R'N'R Webzine
(POLAND)
DATE: 31-MARCH-03
1.- SALUD ALEJANDRO! HOW DOES THE THINGS IN ARGENTINA GO?
SALUD DOOBAN! WELL, THE THINGS ARE NOT COMPLETELY WELL HERE BUT, ANYWAY, WE CONTINUE IN THE FIGHT!
2.- TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF 1917. HOW DID YOUR MUSIC LOOK LIKE ALMOST 10 YEARS BEFORE?
THE BAND WAS BORN IN THE MIDDLE OF 1994, AND INITIALLY THE LINEUP CONSISTED IN FOUR MEMBERS. NATURALLY, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS SOME CHANGES HAPPENED, AND AT THIS MOMENT ONLY TWO ORIGINAL MEMBERS REMAIN ON THIS PROJECT: PANSA ON BASS AND ME, ALEJANDRO, ON GUITAR AND VOCALS. SINCE THE BEGINNING WE PLAY DEATH METAL INFLUENCED BY SEVERAL METAL STYLES. OUR OLD COMPOSITIONS WERE LESS COMPLEX, BUT BASICALLY ALL OUR RELEASES DOESN'T MOVE AWAY FROM OUR OWN ROOTS. I STILL LIKE MOST OF THE OLD COMPOSITIONS.
3.- WHY DID YOU NAME THE BAND WITH THE NUMBER? WHAT DOES THIS DATE (?) MEAN?
1917 WAS THE TITLE OF ONE OF MY FIRST COMPOSITIONS, WHICH WAS PART OF OUR OLD LIVE SET. BEFORE WE BEGIN TO PLAY LIVE WE BAPTIZE IN THIS WAY TO THE PROJECT, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS QUITE ORIGINAL, QUITE PERSONAL. THERE IS NOT ANY PARTICULAR HISTORICAL EVENT BEHIND THIS NUMBER!
4.- OVER THE YEARS YOUR MUSIC EVOLUATED. I'VE READ THAT YOU WERE INSPIRED BY BLACK, DEATH AND THRASH SCENE. TELL ME SOMETHING MORE ABOUT ALL THOSE INFLUENCES.
I'M FAN OF METAL MUSIC, I REALLY ENJOY LISTENING ALL METAL STUFF THAT I CAN! FOR THIS REASON, I THINK THAT IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SEVERAL INFLUENCES BEGIN TO ARISE AT THE MOMENT I'M COMPOSING MY MUSIC. ANYWAY, AND ALTHOUGH I RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE THESE INFLUENCES, I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO COMPOSE WHAT I REALLY WANT TO EXPRESS, WITHOUT FOLLOWING ANY SPECIFIC TREND. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO CREATE PERSONAL AND TRUE SONGS. AND THIS IS MY MAIN OBJECTIVE!
5.- THE LOGO OF 1917 SEEM TO EVOLUATE WITH THE MUSIC. WHY DID YOU CHANGE IT FOR "GENESIS & HORROR" ALBUM?
TO TELL THE TRUTH, I NEVER LIKED TOO MUCH THE OLD LOGO! WE SIMPLY ADOPTED THE FIRST PROPOSED DESIGN. WE NEVER WORKED PARTICULARLY ON A LOGO, AND WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE GAVE US A NEW DESIGN, WE DECIDED THAT THE CHANGE DEFINITIVELY WAS WORTHWHILE. I THINK THAT THE NEW ONE HAS THE APPROPRIATE AESTHETICS.
6.- IN 1996 YOU'VE RELEASED THE FIRST DEMO TAPE - "BIENVENIDO A LA NADA". WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THAT STUFF NOWADAYS? WHAT DOES THE TITLE MEAN ANYWAY? ;)
ABOUT THE TAPE TITLE, IT MEANS "WELCOME TO NOTHINGNESS". THAT DEMO CONSISTED ON FOUR OF OUR FIRST SONGS. IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR 1917, AND I KEEP VERY GOOD MEMORIES OF THOSE DAYS. THE SOUND WAS QUITE RAW AND DIRECT! BUT, AS I ALREADY SAID, I STILL LIKE THIS STUFF. IN FACT, THE SONG "BIENVENIDO A LA NADA" IS INCLUDED ON OUR CURRENT LIVE SHOWS.
7.- TWO YEARS LATER YOU'VE RECORDED "INTI HUACAY" (CAN YOU TRANSLATE THAT FOR ME AGAIN?) - YOUR FIRST FULL ALBUM. HOW DOES THE MUSIC OF 1917 LOOKED LIKE IN 1998?
"INTI HUACAY" IT MEANS "TEAR OF THE SUN" IN AN ANCIENT ABORIGINAL LANGUAGE. AFTER "BIENVENIDO A LA NADA" WE RECORDED TWO TRACKS FOR A COMPILATION TAPE TITLED "MEMORIAS DE MUERTE", WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN 1997. AND, IN THAT SAME YEAR, WE BEGIN TO WORK IN OUR FIRST ALBUM. FOR THAT REASON, THE SONGS DIDN'T HAVE MANY DIFFERENCES IF WE COMPARE THEM WITH THE PREVIOUS MATERIAL. THREE SONGS THAT HAD BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE TAPES WERE RECORDED AGAIN, BESIDES OTHER NEW SONGS. IN THIS CD THE SOUND WAS A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS RECORDINGS, BUT STILL RAW! I AM STILL VERY PROUD OF "INTI HUACAY". ALL THE COPIES WERE SOLD OUT, EVEN WITH NO PUBLICITY NOR PROMOTIONAL GIGS!
8.- I'VE NOTICED THAT YOU RECORD MANY NEW SONGS FOR COMPILATION CD-S ("NAHUEL VOL.III", "SUDAMERICA BRUTAL VOL. II" BY HURLING METAL OR "MEMORIAS DE MUERTE", ETC.). WHY DO YOU RECORD SO MANY SPLITS? MANY OF THOSE SONGS DIDN'T APPEAR ON REGULAR ALBUMS.
WE REALLY LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN COMPILATIONS. WE ALWAYS TRY TO ACCEPT ALL THE INVITATIONS! AND, WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE SONGS.
9.- HURLING METAL SEEMS TO DO GOOD WORK FOR THE BAND. YOU KNOW - ALL THE COMPILATIONS AND REGULAR CD-S.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LABEL IS QUITE PARTICULAR. IT IS FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION MAINLY. WE TAKE CHARGE OF PRODUCING OUR OWN MATERIAL, AND WHEN THE RECORDINGS AND THE ARTWORK DESIGNS ARE FINISHED, THEN WE PUBLISH IT THROUGH HURLING METAL RECORDS. WHEN THE ALBUM IS FINALLY READY, THE LABEL STARTS TO WORK ON PART OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND DIFFUSION.
10.- IN 2002 "GENESIS & HORROR" WAS RECORDED. NOWADAYS 1917 IS MORE DEATH-LIKE, DON'T YOU THINK?
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW! OUR COMPOSITIONS ARE EVERY TIME MORE AGGRESSIVE AND TECHNICAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY POSSESS MORE STRUCTURED MELODIES. I THINK THAT "GENESIS & HORROR" AS THE RECENT "SUDAMERICA BRUTAL VOL. II" CONTAINS SONGS WHICH ARE THE MOST MATURE AND COMPLETE COMPOSITIONS THAT WE MADE TO THE DATE. AND FORTUNATELY WE WORK IN A RECORDING STUDIO THAT CONTRIBUTES TO ACCOMPLISH THE DEATH METAL SOUND THAT WE LOOK FOR.
11.- HOW DOES THE COMPOSING PROCESS OF 1917 MUSIC LOOK LIKE?
THERE ARE NOT AN ONLY PROCESS, NOT REALLY. SO I CANNOT TELL YOU INTERESTING DETAILS!
12.- WHAT ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?
ABOUT MUSICAL INFLUENCES, I REALLY LIKE BANDS SUCH AS HYPOCRISY, DEATH, CYNIC, NOCTURNUS, ABIGOR, SEPTIC FLESH, STORM, MISANTHROPE, DISSECTION, DISINCARNATE, TRISTITIA, IRON MAIDEN, W.A.S.P., KING DIAMOND, PESTILENCE, GORGUTS, CARCASS... THE LIST IS VERY VERY EXTENSIVE!
13.- WHAT'S THE IDEA OF RECORDING INSTRUMENTAL SONGS LIKE KONDORES? IN YOUR BIOGRAPHY I'VE READ THAT ON "INTI HUACAY" YOU'D RECORDED 2 SONGS BASED ON SOUTHAMERICAN ABORIGINAL MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AS YOU SAY, WE INCLUDED SOME SHORT INSTRUMENTAL TRACKS BASED ON THE ABORIGINAL MUSIC. THE IDEA WAS TO CONFERRING TO OUR RELEASES A TOUCH OF SOUTH AMERICAN IDENTITY. IT IS ALSO A HOMAGE TO THE ANCIENT CULTURES OF THESE LANDS AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, WE LIKE THE CONTRAST OF THE MELANCHOLY OF THOSE MELODIES AGAINST THE BRUTALITY OF OUR METAL SONGS.
14.- ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS IN 1917 ARE THE LYRICS. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO SING IN SPANISH?
IT IS NOT A DECISION. IS A TOTALLY NATURAL THING TO SING IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE! I KNOW THAT A LOT OF BANDS ARE SINGING IN ENGLISH, BUT SOME OTHERS ARE SINGING IN THEIR OWN TONGUES. I PREFER TO WRITE IN SPANISH, BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS. SPANISH IS A VERY COMPLETE LANGUAGE AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, MY ENGLISH IS NOT TOO GOOD. AND I LIKE TO WRITE USING A LOT OF ALLEGORIES AND METAPHORS; IF I TRANSLATE THEM IN ENGLISH, THEY CAN CHANGE BOTH SENSE AND STRUCTURES OF THE SONGS.
15.- ON "GENESIS & HORROR" THERE ARE ALSO TWO ENGLISH TEXTS. WHAT'S THE IDEA OF PERFORMING DOES TWO TRACKS IN OTHER LANGUAGE? DON'T YOU THINK THAT SPANISH FITS TO 1917 BETTER?
YEAH, I THINK THAT SPANISH FITS BETTER ON OUR MUSIC! BUT I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IS A GOOD IDEA TO INCLUDE A SONG TRANSLATED IN ENGLISH ON A RELEASE, ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAS NOT IDEA ABOUT SPANISH. SO, THE SONG I CHOOSE TO TRANSLATE IT IS THE ONE WHICH HAS THE MOST "LINEAR" LYRIC; IN THIS WAY I TRY TO AVOID THE PROBLEM I TOLD YOU ABOUT ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION. ON "GENESIS & HORROR", YOU WILL SEE THAT ONLY ONE OF THE ENGLISH-TITLED TRACKS IS A REGULAR SONG, AND THE OTHER ONE IS AN INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION.
16.- THE CD COVER IS PRETTY MYSTERIOUS. WHAT'S ON IT?
WE FIND THE CD COVER ARTISTICALLY APPROPRIATE. IT DOESN'T HAVE A MEANING IN ITSELF, BUT RATHER GLOBALLY CONTRIBUTES WITH A TOUCH TO THE ALBUM CONCEPT. AS YOU SAID, IS A QUITE DARK AND MYSTERIOUS PAINTING.
17.- I'VE NOTICED YOUR PROBLEMS WITH THE LINE-UP. "GENESIS & HORROR" WAS RECORDED ONLY BY YOU AND PANSA. IS IT HARD TO FIND GOOD MUSICIANS TO PLAY 1917 MUSIC?
IS HARD FOR US TO COMPLETE AN LINEUP, BECAUSE THE BRUTAL METAL IS NOT VERY POPULAR HERE, AND MOST OF THE METAL MUSICIANS ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER TRADITIONAL OR TOO MODERN STYLES. WE ONLY NEED A FULL-TIME DRUMMER!
18.- HOW DOES THE CASE OF CONCERTS LOOK LIKE? I'VE READ THAT YOU'VE GOT A GUEST DRUMMER (ERIC) AT GIGS.
YES, FORTUNATELY ERIC IS PLAYING THE DRUMS IN THE CURRENT REHEARSALS AND LIVE SHOWS. HE IS PLAYING WITH US AS GUEST MUSICIAN, BECAUSE HE HAS HIS OWN BAND. EVERYTHING IS COMING OUT REALLY WELL!
19.- HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT PLAYING OUTSIDE SOUTH AMERICA?
OF COURSE! IN FACT, WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY INVITATIONS FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES. AN EXTENSIVE TOUR IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO THIS YEAR. BUT TIME WILL TELL...
20.- WHAT ABOUT NEW STUFF? LATELY, YOU'VE RECORDED SOME STUFF FOR "SUDAMERICA BRUTAL VOL. II" SPLIT WITH SLOW AGONY AND SLOW DEATH. WHEN DO YOU PLAN RECORDING THE NEW ALBUM?
WELL, IN THE YEAR 2002 WE HAVE PUBLISHED TWO ALBUMS, SO WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT CONVENIENT TO BEGIN WITH A NEW RELEASE YET. I HAVE ALREADY COMPOSED ALL THE SONGS FOR THE NEXT CD, BUT WE WILL WAIT A LITTLE MORE TIME BEFORE RECORDING IT.
21.- WHAT'S THE POSITION OF 1917 AND METAL IN ARGENTINA?
METAL MUSIC IS CONQUERING HIS PLACE HERE IN ARGENTINA, BUT IT IS VERY UNDERGROUND YET. THE MELODIC HEAVY METAL PREVAILS HERE, AND THE BANDS THAT PLAYS EXTREME METAL ARE FIGHTING TO SHOW THIS KIND OF MUSIC. FORTUNATELY MANY METALHEADS, RADIO STATIONS AND FANZINES ARE SUPPORTING US, AND THE SCENE IS MORE PROLIFIC.
22.- R'N'R IS FROM POLAND, SO I HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE POLISH METAL SCENE?
REGRETTABLY I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE SCENE OF POLAND. AND I SUPPOSE THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENS IN POLAND ABOUT THE SCENE OF ARGENTINA! I HAVE LISTENED JUST A FEW OF YOUR DEATH METAL BANDS. SO I INVITE TO ALL THE BANDS AND LABELS AND METALHEADS TO WRITE US AND TO TRADE SOME STUFF!!
23.- DID THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS INFLUENCE THE METAL SCENE IN ARGENTINA?
YES, THE CRISIS HAS AFFECTED TO THE SCENE, OF COURSE, AS TO MANY OTHER THINGS ALSO. A LOT OF BANDS HAVE HAD TO ABANDON THEIR PLANS DUE TO THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. BUT THE SITUATION IS STARTING TO BE STABILIZED, SO I SUPPOSE THAT SLOWLY ALL THIS PROBLEMS WILL BE REVERTED AND THE ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE.
24.- WHAT ARE THE WISHES OF 1917 FOR THE FUTURE?
WE ARE PLANNING TO PLAY LIVE IN EACH PLACE IN THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO CARRY OUT A METAL SHOW. THEN WE WILL BEGIN TO RECORD A NEW ALBUM, WHICH WOULD BE PUBLISHED POSSIBLY AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, OR MAYBE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE UPCOMING YEAR.
25.- OK... LAST WORDS FOR FANS IN POLAND!
METAL GREETINGS TO YOU ALL!!! AND THANKS TO YOU, DOOBAN, FOR THIS SPACE AND YOUR INTEREST. KEEP IN TOUCH!!