HOW DID YOUR NAME ORIGINATE?
Jonathan Hohl (Guitar, composition, production) - I studied English literature and Greek Mythology at University. During a seminar on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, whose subtitle is Or the Modern Prometheus, we discussed at length the term “hubris”. I was instantly drawn to its various meanings and how it is applied to either Greek Mythology or textual analysis in general. I wanted to name the band something a bit ambiguous which showed a reference to both my passions and from which I would draw all my inspiration to compose.
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WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST GIG AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE?
Nathan Gros (Drums, composition, production) – Our very first gig was actually the release party of our first album. It was on May 15th, 2015 at the venue Ebullition in Bulle, our hometown. In fact, since our previous band (i.e. a metalcore band with post-rock influences) had quite a following, many of the people that listened to our metal band showed up out of interest. It was a very special evening as the last show we played with our metal band was two years before that and at the exact same venue.
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WHEN WAS YOUR LAST DAY OFF AND WHAT DID YOU DO WITH IT?
Hohl – I don’t think days off exist in the lives of musicians, but last time I did not spend most of my hours doing music was around last Christmas. I went to see my family in Ohio, USA and had an amazing time walking the dog, playing pool and going to the gun range. But at the same time, I was starting to compose the new album, so I still spent a few hours here and there trying to figure some things out.
Gros – I once had a day off (since I started to play music professionally), on May 23 – 2015 and had an ice cream with my mom for my birthday... To be serious, I think there is no proper day off as musicians as there is always an e-mail to answer, a mix to listen to, a phone call to make, etc. I guess the only way to take a break is to go on vacation far from home, phone turned off and no computer, which is something I did last summer. It felt good!
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WHAT IS SOMETHING - APART FROM YOUR PHONE OR WALLET - THAT HAS TO BE IN YOUR VICINITY AT ALL TIMES?
Gros – As a drummer, I should carry a drum key to tune my drums, but I am well known for losing my stuff all the time. For example, on our last tour, I lost 5 drum keys, my in-ears and forgot my MacBook at the airport in India. Yes, this is not a joke. Therefore, I try to only carry the stuff I really need, such as my phone and wallet.
Hohl – The only two other things that I always carry around apart from phone or wallet is a) guitar picks and b) my lip balm. I went years under various treatment for my skin and it left it extremely dry. So, I always carry some balm to make sure my lips don’t get chapped.
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WHICH SONG BY ANOTHER ARTIST DO YOU WISH YOU'D WRITTEN?
Hohl – It’s probably a tie between Tuesday Wonderland by Esbjörn Svensson Trio or Freedom by Rage Against the Machine. But when I actually think on it, I would rather not have composed these songs because they would never have had the impact they had on me. Both these artists have had an extreme influence on little me and I could not imagine how different my music would sound today had I not stumbled upon these particular songs.
Gros – I wished I had written Ghostmother from Moderat. I discovered this song two years ago when I first started programming drums and create synthesizer's patches from another project. I think Moderat perfectly reached the point where programmed drums sound as good as a real drum set. They'll never sound like a drum set because they don't have all these tiny articulations we drummer have in our hands, but programmed drum can be very interesting sound wise, especially in that song as they are not trying to emulate a real drum kit, but just creating sounds that wouldn't be possible to play with a standard drum kit.
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WHAT'S BEEN THE MOST SURREAL FAN MOMENT?
Hohl – Last year, we went on tour to India and the guitar player of one of the bands that we played with (i.e. Across Seconds from Mumbai) had us sign his acoustic guitar after he not only welcomed us with open arms to his house, but also cooked us delicious breakfast. I never thought I would have to sign a guitar in my life, but I guess I can tick this off my wish list.
Gros – Same as Jonathan, it was last year when we went on tour in India. This was the first time we had to wait at least one hour to pack our gear after the show, because people wanted to take pictures with us, get their CDs / T-shirts signed and talk with us. Indian people are, to me, one the most engaged and nicest audience I've seen, I hope we'll be able to go back there one day!