Interviews: Haneke Eyes

We have had the opportunity to interview the Post-Punk band Haneke Twins from Switzerland. 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 come out just like that?

If I (Stefanos) remember correctly, it was an idea from Paschalis. We were on the plane going to Athens, Greece to record our first EP, where we were discussing the name of the project. A few came up. “Dark currents” I remember was a strong candidate. At some point Paschalis brought up the idea of the “Haneke Twins” as a homage to “the white ribbon”, a magnificent antifascist suspense film, without a single note of music in it. One of its kind!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It’s a bit of a mixture of our influences really.. Besides, we are still wondering what genre our music belongs to... When we started writing our first tracks, we were simply laying down the riffs and chord progressions without thinking too much about it. For this reason, our eponymous debut EP (2018, self-released) is unusually wide in terms of genres ranging from post-punk to metal.. In our second release, "Astronaut" (2021, The Animal Farm) we continued where we left off, simply a little more focused on the post-punk/dark-rock side ..

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

Yep! We are colleagues at CERN - the largest particle physics laboratory in the world located in Geneva, Switzerland! We met there a long time ago, formed a couple of cover bands and in 2018 we decided to start writing our own music..

4. Each band member's favourite band? 

Stefanos: A Perfect Circle

Paschalis: The Cure

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Each one of us have different backgrounds as far as inspirations come about. You can find one of us in experimental electro/punk scenes and the other in brutal death metal gigs. So a big variety of influences and inspirations. But we do share some icons, like Joy Division and Bauhaus. It’s interesting. Especially the way this is reflected in our music.

6. Where was your last gig?

November 24th, 2021 at Les 4 coins, a cool intimate venue in Geneva. By the way, we should mention that the band performs live as a 5-piece with the addition of Emil Koulouris (drums/vocals), Paul Aspell (bass) and Andrés G. Delannoy (guitars/vocals). The crowd was great, we really enjoyed it!!

7. Where would you like to perform? 

Any major festivals really.. But we do enjoy playing in tiny clubs to big venues. Each stage has its own merits..

8. Whom would you like to perform with? 

We’d say Interpol. We think we’re closer to them in terms of sound, plus it is a big inspiration for us.

9. Whom not?

Any band or performer showing discriminatory attitude. Just to name a few, Morrissey because he is flirting with the far right and fascist imagery since the 90’s, and Guns’N Roses for the emetic lyrics of “one in a million”.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Every single time! But usually during the first track it goes away and when we’re at the last one we wish the set lasted twice as long.. Advice? A bit of alcohol always helps. Plus maybe strong lights on stage! Even though we prefer darkness..

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Difficult to say, so many that inspired us equally! Apart from Bauhaus, Joy Division and Interpol mentioned earlier, we could also add (among many) Dillinger Escape Plan, SIsters of Mercy and Madrugada.

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

During our last gig, somebody asked us to play “Smoke on the water”!! And currently, there’s one person allowed to play it live or in a guitar store. Steve Morse.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

We love them and we wish to have more opportunities to play for them in the coming years, the situation the last two years was unbearable, hope will be over soon.

14. What do you think of our site?

To be perfectly honest with you, we only discovered your site very recently. We do appreciate your dedication to promote relatively unknown bands from all over the world! The website is very nicely designed and surprisingly well organized. Good job lads!

15. Something to add?

We live in difficult times. Stay safe and keep an eye on friends, family, close ones and not. In the end, we only have each other.