Interview with SPEKTRVM
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
It all starts with a feeling when you listen to great music. Then you want to imitate that. You get your first instrument and you try your best to do that, before developing your own character. Each one is already following their respective alternative paths, as day jobs. We have a bassist who is a hairdresser, a drummer in small business management, a stocks trader/investor guitarist, a bakery owner guitarist, and a dance teacher/ customer support trainer vocalist.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Most of us like to listen to music, so that says a lot on its own about creativity influencing. Some of us play online video games for fun which is also interesting as a mood setter and always contains more music. Even going out for drinks there will be something playing in the background which can consciously or even unconsciously affect you in the present or future.
How long has your band been around?
The band was created in 2016 as a cover band initially. The members were the 4 instrument players, 3 of whom were 15-16 years old, and a female vocalist. Then after a series of responsibilities shifting, the current and hopefully final vocalist joined in 2018, while the band underwent a series of substitutes, until finalizing back to the 4 initial and founding members and the 3rd in a series of lead singers.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
We are base in Perama, which is in Piraeus/Greece, which has not given us a significant influence of any kind on its own, other than being able to jam out in a specific available basement, instead of a professional studio, due to the lack of one in the area, for the first years, and thus not having to worry about the time that we spent there, and being able to get closer with each other as a group, which could be argued to have provided a better chemistry between us musically. So that would be the only connections that could be made.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
The initial idea (Spectrum) for the name was just a catchy word, which was under discussion for some time, until the meaning was provided to the name, through our developed chemistry and musical interactions. The name changed to Spektrvm (sounding the same but referring to the roots of the word, and how it would be written initially in the Anglo-Saxon language) signifying, that even though we are 5 very different people, with 5 different musical tastes, characters and personalities, by returning to our musical roots and what each one of us really loves about music, we were able to make it work in a way that it would produce a completely new sound for all of us, while covering thematically a sociopolitical spectrum of values, ideals and principles.
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
One would argue, that we have played a lot of shows so far, even before rolling out our debut album, but if we had to narrow it down to one, it would be our Live for the official release party of the album, performed in January of 2023, where we had put together a bunch of special effects, such as sparks, dry ice, pressured oxygen canisters and robotic lights, to make an awesome show, which was greatly received by the audience and also reviewers.
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
We do not have a favorite venue to play at, but we might have one after this summer, when we will open for Deep Purple, Saxon, Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying and more, at the Rockway Festival in Terra Vibe park in Greece which is already a dream come true for us. In general, we would like to play the biggest of open stages but also venues, so if you can name it, then you know that we want to play there.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Taking the most votes on a festival, and each one’s favorite living band, between band members, it would be, Wacken Open Air with Disturbed, Gojira, Tool, Avenged Sevenfold and Born of Osiris.
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?
Aim for the stars, always follow your heart but act with your brain and in a professional manner if you want to be taken seriously. Pull out all the stops and don’t be lazy about it. Even if you don’t “make it” you will have given it your best shot, and that is respectable and good enough.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Since music and career wise we have already covered that, each one of us would have attempted to preemptively save the lives of loved ones we have lost.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Each one of us might actually have a different song which means the most to us, but Thanos (vocals) will be taking this one.
-I would say “Trying to Breathe”. It is a song that speaks about depression, and the helplessness that it makes you feel, not being able to do or change anything that is happening around you. Between 2013 and 2021 I went through that rabbit hole, and being able to express it through this song, by writing it down, singing it out loud, time and time again, and having people understanding that meaning, and coming up to me with the solidarity of being or having been to a similar place, along with some key people in the second half of that time, was a catalyst for finally being pulled out of it. I would love nothing more, that this song, being able to make a similar impact to other people suffering from the same condition.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
We enjoy playing the whole album, it has something for everyone. The most requests come for our 2 video clip releases, Leviathan and Trying to Breathe, but also Rain Fire, and thus a video clip will coming for this song as well in the next few months. We love pleasing our fans.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Someone comes in with an idea, if we like it enough while jamming, we build on it. We build and we build, and the initial form has been shaped, then we keep on tweaking until we find it perfect, and that’s it. It’s never going to be perfect of course, so it’s always only finalized in the studio. Inspiration can come from a lot of things. People, feelings, other music, the world. We try our best not to limit our sources for it.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
The messages in the first album are social. We strive to be on the side of justice, fairness, acceptance and love, while we stand against those who are opposed to these values. This could be considered a bit ironic, but just because you can accept something and someone for what they are, that does not mean that they still do not harm the society. It is a feeling that we do our best to express with words and lyrics, but since humans are imperfect, so are the words we have created.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
There are always minor disagreements with any given group of people at times, but we have always been able to get past them so far, and even have some laughs about them afterwards. Communication is always key.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Tours, live shows, but also the making of a second album are on their way. Everything is still under discussion, but we would like to spotlight our huge live coming up on the 7th of July, at Rockwave Festival in Terra Vibe Park in Greece, where we will play with some of the GOATs as mentioned previously. Deep Purple, Saxon, Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying and more. Don’t miss that and don’t miss any of our updates by following us on social media platforms.
Thanks for having us. Spektrvm out! ���