Time In Malta on 03-31-2001 by Solar Fox

This is an interview with Ryan Downey, vocalist for Time In Malta.

Could you describe Time in Malta for people who aren't familiar with them?

Time In Malta plays driving music that is often times at once dark, uplifting, melodic, metallic, aggressive and hopeful. We are constantly looking to expand upon our sound, while staying rooted in those basic ideas.

Where did the name Time in Malta come from?

From our guitar player, Chris. The name Time In Malta has a number of historical and literary implications that are symbolic to all of us in the band. Both the Axis and Allies during World War II coveted Malta, a small island country off of the Mediterranean Sea, for strategic reasons. Repeated bombings by the Germans decimated Malta's landscape and people, yet the repeated attacks never successfully broke the small country's will or spirit. This perseverance in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds thematically runs through Thomas Pynchon¹s World War II novels "V" and "Gravity¹s Rainbow." The reference to "a Time In Malta," for the band, denotes a time of great struggle and strife- survived, overcome and triumphed over at all costs. The cross we use in our logo is actually the Maltese flag. We fly the flag of no nation... We use it more for symbolic purposes.

What are the bands big musical influences?

We all have very eclectic tastes, with many similarities. '80s pop and new wave (Duran Duran, U2, David Bowie), thrash metal (Metallica, Death Angel), and hardcore (Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Black Flag) shaped all of our early listening habits. Eventually we all got really into so-called "post-hardcore" bands like Quicksand, and in particular, we all enjoy swirling atmospheric indie pop bands. My Bloody Valentine and more recent albums by bands like The Doves and Idlewild come to mind. I personally also enjoy the avante-garde metal sounds of bands like Katatonia, Opeth and Paradise Lost. Todd can be seen enjoying garage punk, thuggish hardcore or underground hip-hop at any given time... Like I said, we're eclectic!

What do you guys do when you’re not involved with the band? (jobs etc.)

I am a freelance journalist. I also publish the fanzine Superhero and maintain its web site, SuperheroHQ.com. Todd is a student at San Francisco City College and books shows at a coffee house. Sander is an art school graduate and holds a job as a graphic designer. Chris manages a recording facility in San Francisco called Toast, where Neil Young is currently holed up making a new record.

Does the band have any message in particular that they want to get across to people through their music?

Yes. Hope. Inspiration. So much music today is either vapid and full of false love stories or faked angst and aggression... Or it is horribly nihilistic. We want to deal with real life things, in a realistic way, but also offer up a message of strength through adversity and weathering life's many storms... There are so many questions we all should have about so many things... And many battles to be fought. The key is to enjoy and experience while we're going through all of these trials, and to always persevere towards the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

How did you get the opportunity to join Time in Malta?

We've all been friends for years. Todd and I were in a band together called Burn It Down. Todd left the band to move to California where he hooked up with Chris and Sander and formed Time In Malta. We first loosely discussed the idea of me joining, I believe, around the time of Hellfest in Syracuse last summer. Or mabye it was a bit later. When I quit Burn It Down, and the band broke up, in November of 2000, I moved out here two months later. It feels like we have always played together. It's a very natural fit, personally, artistically and professionally. For the first time I feel like I'm being honest when I say those kinds of things about a band, and I feel blessed for this opportunity.

Is the music scene, or life in general, out on the west coast much different than it is here in the mid-west?

Way different! There is so much more culture to be experienced out here, more awareness, better food, better transportation... I love it.

Are there any bands out there (or anywhere else for that matter) that you’d especially like to play/tour with?

I would love to tour with Idlewild, Coldplay or our friends New End Original. I'm down for just about any tour, really. We've talked about doing some dates with Drowning Man and also The Juliana Theory.

I know your last band played shows with a very wide variety of other kinds of bands, is this something you will want to do with Time in Malta?

Yes, definitely... Diversity is the key in just about anything.

Time in Malta’s music seems like a huge change from Burn it Down, will you change your singing style any?

Yes. Time In Malta was already changing their style a bit before I arrived, adding more melodies and textures while keeping the songs energetic and driving. We still kick out the metal jams, too, have no fear. But since this is a different band, I will be approaching everything differently... 'Though of course, I am still me, so inevitable there will be some similarities. The guys in Time In Malta were always the first to hear every Burn It Down record, and thankfully they never hated my vocals.

Will the way you write lyrics, or the subjects that your lyrics deal with change?

Somewhat. I wrote all of the lyrics in Burn It Down, and Todd and I have been collaborating on Time in Malta material, so that's a big change right there. I wanted to change up what I was doing anyways, and so did Time In Malta... I mean that's why we came together haha.

You told me the new Time in Malta material will be different. What kind of differences can people expect?

Not a huge change, but just more bravery in terms of how far we will go to experiment, or to hone in on a vibe or melody. Expect the band's sound to reflect all of the different influences outlined above, to some degree, rather than a straight forward metalcore or post-hardcore sound. We will stay true to our roots, but also expand and be true to our interests, ourselves and the expectations of what we feel to be a high minded and discriminating audience. We wouldn't insult the people who support the band by making the same record over and over. AC/DC does it but they are legends, so its OK. Bands like Neurosis, Bowie, and other artists we admire, always grow and change.

Does the band have any plans for recording or touring?

We hope to finish writing our record for the next few months and to begin touring extensively in late summer or early fall.

What will the future of “Superhero” be? Will that ever show up as a paper magazine again?

Yes, definitely! It will be monthly beginning in April!

Is there anything else that you’d like to add?

Thanks for the interview! I check out your web site almost everyday! Great source for news! Look for our debut album to be released later this year, and for updated on www.timeinmalta.com very soon