LA band Totally Serious: aggressive math rock

Totally Serious is a two-piece band from LA. The two members answer questions about how the band came together, who they would like to write and perform a song with, and what they would be doing if they weren't making music.

Describe your music for someone who has never heard it.

The instrumentation is drums and bass. I guess some would say it's technical or refer to it as math rock. It's pretty aggressive most of the time, with lots of time signature changes. We tend to explore parts for a few seconds then abandon them. It's busy busy busy.

How did the band come together?

We've been playing together quite a while. Our old bands Upsilon Acrux (Jesse) and A Possible Link to Klaus (Eric) used to play shows together. Then all the members in APLTK joined Upsilon Acrux. We recorded a couple albums and did some touring and continue playing together after leaving Upsilon Acrux.

What is essential to every Totally Serious song? What about every Totally Serious performance?

I think we could say the same for both writing songs and performing. It has to be fun first, but also challenging, while not taking ourselves too seriously. With performing, it becomes more about nailing all the parts and trying to play the songs fluidly and without errors, which is more ideal than outcome. Performing, of course, is also about connecting with folks who would be into this sort of thing.

If you could write and perform a song with only one music artist (living or dead) who would it be? Why?

David Lee Roth. He brings 'totally' to the table.

You get to put together a bill with three other bands (active or defunct). Who do you get to share the bill?

Ruins, Magma, Kool Keith. That would be a fine show.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

We would most likely be CEOs of multi katrillion dollar companies, taking trips to exotic places, living lavishly with every desire fulfilled. Yeah, life would be good. Stupid music...