Building Capacities with Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down

Image courtesy of Chico Limjap
at Chicolimjap.com

ca·pac·i·ty /kəˈpasitē/ n. pl. ca·pac·i·ties

1. The ability to receive, hold, or absorb.

2. The maximum amount that can be contained.

3. a. Ability to perform or produce; capability.

    b. The maximum or optimum amount that can be produced.

4. The power to learn or retain knowledge; mental ability.

5. Innate potential for growth, development, or accomplishment; faculty.

6. The quality of being suitable for or receptive to specified treatment.

7. The position in which one functions; role.

To these definitions, we can now add: title of the soon to be released and much anticipated third album of Up Dharma Down under Terno Recordings.

The Scenester’s chief contributor, Kristo Babbler recently “sat down” with Armi Millare, keyboards and lead vocals for Up Dharma Down to take stock of the band’s evolution to date, their creative process in the lead up to their third outing, and Armi’s personal journey all throughout. A rather revealing exchange ensued.

Interview with a Yeti

Kristo Babbler "enters the cave" with Ponchie Buenavista to chat about his journey from a 90s era grunge band frontman to his current role as the chief composer behind the ambient rock group Encounters with a Yeti.

Kristo: It says in your band’s bio that Encounters was conceived in 1998 but was not formed until 2005. Why the long hiatus? What led to this extended hibernation?

Ponchie: I just indulged in the time-honoured, frowned-upon tradition of bumming around to find oneself, doing mind-numbing activities some of which I would not recommend. Also, all of us in EWAY were more or less focused on the more mundane but necessary aspects of life then. Since 1998, I had already been dabbling into instrumental music not because I intended to but because I couldn’t write decent enough lyrics to those compositions that I would consider worth listening to.