Interviews: Epinikion

This is a new interview with the Symphonic Metal band Epinikion from Belgium. Check out the entire interview and give them a follow on their FACEBOOK PAGE. 

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

Epinikion means 'hymn to the winner of the sports competition'. We chose a phoenix, a symbol for athletes who have risen from their ashes as musicians and started a new life. That's us!

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Not only is there a certain logic to it (Robert plays electric guitar and I'm a classical pianist by origin) but we really love symphonic metal. We can fully enjoy ourselves in it.

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

Robert and I have been a couple for 15 years. We didn't know the other people before that. Since we don't come from the music world, I actively searched for band members. We ended up with these people, who think about making music just like we do.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Robert is a die-hard ‘Iron Maiden’ fan. Definitely. I love ‘Kamelot’ very much, that band makes me happy. Rusad is a fan of Children of Bodom and Rico loves ‘Lorna shore’. Eleonora loves ‘the Darkness’, since she was very young and Joeri is a fan of ‘Toska’.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I hate injustice and you immediately notice that in the lyrics. I like courage, respect, and love. You can also see that in the story of Inquisition.

6. Where was your last gig?

Since we've only been around for two years, we've never had the chance to perform, like all other musicians in the world. We are very proud and happy that we can do our first performance in Belgium in Diest in October this year, during Halloween. Awesome!

7. Where would you like to act?

We perform wherever the fans want us to be. After all, they are the ones who give us the right to exist, so how wonderful it is to have a party with them! We have a huge number of Spanish-speaking fans, also from South America. I'm already looking forward to going there someday. That seems really fantastic!

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

There are so many bands we want to perform with. From Helloween to Epica, I don't think we have an easy choice. As long as they are friendly people, we think everything is fine!

9. Who not?

Reverse the above and you have your answer: bands with unfriendly members. Since we don't know anyone personally, I wouldn't know who I mean by that.

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

What a great question to ask me, as a psychologist! I can say so much about that that the interview is too short. Fortunately, our band members are not bothered by that, which is very nice.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

What inspired me enormously were the words of the former bassist of Nightwish, Marko Hietala. He dared to speak out about how unfair the music industry is and I thought that was super brave. What it did to him was also bold to say. No matter how good a band is, as an audience, we only see the outside but everyone has to fight incredibly hard to be on stage. Even if you are successful. I have deep respect for that.

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

We can give you very strange examples of questions for our singer, who is thrown the most indecent proposals you can imagine. Fortunately, she handles that very well. I will spare you the details!

13. What do you think of your fans?

I love my fans and will give them as much attention as I can. I am very grateful that people follow us, like our messages, and come to see us on stage. Wonderful. 

14. What do you think of our site?

The more webzines that pay attention to metal, the better. We can consider ourselves lucky with the work that the administrators put in because they ensure that we get to see beautiful messages and interviews. Breathing the Core looks beautiful and is very informative as far as I'm concerned.

15. Something add?

Thank you very much for paying attention to our band Epinikion, members, and music, so nice of you!