Touching on everything from crystal pop to space rock, noise, experimental electronics, punk rock and Chinese opera (stay tuned for their first full-length opera, STAR), Yamantaka // Sonic Titan revolves around the dual centrifugal forces of Ruby Kato Attwood (vocals, keys, percussion, art) and Alaska B (drums, electronic drums, keys, electronics, programming, vocals, art). The Montreal/Toronto collective is rounded out by a number of musicians and artists who help bring the larger-than-life project to fruition with homemade musical gear, makeup and costumes, giant stage props and sets, as well as video and animation.

Dubbing themselves an art cult, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan use their personal experiences to forge bonds with other Asian and indigenous artists, while ultimately using their medium to, in their own words, "negotiate cultural clashes between dominant cultures and those whose traditions are oppressed, erased or being eclipsed." Long loved here by the public who first discovered them, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan will soon explode to touch larger circles close to here and abroad.

Hour: Foremost, what stands out as the group’s biggest artistic influence?

Ruby Kato Attwood: Our influences are so varied it is difficult to point out the foremost. We draw from our life experiences, ranging from the banal – garbage in the street, the sounds of traffic, dreams, conversations, states of being, etc. – to more artistic influences – hundreds of hours of listening to music, viewing film, performances, theatre, dance and image. The emotive style of traditional metal vocals, j-pop and "occidental" pop is especially inspiring to me.

Hour: How difficult is it to achieve a balance in your multidisciplinary creative approach?

Attwood: A necessary edit always appears. Accepting what needs to be cut, even if it represents a lot of work or attachment, can be disturbing if you are not accustomed to letting go. Alaska and I are in concert with our edits and this is the key to our collaboration, with each other and with the collective. Balancing is a constant movement toward a midline, a common ground – this movement is less an "achievement" than an experience.

Hour: Montreal loves Yamantaka // Sonic Titan. How has the reaction been outside of the city?

Attwood: We have a lot of Canadian support. We feel very grateful for that.

Hour: What plans do you have surrounding STAR?

Attwood: Secret plans!

Yamantaka // Sonic Titan
w/ Uncle Bad Touch, Bernardino Femminielli
At Jackie & Judy Rococo Bar Spectacle (6512 Parc)
February 4