LUX

The Metal Pit's "MAIDEN" of the month for May 2010 :

Lux : Drummer for the bands Sacred Storm and Nekromantix


Name :                Lux
Home :                 Orange County, CA,  USA
Band Myspace:      www.myspace.com/sacredstorm & www.myspace.com/nekromantix
Personal Myspace:   www.myspace.com/luxdrumgoddess

 
 

Metal Pit : Greetings to you Lux and welcome to the Metal Pit.

LUX:  Mega thanks for having me here!

　
Metal Pit :  You play drums for the thrash Metal band "Sacred Storm" and the Psychobilly band " Nekromantix", talk about two very different ends of the spectrum. Which band did you first get involved with and how do you manage to split your time without favoring one over the other?

I first started in Sacred Storm with guitarist Kenny Krenzin. Him and I met and started jamming and writing songs right after I graduated from high school. We completed our band by adding a friend on bass and entered a Battle of the Bands contest at his high school later that year where we took first place. Since then we've continued to play locally, added a second guitarist, played a couple tours, and recorded a couple albums. Lucky for me it's been pretty easy so far splitting my time between both Sacred Storm and Nekromantix. With Nekromantix we usually rehearse a few weeks before going out on the road and stuff like that and we'll know for how long I'll be out on the road for. The guys know when I'm in "Nekro Mode" they'll have rehearsals and song writing without me and when I'm back, I'm back. It's also been easier because our singer is in another band called Horrorpops so he also splits his time with a second band which allows me to do the same when he's busy with them. It's worked out great so far!




Metal Pit : Can you tell us a little about each band and maybe describe their music for potential fans who may not have heard of them?

I'm sure many metalheads would enjoy listening to both bands! Even though Psychobilly sounds like it would be a completely different music style, it does have metal influences! In simplest terms, Psychobilly is a mix of punk and rockabilly combined. It's played fast and sounds really cool! I use double bass when playing with Nekromantix and if you like Megadeth, for some reason there's a good chance you'll like Nekromantix. I keep in touch with our fans online and when I visit their profiles they seem to always list Megadeth and Nekromantix as favorite bands. Sacred Storm can be described more as thrash metal with death metal influences. Our latest album sounds a lot thrashier and I'm playing blast beats which always sounds cool. Our influences include Megadeth to Opeth to Slayer to Lamb of God. We pretty much listen to everything metal.




Metal Pit : You just got back from doing a few gigs in Europe with Nekromantix, can you tell us how those shows went?

The shows were amazing! We all had such a great time playing in Finland, Italy, and Germany. We even sold out our first show in Finland too which was awesome. Getting to see the different psychobilly scenes and outfits in each area was pretty cool too. And I think I got pretty lucky in that most people and fans I spoke to out there could speak English, lucky for me! I know a little French and German but it's not too great, haha. We will be back out in Europe on May 20th and 21st playing in Moscow and St. Petersburg which I am expecting to be a bit crazier. I hear the crowds out in Russia are nuts! I am looking forward to that and curious to see if they are crazier than our Los Angeles crowd!


　
Metal Pit : You also very recently did a supporting tour with Nekromantix who opened for Rob Zombie, what was it like to work with Rob and how were the crowds at the show?

It was a really awesome experience being on the road with Rob Zombie and crew. Rob is such a great guy. He's kind to all and he's a hard worker! Everything that went into production daily for them still blows my mind, they would put on a killer set. Everything from lights to the video screens to them as a band just rocking out and playing their absolute best, it was inspiring! I know we definitely gained a lot of new fans from this tour. Just about every show after our set I would go hang out by the merch booth and chat with fans and they'd always ask for autographs and say how they've never heard of Nekromantix before and are new fans. As soon as the show would be over, right when the doors for the fans to exit would open, there would just be streams of people exiting and telling me how great we did that night. And it was like this on the whole tour whenever I'd get a chance to talk to the fans. We definitely got a great response!



Metal Pit : Nekromantix and Rob Zombie I would say are somewhat similar in musical styles, would you agree?

Both bands are definitely heavy and they are similar enough to be on the same bill without fans being too surprised.



Metal Pit : Who are some of the other bands you have played with in the past?

I've only been a permanent member in a few bands so far. I started out playing in two original bands, one being Sacred Storm and the other was an all female progressive/experimental rock band Mystery Hangup. We were also based out of Orange County, CA and played the local big venues and festivals and toured the states. We even released a music video for one of our songs called "Vista De Un Ladron", the only song in Spanish off our album. We were doing everything DIY style, which I think a lot of bands are doing nowadays and after 6 years or so we decided to take a break.



Metal Pit : If it were possible what bands would you love to share the stage with?

I would love to share the stage with Lamb of God of course! Their drummer Chris Adler has definitely been an inspiration for me. Other bands would be bands like Judas Priest and Megadeth who I started listening to when I was about 16.



Metal Pit : So where are you off to next?

I'm currently songwriting with Sacred Storm in producing one new song that will be featured as part of a new video game that is coming out which we will announce soon. We will be traveling to Arizona in a couple weeks to record with a good buddy of ours and will post footage of that online, we usually have lots of good laughs in the studio. With Nekromantix, after the next couple shows in Russia we will be touring the U.S. this summer starting in July and this tour will be taking us to just about every nook and corner in the states with several dates in Canada! I'm really excited to be coming through again following up on our last tour with Rob Zombie. I know the first leg of our tour is already booked and confirmed and it's at about 6 weeks long. And that's just the first part of our tour. I am really looking forward to getting back out on the road with these guys and having fun on stage. I think with each tour I've done with Nekromantix I get more pumped for the next and have been loosening up on stage, I really can't wait!



Metal Pit : Ok, I am sure this is not the first time you have been asked this but your name is very unusual, is Lux your real name?

I get this question asked all the time. There is a certain mystery behind my name and I've told some people about how my parents were hippies back in the day and they named me lux. Lux meaning light in Latin.
of God. We pretty much listen to everything metal.




Metal Pit : How long have you been playing drums and what first attracted you to the skins?

I've been playing drums for 12 years now. When I first started, nothing attracted me to them! haha. My parents enrolled me and my two sisters in a music school and they wanted us to form a band and chose drums for me, keyboard for my sister, and guitars and vocals for my oldest sister. I definitely grew into it though and knew after a year or so drums is what I wanted to play and would never give it up. I had to switch to keyboard for some time and we had another kid fill in on drums, it was a boy, and I remember being so jealous that he was playing drums I used to play! I definitely missed it and that was when I realized drums really were meant for me.



Metal Pit : Who are some of the drummers in Metal that you look up to?

I've already mentioned Chris Adler but he's so cool I'll mention him again, haha. Mike Portnoy is definitely cool. I also like watching Derek Roddy play and Paul Bostaph, these are all great guys. I like Dave Lombardo's style and I really like to watch any drummer live cause we all have our own way of doing things.



Metal Pit : I see you play double bass as well, was that a difficult thing to master?

I started playing double bass early on which made it easier and it only gets easier with the more practice you put in.



Metal Pit : What kind of gear do you use and why?

I play Paiste cymbals because I love their sound. I'm currently playing their Signature Reflector crashes and 2002 Sound-Edge Hi-Hats. I like to mix sounds and have one of their Twenty model chinas which reminds me of a gong and has a lot of sustain, sounds really awesome. For bass drum pedals I use Axis Percussion longboard pedals. I have their A Double model which is a double pedal but I disassemble it and use it as two pedals with the option of setting it back up as a double pedal if I ever need to. This really comes in handy for when I'm playing fill in gigs and bringing a second kick drum isn't an option. For sticks I use Pro-Mark 747 model in Japan Oak. They just last longer and hardly ever break. When I started out playing drums I was using Pro-Mark and as I started hearing about other sticks and brands I started experimenting with them and trying them out but would end up breaking them way too often. In the end I came back to using Pro-Mark. As far as clothing gear, I'm not the t-shirt jeans kind of gal, I'll trade that for a corset! haha. I like to dress up when on stage and I get really cool clothes to do that from Too Fast (toofastonline.com). They're awesome.



Metal Pit : Is it true you play in stiletto heals?

Of course! When I first started playing I was wearing regular shoes and as I started getting into my high school years I think I was drumming in sandals? And then I started drumming barefoot and after a while I was getting sick of that and started leaving my shoes on again except by then I was wearing cute little pumps and as I grew older the heels on my shoes would get taller. And that's how that all started. I just started leaving my heels on, plus it looks super cool and super bad astronaut.



Metal Pit : I would think that would be incredibly hard on the calf muscles, correct?

It's actually the opposite! It's hard on the shin muscles. I never practice in heels but when I'm on stage and play that first show in a while with Sacred Storm, my shin muscles are killing me after the first song or two with consistent double bass! haha. After that it starts to feel okay and the next show isn't that bad.





Metal Pit : I have seen a few of the live vids of you playing and I must admit, I was blown away not only by your speed but by your technical skills as well, you are really a badass behind the kit Lux. What is most important to you as a drummer, the respect of your fans and other musicians or accolades and awards from the media?

Definitely the first one. Respect is something you have to earn and work hard for and I think there's a sense of accomplishment when people, fans or fellow musicians, respect you for your playing. Getting awards and accolades from the media is nice but it's the listener's and fans who come first.


　

Metal Pit : You are such an accomplished musician and have won numerous awards for your drumming skills such as in 2007 you were voted "Female drummer of the year" by Rock City magazine as well as "Best female drummer" by All Access magazine as well as many others, It must make you feel very proud that the industry and fans have recognized you for all of your hard work....but do you ever think we will see the day when the tag of best "FEMALE" will be dropped to simply say "Best drummer"?

I think that in general the tag "Female" before any musician type would eventually be dropped. Nowadays we see more and more women picking up instruments and playing out which is great! In my case, I'm not sure if I would ever receive a "Best Drummer" award from a highly notable awards show because there is so much to learn when playing rhythms, beats, and four way independence on all four limbs! haha. But who knows where I'll be in 5 to 10 years from now, anything is possible.


　
Metal Pit : You seem like such a humble and grounded person, how do you keep from getting a big head from all of this praise?

I definitely think my family and friends have shaped me to who I am today and at the end of the day when the stage lights are out and the band is off stage, I'm just me. I'm into simple things really, I love anything Hello Kitty, I love anything chocolate with peanuts or almonds, and I love Del Taco and let's not forget, pizza haha. I also believe God has blessed me with so many good things in life, I can't help but be thankful for that and be positive and loving towards others.




Metal Pit : As a strong woman in heavy metal today, what can you and other women in the scene do to try to finally get rid of these prejudices?

I think it's important for us to stay on top of our game and to keep up on practice. Also, when speaking to male musicians I always hear that women musicians feel like they're talked down to or feel that guys think they don't know what they are talking about and I think the way a person comes off when speaking is important. Women should be confident when speaking about anything and not feel like they have to act a different way because they are a minority. I can honestly say I've rarely ever felt smaller than any male drummer when talking about gear or music, maybe it's because I started playing so young and it's all I know or maybe drummers are just more relaxed and cool about anything but regardless, doesn't matter who I'm talking to, I'm a musician like everyone else. One thing I've seen also in female musicians is that if one dresses in super revealing outfits, the musicianship side is less likely to be taken seriously and that's why with myself I like to still dress sexy with cute heels and a cute top by it's never too revealing. My main focus is my drumming not my body and I think a lot of women need to consider that.




Metal Pit : What is your opinion of women musicians and vocalists in the scene today?

I've met and played with a lot of awesome women musicians and vocalists and musicianship and personalities have been great! I think this is definitely a plus since there is a cliche that all girl bands are a bunch of drama but after jamming and playing with the all female rock band Absinthe, they were all really awesome to hang with at rehearsal and to share the stage with at shows. I had filled in on drums for them several times within the past month and they were all awesome to work with. Even their injured drummer came out to a few of the rehearsals and shows and she was really cool.



Metal Pit : It seems to me that even though the Metal scene has exploded with women vocalists in the last few years, there have not been many drummers but that seems to be changing daily with musicians such as yourself, Mercedes Lander from Kitte and Linda Mcdonald from the Iron Maidens just to name a few, why do you think it has taken so long for female drummers to come onto the scene?

I know there are plenty more excellent female drummers playing metal out there and I'm not exactly sure why there aren't more names on our roster but it could be for a couple reasons, not playing enough gigs and getting your name out there, being in a small independent band or not playing music full time and it's more of a side thing. It could also be that drumming takes a lot of effort and discipline if you want to play extreme metal and maybe that doesn't call to too many female musicians and they would rather pick up a mic. Whatever the cause may be, I think being a drummer is the coolest and it's such a great way for expressing yourself, I would never give it up and definitely recommend that more females pick up some sticks!



Metal Pit : Are you comfortable as a mentor or role model to young women out there who may want to follow in your footsteps and if so what advice would you give to them about playing the drums and the overall music business?

I could go for either mentor or role model for other females out there. So much can be said about playing drums but the main things are consistent practices, keep learning on the kit, get ready to handle anything that comes your way on this crazy ride the music industry will take you on.



Metal Pit : I can't imagine you have a whole lot of spare time but when you do, what kind of things do you enjoy doing outside of playing music?

I really enjoy hanging out with friends and family, even though it's for a short time. I love hanging out with my boyfriend Kenny Krenzin, he makes me laugh so much and we like to do silly things like play mini golf and make bets on who wins or loses, sounds so metal right? haha.



Metal Pit : You have received so many accolades and awards for your drum skills yet you seem like such a humble and grounded person, how do you keep from getting a big head?

I definitely think my family and friends have shaped me to who I am today and at the end of the day when the stage lights are out and the band is off stage, I'm just me. I'm into simple things really, I love anything Hello Kitty, I love anything chocolate with peanuts or almonds, and I love Del Taco and let's not forget, pizza haha. I also believe God has blessed me with so many good things in life, I can't help but be thankful for that and be positive and loving towards others.



Metal Pit: What projects are you involved with at this time and what can we expect from your bands in 2010?

Currently I'm preparing for two drum clinics I'll be doing in France on April 6 & 7. This is really exciting for me and will be my first drum clinic. Also, I'll be touring Europe with Nekromantix for about week straight, we're going to Finland, Russia, Germany, Italy and it's going to be awesome. Our new album will be coming out this year possibly in May and we should be out on the road again on a full U.S. tour and will be visiting Canada again. I'm writing new material with Sacred Storm and our material is always getting better and better! It seems that by the time we release our newest album it's always an old sound for us because we're always moving on and advancing. I'm already excited about our next album. And lastly, I know I've promised the fans new drum videos for some time now and finally they'll be recorded this month!


　
Metal Pit : Have you accomplished everything you ever wanted to in the music world or are you basically just getting cranked up?

I know I'm just getting cranked up and I'm going to really try and push myself musically and technically in terms of drumming. I'd like to get into more music styles like Jazz and Latin drumming as well as learn to play like Thomas Lang, Thomas Pridgen, Chris Adler, and George Kollias, all amazing drummers.




Metal Pit : Where can fans buy merchandise from you or your bands?

I have a webstore where all purchases go straight to the band at www.luxdrummer.com/shop.html When buying from itunes or cdbaby, they take a cut of sales which isn't that great for independent bands so it's always good to buy directly from the band. Thanks guys!



Metal Pit : Is there anything at all you would like to add to this interview, maybe something your fans do not know about you?

My fans know that I'll be coloring my whole hair a crazy color but don't know yet what I've decided. I've chosen to dye my whole hair a cherry red with black on the bottom, it's going to look so cool! I had asked fans online what they thought would look cool and I got so many comments and suggestions. One that really stood out was getting my hair done in red leopard print which sounds cool but would be really hard to do and keep up with having long hair. Others included three colors or more like black hair with blonde and blue streaks and the list is endless. Thanks to everyone for your recommendations and I can't wait to show you my new hair color!




Metal Pit : What does it mean to you to be chosen as the Metal Pit's Maiden of the month?

It really is an honor for me, thank you very much! And horns up to you guys, really love what you are doing on the site! For anyone who'd like to watch a video of me doing blast beats, watch at www.youtube.com/luxdrumgoddess and subscribe for more new videos!



Metal Pit : Lux, on behalf of myself and THE METAL PIT we want to thank you very much for sharing your time with us today. I really believe you are a gifted musician and I think the sky is the limit for you my friend. We wish you and your bands well in the new year and beyond.

Horns up brothers and sisters.........

Nick Rohm.

 

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