Here we are with Claudio from ELEPHANT WKND, a German rock band founded in 2019. Let's have a chat with him about their music.
Hi Claudio and welcome to this interview. Tell us about your latest release II
Our concept was to meet one weekend a year without any preparation of material and start from scratch. This was the second time, we start to jam and everyone of us is bringing his ideas into it.
As longtime musicians we played together in several different projects, so we know each other very well which makes our work very productive and results in a lot of fun – but there are always a few fights and discussions as well...
After our first weekend we had no idea about what would happen afterwards, since it originally was just intented as a band retreat. After the release of our first EP we were simply blown away by the reaction of the people around us. So we decided to do it again without any change of the process.
- How would you describe your sound?
I would say our sound is kind of a mix between Alternative Rock and 90’s Grunge – that was the main time we started playing in bands and getting deeper into music - but we don’t try to hide that we all like catchy hooks:)
- What do you write about?
The themes vary, but most of the time we just write about the things that happen to us - life, love and death. We like the idea of filling a song with stuff that happened to us, so most of the time the lyrics reflect our own experiences – but sometimes they´re just fiction.
- What do you listen to when you are home?
We have very different tastes in music but I would say that we all like good handmade guitar music.
- Your favourite live performance so far?
As far as our band is concerned we have no live experience, since we started out during the Covid19-Pandemic and didn´t get a chance to play live, so far.
To me personally it was Muse in a rather small venue of 2000 people.
As it was a special gig before the stadium tour - I expected them to play just a small set of 45 minutes, but it was an amazingly spectacular concert that lasted over two hours.
- Tell us a funny story that happened in studio or on stage
There are no funny stories, we´re just too serious! No, of course we´re not, but I just can´t think of any really funny stories right now – please ask me again next time ;)
- Your favourite albums?
Too hard to decide, I only can name some of them:
Red Hot Chilly Peppers - Sex Sugar Blood Magic (all time favourite)
The Who - Who’s last
R.E.M - Automatic for the people
I am Kloot - Sky at Night
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
- A musician you would like to meet for a beer?
Henry Rollins
- What would you ask backstage if you were the most important band on earth?
Please stick to realistic questions ;) No idea, there´s nothing really special someone needs before you play a show...
What are your plans for the next future?
The next ELEPHANT WKND session. Can’t wait to meet the guys again – it´s already been scheduled. And maybe playing a few shows next year.
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