Incura

Incura will be busy recording, gigging

Incura has been named the top band in CFOX's annual Seeds competition.

The band played a sold-out show at the Commodore Aug. 9, with four other bands that will grace the resulting Seeds compilation: Innocent Bystander, Cold Driven, Jordan Carrier and Versus the Nothing.

Finalists will be part of Seeds' 10,000 CD pressing, will get airplay, performing opportunities and gifts from Long and McQuade.

Additionally, Incura gets management consultation from Coalition, agency consultation from The Agency, an EP recorded at Mushroom, a writing session with Brian Howse, a single mixed by Mike Fraser, a demo deal from Maole Music and an opening spot for Stone Temple Pilots.

Tom Harrison, The Province
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
- Vancouver Province

Incura is a dynamic Vancouver-based band whose unique sound takes inspiration from video games, opera and metal. Gatlin (guitar) and Jon (bass) have played music together since they were in their early teens while Jim (keys/noise) and Kyle (vocals) met through a professional theatre company. Jeff (drums) was handpicked by Incura to take the seat behind the drums and in late 2005, Incura was formed.

Originally called Invein, the band changed their moniker to Incura, but what does it mean? "Incura is when all of us are performing on stage. The music makes the name. We're not Gatlin or Jim or Jeff or Jon or Kyle, we're Incura. We're one; we're a machine," explains Jim. And this machine has just released their debut album, Swords. Souls. Secrets.

This project, which took 10 months to create, was recorded at Green House and JMP studios in Vancouver, produced by Incura and Jay Evjen (Hot Hot Heat, Odds, Wide Mouth Mason) and has a clear motivational/inspirational theme. It's about doing things for yourself and really focusing on what you love doing in life. "Do what you love and not what you're told," explains Kyle.

One of the most powerful songs on the album, Condemned, was written to address the state of the world. In this song Kyle writes, "The sky should make it quite clear that we're hanging by threads. It's never too late just to stop the hurt and start using our heads," which reflect his optimism that although there's many problems we face today, it's not too late to change things.

With all the time and effort they put into their first album, the band feels the finished product is a mind-altering adventure that challenges the world to be something more.
So now that Incura has tackled this first step of releasing an album, what next for this musical machine? In 2008, they see themselves touring all-around the world and as Kyle puts it, "world domination." With determination and a totally unique sound, Incura should be able to continue doing what they love – making music. - Katrina Huberman (youthink magazine)

26/2/07 issue 8, v 125

I'm pretty much a virgin when it comes to the local music scene. My knowledge is basically as extensive as a handful of random shows at the Buffalo Club. One group, though, was pretty unforgettable. I caught a performance by Incura last Thursday the 15th. The lead singer, Kyle Gruninger, was probably the most animated performer I've seen. With ripped jeans and a forearm tattooed "fuck" (though he bashfully insists that the tattoo is not finished), Kyle jerks around the stage, making sexualised gestures and staring deep into the crowd with his lined eyes through his highlighted hair. At times, I was almost afraid that he would fall over and, once, he smacked his mic against the side of his head.

Kyle was in the area so I invited him to my apartment for the meeting. His hair was pushed back under a cap, wearing a fitted zip-up and (unripped) jeans. I led him into my apartment with clothes and paper all over the floor, my still-buzzed friend curled up in a mattress pad singing jingles about feminine hygiene products. He played with the coasters, sunglasses, and pens at the table beside him, and was distracted by my decor. "Definitely one of the strangest interviews," he commented at the end, "and I've had some pretty trippy ones."

Incura will be playing at the Red Room March 1 with THESET and the GLIM Project. Tickets are 12 bucks at the door, or you can contact the band themselves through their MySpace for $10 tickets. Incura will be touring with the GLIM Project, and THESET in May.

So what is Incura, anyway? "People say your band name needs some kind of meaning. We're just a bunch of dudes playing music. It's a collective name. It's a name for the art we're creating," he said. Overall, the band collectively writes the music and songs are written collectively while Kyle writes all the lyrics and vocal melodies.

Incura is from Lethbridge, Alberta, but migrated to the West Coast for more media exposure. "Vancouver's a good recording town, but staying in one city is a bad idea," he said. "I think that touring is the best way to promote your band and get out there. If you don't have the radio behind you, you need to tour to get the fanbase." Signed by JMP Productions, Incura's currently working on a new album.

So what inspires their music? "Life inspires me. I really don't get inspired easily. It takes something that I truly believe in or have passion for. I have to really believe it to perform it," says Gruninger, "Sometimes booze influences me, too." Judging by his performances, one is tempted to speculate that it takes more than booze to move like that. "We're not a radio rock band so live performances are how we sell our band. You don't go to a show to hear the greatness of the music. You go to jump around. I'll put performance above the music for a good show."

These intense shows aren't just for our amusement only, though. "If I didn't [make music], I'd be a lot angrier," he said. Well, it seems like it's working because the real-life Kyle seems pretty easy going to me.
- Monica Rudd, Associate Staff Contributor