SCREWTAPE
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SCREWTAPE

Houston, Texas, United States

Houston, Texas, United States
Band Rock Hip Hop

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"The Relativly New Kids On The Block"

Screwtape

(6 p.m.)

Nominated In: Best Indie / Alternative

Screwtape's name obviously sounds like they'd make rap music, both because the band's leader, Nosaprise, has been rapping in Houston for a few years now and because the moniker looks like a nod to DJ Screw's iconic Grey Tapes legacy. Instead, the band makes indie jams that coat the walls with melody, and Nosaprise manages to sound like -- gasp -- Elliott Smith on the ballads. And he does so without sounding whiny. So we understand now if your interest has been more than aroused. Get thee to this HPMA showcase slot. - Houston Press


"Artist of the Week: Screwtape Is Not Who We Thought They Were"

This was an easy pick.

Screwtape is band. And their first proper release will be out this summer. And it will be good. Bam. That, caballeros y damas, is (one of) the exact recipe(s) for being selected as Artist of the Week.

Screwtape's name sounds like they'd make rap music. Their name can be interpreted as a derivative of DJ Screw's iconic Grey Tapes legacy; their most famous guy, Nosaprise, is famous for being a rapper; etc. Really, they mostly make blippy indie rock music (their name can be interpreted as a derivative of a famous novel; their most famous guy famously played the guitar at a recent HPMA award show; etc.

So we reached over to talk about things, the least of which include jabs at Limp Bizkit, a demon working in hell, racism and the worst penis enhancement company in the world.

Rocks Off: Tell everyone everything they need to know about Screwtape in exactly six words.

Screwtape: Swag, swag, swag, swag, swag, swag.

Screwtape, "R2D2 (Rough Mix)"


RO: Cool. Now, explain a bit more fully what it is that Screwtape is.

ST: We're a band. We play rock music and we play hip-hop music --not at the same time, like Limp Bizkit or some wack shit like that. We try to stay true to whatever genre we're in at the time.


screwtapeletters june8.jpg
?RO: As rockerly as you all are, your most punk move might've been picking a name that will absolutely bury you in Google's search index. Why, oh why, would enterprising young men do such things? It seems akin to starting a computer company and calling it Micro Soft.

ST: Fuck Google, we chose that name for a couple reasons: First, it sounds gangster as fuck. It also represents us well. People hear the name Screwtape and assume we're talking about DJ Screw and grey tapes.

That is one side of it, but the name Screwtape comes from the C.S Lewis novel The Screwtape Letters and is the name of a demon working in hell. It doesn't get more epically rock then that, so we felt it fit us well. A name with different meanings, a band that plays different types of music.


RO: Micro Soft, by the way, sounds like the name of the worst penis enhancement company in the world.

ST: Says you. We're buying stock in that.

RO: Was there any concern that you all might be seen as being a bit blasphemous, you all taking and twisting Screw's name as such? Or did you all see it as being something creative and interesting and, ultimately, something Screw would've appreciated?

ST: Nah, not blasphemous. We are Houston. We love our city and rep that shit. I like that our name is somewhat misleading. People come to expect something when they hear our band name and it's completely different than that. It catches you off guard. Never judge a band by its name.

Screwtape, "Keep It Moving (Rough Mix)"

RO: Finish this sentence: When you come to a Screwtape show, you will absolutely...

ST: Enjoy your life more and look extremely attractive to the opposite sex.


screwtape flyer june8.JPG
?RO: Finish this sentence: A good example of how I'm just a tad bit racist is...

S: Well, our band has a black guy, a Salvadorian and a gringo in it. We're kinda like the Rainbow Coalition of music. Isn't Jesse Jackson a tad racist?


RO: Seriously, how disappointed were you all in The Hangover 2?

S: That shit was dope, I especially liked the part that was exactly like The Hangover. Sequels suck in general. Name me one good sequel? Ghostbusters 2, maybe. The Indiana Jones trilogy possibly, but those were ages ago.


RO: If you could only use one song to try and convince people why they should listen to you, which would it be? Why?

ST: Well, our songs are really different from each other so that's hard to say. I guess it would probably be "Friends Like Foes" or another one called "What's Goin On," both on our upcoming project, Dust It Off, Make It Shine coming out this summer. They're both on the opposite sides of the musical spectrum. It's a good example of what we do.


Find Screwtape on Facebook or listen to them on Bandcamp. - The Houston Press


Discography

Dust It Off Make It Shine -EP- (2012)

Screw your summer -single-(2011)

Photos

Bio

Any Self Respecting Houstonian can tell you what a Screwtape is. Its a slowed down grey cassette that built Houston's rap scene in the early 90's. Screwtape is ALSO the name of a demon working middle management in hell in the C.S Lewis novel The Screwtape Letters. 2011 Houston Press Music Award winning Best Indie/Alternative band SCREWTAPE gives you both sides of that.

2011 Houston Press Music Award winning Best Indie Band SCREWTAPE is 1 part HipHop 1 part Indie rock they play both with out compromising either. Fronted by CMJ spotlighted, 2 time sxsw showcasing artist and multiple Houston Press Music Award nominee Nosaprise on guitar/Keys and vocals along with Matt berry on drums and Juan Carlos Arroyo on bass these Houston natives are creating something truly unique and exciting. SCREWTAPE is making waves in the both Houstons Rock and HipHop cirlces.

Being labeled as everything from Punk Rock to HipHop they have drawn comparisons to everyone from Weezer to Bloc Party to WHY?. Fitting comfortably on both rock and hip hop bills. SCREWTAPE has Played for sold out crowds with the legendary Pharcyde as well as appearing at Houston premier music festival the Free Press Summer Fest.

Their debut album Dust It Off Make It Shine release is already generating a buzz around Tx.determined and focused SCREWTAPE is set to hit the road and spread their brand of Texas trill throughout the land.