AERTEX started in 2018 consisting of the ever-prolific DC artist Chris Moore (Damaged City Fest, DC hardcore bands Coke Bust, Repulsion, and more), Carson Cox who is also in Merchandise, Death Index, Too Free, and Clear Channel, and Josephine Olivia Herbst who was in Blacksage and currently in Vosh. Today, we have teamed up with Chris to learn more about his new project, casting a dark and thrilling shadow of an intense visual forms and atmospheric, yet completely different to what we expected from the vicious grindcore and hardcore drummer.
My other bands (Repulsion, Coke Bust, The Rememberables, Guilt Parade, D.O.C.) weren’t doing a ton at the time so it seemed like the perfect time to start ANOTHER band haha. – says Chris
It started off as just a fun project and weren’t really sure if we were ever going to play shows. Steve from Technophobia knew that we had written some songs and asked us to play his fest Tiny Cat in D.C. that was predominately goth and dark wave bands. I think playing that show sparked some real excitement amongst us and we started writing more songs.
We put out a 2-song demo tape in the beginning of 2019. We had played some cool shows over the next year (Damaged City Fest, Boy Harsher, SRSQ, Unmaker, etc.). At the end of 2019 Carson had started getting busier with his other projects and took some time away from Aertex. We then recruited an old friend / long time bandmate from my old band Sick Fix, Pat Vogel on guitar. He also plays in DC punk band Rashomon. We also recruited Ethan Berg on synth a friend from the area.
This year we have already played a lot of really cool shows. We opened up for The Psychedelic Furs, two shows with She Past Away from Turkey, Gost and a bunch of others.
“Revenge” (MINISTRY cover)
Chris: This is just a little demo we wanted to put out while in quarantine. Ministry in general (first 5 albums and early singles) are a huge influence for us but especially their first album “With Sympathy” is something we really love. We covered the song “Revenge” from that album a few times at our shows and decided it would be fun to record it and make a video. Honestly during quarantine we have had a lot of free time and got really bored haha. This is our first stab at recording and filming/editing a video ourselves.
Track by track commentary
by vocalist 𝕵𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖕𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝕺𝖑𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖆
SUPERSTITION:
This song has to do a lot with life and the choices we make. As women, some of us are taught to find a rich man, settle down, have kids. This song sort of plays on that. People’s lives are rarely what they are perceived as from the outside, so someone living a seemingly blissful life, filled with riches and fine things, can also be brimming with resentment and forgotten dreams. “Does she really want to know what I’ll ask of her? does she really want to live this life of plastic” reflects the inauthenticity of our society and culture, the expectancies of women, and the superficial lives we lead. I think a lot of the time we find ourselves in situations we don’t think we can get out of, again because of societal standards. We get caught up because of money, possessions, and those things begin to run our lives, and we relinquish control. I imagine someone at a casino, buying their thrills, so enthralled with the prospect of winning, of money, that they lose sight that in the end, it’s all an illusion, and you’re sweating in a windowless room without a clock.
PRAY:
This song is about being so in love with someone, you devote yourself in every way to them. Mind, body, and soul. It’s a dark love ballad for the romantic freaks. “ i don’t wanna die, i don’t want to live forever, unless it’s down down down beneath your feet” meaning I would live forever, if it meant living for you. Tragic romantic sub/ dom relationship material.
The future & other DC bands worth your time
Chris: We just finished demoing our first LP at home. We are sending it around now and hopefully will find a label to put it out by the end of the year. As far as touring, that will all depend on the state of the world. Once touring is a possibility again a full U.S. and European tour are in the cards.
There is always a lot of cool things happening in DC. Honestly, it’s hard to think of what it was like before this pandemic haha. Cancelling Damaged City Fest, all the tours and shows was such a big blow. Like most of everyone else who was out of work and who relies on music for catharsis, I had to just reset. We are just trying to stay positive and productive. Just counting the days until this thing chills out.
Some DC stuff worth a check: Clearchannel, TooFree, Rashomon, and Zstuped all have newer stuff out or are putting out stuff soon.
