Antillectual comes from Holland and they do really nice music. Willem who plays guitar and sings have taken his time to be interview by me. This happened in February of 2007.

History?
-Antillectual is around since 2001. The last few years we released some demo’s and 1 full-length CD called Silencing Civilization. We’ve toured Europe several times and have been to the US in the summer of 2004. We’ve never been to Sweden unfortunately …

Please tell me a little about every member, age, family, work, interests and
something bad about every one?
-We’re a three piece consisting of Yvo who plays bass and does the screaming parts of our vocals. He’s 24, father and still studying. He also runs the typewriter distro we always bring on shows. He gets hyperactive when he’s had (too much) coffee. Or fresh air.
Riekus is our drummer, 23 years old, works at the school he’s also studying at. He’s in almost every band there is in Holland. He has very awkward habits when asleep.
My name is Willem, I play guitar and I sing the more melodic stuff. I’m 25 and garbage man, which is a really respected profession here in Holland. I also play in a band called Brat Pack. Another bad habit is being a controlaholic.
A little side note: I hope you’re not trying to break us up through pointing out each other’s bad habits.

My review of your record is like this ANTILLECTUAL-SILENCING CIVILIZATION(CD-ANGRY YOUTH AYR002) Bands from Netherlands often have very high class and often sounds angry. This group haven´t the same sound as many other bands from the same country….they often plays SxE-similar hardcore but Antillectual plays a much more melodic form of hardcore or how to say it and explain them. The singer have the little bit angry voice(or maybe more the backgroundsinger) as tougher bands have but that´s maybe the nearest the band comes sxE hardcore. I really like the ten songs and that will you also do if you like groups who likes to plays really fast but anyway keep the melodies and which have a little bit of emocore in their music too…. All is a group I think about sometimes. (SEVEN) 15/1-07
What about it?
-Thank you very much. I guess we can live with it. Even though I have to emphasize that there’s more than only straight edge bands coming from the Netherlands. Those guys give us a bad reputation even though there’s more where we come from. But thanks, I appreciate what you’re saying about us.

Is there any other bands you´re being compared with?
-Well, I don’t like comparing ourselves to other bands, cause we don’t want to imitate other bands and we don’t think we come close to bands we’re being compared with. But, people sometimes compare us to Propagandhi, Rise Against and Strike Anywhere. I guess that’s a good thing though. We really love those bands ourselves.

Do you care about reviews?
-Yes, personally I do. Not too much though. We’re not writing songs in order to receive positive reviews or have a lot of people to buy our CD. But on the other hand it’s always nice to hear good things about the stuff you’re doing. And yes, I hate it when we get a negative review. But it doesn’t change the most fundamental way I feel about making music.

Which is the most peculiar review you ever have got?
-It must have been the one from Finland. Damn a strange language those guys have. Also, we met Darren, a guy in Basingstoke (UK.) who does reviews for a fabulous zine called “Last hours”, who told us he mixed up writing a review for us. He wrote down the review for our CD when listening to a CD by another band. And it was a negative review, for sure. Fortunately he corrected it in the next issue of Last Hours with the real (and positive) review.

How would you describe your music in three words?
-Energetic, melodic, sincere.

How is it to live in your homecountry? And why does dutch people talks so good english?
-Euhm, well that’s a difficult one. I’ve lived in the Netherlands all my life and it’s hard to compare it to other countries. But still I can honestly say that I’m very lucky being born here. The Netherlands is a prosperous country and life is relatively easy over here when compared to several other areas in the world. On the other hand the recent political climate over here is not to good. The past years we’ve had a rather rightwing government that fucked a lot of people over. They’ve stimulated economical growth over the backs of the people who needed the money more. So even in a prosperous country as the Netherlands there’s a lot to do. I think our English is so good because from the age of ten we get English classes in school. Also we have a lot of American and English tv-shows that are being subtitled in stead of postsynchronized like they do it in Germany and France. At that, nobody outside of Holland speaks dutch, so we’re forced to speak other languages.

What about the government?
-Yeah, what about it?
As I told before, the dutch government hasn’t contributed to a better country or, being involved in the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, a better world. Maybe the next government will be somewhat better. But in the end it’s up to the people themselves. Even though I think governments should play a role in reducing the power of multinational companies. It’s very hard to influence them when you’re a single citizen.

Do you think that music and politics goes hand in hand?
-I sure think so. I’m not saying every band or artist should be political. There’s so much music that’s not political and really beautiful, and there’s more than enough political music that sucks. But I think music, lyrics and musical activism can be a great way to reach a big audience for a political message. And why not? If you think you have something to say that’s worth being heard, go for it. Besides: it’s necessary, we’re still not living in a perfect world, so there’s a job to do. I like the idea of a world that is more faire, more equal, more peaceful, and I like music, why not combine those?

Best political band?
-Propagandhi. Best band. Period. I love the way they combine energy, melody and a political message.

Is there any good bands in your home country now?
-Definitely! A lot actually. Everyone should check out Smash the Statues, a band from our label. They have plans to go to Sweden and play some shows with The Indecision Alarm I believe. Also the Tenement Kids is a really talented band from our country. They’re pretty new, but have the potential to get bigger. And then there’s a lot of bands that are already quite big but are really active: Bambix, Undeclinable, de Heideroosjes, etc.

What do you know about Sweden?
-You’re all blond.
No, seriously, this morning I read in the newspaper that you have the most hospitable policy concerning asylum seekers, a good thing and an example for all European countries in my opinion. And just like Holland there recently was a political murder on a respected politician, Anna Lindh. For the rest I know there’s little sunshine and a lot of beautiful nature in your country.

Have you heard any good swedish bands?
-One of my favorite bands is from Sweden: Adhesive. I’m addicted to their album “From left to right”. I grew up with the Swedish sound of skate punk. So I really enjoy Swedish bands such as the Satanic Surfers, No Fun At All, Millencolin, Pridebowl, Venerea and the like. I think Burning Heart has done a lot for the European punk scene. I like the new ex-Adhesive band The Indecision Alarm a lot as well.
Riekus (drums): whatever happened to One Chord Wonder? They were on this Swe-skate
compilation with Satanic Surfers among others, and I never heard of them ever since. Besides Refused and the aforementioned bands they were my favourite from Sweden

What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or is it a lifestyle?
-I think punk is a word, indeed. But it’s more than just a musical genre. I think it’s a way of approaching things. It’s a critical attitude towards the state of things. Why is something the way it is, and why don’t we improve it? In the punkrock scene that attitude is combined with a musical medium.

Please rank your five favourite records, five favourite concerts and five most important things in life?
-Damn, a difficult one again. I’ll see how far I’ll get.
1. Adhesive – From Left to right
2. Propagandhi – Today’s empires, tomorrow’s ashes
3. Strike Anywhere – Change is a sound
4. Rise Against – Revolutions per minute
5. Osker – Idle will kill

1. Propagandhi – Melkweg, Amsterdam (2001 or 2002)
2. Ten Foot Pole – Doornroosje, Nijmegen (somewhere in the late nineties)
3. Hot Water Music – PukkelPop, Belgium (2003 or something)
4. Alkaline Trio – Lowlands (2005)
5. Strike Anywhere – Winston Kingdom, Amsterdam (2003?)

1. People you’re comfortable with around you (not necessarily friends)
2. Music
3. Antillectual (a combination of the first two I guess)
4. Having a goal in life and growing towards the achievement of that
5. Tasty food!

First, last and most expensive record ever bought?
-First: Offspring – Ignition
Last: No Use For A Name – (some single from New Red Archives, old and live stuff)
Most expensive: I don’t buy expensive records, I’m not a collector or anything. I like to buy records directly from the band or from DIY distros and I’m afraid I download a lot. That says enough, right?

Most embarrassing record in your collection?
-Michael Jackson – Bad (but it’s a tape, so that’s not too bad then, isn’t it?)

Is My space a good place to get your music?
-Ouch, you got a couple of hours? I could write a book about it.
No, it’s not the best place to get your music. It’s run by a subdivision of Fox, which is one of the most horrible news corporations in America. Each song you put on myspace is from then on property of Fox. I think that really sucks. It’s a capitalistic enterprise that makes a lot of money over the backs of all the bands that expose their music over there. But on the other hand it’s a great means to get your (anti capitalistic) message across. Our band has had a lot of help through the people we met on myspace. Not being on myspace holds you back as a young and starting band, I think. It’s easy for big bands that don’t need communities like these to boycott myspace, they can do without it. When you’re pressing a record you’re also making use of a capitalistic enterprise. Even when you’re pumping gas to get to your weekly band practice you’re dependent of a multinational with a questionable policy. It’s an issue without ideal solution.

Do you do any covers on stage? Why or why not?
-Sometimes we play a cover as an encore. The 2 we’ve done most are Propagandhi’s “Stick the flag up your goddamn ass ...” and Face to Face’s “Ordinary”. Great songs to play.

Is it many interviews? Is it boring?
-No, we don’t do many interviews, so it doesn’t get boring yet. But you’ll notice, the answers get shorter towards the end.

Which is the question you never get, please ask it and answer it?
-I guess it would be rather cheesy to say “This one” and leave it at that?
I think what I miss in many interviews is musical talk. Questions about how people make music, how songs are being created. I’m really interested in how other people make songs and experience that. There’s more than enough talk about local scenes and the textual content of songs, but it’s the music that’s not explored enough. I guess it’s harder to talk about music and find the right words to describe it.

Is it any chance to see you in Sweden soon?
-Hopefully! We love to play, anywhere, anytime. I think any proper band should try to play as much as possible and all over the world. And our booking agency, Annie Mae Bookings, told us he got offers for us to play in Scandinavia so hopefully we come to Sweden any time soon.

Where is the best place to play?
-Any place where there is an open-minded crowd that is interested in what a band has to offer. Secondary conditions such as nice weather, vegan snacks after the show and a bit of space on stage are nice but not required. As far as our band is concerned, we’ve had our best foreign shows in the US, Austria and France I think.

How is a good gig with you?
-For us it’s been a good gig when either people that didn’t know us before got to know us and appreciated our show or when people already knew us liked what they saw live and there was an interaction between the band and the people. Without interaction there’s no show possible.

The name where does it comes from?(yeah it’s a boring question but it´s
interesting)? ?
-It’s a word I made up during detention in high school. I guess it’s been good for something. A lot of people think “Antillectual” means that we’re opposed to reading or opposed to intellectuals. Well, none of that all. It represents more or less an “anti-attitude” through intellectual thought. We try to oppose dogmatic points of view and traditional resistance. Political activism shouldn’t be based on a scene or a group of friends but rather on rational objectives and motives based on human consciousness.

What shall we do about all racists?
-I think we should try to make a sharp distinction between them and us, and tear them apart. I think racist thought is so 1998.
But seriously; in this globalizing world I think racist thought has no future at all. I think it should be fought when racist opinions are being expressed. But the contemporary racist parties get a lot of votes of dissent. People are more afraid of the problems that they’re dealing with personally than that they hate foreigners or people with a darker skin. And even if they call themselves racist I think they’re afraid of other people they don’t really know and fear losing their own identity in stead of truly hating others races. When people say “the foreigners steal our jobs” they don’t care about foreigners getting their old jobs, they care about not having a job themselves. If they had a job themselves they wouldn’t care about foreigners anymore. But is there a causal connection between the presence of foreigners and the amount of unemployed people? No, they’re both depending on a government’s policy.

The best band in punkhistory?
-Again: they influenced me the most: Propagandhi

The most important punksong? And your best song?
-I think that really depends on the moment.
Ok, I tried, but really, I can’t say, neither one of them ... Let other people judge our songs.

Futureplans for the band?
-We’ll be recording some demo songs in march to be followed by serious recordings for our next full-length in August. We hope to release it before the end of the year, but you know how these things go. We’ll be touring a lot this summer and next school year hopefully even more, because by then everyone in the band will be graduated. And of course: we hope to meet in Sweden!

For yourself?
-I’ll be working with my other band (Brat Pack) on a new record as well and tour with them when Antillectual has off days.

Wisdomword?
-Homo sapiens non urinat in ventum.

Something to add?
-Thanks for this interview, for coming up with a lot of questions worth answering. And thank you (reader!) for reading it, must have been quite some work. If you’re interested in our band, please check our website www.antillectual.com , and there’s some website called myspace we can be found on too ... or email: info@antillectual.com  
Thanks for your attention.