Interview with GANZI GUN
Interview with GANZI GUN
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Ganzi Gun: When i was a kid, i used to listen to various music styles that my parents liked. Not only rock music but also various kinds of Greek music. But my life changed when i received as a gift an Iron Maiden album.. so i was listening every day, literally..and then i decided that i want to play also that music and not only listening to. So since i started playing many years ago, i cannot imagine doing any other job..but if i was not musician for sure i would be active to music from an other position.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Ganzi Gun: Apart from music, i like sports and running. Also i like listening to new albums and new music as inspiration. Not only our kind of music but also similar ones because music has many aspects that you can be influenced.
Creativity is triggered from various thoughts, daily life and incidents. Also we are all working together on songs, so each one of us puts his stamp to new music and lyrics.
How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.
Ganzi Gun: Our band was formed back in 2011. We started as a cover band, as most of the bands at the beginning. However after some first concerts we started working on our own songs and at the end of 2012 we started the recording of our first album that released in March 2014 with the name “Welcome to the show”. After that, we released our second album “Time is now” in June 2020.
Through all those years we changed some members, but regardless that the current lineup is very dynamic and “thirsty” for new challenges, concerts and new music. Also apart from the band we are very close friends.
Where are you based and how did that influence your music?
Ganzi Gun: We are based in Athens, Greece. Living in a country like Greece provides you a lot of influence since the last years many social “incidents” took place here. Apart from those ones, a very important factor here is the nice and sunny weather that makes people happy and creative.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Ganzi Gun: The name was inspired from the Sumerian word GAN-ZI-GUN-NU which means medicine of the mind. We wanted a nice name and also prototype. So that name represents us because our music is the medicine for our mind that makes us creative and happy.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Ganzi Gun: This is difficult question because i remember most of our shown for one separate reason. However if i had to choose one, i would say our show with the British band TEN in Athens. During that show we filmed our first live video clip and the venue was sold our. The crowd was amazing and that gave us all the power needed for make a crazy show and film our video clip for the song “Fading Lights”
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Ganzi Gun: In Greece we have played to the majority of the big cities, so now is the time to make our first show abroad. This is something that we are planning to do very soon.
About the venues, i like playing at “Kyttaro club” in Athens. This is a great venue.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Ganzi Gun: That would be a very very big line up haha, but i will try to not expand it.
So, i would say Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, Shinedown and of course Ganzi Gun!
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Ganzi Gun: The most importance is to be patient. When we all start playing music we are in a hurry to do all the things at once and very fast in order to succeed. However each step has to be done at the proper timing. Focus to your music and compose songs from your heart and not just hurry songs. And of course, love your music!
Now about my younger self, i would advise him to be patient!!
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Ganzi Gun: All the songs mean a lot because all of us, and so me as well, we participate to the composition of all songs. One song that means most for me is “Over the city” from our first album. That song’s lyrics were composed during difficult times for the Greek society due to riots and financial crisis. So all that situation was presented through that song.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Ganzi Gun: Our favorites match with our fans favorites, so this is good! More specifically, those songs are Fading Lights, Friday the 13th, Time is Now and Jump In The Pit. All those songs are very powerful that make us and crown to jump during the concerts.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Ganzi Gun: We usually collect all of our ideas, and the we start “building” on same. Most of the times, on of us presents one idea either for music or for lyrics, and then we are all working on that.
Inspiration comes from everywhere. From a daily routine or en event until a dream, a thought or even a movie that we saw.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Ganzi Gun: We are very happy when people from all over the world like or comment our songs or videos. When people like your music is such an inspiration for us, to keep the hard work and make our music better and better.
Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?
Ganzi Gun: We are currently working on some new songs, and for sure within 2023 we will release at least one new single. Also now we are working on our live setlist, in order to start our live performances again to venues and to openair festivals in summer.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Ganzi Gun: For the time being we have booked two concerts in Athens. The first one is on 17/03 and the second one at the end of May. We are very happy that Nikos has joined us, as our new signer and we cant wait to start our concerts with him, and present our music to all of you!
How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?
Ganzi Gun: Our fans can find us at Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Spotify of course. Just type “Ganzi Gun” and our fans will find us, in order to be updated to all of our news!