Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Annamaria Pinna – Vocals, Flute, Percussion, Keys, Biz Crap Empress

Dave Sussman – Guitar, Lights, Video/Web Master, Beatrix Whisperer

Adam Klein - Bass, Piano, Keys

Shusuke Inaba – Drums, Percussion

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Vajra? How long has the band been around?

Annamaria: This is my first band.  I started writing our first album when I was living in India.  We played our first show on 11-11-11, and the current lineup has just assembled. Dave was in a really cool Industrial band called Bile and some local NYC bands.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Annamaria: Vajra is Tibetan Buddhist and Hindi for the thunderbolt or the diamond.  It is that which breaks through anything.   It is the ultimate truth of the universe manifested in a symbol for us to understand because we cannot possibly understand the ultimate truth of the universe. 

The concept for the name came from this powerful dream I had.  It was of an energy that I was aware of but that I didn’t want to confront.  When I finally did, it turned out to be the most beautiful experience I had ever felt.  In the dream, the symbol was a warm, glowing, floating pyramid with gently swirly colors.  Later, when I was researching tats, I found the Vajra symbol.  When I was brainstorming the band names, it just kept coming back to the Vajra.  This project is all about tapping into that energy.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

Annamaria: I started writing Pleroma when I was living in India.  I actually used my home studio, which was in my bedroom because it was the only room in my apartment that had AC.  The album is mostly about nonduality (light meets dark, female meets male, soft meets pummeling, east meets west, etc).  Now, we all sharing in the writing.  I am still obsessed with nonduality.  But also, politics, womens’ issues, nature, relationships, life in general, imagination, and the space in between.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making? 

Tool, Dead Can Dance, Lacuna Coil, NIN, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Isis, Kate Bush, A Perfect Circle, Janes Addiction, Duran Duran, Alice In Chains, Peter Gabriel, Metallica, Jarboe, Pink Floyd, Karnivool, Wardruna, Katatonia, Opeth, King Crimson, PJ Harvey, Fever Ray, The Cure, Zakir Hussain, Lustmord and in general, Classical Hindustani Music, Jazz and World Music

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

Annamaria:  Probably Tool.  From the very first show I attended, I was transported to the Netherworld. Their show is an aural and visual feast, and I come away from the experience satiated and transformed.  They gave me the inspiration to start my own project, and I consider them my gurus. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

Annamaria:  I start with a large dose of coffee and a brownie.  I get dressed, put on my makeup, hydrate with lots of water, and I do my vocal exercises.  I’m usually camped out in bathroom, and I like to improvise to the opening bands’ music to attune and see where my voice is at. I then select the most appropriate incense sticks for the show and prepare my prayer table.

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Completing and releasing our debut album was super exciting.  The realization that we could be patient enough and open enough to hear these sounds and then to translate what we hear and bring them to the material space is pretty amazing.   In terms of performance, being selected to play the Loudwire Music Festival was pretty awesome.  Also, there were some beautiful improvisational moments during our sets on our last To The Ends Of The Earth Tour that were pure magic.    

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

We would want to tour with any of the bands who have inspired us of course-partially to enjoy their performances and partially to learn inspire us.  So therefore, it’s the same list of bands including some additional greats: Janes Addiction, Duran Duran, Alice In Chains, Peter Gabriel, Tool, Dead Can Dance, Lacuna Coil, NIN, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Isis, Kate Bush, A Perfect Circle, Metallica, Jarboe, Pink Floyd, Karnivool, Wardruna, Katatonia, Opeth, King Crimson, PJ Harvey, Fever Ray, The Cure, Zakir Hussain, Lustmord, The Doors, Einsturzende Neubaten and maybe some great performers like Madonna and Michael Jackson.

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

The first EP of the Trilogy Series called ‘Irkalla’ will be released later this year.  We hope you continue to travel with us on that journey.  Thank you for listening to our music, for supporting us and for spreading the Vaj.