My name is Olivier, guitarist of the swiss metal band “Almøst Human”. The line-up of the group is composed of a girl and 4 boys: Sara – bass, Ben – vocals, Gilles – guitar, Rosario – drums and myself.
Our music has varied influences, different sound atmospheres, vocal lines related to the themes discussed, a questioning of how we perceive reality. Our music is rich, deep, dense, requiring several attentive listening to soak it up and appreciate it.
2.What do you classify your sound as, Who do you tell people you sound like?
If some groups seem to favour an approach by categorizing their music very precisely, I prefer to say that we do «metal», even «hybrid» metal and let you, dear listeners, make your own opinion. I find it more interesting to be a little vague and find out how you appropriate our music, how you perceive it, understand it.
The references are sometimes surprising, generally positive and always rewarding because it is an excellent opportunity to be in contact with you. Music is a universe of exchange and sharing of emotions.
3.With digital music in today's world would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?
I vote to keep physical media. It gives us more opportunities and diversity. It is up to everyone, musician/fan, to choose the medium(s) he/she prefers. And then, each artist or group can have the opportunity to tell a story through the choice of support they make. It’s much more creative and interesting.
Does nature, not seem to favour diversity?
4.What is the reason you decided to be a musician and has that reason paid off?
At first, it was childhood friends who made me want to hold a guitar and make noise with it. I also wanted to play the songs of my favorite artists and bands
I do not claim the title of musician and prefer to say that I try to play music. There are many real musicians and I don’t think I’m part of them at the moment .. one day maybe;-) . I play as an amateur and my knowledge of music business encourages me to be cautious about earning enough money to simply pay my bills and fill my fridge.
So I can’t really answer that question, and right now I’m one of the majority of people who invest time and money without any certainty of return. It is more an experience of life where each encounter can be an enrichment.
5.How do you feel about females in metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?
For a long time, women have been present as fans are working in the entertainment world, and so much the better if they are more and more present on stage.
Honestly, I’m not really interested in the fact that they have special attention unless the latter is disrespectful, madchist, sexist.
For our part, we welcomed a newcomer to Almøst Human. We have made the best of human skills above all, motivation, availability. She happened to be a woman who was most in line with our wishes, so she had a place in our group.
6.In the world climate with hatred being at an all time high and metal being an “ angry” music. Do you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?
I do not think it is recent. The designation of enemies to pour torrents of hatred and violence on is nothing new. It is easier to make all others responsible for our problems than to question themselves. And when people face us in the same way, it creates multi-generational hate cycles. Are there real winners in the end?
I hope that our music is never perceived or interpreted as an incitement to hatred or self-loathing. Anger is a sometimes understandable emotion, but it is important to turn it into something positive like playing metal. Do not let these feelings take over and possess us. Negative emotions end up destroying us.
7.Are you opposed to religious beliefs or politics being used in music?
No, it’s part of the belief systems of musicians. It’s up to them to decide whether or not to talk about it.
For me, the key is to avoid imposing a belief system of any kind. Religious, economic, political, etc... Seeing our beliefs shared by as many people as possible is understandable, in my opinion, above all reassuring. But all that is erected in absolute good, in the only way of progress, too often ends up in a world of sufferings and fills mass graves and cemeteries. Apparently, despite all these centuries of wars, we have not yet understood it.
And finally, it’s important to stay away from our beliefs. See them and wonder why we accept this belief, what effect it has on us. Of course, when we discover our mental automatisms, this raises questions, especially with regard to our free will.
8.We have dive into some pretty deep issues here do you think your music sends a message and if so what is it?
The thinking behind the themes in our music is: What do we see, the reality or the idea we have?
Our perception of reality is in part conditioned by the limits of our senses and belief systems. So it’s limited and relative, whether we change it every year or every day. As long as we approach the world around us and ourselves in this way, it seems to me difficult to find a lasting inner and collective peace.
9.The market has changed and many bands believe that record labels are a thing of the past, with many labels now charging bands to “sign” how do you think a band can make it in todays scene?
Ideally, we should be able to work intelligently together, but it is difficult for us to get out of survival strategies where the law of the strongest prevails. The different players in the music world should work together rather than try to benefit from each other. But greed, greed, too often, possesses us.
I am not in favour of opposing labels and groups, each of which can have its place, bringing experience and skills. A fair distribution of benefits, risks and responsibilities would be appreciable, because when a group is doomed to bear most of the risks and disadvantages, it may as well do without a maximum number of intermediaries. In some cases, agents, managers, labels, distributors, etc., are paid by the groups without any obligation of actual results, which is a problem.
Buying music also means giving groups a chance to exist and preventing a minority of people from locking in the world of music at the expense of quality, creativity and diversity.
I don’t really believe in a miraculous recipe for success and think that each group should define its notion of “success”, even if it means reassessing it from time to time according to the results obtained, the means used, etc.… There are plenty of examples of bands, of artists who are known but cannot make a decent living from their music. Some make more money with merchandising, demos, seminars than with their music production. To be successful may be to be able to enjoy composing, performing and communicating on stage despite all the difficulties.
10.Why with the thousands of options including netflix , sporting events everything on demand. Why do you think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say in your music?
One of the dangers with all that is pre-chewed and very well done in many cases is that laziness and looking for ease did not become a habit and we play bad tricks. Listening to music takes time when it is not part of our listening habits. Whether it’s Almøst Human’s music or the music of other bands, sometimes we have to fight the tendency to reject what we don’t know or don’t immediately get our attention. Moreover, the temptation to zap almost automatically does not improve our ability to concentrate.
The challenges, the behavioural changes, whether you’re a musician or a listener, then become difficult because they become foreign, difficult, and destabilizing. It is ultimately easier to criticize what is foreign to us rather than to face our limitations.
For Almøst Human, the themes discussed and the music is linked by a deep bond. The choice of vocal lines is also influenced by the subject of the lyrics.
As described above, we try to go beyond the mere criticism of our societies. The evil that plagues us is our mistaken perception of reality. Whatever belief systems we adhere to, it is important to distance ourselves from them and realize that they are relative, not absolute.
11.How do you feel about pay to play? Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?
It depends on the situation. If it is a question of opening a band deserving of its success, its audience, in front of the world and good conditions, the deal does not suit me very well on principle.
But today there are a lot of groups, and most of them are at the end of the stakeholder chain. So there is a danger that we will find ourselves in a business system where the bands are only there to pay for a forest of intermediaries who don’t really care about their music and their potential.
I am for each and every one of us to be properly paid and respected for the work we do. Nevertheless, I fear that people may be tempted to lock up groups in the role of eternal payers to serve their interests. The musicians then fuel the blaze of this business music.
12.It is fact that you are the talent and the entertainment explain what you think is the most important key to success?
Talent is a subjective appreciation and so is originality, I think. In addition, considering oneself talented or being perceived as such by others are two different things. There are many bands that make good music, good concerts, but struggle to fill small rooms.
I think it’s a set of keys that’s needed to try to be successful.
Be aware of our expectations and consider failures
Be very persistent, patient
Focus on business music
To understand a minimum the other jobs that allow us to play on stage, to produce musical supports, Merch, etc....
Be respectful, grateful to all the people who help us. And not just with a little “thanks you”
Be musical curious
Surround yourself with people you trust, who believe in your potential and say what’s wrong
And so much more. : -)
13.In country music and even in some cases rock music is written and performed by different people would your band perform a song written by someone else?
Why not. : -)
It’s always interesting and rewarding to collaborate with other musicians, to learn other ways to compose a song. Exploring leads that we would not have imagined develops creativity and curiosity. This allows for a more varied music, a greater openness of mind.
14.If you are pro female in music are you pro using sex to sell your music?
So far, no. I’m not opposed to doing that, as long as it’s not just a pretext for hearing and controversy. not. : -)
15.What is your view on the lawsuits against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock n roll ?
Here in Switzerland, we don’t have too many cases, I think, but:
Is it already obvious to define where the line between normality and excess lies?
Second, to have a life described as “sex, drugs and rock'n'roll”, does it condemn a person to vulgarity, coarseness, the use of characterizing verbal violence? No, I don’t think so.
Some of the comments on social networks, in the media, quickly lack moderation, retreat and sink into provocation, sensationalism, even incitement to hatred, division.
I also know people who have very free speech, very direct, very relevant arguments. but a lot of trouble to hear the slightest thought, the slightest notice to the contrary... let’s not even talk about questioning. Freedom of expression sometimes has a good and legitimate back to verbal excesses devoid of all wisdom.
It’s sad to start a criminal prosecution, but it may be a necessary evil when other approaches have failed. After that, we must not abuse it and fall into the dictatorship of a politically correct one that would only be a disguised intolerance. I don’t know if that exists, but perhaps it is necessary to accompany convictions with educational measures in order to prevent the perpetrators of these verbal aggressions, in no way change their way of thinking, are confined to a role of victim or misunderstood genius and, on the contrary, radicalize.
16. Ok lets lighten up a bit. What is your favorite band of all time and why?
The Beatles: -) for their creativity, their sense of melody and composition, at a time when it was more difficult to rely on technology to create good songs.
17.What would you be doing if you were not in a band?
I’m an amateur, so I have other activities to fund my music. I have only the embarrassment of choice among my other interests: cooking, history, philosophy, dietetics, ethology, psychology, meditation, tai-chi, oenology, etc ...
18. Do you have a favorite sports team?
Drinking good Beers & wine, Eating good food, Relaxing with friends and cats... is it a sport? More Seriously, I haven’t so much time to be the fan of a sports team.
19.If you could get on stage with anyone dead or alive who would it be?
For the living, Katatonia, Korn, Alice In Chains, Michael Schenker, George Lynch and so many others.
For those who have passed away, it would be interesting to form groups, unlikely duos like Mozart, Hendrix and Lemmy or John Lennon and Beethoven, etc....
20.This is your shot to let loose, Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz
Ahaha... Don’t be so greedy, as the cake is smaller.: -)
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