalities this time
round, it was a lot more about getting across the message, Jake
(guitarist) was thrashing away as if he was on the stage. I think Al
(Begerk Studios) knew what we were trying to get across, I did my
first take and he was “Cool, so you’re going more for the energy than
hitting the notes?”

Stefan – Yeah, throw enough spaghetti on the wall and some of it will stick!

Noah – It was a big change getting into a real studio, very different
from our first recording back in Albany. They were done
in Jake’s mum’s spare room, we spent 4 days recording
11 tracks… after we finished we listened back to it and thought “this
sounds all right, can’t really hear the kick drum though…” then we
realised we’d forgot to turn on the kick microphone

Stefan – That was great fun, very different going into a professional
studio with the racks of compressors and microphones… all the
microphones were definitely turned on this time.

What are your plans for the future?

Noah – Once we’ve got the launch out the way we’re going we’ll be
writing songs for the album, it’s going to be a concept album about a
guy who thinks he’s heard a message about the end of the world in a
song, he then goes off on a bit of a mission to find his place in
life… I suppose follows some of the stuff that’s been going on in my
life.

A case of art mirroring life?

Noah – Well he goes crazy and dies

Stefan – Don’t give away the end!

Noah – Awwww damn

Stefan – maybe it’ll be a happy ending

Noah – or will it?

Talking with Noah and Stefan you get the impression that they’re very
passionate about what they’re doing, having upped sticks to move to
the “Big Smoke” that is Perth shows that they are committed to the
band and have the ability to make it work far from the support of old
school friends and the rent a crowds they could have relied on in
Albany. Yet, thanks to their eccentric live shows and (sometimes
overlooked) skilled musicianship, they’ve been able to build a solid
reputation as one of the more exciting young bands plying their trade,
best watched live on the big stage.

The FAIM Project will be launching their new single Your Agenda on Saturday 19th of December at the Rosemount Hotel with support from Project Mayhem, The Spitfires and Minute 36.