.. interview ..
Subheim
Greece
(16.09.2008, ryby_meets_zmijucha77)
Let us kindly know, who and when has found this project and how would you characterize it.
Subheim is Kostas K's personal project, founded 2007 in Greece, in which
vocalist Katja sings in both the albums and live shows. Debut album APPROACH is really hot stuff on American label TYMPANIK AUDIO
nowadays.
How did it come from such remoteness and when did you start to
cooperate with Paul?
I had been involved in lots of different kinds of music until I came up with
the Subheim idea. Up till then, I was mostly into up-tempo, extreme music. I reached a certain point where I wanted things to sound really deep and emotional, with lots of reverbs and chaotic ambiences. And that was the time when "Subheim" became true. I had asked many known labels if they would be interested in releasing "Approach" and most of them showed big interest I have to admit. However, the fact that Paul's answer was immediately "yes" and his great interest for what I do made me decide at once that this was the label to go with. Apart from that, I was leaning more towards the option of a quite fresh label, whose founders have strong will to push things some levels forward. And Tympanik is definitely one of those.
Does it mean, there was no material ever released before this CD?
Exactly. At least not under the name "Subheim". Before that, I had released a few stuff under different names, quite different music than the one I'm into at the moment (even blackmetal) but there never was an "official" release, to call it so.
The music you produce is carried in a film spirit and the atmospheric
tones. What do you perceive while composing? Or are you inspired by
anything?
I am really glad that you get that feeling out of my music. I've always been a really passionate and sentimental person I guess. Even when I was
experimenting with different kinds of music, you could always find these
elements that one could cry over like a little girl (laughs;). The truth is
I always bring to mind string imagery and scenes that haunt my conscious and unconscious life. The passion around me, people that hurt or live in agony, despair, broken lives as well as personal experiences couldn't be something to be left outside. Film soundtracks move me a lot as well as well as electronic music which comes out rich in emotions. If you mix all the above together then you probaly get something that sounds like Subheim.
TANJAīs voice is a strong part. Is she a stable member of the project? What is her influence on the production?
Katja is an incredible singer. Her vocals are gorgeous and even though she's been singing professionally for a short period of time, she has collaborated with great musicians like Chameleon jersey and Detritus. Her vocals are absolutely her compositions and I usually don't have to change anything or even suggest something diffrerent. I trust her in what she does and each time I listen to something new she does for one of my tracks, I'm happily surprised. Apart from that, even though she doesn't have a role (yet:) in the composition of the tracks, she always gives inredibly helpful ideas on the enorchestration and how certain things should sound in my music. And to be honest, "Approach" would never be the same without her unique vocals and her important advice.
To be honest, I donīt know much about Greek underground scene. Would you tell us more about it?
Well, there wasn't much to mention, not until recently at least. Some years
now, I'm watching some incredible musicians baed in Greece that have given out magnificent pieces of work. To mention just a few, Spyweirdos, Peekay Tayloh and Tokyo Mask are some and of course some really new projects, that are currently preparing their first releases like Mobthrow or Aris H. The list quite big and it's really good that we see such interesting acts coming out of a country whose citizens are by far into mainstream ways of entertainment.
Apart from the music, you are a member of SPECTRALIQUID label and you are also in a charge of concerts organizing. Can you give us an idea of this work and about everything what the label gathers and what are its expectations in the future...?
Spectraliquid started off mainly as en events organiser but mostly focuses
one the label business nowadays. Our aim was to form a powerful team that would promote intelligent forms of music, closer to darker aesthetics, while also promoting new media design and art. The label goes pretty well up until now, while the time we're speaking, our 3rd release is being prepared, an EP by UK's EBOLA with contributions by End.user and Shitmat as well. My future expections is to see the label grow bigger and release constrantly more great stuff by lots of different artists within the electronic scene. That is why Spectraliquid is a devoted shelter to all dark music ranging from IDM, technoid, ambient and soundtrack to technoid, dubstep or industrial.
The visual art is definitely part of the electronic music. How do you feel about it?
I'm 100% supporting this opinion. As being a graphic designer myself, I
couldn't agree more with that. To put it this way, I would never imagine my music, the label I run or any other activity I'm into without strong and
well put together, images.
What do you think about present electro scene?
I think there's so much music out there that there isn't a possibility one
will not find something to match his taste. There are great electronic acts
in almost every subgenre of electronic music. However, I strongly believe
that more or less, almost everything has been created, performed and heard before so I think artists that don't stick to one or two specific genres are the ones that can build up as strong musical output for the years to come as well. Strictly IDM or strictly noise music etc. has little luck of staying alive for a long while. Besides, if you take a carfeful look, you will notice that most of the truly innovative acts that have their own strong character will embody lots of different elements into their stuff and that's what makes me unique. That's the way I'm trying to work on my music, I'm not the one to tell if I accomplish that but this is what fascinates me the most.
What is your opinion on mp3 and audio record? Do you think it is still worth to release CDs?
Well, money-wise one can say it isn't. I'm one of the persons that are
totally against mp3 because it totally lacks culture and beauty. It's just a
digital format that comes with no artwork, nothing to touch or feel. i think
that takes away most of art's meaning. Kids now have got used to downloading everything and just making thousands of folders with stuff they probably will never listen to. That really makes me sad and as a label owner myself I can see the harm it produces. Personally, I do have mp3 in my hard drive but only as a way to pre-listen stuff I'll most likely buy. I can't buy anything but I'm trying to support artists and labels whose music I love as much as possible.
You run CD shop too. Are CDs sold well in your country?
No, no, no. Greece is a dead place for music that doesn't go along with the
mainstream formulas. That makes it really hard to run an independent label but, I'm afraid, that's the way it goes. Greece is beautiful country. Is it specific inspiration for you? It is like spending the whole life on holiday for us. How do you feel about it? He he, if sunny Greece was an influence to me, I wouldn't be writing this kind of depressive music;) I think I would be into pop or house! The thing is I'm studying in a Greek island (Samos) and this definitely is a good place to get influenced by. Always calm, very few people and a magic physical beauty that makes winter nights a good time for conceiving some rather sad tunes.... Where do you work?
I don't have a day job at the moment, I'm finishing University this year and seeking for a job after that. You can say Spectraliquid is my dayjob for the moment.
You will be in Slovakia in October. Donīt you worry you may feel cold here, heee? What are you going to offer to Slovak audience? Is there anything from Slovak scene that had had an impact on you?
He he, I will definitely be cold up there. I'll never forget Dave Detritus
laughing at me when I was feeling extremely cold up in the UK, while he was simply wearing his tee;) Anyway,I think I'll make it:) As for my live set, I believe that Slovak people will have the opportunity to see a very
passionate live show, which will be based on my first album "Approach",
while they will have the chance to listen to a few brand new tracks that go
on a slightly more complex, soundtrack-based and harder level.
Expectations in the future.....
Hmmm, that's a hard one. Regardless of how people around the world will see my music and how it evolves in the next years, I wish for myself to be
always true in what he does. As long as I can write music that manages to
stand for a big part of my inner world, that gives me all the completion I
need. Above all, let's hope I don't get deaf, he he;) .Hearing problems
might prevent me from doing good music, he he!
Last words....
Hope and only hope. The world around us is collapsing...relationships, our
physical environment, everything falls apart. Hope is the only way that
keeps me going. Even if it's making its way out in the most difficult way.
Thank you for the interview and your overall support my friends, we'll meet up this October in Slovakia. Be well;)
)