SW: What do you think the legacy of the 1991 grunge explosion is for the Seattle scene?
Maldives’/Sons of Warren Oates’ Kevin Barrans: I think the legacy of the grunge explosion is simply that it put Seattle back in the minds of a music world that had somewhat forgotten about it. I think saying anything more than that is just reading too much into the situation. It was great new music at a time when Seattle and the rest of the world really needed it.
Do you hear many influences of the sound in today’s bands?
I hear very little influence in most of the music happening in Seattle right now. I’m sure there are exceptions, but chances are I haven’t been listening to those exceptions.
In what ways are your band influenced by the 1991 sound?
I’m not sure what the other guys would say, but for me personally, it has almost no influence on me stylistically. However, it was the grunge era that first got me really excited about music as a teenager, which eventually led me to other genres, which then led me to where I am now. So, I’d say it does have a pretty large influence in that regard.
How do you describe the Seattle sound today?
I think it would be a mistake to try and define a Seattle sound. There really isn’t one cohesive sound. What we do have are diverse smaller scenes of various styles of music that are all sort of intertwined by various crossover musicians and friendships that together make one great community.
What were you doing on October 8, 1991?
I was probably in my bedroom drumming along to Steve Miller’s Greatest Hits.
