Interviews: Acart

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Symphonic Metal solo project Acart from Serbia. Check out this artist and follow him on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

Well, it’s my personal artistic name. Through time and various musical projects, it has become my alias. The basis is my nickname from childhood - Aca (short version of my first name - Aleksandar) and by adding the “art”, I wanted to include the whole spectrum of very different musical genres and poetry I’m also devoted to. 

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

Carigrad is my first symphonic work and it lies in the different music galaxy from my last electronic music projects, or albums and singles which I recorded with Acart electric band. Carigrad is indeed my most ambitious project and I did it with a great team of around 20 members - a group of friends and enthusiasts who are more deeply involved in classical music than myself. Next to me, the team was led by Vladimir Uratarević and Ivan Simeunović. On the other side, for the postproduction, I remained loyal to my old friend and longtime collaborator, music producer Petar Rudić. The music video was done with my old friend Dragan Jereminov. 

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

Half of the members of this project are musicians I have known for many years already. Considering that the nature of this music is something outside of my comfort zone and not even nearly close to the projects I have done earlier, the other half of the members are musicians from several Serbian symphonic orchestras as well as the big band. 

4. Each band member's favorite band? 

We’re all coming from different music palettes. From metal and alternative, through funk and jazz, up to traditional Balkan and classical music as well as soundtracks of great composers. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

My inspiration always comes from a strong volcano of emotions. They are coming from observing personal human destinies and dramas to some historical facts or even scientific knowledge that are new to me at a given moment. Those are the moments when the music suddenly begins to rise inside me and the urge to sit down and create is unstoppable. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

Yesterday :) As a musician, on average, I perform about 200 times a year. With various bands and in the most diverse genres. On the other hand, symphonic projects like this are almost completely new to me and I'm just getting used to managing it. 

7. Where would you like to act? 

Carnegie hall.

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Unfortunately, the very most of them are no longer walking the earth. 

9. Whom not? 

Rappers and trappers.

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

Oh yeah! A lot! When I was a kid in music school I often got a fever when I was about to have even the smallest performance. And nowadays, after 30 years and 3,000 gigs, I’m still sometimes suffering from stage fright - especially when I’m playing a concert that means a lot to me. But, these days it is a rare situation. There are several steps for overcoming it, I tell this also as a music professor with more than 15 years of experience.

Be 200% ready for the gig. Over-prepared even. In that case only, you will be able to get to 100% when you are on stage.

Try to emulate stage conditions as best as you can at your home or studio when you are practicing. For example: if you're a guitarist and you know that you will be standing during the entire gig, then stand during practice. If you’re going to have an in-ear monitor during the gig, then have headphones during practice. If you know the exact setlist, then practice songs in that order.

If there are songs you are starting as a solo instrument, then you have to know that there’s a lot of chance not to recall the “signal of begging” when you stand on a stage and everyone’s staring at you and waiting for the song to start. In this case, you have to practice the first bars of those songs much more often. Also, extract the moments that are hardest to play (or sing) from the songs and practice them individually. Over and over.

Also, note that the big sound of a band (especially drums) may be frightening on stage if you’re not so used to hearing it.

Be perfectly focused on the stage and always think about what’s coming next.

If you make a mistake you need to know that, in the grand scheme of things, it actually doesn’t matter. There’s a big chance that no one noticed that. You need to realize every mistake and move on immediately. Everyone makes mistakes. 

Think of someone in the band, or in the crowd (or imagine someone) that you would like to impress with your performance, and play for that person.

Be brave and attack your instrument or microphone. Otherwise, it will attack you. Remember that it all becomes much easier over time. Good luck!

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

I have a list of over 1,000 artists and bands that have influenced me. So, I think it would be unfair to mention just some of them.

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

To deposit money into their account.

13. What do you think of your fans? 

I often think about them and that they are people similar to me, people I would love to have coffee with.

14. What do you think of our site?

It is a big deal to have a platform like this for giving space to artists, especially ones from metal and similar genres. A great place for the fans to meet the artists more thoroughly.

15. Something to add?

Feel free to subscribe to: https://youtube.com/acartmuzic and discover my world of music.