Fliptop
Box
For me, that I had
the chance to listen to all their releases up to now, Fliptop Box is a
special band that doesn't want to exist just to copy their beloved bands,
but they want to make something out of it and let us know of their personal
vision, of what's going on in their minds. They don't want to add to the
stagnant waters of our music, but in fact they want to create their own
movement, leave their mark with their unique sound. I think they are more
and more moving towrds this direction...If you find this intriguing, here's
the interview to prove it so...
1. Congratulations on “Souls”! How do you
feel about it now that it’s ready?
We feel very satisfied cause we’ve been through
changes when we were recording “Souls”. Despite the predicaments, we believe
that the result is satisfactory.
2. What happened to Fliptop Box in the meantime?
Our bass and guitar players left the band
after recording their parts. It was something very bad for us .We were
like a family.
3. This is your third demo CD. In which ways
have you evolved? How has your music changed all these years?
We began with no i.d. in our music. Not a
specified genre. After all these years we formed our sound, but we still
don’t belong...
4. What’s the highlight of “Souls” and what
part or element do you think needs further improvement?
The highlight is the songs. The melodies.
The lyrics. We try to give to the audience something new, but simple and
authentic.
There are a lot of things you want to change
after you have recorded your songs. This happens to all.
5. What kind of procedure do you follow whilst
composing the songs? How do you keep this balance between the aggressive
parts and the melodic lines?
There are no rules. Sometimes we compose a
song in months and sometimes in an hour. The lyrics are the key for the
balance between aggressive and melodic parts. The feeling…
6. You had a female vocalist and now John you
are responsible for the vocals apart from all your other duties in Fliptop
Box. Why?
I believe now it’s more aggressive but less
atmospheric. The female vocalist was an experiment for us.
7. Which are your sources of inspiration? Which
are those topics or situations that “force” you into putting them down
on paper?
I spend time, reading and searching things
about religions, about the other side of history. The battle between good
and bad, that’s in our heads.
8. Tel us a few things about each songs’ lyrics.
Well-let’s sing:
“Slaves-no more whispers for the slaves of
my beliefs “-Wings
“You failed. Deny the cross I’m nailed” –Stoned
side boy
“I’m alright with this gun in my head”-Invasion
“I’m engaged with lewdness and so tired of
feeling low”-Divine
9. The cover artwork is white, simple and yet
very beautiful. Why? Is it a metaphor for souls, meaning that a soul is
clean and pure as white or is it something entirely different?
It’s all about souls. And soul is something
very simple, but we don’t know it yet.
10. Have you got any plans for live shows?
No. We are searching for a second guitarist..
11. What kind of feedback have you received
this far? What was the most flattering and what the most unfair comment
you read about your music?
The most flattering was the review from your
zine, to our second CD. I can’t remember something unfair. Only some bad
reviews.
12. Are you under negotiations with any labels?
What do you want to be offered in order to sign a deal with any of them?
We send our demo to some labels, small labels,
but we don’t have any proposals until now. The only thing we want from
a label is freedom to compose our music.
13. What kind of emotions do you think your
music creates to your listeners?
Misery. Some melancholy. Some anger.
14. What thoughts or ideas pass through your
mind whilst playing or listening to your songs?
I’m sorry but I don’t want to talk about it.
15. Why do you think it’s so difficult for
a Greek band to stand out and make themselves known in the worldwide metal
scene?
It’s difficult because of us. Most bands play
music like a tribute band to someone. We do not have confidence in ourselves.
We don’t try to play something different.
16. Why things are even worse in the native
market? I see that most metal heads don’t support or respect the Greek
bands. Please comment on that.
I don’t agree…go to a gig with bands like
Deus ex machina, Nightstalker, Rotting Christ e.t.c. The audience respects
you when you are authentic.
17. Thank you! Leave a message to our readers…
Christine Parastatidou
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