Interview: The Secret Chiefs 3′ Trey Spruance dreams of performing in Iran?

Date: September 13, 2011
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge (NY)

Text by Jim Hoey
Video interview and photos by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Interview coordination by April Centrone

For this East Coast tour, members of the Secret Chiefs 3 drove cross-country from Seattle to NYC, thanks to Hurricane Irene, and managed to get it all together with new members, despite little practice time or much sleep. Trey Spruance and his rotating cast of musicians (including April Centrone of NYC on percussion) continue the exploration of cinematic and Middle Eastern (Persian) rhythms, mixing in all elements of western metal, surf rock, and noise, in a harmonic brew that switches and turns and blasts away at every step.

The night we caught up with them at Le Poisson Rouge, Spruance had a few minutes to talk after the show about his connection to Persian philosophers and that inspiration for the music of the Secret Chiefs 3, as well as his feelings about what reactions he receives, as an Eastern Orthodox Christian playing Arabic, Persian, and Muslim influenced music in a post 9/11 world.

It’s interesting that an American (an “enemy” of the Iranian state?) is able to put a modern touch to very deep classical Persian music that young listeners can connect to, a feat that no Persian has done yet. When will Secret Chiefs 3 be invited to play in Iran?……..

Check it out below……