Interview with Slow Green Thing

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

Jörg: My grandfather. He was a music teacher, and so I had the pleasure of learning piano from him from the ages of 4 to 11. Unfortunately, not much of it remained; I forgot how to play the piano. But I took the musical fundamentals from that time, which then greatly helped me when learning to play the drums. After that, my preference for handmade rock and metal music developed. Music is not my main occupation for me, but a huge hobby. Without music, I would hopefully have ended up in sports or other similar hobbies. I don't like to imagine having ended up in some uncreative niche that makes life difficult.

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

Jörg: I like to pursue other creative hobbies - photography, motion design... but also sports activities, quite ordinary, which other people do too. This way, one stays healthy and keeps fit mentally. In the end, I do these things because they are fun for me.

Dave: Musically, we stay creative by remaining fans and being influenced by our heroes. We all listen to and love the good old stoner and doom tunes, with Black Sabbath being our primary influence. However, each of us has different influences, ranging from Chris Isaak, Crippled Black Phoenix, Alice in Chains, Long Distance Calling, to Tool. Lyrically, Sven writes quite personal songs about inner demons and the struggles of life. The intention often revolves around the process of healing and finding peace of mind, sometimes in a straightforward manner, sometimes through a more abstract approach.

How long has your band been around?

Last year we had our 10th anniversary. Somehow, we missed celebrating this milestone. No big deal, one more reason to go at least another 10 years. Of course, SGT is not our first band. The experiences from former projects make SGT what it is, which is a great advantage.

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

Jörg: I originally come from a former USSR state, but I have now spent more than half of my life in East Germany - first in Upper Lusatia, then in Dresden. Thus, Russian music has had a big influence on me - but also the whole range of rock and metal bands that I discovered for myself later. With the piano background, it makes for a crazy mix.

Dave: We all live in Dresden, Germany, which boasts a vibrant underground music scene. We've all played in several local bands, such as Burning Motors, Red Wave, Fyretyre, Steaktransfer, and Stonehead. We often jam with other musicians, which helps to broaden our musical perspective. We love to support local bands and attend many live shows. On the other hand, we strive to find our own sound. Because we were recording the material on our own, we had the freedom to experiment with a lot of ideas for vocals, guitar sounds, and percussion. Also, even though most of us are busy with family and jobs, we make it a point to meet outside the rehearsal room once in a while: to attend local shows or just to have some nice food and booze as a reward for our hard work.

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

The saga of our name is as epic as one of our riffs. Initially flirting with the name 'Ooze', inspired by the green slime that gave the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles their power, we were all about that transformative, potent vibe. But, as it turns out, we weren’t the only ones captivated by the ooze’s allure - it seems like it was a popular choice among bands globally. During a fateful night, immersed in the heavy, transcendental sounds of Elder at the legendary Chemiefabrik Dresden, our quest for a unique identity took a turn. Amidst the sonic euphoria and green-tinted discussions, Kay, our then bass player, tossed out a phrase in a moment of inspiration (or perhaps frustration): 'Let’s just call it something slow and green, man.' That offhand, slightly defeated suggestion, spoken in our native tongue and amidst the camaraderie of music lovers, struck a chord. It was a lightbulb moment, blending our desire for something unique with the essence of our music and the green, oozy inspiration we initially loved. Thus, from the depths of a Dresden gig night, amidst riffs and revelations, SLOW GREEN THING was born - a nod to our initial 'ooze' inspiration, transformed into a name that perfectly encapsulates our sound: heavy, enveloping, and unmistakably alive.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Supporting our heroes, idols and friends in the last years, such as Crowbar, Elder, Church Of Misery, Greenleaf, Dopelord. The “Elbträume” sampler live show at Chemiefabrik in our hometown Dresden, alongside all the great local bands and close friends. Also some great festivals, first of all SFTU 2014, in Cottbus, Sebnitz, Leipzig and Berlin.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Jörg: Well - I’m speaking for me, but my favorite place would be Chemiefabrik Dresden - we just have a lot of shows there. For sure, we should be careful here… people are getting bored quickly when seeing the same band over and over. I would like to see SGT playing at the Middle-German festivals, there are a lot, but it's hard to get in.

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

Jörg: I could go crazy and list all the big bands, but what's the point? It's unrealistic. Of course, I have my favorite bands that I would like to see on the same stage along with us - without naming names, these would be all the current Doom/Stoner bands that are mainly touring in Europe.

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?

Jörg: Advice for newbies: make your music different. Try to discover the scene you want to fit in and find a sweet spot. The music scene is really saturated, there are a lot of great and bad bands (however, it's all about the matter of taste). So people can get really bored really quickly. If you want to swim on top, you need to make yourself different. Advice to younger me: improve your skills! Learn basics by the time, so playing music is not hard work and you are not stuck in boring arrangements - this is what happened to me in early years and only hard work made it better in the last couple of years.  

Dave: Focus more on the songwriting aspect than trying to impress people with your skills. It's certainly impressive to see people shredding, but that doesn't necessarily create emotions. A well-written song with a different approach and some kind of unique sounds is key. And it's not about you; it's about the band. Play and write songs together, be tight, and enjoy what you create in unity. Don't force it, but have fun. The audience will sense and love your authenticity.

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

Jörg: try to play more shows (I know how hard it is). Invest in good recording equipment and try out yourself.

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

Jörg: Whispering Voices - it is something really new, especially in terms of arranging and singing. Sven does not often sing loud, but this song is a positive exception. Also we introduced new types of rhythms and riffs, especially since the latest record has been created with Dave as a new lead guitarist. He brought lots of nice ideas, which makes the whole record quite different to older records.

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

Jörg: Dirty Thoughts have been requested more often, I guess. I personally like to play songs from the current record and Amygdala. Also some of the really old songs, like Me And The One Hit, Recipe Of Doom and Die Again.

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

Jörg: Booze and weed inspires us…. But also the daily business and challenges. The creative process itself is quite simple: Sven or Dave (sometimes Martin) come up with basic riff ideas, we start jamming and eventually new ideas appear.

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

Jörg: take care of yourself, try to relax, but not forget the cruel world out there. Keep trying to reach your dreams, try to be a good human.

Dave: As we mentioned before, we all struggle with life from time to time and have similar burdens to cope with. Be true to yourself and remain strong during tough times. Surround yourself with people you love and don't forget your roots. If we can help anyone out there feel better through our lyrics and music, we've accomplished our mission. Maybe we can inspire some people to be creative themselves; it's a great way to make peace with yourself. But also, don't forget to rock out and live your dreams. Enjoy your life; it's the only one we have. Make the best of it.

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

Jörg: Sure, but luckily they are mostly only smaller issues, which we can solve. Communication is the key, if problems appear, we need to speak openly about them. Stay calm,do not get personal, try to understand the opposite person/opinion.

Dave: In terms of composing music, we avoid constraints by giving everyone enough space to breathe. Each one of us can come up with ideas and feel free within the band. We achieve this because our music is based on jams. Over the years, we have learned when it's time to step back a little and let an idea grow on its own. Be aware of your role in the band and contribute to the bigger picture.

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

Jörg: Obviously keep doing music. Play more quality shows and festivals. We already have new stuff in the pipeline, so soon or later we’re going to have a new record. But also stay healthy and hydrated.

Dave: First and foremost, the new album! It's the first one we've created with this lineup, and we're quite proud of it being completely self-produced. We've made a huge step forward and simply wrote some decent songs. We believe the songs deserve recognition from the stoner community. So, spread the word, roll a big fat joint, take a shot of whiskey, and enjoy the tunes!