DAS RAD are a local 3 piece whose unorthodox blend of punk, shoegaze and noise rock has gained them a loyal following. Kayla Braga spoke with frontman Ireek Sofakia in prelude to their Nov 9th Wavelength show at The White House Studio Project.

So far DAS RAD has done split releases with WTCHS and with HSY.

What are the advantages to doing a split?

Well for one, it's usually cheaper splitting the costs between two bands and it kinda draws the other band's fans to check out your stuff... I highly recommend it!

How did you guys get hooked up with those two bands?

Just by luck really, I met Jude from HSY back at my now-posthumous shrine "The Academy of Sciences" rest in pieces! Found out about his spot at the time called the garage and we've been buds since. We kinda got paired on a bill with WTCHS once, like a blind date... only better! After that they were nice enough to ask if we had any unreleased stuff and they paid for all the pressing and packaging.... Solid dudes, love 'em!

Where did you get inspiration for the "Black Widow" video?

I didn't have any money to fund a video at the time... so me and Allyn just did it in my old apartment on Spadina. I really love fire so we threw that in there along with some foil and a glass vodka skull. Those were my only possessions at the time, tee hee! I also just saw the THIGHS video for their song "Meat" and it kinda pushed me to do it... thank you THIGHS love you too!

I heard that you are planning to release a 12" in the new year. Is that happening? What can we expect?

Yes! We've never put out a 12" before! That's soooo big... I can't wait to touch it! Still workin' on some of the songs.... but it's gonna be a real trip, I think the cover will be a giant blotter! We'll be recording with Brendan from THIGHS again and Pleasence will be putting it out, so be sure to pick it up and give it a lick! Just don't lick it too much on the first go, the gods might strangle thee and shove ya back in your hole!

Does DAS RAD have any plans for a tour next year?

We're hoping to tour europe in the fall of 2014 but we don't have anything solidified yet... Just putting that out there... We've sent out the messenger pigeons so hopefully they return with some good news and the universe throws us a bone! A really big bone!