Reach comes from Slovenia. They´re playing a
really good hardcore. Not so different from
others but a fucking good hardcore. Sep-2018
Please tell me a little bit
history of the group?
-Luka
(guitar) and Benjamin (drums) knew each other
from shows and the local scene and they were
both ‘band-less’
at the moment, so they started talking about
starting a new one. This was sometime in early
2016.
We had a hard time finding other members but
eventually Jan (vocals) and Jože (bass) joined
and that turned out to be great. Everything just
clicked between the four of us and so we started
writing some serious material and really started
putting all of our energy and efforts into the
band.
Please tell me a little about every member in
the group right now, age, family, work,
interests and something bad about everyone?
Earlier bands? Other bands on the side?
-Our ages ranges from 23 to 33. Three of us have
jobs and one is still attending college. We
share the same passion for the music, which we
create. All of us had been in bands in the past,
but none of them are still active.
I can
hear much different influences but mostly
hardcore and some metal etc? Favorites from the
past?
-We are all into metal genre as well as
hardcore, so we try to combine something in
between that sounds good to us.
Reach are you satisfied with the name? How did
it came up? You weren’t afraid that some other
band would be named like this? I think it
already is a band with that name…Which is the
best bandname you know?
-We were not too concerned about the name; we
just knew that we wanted a short name. Of
course, we had many ideas, but everyone liked
‘Reach’ the best so we picked it. It is also a
good thing that anyone can interpret it in his
or her own way.
We know there is a band with the same name, but
they play a different style so we are not
concerned that we will be accidentally mistaken
for the other band.
What´s the best thing with playing live?
-That anxious, nervous feeling before the gig,
because then we know we are about to do
something that we really like and care about.
But the nervousness is gone after one or two
songs and then it’s just fun.
And where is best to play? And the worst place?
-The best show we played was in Varaždin,
Croatia. It was a backyard gig at some friend’s
house in his neighborhood. The vibe was very
chill and laid back.
So far we did not have any bad experiences with
shows and were very satisfied with promotors on
all of our gigs.
How is to play this sort of music in Slovenia
right now? Which types of bands do you have
concerts together with?
-This style of hardcore is relative new in
Slovenia so we are focusing more on the norther
states (Austria, Germany...). Currently there
are not many hardcore bands active in Slovenia
right now, except our good friends in Laid to
Rest. Punk and Metal bands are more common
though.
How would you describe your music in three
words?
-In-your-face
What does punk mean to you, is it only a word or
is it a lifestyle?
-We were born too late to experience the true
essence of punk, but we adopted the idea (or
mentality). We also want to stay on real and not
to be too ‘rebellious’ for no reason. I.e. no
matter how you look at things - you need a job
to survive so it is stupid to think against
that.
How do you see on downloading, mp3 and that
stuff?
-We do not have a problem with it but we know
there was a lot of controversy about this in the
early 2000’s. It is amazing to be able to share
your music all over the world with such great
platforms like BandCamp, Youtube, and Facebook.
It is just a lot easier to get noticed by people
that might be interested in what you are doing.
How else we would be able to do this interview?
;)
How is it to live in Slovenia right now?
Politically? Fascists?
-Social status of Slovenia is not good, but it’s
also not bad. It’s tough at times but you can
live a normal live. Situation has been improving
in the last couple of years though.
We do not dive into the politics because, at the
end of the day, it doesn’t really matter who is
leading the state or country, because they will
always work towards their own self-gain.
Well the refugee crisis did make quite a stir
among people and they started acting intolerant.
That is just another proof of how much influence
the media has on ordinary people. We don’t have
any extremist groups on the rise though.
Is there any good bands from Slovenia now? Is
the punkscene/hardcorescene/metalscene big? How
is it in your hometown?
-Currently the best band from Slovenia has to be
Within Destruction. They are really getting
their breakthrough right now, so congrats to the
guys! Other good bands from Slovenia: In-Sane,
Noctiferia, Srd, Elvis Jackson, Happy Ol’
McWeasel…
The scene is not as lively as it used to be, but
the people still involved are giving their best
and are still organizing shows and festivals. We
have two good festivals in our region: Tepih na
Paleti fest and Breka Fest.
What do you know about Sweden?
-Ikea, Volvo, Surströmming? Haha, just kidding.
Have you heard any good bands from Sweden?
-Of course! We know many great bands from
Sweden: Edge of Sanity, Entombed, At The Gates,
Raised Fist, Marduk, In Flames, , Bathory, Opeth…
- just to name a few!
Your lyrics, who does them and what influences
you? Is it easier to do lyrics now or was it
easier to do it when you was younger? Never in
your own language?
-Jan writes the lyrics.
Before
Reach, I have never written a song. This is
crazy if I think about it now, because I love
the process of writing a song so much. I was
always into bands with meaningful, deep lyrics.
I can’t really say which band or artist is my
influence, probably all of them. I have never
written a song in Slovenian language, it feels
weird to me, I don’t know why. But one day I
will.
Is there any subject that you never will write
anything about?
-Jan: I write
about a lot of different things: state of world,
society, our idols, about home, feelings, things
we’ve been through... but we don’t use all of
them as a band. I will probably never write
about dragons and armored hordes hehehe.
Politic and music, does it goes hand in hand?
Which is your most political song?
-Hardcore was always involved in politics (some
praised certain ideas and some criticized them).
In our case - we don’t have many political
songs. We are focusing more on social criticism
and personal stuff that happens within each of
us.
Best political band/artist?
-Rage against the Machine
Do you think that music (lyrics and so on) can
change anyones life, I mean people who listens
to music?
-We are still a relatively unknown band to be
honest, but if by any chance our music does have
a positive impact on someone then we will be
grateful for that.
Your cover on your CD looks really nice, is it
important to have a record cover which shows
people which type of music you play? Your
favorite record cover? Who does your covers? And
do you have any good record stores in your
hometown?
-Thank you. Honestly – we don’t know. We think
everything is okay as long as - it looks good,
is in context with what the music is about and
what the lyrics are about, and is nothing too
dramatic. A friend of ours who is a tattoo
artist did the graphic on the demo album and a
different friend of ours took the photo on the
split album. We come from a rural part of
Slovenia so we don’t have any special dedicated
record stores. However, those are poorly stacked
most of the time. Just your regular pop & rock
artists, nothing fancy.
Is it important to get out physical records of
your stuff? Why or why not? Vinyl, CD, cassette,
what do you prefer if you could choose whatever?
-Yes of course. Especially in this day of age
where everything has become digital and
disposable. It’s important that people buy
physical media because not only do they support
the band, they also support the labels, distros
and printing places.
Please tell me a funny thing which have happened
during your career and under some gig?
-Oh man, our show in Budapest - we’ll never
forget that…
As we arrived to Budapest suburbs Jože needed to
go to toilet really much, really bad (couple of
hours in a van while drinking beer takes its
toll) but we were stuck in traffic for like
30mins. Poor guy was starting to go pale haha.
Then, two or three songs into our set -
Benjamin’s snare drum snaps! Thankfully, he got
a replacement from one of the bands that played
that night so we could finish our gig.
Nevertheless, the show was great and the crowd
was amazing.
How does your audience look like? Which people
do you miss on your concerts? Which is the
biggest band you ever have played together with?
-Have you seen the crowd from This is Hardcore
festival? Something like that.
We don’t have a preference who comes to our
shows as long as they like our music and are
having fun it’s cool with us.
Please rank your five favorite records, five
favorite concerts and five most important things
in life?
Luka
Records:
All of the Misfits stuff, Pink Floyd –
Dark side of the Moon, Slipknot – Iowa, Have
Heart – Songs to Scream at the Sun, Children of
Bodom – Follow the Reaper.
Concerts: Vitamin X at Fluff Fest 2013, Bane at
Fluff Fest 2014, Rammstein at Arena Zagreb 2010
was insane, Converge & Touche Amore at Zagreb
2012.
Most important things: Most important thing in
my life - when I discovered punk music, which
later inspired me to start playing guitar.
Jože
Records: I don’t have any top records, I like
all of those I own. If it sounds good then it’s
good.
Concerts: Every Dimmu Borgir gig, Behemoth,
Metallica always delivers, Motorhead (can’t
leave out Lemmy), Dream Theater (Musicus
incredibleus)
Most important things: most important thing for
me? Meeting theese 3 guys, and tearing it up
on-stage with them. Yeah, that would be it.
Benjamin
Records: Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory,
Kataklysm - In Arms Of
Devastation, Turnstile - Step 2 Rhythm, Expire -
Pendulum Swings, Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Concerts: Jesus Piece at Outbreak fest 2018,
No Warning at The Sound of
Revolution fest 2017, Trapped Under Ice at Fluff
fest 2012, Lamb of God at Metalcamp 2009,
Behemoth Ljubljana 2007
Most important things: Music in general. All the
shows and festivals I went to and my girlfriend
who helped me get my shit straight.
Jan
Records:
Stick to your guns – Diamond, Touche Amore -
Parting the sea between brightness and me, While
She Sleeps - You are we, Rage against the
machine - self titled, Linkin Park - Hybrid
theory, Have heart - Songs to scream at the sun
Concerts: Touche amore/La dispute – Vienna,
Stick to your guns - Ljubljana (Gala hala),
Architects/While she sleeps - Ljubljana (Gala
hala), Macklemore - Frequency festival, Prophets
of rage/System of a down (Nova Rock)
Most important things:
My girlfriend, music/band, festivals/traveling,
time for myself, manga
First, last and most expensive record ever
bought?
Luka
First: Misfits – Famous Monsters, Last:
Motorhead – Bastards. Can’t remember which one
which is the most expensive that I own.
Jože
First CD or in my case first cassette Metallica
- Ride the Lightning. Last CD..signed IN-Sane
record,from their 20.th anniversary show. Good
guys, great music. Can't remember what was the
most expensive record. Maybe Dimmu Borgir-Death
Cult Armageddon Limited edition.
Benjamin
First: Blink 182 - Take Off Your Pants and
Jacket,
Last: Broken Teeth - At Peace
Amongst Chaos. Most expensive: P.O.D. –
Satellite
Jan
First record: The Offspring – Americana, Last:
Stick to your guns – Disobedient, Most
expensive: Green Day - LPs collection
Is it boring with interviews?
Is it much interviews??
-No, not at all. It is always interesting do
interviews.
If you could choose five bands from the past and
the history and nowadays and both dead and
living bands to have a concert together with
your band. Which five have you been chosen?
-Misfits, Behemoth, Sepultura (with Max Cavalera),
Stick To Your Guns
Is music a good way to get out frustration and
become a nicer person outside the music??
-Yeah it works like a therapy. And it’s much
cheaper!
Which is the most odd question you ever have got
in an interview?
-Thankfully, the questions we got so far were
all normal!
Which is the question you want to have but you
never get. Please ask it and answer it?
“So how was the U.S. tour?“
Futureplans for the band?
-Practice as much as we can, writing new
material – we are currently working on an
upcoming EP/LP - booking as many shows as we
can, US tour someday hahaha…
For yourself?
-Every member has its own personal plans, but
nothing extraordinary. Just basic stuff –
career, music, family, home…
Wisdomword?
-Stay true to yourself
Something to add?
-You can find more info and news about us on our
Facebook and Instagram pages. If you’d like to
get in touch with us just drop us a message!
Thank you for the interview, and thanks for
showing interest in us. Cheers from Pomurje,
Slovenia!
reach.pomurje@gmail.com