Category Archives: Interviews

Interviews, Various

(interview)CF98-“All those ideas coming from the underground are the most honest and true ones”

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CF98 come from Poland and play catchy melodic pop skate punk. I talked to them a little for my zine, so read the interview.

Hello and welcome to my webzine! For start, how would you describe CF98 to the readers of this zine that didnt hear your band yet. What does the name mean?

Hi! It’s really nice you want to talk to us. Our band was created long time ago (13 years ago) when a lot of people in our country wanted to play fast skatepunk music full of melodies. This is when we met and started the band although not everyone is still a member. Alike every single person or band we had our ups and downs cause life sometimes sucks really bad :D. But anyway, we survived, we’ve changed a lot, we’ve grown up, recorded 5 albums, traveled Poland and some countries abroad. What is the most important we stayed true to ourselves and we still love skatepunk. Although there was a time we betrayed it a little.

The meaning of our name is simple – take a look at periodic table of the chemical elements. Californ 98 is our name as our first inspiration was Californian punkrock…

How did you get in touch with the underground music scene? Why is this diy underground scene and ethics so beautiful?

Me, personally, I discovered this scene when I joined the band. My friends already played in some other bands at that time. And I fell in love. With honesty, simplicity, team work, unity, helpfulness and of course music that was fast, positive and energetic – although so many genres exist here. I’m really thankful I’ve met a lot of people at that time who inspired me, who showed me that the best things in life happen  when you count on yourself and your friends. That all those ideas coming from the underground are the most honest and true ones.. and the strongest ones. Man, I can talk about it for more 2 hours! Haha.

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What is more important in your music, the lyrics or the riffs, what comes first when you are making a song? Where do you get your lyrical inspiration?

Music, lyrics and identity are 3 elements that make you stand out and make your band alive. For me. But talking about making songs by us, we usually start with instrumental music, then I just close my eyes and simply imagine what those sounds are about for me (no drugs involved, maybe glass of wine) and then I write it down. Our latest album – Story Makers is the first one I felt I needed to speak out about important staff so much – the world huge business, human behaviors, that racism is not cool etc. Till this album I prefered to inspire people, sing about being strong, having passions, stick to your true friends, having to let them go sometimes and my life. And our band’s life as this is also a good story to tell. Our friendship went through a lot as well…

How big is the scene in your hometown? Are there venues and clubs and fanzines, bands?

I live in Kraków, south of Poland. Hardcore scene is very strong here and in my country. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about melodic punkrock scene. Maybe the reason is a mentality of people here but this music is not very popular, not very needed, people connect this style mainly with foolish American teenage bands.  There are maybe 8 bands now in Poland, so we simply do our best to promote this genre and support other bands as much as we can.

How is living in Poland in general? We hear in Croatia that there is pretty right wing government over there, banning a lot of stuff?

Well, same here. Lots of protests, government decisions that drive people crazy, unbelievable brain wash and right wing comments that unfortunately inspire a lot of stupid people. It was also the reason I had to write about it in our songs. We are taking a huge step backwards and it really breaks my heart, but what breaks my heart the most is racism, discrimination and hatred. It all starts with anxiety that our government simply feeds…

What do you think about the rising right wing tide in Europe? Did the recent terrorist attacks only increase the hatred among people?

I think the most important thing here is to remember that what we see and hear on tv is not always true. How can you hate someone just because someone tells you to do so or is trying to convince you that one group of people is bad and responsible for attacks? I don’t buy it, I really feel like this is a huge business going on here, and right wing tide is simple using it for their own interests.. Nothing happens without a reason, we see just a tip of the iceberg, this is a huge war, modern type of war for me that uses simple human feelings, emotions and social media to manipulate us. To tell us who should we hate and who should we love. Total bullshit. People die, I understand but people die not only in greatest countries we see on tv…

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As I recall, it has been almost six months since Story Makers is out. How was the feedback on your last album?

Oh man, we are really proud of this album. We were simply planning to end CF98, due to lack of drummer, energy and good luck. And after 6 months after that time we had almost all the songs for Story Makers, the drummer, friendship and good times. Just because we did not give up. We received a lot of positive feedback, even from HC scene in PL. People say that this is our best album. I’m really thankful that Story Makers happened.

English lyrics vs lyrics in Polish language?

We have albums in Polish, but English was always my love. Our language is square for me and it’s really easier to write down my thoughts in English. A little strange but true!

What does the future hold in store for CF98?

In January we play couple of acoustic shows, to do something different for each other and friends. How often can you play punkrock, c’mon haha. Then, we have couple of shows planned in Slovakia and Poland. We are writing also very slowly new songs, so no pressure but we still make it going.

Thats it for the first time, thank you for your answers. For the end, tell me one thing. What do you guys know about Croatia? Maybe you heard for some Croatian band from our scene?

I remember one of my first hc/punk shows and that was Analena gig in Kraków. So good. And of course the sea – I know you are probably bored with it but your coast line is beautiful. I’m jealous. And I like your rakija.

Thanks for a chat and I hope CF98 will play in Croatia some day!

Follow CF98 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cf98music/

Bandcamp:https://cf98.bandcamp.com/

 

 

 

 

Interviews, Various

(interview)Punkreas:”People in underground are equal!”

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I first came in contact with Punkreas from Montenegro when they played a gig in my hometown a while ago. They were awesome and impressed me much with their blend of streetpunk and hardcore, so a couple of months ago we started to write to each other and this interview came naturally, so read what they said for my zine.

YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR 15 YEARS NOW. FOR STARTERS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE PUNKREAS TO THE READERS OF THIS ZINE? HAVE YOU EVER CHANGED LINEUP? HOW DID YOU START THE BAND?

First of all thanks for having us in your great webzine. Yes we’re on this road for 15 years,  this year we celebrate it on May 15th. I would say that we started a band while listening to punk rock mostly, but as we grew up as a humans we discover lots of other music and incorporate it in our music like ska, hardcore and classic rock, but we consider our band still as a punk rock. We changed few line ups- two bass players and one guitar player, but for long time three constant members are Dabo on vocal, Bula on guitar and I (Djola) on drums. Few years ago on bass guitar we have Veljko from another legendary bands DST and Autogeni trening. Last year we add second guitar Bojan and trumpet Stef (when we play bigger festivals). We realy don’t try to sound like someone even if it’s not possible today.

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YOUR NEW EP HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE. HOW WAS THE FEEDBACK? IT CAME OUT FOR NOCTURNE MEDIA. IS NOCTURNE MEDIA GONE AND NOT EXISTING ANYMORE? ARE YOU IN SEARCH OF NEW LABEL?

Yes our EP „1000 zasto, 1000 zato“ („1000 why, 1000 beacuse“, we took title from legendary book) came out for Nocturne media even it’s not existing anymore. The guy made new web portal Hardwire. We search for a new label and put our EP on English label Black bow records who put our EP on every digital platform. Also famous DIY label „Slusaj najglasnije“ from Zagreb, Croatia run by Zdenko Franic put our EP on his label and we’re proud of it. The feedback is really good, but we understand that people don’t listen to music like they used to and it’s really hard to reach audience anywhere. Also anyone who want to put our EP on their label we would love to give it.

YOUR LATEST VIDEO FOR THE SONG „NIJE KRAJ“(ITS NOT THE END) IS GREAT. HOW AND WHERE DID YOU RECORD IT? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT PROMOTING YOUR BAND WITH VIDEO CLIPS?

I’m glad that you like it. The story for that song and video is really touching. First we made record and my brother who is making videos and works as a director of photography came to genious idea. Now as you see in video our main character is former boxing champion Zoran Vujicic who has been diagnosed with fatal disease multiple sclerosis, and has been in wheelchair since then. We came to his house and asked him to be in our video because lyrics of the song are representing his fight for life. And in some way his disease is weaker than it was, and Zoran is feeling much better now, he has a great spirit, always smiling, and message of the song is his message, that you should never quit to fight. So in some weird way the song is just like it is written with purpose for him. And the video represents that struggle. We recorded the video on three locations. Home of revolution is one. It is ruined building in the center of our city (Niksic). The second one is Zoran’s home where we shot photos of him while he was doing exercises and the third one is Sports center in the city. We always try to shoot at least one video per record. For us it’s more fun than some marketing thing. When we get too old I’m sure we would love to see how we looked like when we were younger hahah.

IS THERE NEW MATERIAL IN PREPARATION? WILL THE NEW MATERIAL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE RELEASED MATERIAL IN ANY WAY?

Yes we already have some new songs that we’ll start to record this year. I think as we grow up it’s natural way that your next record sounds better and tighter. But main message and goal of our music will always stay the same.

YOU GUYS PLAYED IN CROATIA, HUNGARY AND SLOVENIA, DID YOU TOUR A LOT? HOW DOES PUNKREAS GIG LOOK AND SOUND LIKE?

We’ve been in Serbia, Austria and Romania also. We tour when we have time. I have to say that we already have booked tour in Slovenia, Serbia and Austria this summer, also there will be few Croatian gigs I hope so. But we don’t book regular tours. Well sound depends of few factors. Stage gear, sound man, etc. But we don’t think that this is so important for us. We played in dumps and big venues. It’s all about people. The gig will be great if people have energy like we do when we play. We give our 100% every time, and we’re totally drained after gig. The most important aspect of our music and touring are the people. The gig could be good and bad but we always made great friendships everywhere we go. So best part is before and after gig when we speak to people, hang out, drink beer. We remember it for the rest of our lives. Because we know how hard is for someone to promote punk and underground shows. Those people are real heroes, bigger than bands. Because you call me to play, give me food, beers and place to sleep. We appreciate it to the core. And I have to give my best for people who come to see us and pay the entrance.

WHEN I SAW YOU LIVE, YOU ALSO PLAYED SOME COVERS, FOR INSTANCE BY AGNOSTIC FRONT, WHAT BANDS DID INFLUENCE YOUR SOUND AS A BAND AND YOU AS MUSICIANS?

Yes we love to play some cover songs. As you mentioned Agnostic front. We played through the years many covers like Kud Idijoti, KBO!, Pasi, NBG, Cock Sparrer, Last resort, Booze and glory etc. We’re mainly influenced by our local bands DST and Dr Picasso, but there’s wide influence for us from Brittish street Oi punk to modern Californian sound. But i really have my respect to every single ex Yugoslavian punk band that still works and plays. For me they are heroes, and we consider every one of them our brothers in arms.

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WHY IS UNDERGROUND NETWORK SO BEAUTIFUL? CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST GIG YOU WENT TO AS A FAN?

Underground network is great because there are people like you and many more. The great thing happened when we played in Novo Mesto, Slovenia last year. We stayed and drank with people from squat Sokolc. As we spoke and had fun we came to brilliant idea to reunite ex Yugosav countries in new one that we should called Euroslavia. We hate politics and the thing that ruined our lives. For us we’re are still one people, one nation and everywhere we go we meet great people from any country that feel same as we do. That’s the best stuff. People in the underground are equal.

IS THERE A BIG SCENE IN YOUR TOWN? ANY BANDS, VENUES, ZINES? HOW IS LIFE IN MONTENEGRO IN GENERAL?

As I said in previous question, politics ruined our lives. In Montenegro there’s still government that bombed city of Dubrovnik when there was bloody civil war. They are still stupid, shitty people, corrupted to the bone. They are still stealing everything, sell country, and give people nothing. Social justice is worse than ever. There’s no power of law and lot of criminals are still free. I suppose when I speak to the people in the region that everywhere is almost the same situation. So when we rise together we would make our lives better. The scene is really weak. There are few venues and few bands. Lot of bands exist for some time and quit. Some of them are old now and don’t play often. Lot of cover bands. With my friend I run a web site mulj.net that covers rock music for 10 years. That’s about it. In the region I think that we’re only better than Kosovo but I’m not sure…

SINGING IN ENGLISH VS SINGING IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE?

It’s main goal for us to play in our native language. But in every record we put at least one song in English because native language of rock is English so it came natural for us. I think it’s same expression in both language.

THAT IS IT FOR THE FIRST TIME. IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD AND I DIDNT ASK YOU?

I could say that I am preparing a book of mainly punk rock interviews I have done for the past 10 years. There will be over 200 interviews with lots of bands from ex Yugoslavia and the world. I hope that it will be out sometime before summer this year, and be sure that you’ll be the one of the first who will know when it comes out. Cheers to all your readers and support! Hope to see you this year somewhere.

https://www.facebook.com/PunkreasNiksic2003/

 

 

 

 

Interviews, Various

(interview)BATES MOTEL-“Being surrounded by people who think and feel the same as you helps everything flow and makes underground a safe space for everyone. “

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European punk and hardcore scene was never better. Every day I discover new excellent bands like Bates Motel, skatepunk from Valencia, Spain. I talked to the band for my zine, so read it.

Hello and welcome to my webzine! For starters, how would you describe BATES MOTEL to the readers of this zine that haven’t heard your band yet?

First of all thank you for giving us a voice and being interested in our band. Bates Motel is a skatepunk band from Valencia, Spain, influenced by technical bands such as Mute or A Wilhelm Scream, without forgetting the most passionate side of punk rock.

How come the name Bates Motel, were you fans of the Psycho movies? Weren’t you afraid that the makers of the same titled TV series would sue you?

To tell you the truth the band name comes from a Mute song. “Bates Motel” was a theme that united us all from the beginning, the start of something big. We never feared that the show would take measures because we understand that we come from very different places. With this said, we are followers of the show. We send our regards if they are reading, haha!

How did you get in touch with the underground music scene? Why is this diy underground scene and ethics so beautiful?

Since we were teenagers we’ve felt very attracted to the underground scene of our city. For years as public, and finally as a band. We grew and lived the best years of our lives being a part of this movement, so when we ended up as a band we were all excited for playing at places and with the people that we shared this moments with.

As for the second question we consider that the underground scene, regardless of where it’s from, it’s always full of truth and passion. Almost nobody is there to follow a fashion or a pose. All of us have something in common; our principles, and very concrete emotions. Being surrounded by people who think and feel the same as you helps everything flow and makes underground a safe space for everyone.

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What is more important in your music, the lyrics or the riffs, what comes first when you are making a song? Where do you get your lyrical inspiration?

We believe it’s important for both things to be at the same level. It’s something we’ve worked very hard on in our last CD. The riffs and the atmosphere we tried to create with our music has to compliment the lyrics and what it conveys to achieve something authentic and sincere.

We usually compose the instrumental part first, and the voice comes after, although there’s nothing written in stone when it comes to music.

If we talk about our lyrics, the basic has always been transmitting sincerity. At the time we live in it’s easy to fall on topics. We try to talk about ourselves and express how we feel every moment, about our personal situation and our emotions. That is something people feel in every live show. There’s no claims, we just try to tell the truth.

How big is the scene in your hometown? Are there venues and clubs and fanzines, bands?

Unfortunately the current situation of our city is very delicate. Valencia has always been known for having big bands and good punk and hardcore concerts, but lately the lack of support from the people and the big discord between fans and genres makes it unsustainable to keep a promoter or to work with medium and big bands from other parts of the globe that come on tour. Luckily we have festivals like the Quimera Fest or promoters like L’Alqueria Negra that try to fight this situation. You know, nothing is lost is you don’t stop fighting for it.

 

How is living in Spain in general? What is your opinion on the things that went down in Catalonia?

The situation in Spain is unsustainable in many ways. Historically we come from a 40 year long dictatorship and a political transition that didn’t live up to its name, relegating the powers and privileges of those who had impunity during franquism. Each time we’ve tried to lift our heads as a country, we’ve been shut down. Currently we are in a position never seen before in our democracy. The corruption splashes disproportionately our government, corrupting the institutions from the inside, and the people, in their majority, keep voting the same party. At the same time, we have a problem in Catalonia that has never been treated democratically. There’s people who want to vote freely and give their opinion and the only thing the Government does is opress them in an unforgivable way. There’s a lot of people uninterested in politics, and that is precisely what the right wing has been trying to achieve throughout the last years, this way they keep a bipartisan and accommodated system that agonizes without representing the people at all. We live in a fictional reality and a lot of people want to leave. We all ask ourselves: How can we change this? We believe we should never lose hope, but lately the situation can surpass anyone.

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What do you think about the rising right wing tide in Europe? Did the recent terrorist attacks only increase the hatred among people?

It’s alarming that the same triumphs in the right wing 80 years ago are repeating themselves. That took Europe to an abyss and the world to a Second World War. The rise of this ideology always tells us that something is wrong. It’s a problem that extends all over Europe like wildfire. We will see where it leads to this time and we hope it doesn’t go beyond. Fascism is, first of all, beyond bearing. About the terrorist attacks, we believe it to be something that both politicians and the media have used in their favour to increase hate towards immigrants and refugees, and of course that has its connotations in society, that, unfortunately, we know is very malleable and easy to manipulate by those up above. Attacks happening are always a tragedy, but we need to understand that it’s not the refugees’ fault, but fanatism’s, promoted by interests alien to the people that tries to run from their countries because they are being killed by the same weapons that kill us.

When are you planning to release the new material? Will it be different compared to the stuff you have done until now? How was the feedback on your last album?

We just released a new album on June through some record labels from Europe and Japan and we are delighted with the welcome it’s having. We have been able to work with very professional people and it has been two very rough years getting the project forward, you know, a lot of sacrifices, but it’s worth it. We’d like to go on tour through Europe and play in the big punk festivals in the old continent, but it’s not always up to us. We’ll make everything in our hands to take our music everywhere we can.

Our next work will be, of course, a turning point. We are already composing new material, although it probably won’t come out for a long time, because there’s still a lot to live with “High Expectations, Higher Deceptions”. What is sure is that it will be an album full of social and political complaint in its lyrics. This hasn’t been a topic we have discussed a lot to this time, but it would be a crime not to manifest and claim what we feel through what we are most passionate about: composing and playing songs.

English lyrics vs lyrics in Spanish?

We agreed at the beginning to sing in English so that we could reach more people with our music. We don’t want our music to have frontiers and the English language allows us to be heard by people and to be understood both in Spain and the rest of the world, and that is something wonderful.

There’s people that follow us in Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, and that is something that would probably cost us more to achieve if the language we sang in was Spanish.

That’s it for the first time, thank you for your answers. For the end, tell me one thing. What do you guys know about Croatia? Maybe you’ve heard from some Croatian band from our scene?

Croatia, as all the countries born from former Yugoslavia, has a very curious recent history. We all know it’s very famous for its islands, but is it true you invented the necktie? Hahaha. We’ve heard something from Noisefight and Fast Response and is awesome. We would like to tour Croatia in 2018, so that´s a good opportunity to know better your music.

Thanks a lot!

https://www.facebook.com/BatesMotelVLC/

https://batesmotelvlc.bandcamp.com/