Interview: Kollaps

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

During my teenage years I was attending a Catholic school that was very strict; I remember coming across bands such as Einsturzende Neubauten, SWANS, through some older kids and once I discovered this music my cellular structure completely changed and the influence that it had on me was irreversible. Suddenly it was acceptable for me to be an outcast and I was given permission not only just to accept the fact but revel in it and hold it up a point of pride. By virtue of the sheer force of this influence it has and does remain impossible for me to do anything else and so I must confess that there is no alternative for me other than to release records and tour.

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

I work a lot on booking tours for other bands but in my more leisurely moments I enjoy watching films, reading books, or having dinner with friends or my wife. I also have two pet quails that I’m very fond of.

How long has your band been around?

5 years; but it was quite shit for the first two.

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

I was born in Australia, but I now live in Switzerland with my wife. My two band mates are Italians from the province of Lombardia which is quite close by and so we regularly meet and rehearse.

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

I honestly don’t remember; my feelings often change about the name but lately I’m proud of it as I feel that we’ve transcended the expectation to be or sound like Einsturzende Neubauten (an album from the band). It also now has unintentional references to the state of being of the band and also the state of the world that we live in – everything is constantly on the brink of collapse and indeed so am I, and so are we as a band, it’s like constantly being at the precipice of disaster yet resisting it or never quite surrendering to the rapture.

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

The best show would have to be Wroclaw Industrial Festival in 2018 or Roadburn Festival in 2022. Both have been seminal, arrival points for the band. The worst show… Maybe one in Kosice, Slovakia where we had our equipment destroyed and in fact did not play.

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

I really liked a venue called Bike Jesus in Prague where we played at in 2021 for the first time. I also love a venue called DOM which is located in Lodz, it is owned and run by a good friend. I generally prefer smaller venues.

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

Integrity, DUMA, Rectal Hygienics, Midwife, SWANS, Operant, Primitive Man, Diapsiquir.

I like bands created by real people and prefer non-state funded artists that have worked hard, persevered and suffered for what they do. It comes through in the music more often than not.

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

Do not listen to anybody, especially friends and family.

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

“I Believe In The Closed Fist” is my favourite. “Fleshflower” and “Heartworm” are often requested fan favourites.

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

I write the music alone in a self-built studio now but we do a lot of work as a live band and have to rehearse a lot and work out musical problems together and is mostly a group effort.

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

There are varying ideas about death, sex, romanticism, love, violence, hatred and attraction. Kollaps is about the chaos of human existence and the predicament of the self.

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

Yes, but less so with the current lineup, and they are resolved amicably as the three of us are very close friends and are supportive of one another.

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

We have just released a new track called “The Hand of Death”, and will be releasing shortly a self produced video for “I Believe In The Closed Fist”. Both tracks are from the new record “Until The Day I Die” which will be available via Cold Spring Records during June. Preorders areavailable from the website.

Lastly, we are also going on tour with Of The Wand & The Moon and Trepaneringsritualen in June where we will play a lot of eastern European countries as well as appear at Fusion Festival in Larz and Roskilde Festival in Denmark.