Metrono.me interview with Bill Quattromani

Your name and age?
Bill Quattromani 33

Birthplace?
Queens N.Y.

How long have you been doing your project?

Almost 3 years.

Why did you pick Self Avoiding Walk as the name of the project?
2 reasons a) it's a math term b) low self esteem

Has has your music evolved since you first started?
How? It has slowly evolved as I got more sounds out of the calculators and started using more equipment/pedals.

What are the main themes or topics for your work?
No themes yet, that might change.

Describe your music/art. How do you describe your music to people?
Trying to make harsh noise but failing. I tell people I amplify a calculator.

What music did you grow up listening to?
Metal/hardcore/grindcore/death metal/black metal

What's the first song you remember listening to or that sticks in your mind?
Probably Michael Jackson - Beat It

What are you currently listening to that you're really into?
Any noise

Acts you particularly dig?
Pharmakon, High School Confidential

Who are your influences in general, musically and artistically?
My friend Eric (robotdharma on the troniks board)

What got you into making harsh noise in the first place?
Peer pressure, and I lost interest in playing guitar.

Are your sounds deliberately composed, is your work abstract, or a combination of both?
Combination.

Do you rehearse or plan your performance in any way, either in your heads, on paper or in a studio, or do you just wing it when it comes to performing and recording?
Basic structure is planned out but some things usually change when I perform.

Could you briefly describe you music-making process?
Plug in the calculator and hit graph, then hope for the best.

Have you recorded anything?
No.

Do you have a home studio setup?

No.

Are your live performances structured in any way or are they freeform?

Both.

What can you tell me about your instruments? I know you're using TI calculators now. Tell me anything you can about them.

I get sounds out of the tracing of graphs; older models are slower which is better for me.

What made you choose the particular pedals/effects/instruments you have now?

Eric suggested I use calculators and gave me a shortwave radio, so I owe a huge debt to him.

Where have you performed?

Virgin island, Red Light District, Abc No Rio- Bar Matchless, Goodbye Blue Monday, Port D’or

What are your favorite and least favorite venues?

Red Light District is the best.

Most embarrassing experience?
Most embarrassing - going out in public.

I know you book shows at your house and at ABC NO RIO. Can you tell me a little bit about that and how you got started doing it.
I started regularly going to shows there in 2000, then started volunteering in 2005. I started booking in 2009. It's a great space; all ages and volunteer run. I was booking the Saturday hardcore/punk matinees but still managed to sneak some noise in once in a while. House show are the best. I loved the punk shows in Crown Heights and the roof top noise shows at Scrap and Pry in lower Manhattan.

Where do you live now?
Broad Channel.

Do you have a day job? What is it?
I'm an adjunct math teacher at Lehman College in the Bronx.

Have any hobbies like stamp collecting or knitting?
Running, getting rejected,...

Do you play any other instruments besides the ones you play in Self Avoiding Walk?
Guitar.

Do you collect anything or are you a minimalist?
I used to collect records/zines but that has slowed down a lot.

What are you cooking tonight?
Warm water.

Computers or what?
Laptops can be great.

What was the last book you read?
God Created the Integers

Do you watch TV or listen to the radio at all? Any favorite shows or broadcasts?
No.

Where do you go to discover new sounds/music?
Red Light District

Been to any good shows lately?
Things have been quiet lately- Pharmakon @ the Stone

Describe a day in the life of William Quattromani.
I eat cereal/run/get to school- upload videos-teach/go to a show/get ignored+rejected by women

What does your family think of your art and do they support you? Do they have any idea what you do or what your project sounds like?
My mom doesn't understand it, but supports it.

Any advice for people who are starting out creating music/noise/art?
Watch my performance and learn what not to do.

Any upcoming shows? New recordings? Projects?
Upcoming shows @ Virgin Island in July. Hopefully the tall dark and handsome project will come back and focus on the difficulties of being a short/shy/weak male

Any parting words or pearls of wisdom you'd like to share with whoever's reading this interview?

Okcupid didn't work for me