Interview with THE HYBRIS

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

We had our first band when I was 12. From then on, everything for me was about music. Even our regular jobs today have to do with music. I could also imagine doing other things, but music is simply our passion.

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

All of us have our regular jobs, our families keep us busy. Writing and producing music happens all the time, only for the lyrics I need time and rest. That works best in short breaks or while traveling.

How long has your band been around? 

We started with this project in 2020 and worked on our debut album for the next three years.

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

There are three of us, we are from Germany and know each other for many, many years. In the past we played in different combinations in various rock bands. Then we were spread all over the world for professional or family reasons, today we live in Nice, in L.A. and in Cologne. This remote collaboration definitely influences our music, but I think in a really positive way.

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

We are politically interested people. The term hybris (or hubris) comes from the Greek tragedy and stands for “exaggerated self-pride, arrogance, excess of ambition causing the transgressor’s ruin”. Sometimes it feels like this “hubris” is the headline for the life we as human beings are living right now.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Our blind spot – no shows :-/ Currently we are a pure remote recording project. We’ll see what the future holds for us.

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

I like small clubs! That's just always a very unique atmosphere, even as a concert-goer I prefer to go to small clubs. Let's see if our music ever makes it to a live stage as well.

If you could play any show with any line-up, who would be on the ticket?

Oh, that’s a tough one. I assume, each of us would answer this differently. My personal favourite line-up would be: Boysetsfire, System Of A Down, Thrice, Muse, Rise Against…. THE HYBRIS :)

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?

I don't like to give advice – every development and every path is different and not everyone pursues the same goals.

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

No advice for myself as well :)

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

Of course, I like all of them, they are our babies. One that stands out to me personally is “The Other Side”, both in terms of the composition but also the lyrics. It’s a song about tolerance with a quite unique structure.

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

On our debut album, it's "Silent Violence" that has gotten the most attention. I love this song.

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

As described, we collaborate virtually – sometimes there’s a melody first, sometimes a piano hook or a guitar riff. We decide which ideas are worth pursuing, and then we go for it.

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

Basically, we are politically interested people, but we don't want to share messages with a big sign. What moves us in this particular moment is often reflected in our music, but we don't want to impose our opinion on anyone.

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

Conflicts are really reduced to a minimum through our virtual collaboration. And because we've known each other so long and so well, most disagreements have already been resolved in the past. Each of us has his freedoms and it works very well that way.

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

We want to develop musically, try things out. Maybe start more collaborations. I love it when a band develops its own style over time and doesn't stagnate. Would be amazing if we could say that about ourselves one day. Variable, but in a way also consistent – that would be great.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

Sure – you can find us on Insta (@the_hybris) and Twitter (@thehybrismusic), feel free to stop by!