Interviews: SKAGS

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band, SKAGS from Greece. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

The band’s name began as an acronym, formed by the first letters of our member’s names at that time. Since then, inevitably, some members left and other came, but in the meanwhile, we decided to keep the name. Actually, the word “skag” is slang for recreational drugs, and such we consider our music, intense and highly addictive.

2.Why did you want to play this genre?

It is not that we sit together and decided that we want to play a specific style of music. We try to experiment as much as possible and that’s why there is so much diversity in our sound and songs.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Sotiris (bass), Christos (drums) and Christina (keyboards) used to play in another band and became friends. Sotiris met Spyretta when SKAGS were initially formed with a different lineup and inevitably his other two friends joined the band.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Spyretta: Radiohead

Chris: Dream Theater

Sotiris: Pink Floyd

Christina: Guns N Roses

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Our main inspiration is what we feel at the moment we give birth to a new melody. We write songs that reflect our emotions, thoughts, concerns and needs. We give parts of ourselves in each and every song and we want them to be as real as possible. Our songs also carry many social messages, and it means the world to us even if just one person gets inspired from them to make a change, no matter the likes or dislikes. In general, in music there are two types of songs: The ones that entertain you and make you feel happy and the ones that make you change your perspective of the world. Ideally, we want to combine both types, but if we were to choose, we would definitely choose the second. We want our audience to feel the vibe that our songs give off during our concerts and to make its own self-criticism back home.

6. Where was your last gig?

Unfortunately, the covid-19 pandemic has set back every gig plan we had. Our last gig was a in a club in Athens on January 2020. We hoped for a chance of a live album presentation, but we had to postpone this idea. Hopefully, 2021 will give us the chance!

7. Where would you like to act?

We like the vibe of a big music festival like the ones that take place in the UK, Germany, France etc where you have the chance to meet with other bands, experience the presence of massive crowd cheering and dancing to your music and also take the “challenge” to try and captivate such a big audience. But a smaller venue, under a roof, always feels more comfortable. You are more “in contact” with your audience, you have no other “distractions” and everyone is focused on you. So, we think it’s somewhere in between.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

It would be an honor having Steven Wilson featuring as a musician or as a music engineer on one album. He has an amazing talent mixing songs in a way that every instrument sounds unique.

9. Whom not?

Every cooperation is interesting if the “result” is something nice. We are not the biggest fans of the Greek folk-pop music culture, so in such a possible project we would be reluctant with.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Of course, we have experienced stage fright many times! In your music path you may never be able to get rid of it. However, you must find ways to control it and cope with it. Based on our experience we propose the following: i)Practice and be very well prepared for their gig. ii)Spend at least 10 minutes meditating and doing breathing exercises before the gig. iii) REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR BANDMATES!

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

We all share the love of music, however each one of us has his/her own personal taste. As a result, our music is influenced by diverse music genres, composers, and bands. It is worth mentioning though, Pink Floyd and Radiohead.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

After the end of a concert, a fan followed our singer to the toilet and opened the door, in order to ask for her cellphone number.

13. What do you think of your fans?

As our journey has just began, we are actually in the process of building up our fanbase. When it comes to our dedicated followers, we really miss interacting with them, due to the whole Covid situation. We are looking forward to seeing them again!

14. What do you think of our site?

Just by browsing the site one can understand the importance of your work. We think it is a great initiative to provide such a place, where bands from all over the globe can promote their work. As an emerging band, it is very important to us to have such help to reach out to the audience.

15. Something add?

We really thank you for this interview and we wish you all, stay safe and listen to music.