Interview: Helestios

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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Actually we all are doing day jobs besides music even though it hasn’t been a primary choice but unfortunately this world has been put in a frame where you don’t have much choice - you have to work and often people can never fulfill their true talents. I’ve been attracted by music ever since I was a kid - been singing in a school choir and going private lessons for acordeon when I was around 9 - and even on acordeon besides the songs we had to learn on my spare time I would try to look for some interesting chords and motives... 

What do you like to do when your not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

It’s just regular type of things that everyone else enjoys. A pint in the pub with good company, good live show. I like traveling, going outdoors and seeing some new places, also reading on history, human origins and sometimes these two hobbies join together and become a trip to some place with ancient architecture and history involved. Creativity is affected directly because it’s all in one individual’s mind. I normally enjoy gym as well when there’s no restrictions. Imagine the world we are living at the moment? You are not allowed for a healthy exercise because it’s dangerous, the mcdonalds is fine though! My opinion here is that everyone should have a choice! 

How long has your band been around?

Helestios was formed in the beginning of 2020, at the very beginning of this decade. 

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We are based in Basingstoke, UK although Agnis lives in Latvia and Ian is based in south Holland. Does our location influence our music? I guess it does somehow because environment supposedly influence us all the time, although culture is such a funny thing - whatever you’ve picked up in the beginning is what gonna make you smile later. 

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you.

We get this question a lot! ( smiles) Right now all I shall say is that we are working on a back story project and in there a lot shall be revealed, I can’t tell exactly when it will be ready, but when it’s out it’ll be really cool stuff to dig in.

Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.

Well Helestios is officially born in the pandemic era and with all that we haven’t performed a single live even after releasing an album! We really wish we had but you know how it goes with these restrictions... I honestly wish people could decide for themselves, for example if you feel that you are in danger then person don’t go to live and crowded event, the rest can go and enjoy their time! It reminds me this recent article in news - police caught 70 people on a boat party. Imagine what time we live in - police is looking to crush parties nowadays instead of catching criminals! For what I understand all these 70 people were fully aware of risks and were happy with it anyway, and yet police heroicly wish to look after them so they crush the party and probably put them penalties as well... Again - no choice, you just have to comply with some very strange rules. 

Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you haven't already?

All of them! ( laughs) 

If you could play any show with any lineup who would be on the ticket?

Love the question! We could do some grand show with three stages - on one side full symphonic choir, on another side symphonic orchestra with say Paganini on violin to share solo parts and Mozart on piano for synth layers and in the central stage Helestios just in the same line up as we are!  

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band?

Just enjoy it! Don’t try to be someone else - I know we all have our influences and all but try to do it from yourself. It’s probably something that everyone says but it’s true. 

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Drink less and do more physical exercise, stay healthy and read more books. Drive slower and don’t collect all those speeding tickets! 

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

I actually treat whole album as one song so it’s the whole album! 

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

I really enjoy playing them all in the sequence how they go in the album. As for requested - sacrifice, black storm, downgraded world and return to Baalbek are the ones people always talk about.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

It’s the world around us mostly bad governmental decisions that are not made for the greater good of people and my hobby regards ancient mythologies, cultures and history. It all somehow gets in a mix, digested by brain and then comes out in a shape of songs and lyrics. 

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Turn your TV off and start thinking for yourself. Be active and keep learning at any age, keep developing your inner world and be fair to everyone around you without prejudice and stereotypes, because we all are here in this world to be happy and enjoy our lives. And if there’s some awful guy playing a president of one or another country - we should all stand up and replace that guy! The people’s choice is what should matter! 

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Where there’s more than one person - there’s always risks for disagreements at one or another point - we settle everything with talking and having some beer. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that's coming up?

Well we are working on video material and some of it should be ready for releasing in about a month or so - will be making announcements as it gets closer.

 Also we’ve started work on next album although I don’t really think it will get out sooner than end of this year(2021), but from what we’ve got so far I can tell you it’s gonna be a worthy next album!