Static Cathedral, aka Kristen Ousen | Interviewed by: Payton Butler | Images obtained via e-mail correspondence with Static Cathedral & collaged by Emma Curran
How did you come up with your band name?
My wife, Marianne, and I have had a running joke where whenever we hear, say, or see a really odd or funny combination of words, we’d add it to a shared file of silly band names. I don’t recall what triggered it, but my wife had once suggested we add “static cathedral” to the list as like a play on a metal band name. We always shared these names with my kiddo too, and when I performed at my first One Aux open mic-ish event as just my name, my kiddo introduced me as a Static Cathedral, and I went with it. After that, I started to assemble a 6-song EP and named each song after a nickname of one of our 6 pets, which i plan to continue with each future EP release.
What genre would you use to describe your music?
Carnival-core.
Do you have a favorite song you’ve written?
Currently it’s “battlebots”. It’s a quick journey that juxtaposes ideas that, on their own, shouldn’t work together, but somehow tie well. it’s also the audio equivalent of our old cat Alba (RIP) when she had the zoomies.
What are your top three favorite artists?
Thrice, Coheed and Cambria, and Nine Inch Nails.
If you could do anything with your band, what would you want to do? What’s the ultimate goal?
To continue having fun, making friends, and building community, but most importantly using my privilege and platform to uplift my community and friends through mutual aid support, donating my skills to build up others, and highlighting BIPOC, Trans, and Queer artists and cultural icons. Right now, I am helping a group of friends organize the inaugural Loud & Queer Fest in Tulsa, OK, that features a full line up of Trans and Queer bands, local vendors, art, sensory safe space, etc.
What’s your biggest inspiration as an artist?
My wife, my kiddo, my friends, Judas Priest, Nintendo games, and the local Tulsa scene.
Static Cathedral will be one of the eight acts battling for one of four coveted spots in the Farmer’s Ball Finals! Come out to the Bottleneck this Friday, March 28th to watch Static Cathedral’s “carnival-core” performance in the Farmer’s Ball Semi-Finals. Stay tuned to our social media and website for more information on the upcoming events! As always, keep it locked.