Interviews: The 40 Thieves

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Heavy Rock band, The 40 Thieves 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 plan it or come out just like that?

Artur: Not my name. But the moment I heard it I was 100% down with it. How cooler can it be?

Dee: It has nothing to do with the 40 thieves and Alibaba from the fairy tale. The fact is that The Forty Thieves was the oldest New York City criminal street gang formed in 1825. They were really tough guys and a really bad gang. And I thought that would suit us well (laughs). But the real reason is that my favorite bar in Bali, where my second home was before Corona, that's what it was called. I can only recommend this bar if someone is planning to go on vacation there! 

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Dee: What a question. Because we write this shit (laughs). Here's what you get when you let “The 40 Thieves” do it creatively, it's as simple as that.

Davide: Ever since I was a boy, I loved listening to rock music. My first music cassette was Trash by Alice Cooper. I was already captivated there by this mystical atmosphere and these guitar riffs. The mood caught me. Once it catches up with you, you can't get away.

Artur: It’s kind of a mixture of the genres, and the more we write – the more we incorporate new elements. You don’t choose the genre. The genre chooses you! We play different stuff and then choose what drives us the most.

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

Dee: Yes I and Davide had worked together in the past on different projects we lived in the same city but never wrote songs together until now. And after the first song we wrote, the band members who fit the 40 Thieves style came along one by one.

Artur: Nope. I’m still a little in the woods as to how that happened. I’m from Belarus. It’s like a gulag in the middle of civilization, yet they reached out to me and wanted me to play the guitar in the band. Like whaaaaaa?

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Davide: Pink Floyd

Artur: If I am allowed to pick only one. I’d spend hours thinking and still will not be able to answer! Right now – I am enjoying the new Slipknot release.

Dee: For me, that's a tough question and can't be answered like that, because there are just too many styles even in Rock and Metal. Just as an example, can you remember the first time you heard Linking Park? The first single from the band was "One Step Closer" and it blew my mind it was so new fresh so blatantly aggressive and soft in the same time! And that's 22 years ago, the term Metalcore didn't even exist yet! There are always such moments and they influence you as a musician. I prefer American Rock/Metal. I think you can hear that in the songs too. Today I read a review that actually hits it pretty well. The guy wrote: “The 40 Thieves take 90's stoner and grunge and give it some serious metal polish. The result is a catchy, heavy rock sound with clean vocals and sharp riffs.” We can live with that.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Artur: It's always random, but mostly - art, I see what other people create and say about their creation - it almost always sparks some thoughts, fresh ideas. 

Dee: Of course, like I said, other bands inspire you too. That's quite normal. I mean we write what we like to hear. I don't write anything that I wouldn't like to hear myself. I always love to discover new music. For example, I discovered a band called "Dayseeker" for myself. Which I've been listening to a lot in the last few months and I've already noticed that my songwriting has changed in part and I'm trying to integrate elements of that into my songwriting. so inspiration comes from everything. That's what I love about songwriting, the creativity of turning nothing into something wonderful that touches people.

6. Where was your last gig?

Dee: A Show in Switzerland last Weekend.

Artur: Also we did some Online stuff. Corona time bro! Yes, it’s kind of subsided now, and festivals recover slowly. We have huge plans for the next year for sure! 

7. Where would you like to act?

Artur: Wait. To act? Next Bond reboot. Hands down, I want the main role.

Dee: I recently asked myself that because I've already done a lot with my last band, including playing in Wacken twice. What I would like to do one day is a tour in Japan, I've never been there. A band must have goals, otherwise, you're lost (laughs)

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Davide: As the opening act of Ghost would be cool.

Artur: Hanz Zimmer!

Dee: Can it also be a person who has already died? Then I would say with Chester Bennington! He was an extremely great inspiration also as a person. He was the reason I wrote the first song with Davide. That was the start of The 40 Thieves. I was so incredibly shocked when I found out about his death like never before. I had to do something and then we wrote the song IF WE DIE TONIGHT. That's why the song will always be something special for me. There is also a photo of him in the lyric video that will be released next month. The song is about depression and the demons in your head. It still makes me sad when I talk about it. Although it's been over 5 years now.

9. Whom not?

Artur: Any artist who has “lil” in the name.

Dee: With my ex-band. Nothing more to say.

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

Dee: Are you kidding me? If you play festivals where more people watch than live in your City where you live how do you want to stay cool (laughs). It works really well for us to have some kind of habit at gigs or on tour, like always hearing the same song before the gig or a battle cry. But also being the characters that we are at The 40 Thieves. When I go on stage I wear THE PRIEST uniform with my hat. This is a kind of armor for me and it feels good. Ok, to be honest, I drink half a bottle of Jack Daniels before the gig (laughs). That's why such long tours are not good for me!

Davide: I also get always stage fright before a performance. And it's so bad that my hands are no longer loose. I do mindfulness exercises before every performance and try to control my breathing. Also, I imagine that all of the audience are sunflowers and not humans.

Artur: Suffered from the auditions, but those could be really toxic. Dude, don’t be afraid of stage – it’s your best friend, who’s helping you to show your art to the whole world. It’s like this guy, who walks up the bar and says out loud – “Ahem! That’s our special guest and he has something to say to yall”. Now that everyone’s attention is caught, that guy just winks at you and disappears.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Davide: I mentioned earlier, that I was very inspired by the Pink Floyds. I'm also currently still a big fan of "Boards of Canada". As a singer, I think Mike Patton is phenomenal. He's a chameleon in the music business.

Artur: Paul Whiteman, Ben Bernie, Mamie Smith. This lot, day and night.

Dee: Wow Artur I don't know any of these (laughs) I didn't even know that you are inspired by these artists. For me of course that changes all the time, but when we talk about our debut album, which will be released now, I would definitely say American bands like Creed, Disturbed, Five finger Death Punch, Linkin Park, Godsmack, etc.

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

Artur: To borrow money to organize his own local gig (laughing). That caught me off guard.

Dee: Questions about sex! But that's not really weird, isn't it? I find requests for signatures on private parts very funny. Which of course I always comply with! (laughs)

13. What do you think of your fans?

Artur: If they like what we have to offer – I couldn’t be more glad and grateful. Thanks to all of you who show us, love. We will bring some more awesome music to you soon!

Dee: Yes, it doesn't work without the fans. When you write a song and you reach people with it, they then tell you such beautiful things as they did today when we had the video release of ALL WE BLEED. then people say it touched them in some way. One bangs his head to our music, the other drinks to our song and has a wonderful feeling and finds himself in our lyrics or someone wants to have awesome sex to our music! Whatever! but it touches people and that is the essence!

14. What do you think of our site?

Dee: I would say first of all thank you Jon for this Interview. And it's great that you're also offering a platform for up-and-coming bands. And I think your Spotify channel with the playlists is great!

Artur: Nice one, while I was researching it, read a couple of other interviews and discovered some new interested artists to follow.

15. Something to add?

Dee: For our fans and future fans, be sure to follow us on our social channels such as IG and FB. Soon, we will put together super cool packages with merch and our debut album. We are also working on creating many exclusive things for our fans. Such as fan areas that are only accessible to our fans with interesting videos and behind-the-scene material. Videos, and music that can only be seen and heard there. So follow us!

Artur: Thanks for having us! See you on the road!