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Interview with Anatol Bogendorfer for
www.dreun.be
How was it working with Steve Albini, and why did you choose him?
To keep the story short: It was a great pleasure to work with him.
There were a few reason why to record with him.
The first and most important actually was: We love the way he records bands. So many of our favourite records at home are recorded by him. They all sound very natural and warm. Or let´s say: they sound like the band sounds in real and not like overproduced shit with all it´s digital fuckaround.
So we decided that Steve is probably the one who is able to record our music as we hear our music by ourselves.
The second reason was: He is no producer-asshole. He is just the engineer who trys to do a good job for the band. We had very concrete ideas about every sound-detail of the record. That´s the way he likes to work and that´s the way we like to work in the studio as well. All this made it possible to have a very good time together during the session and to work efficient to get a result everybody was happy with in the end .
Well, and of course one reason to work with him was also because we wanted to get to know this guy personally who influenced us when we wre teenagers with his music and views about things a band has to deal with.
Believe me one thing: It´s hard for me to imagine to record with someone else now. He´s a very good sound engineer, intelligent, friendly and politely . What else can you expect.
How different was it writing this album, compared to the previous one?
Well, in general:
We worked far longer on the song material of the new record than we did for the previous one.
The simple reason for this: We wanted it this way. And had no stress because we knew that it takes its time until we are happy with each song. Happy with the sounds. Happy with the arrangements. Happy with the lyrics.
Although I always have quite concrete ideas about every single song it´s a long way until a valina song get a form.
So it´s no matter of "easy" or "not easy". It´s just a matter of time and creativity.
What does the band name Valina mean?
1) Valina is a czech name for a girl. It means "Little female warrior".
2) It´s also an amino acid.
3) It´s also a black arabian stallion in Russia.
.....the name has some different meanings.
But honestly, at the time we´ve choosen the name we didn´t know this at all.
There´s this pixies song called havalina.
We put the h and a away and decided that this is the name for our band, because we liked the sound of the name.
That´s it.
Is there a so called scene in Austria for bands like you?
Yes, I would say so.
There are the bigger cities like Vienna, Linz, Graz, Innsbruck etc. which have a quite long tradition of different underground scenes no matter what style of music.
In those cities 150 - 300 people come to see our shows.
Beside those cities we are in the nice position that we get invited quite often to small places in the countryside, where young people set up shows irregularly.
Those shows are definetely my favoutite ones, because those kids seem to be really into the whole evening when they´ve once decided to set up a show for a band.
Although there´s no fucking routine they are really well organised and treat you well. By the way a lot of people show up there as well.
Explain the song titles "Dance Your Job", "St Petersburg Me Cannibal" and "Far South And Your Breasts".
"Dance Your Job" is the fictive lesson in how to deal with shit by taking things like they are. I can imagine that this is happening in the french countryside.
I guess it´s about the non-intellectual view of personal friendship and the problems with art in general.
People in St.Petersburg in the years 1942 / 43 were forced to become cannibals after the Nazi troops built a circle around the town to prevent that food can get into the town.
Thousands died of starvation. Thousands became cannibals.
Moral is one of the hardest words to discuss.
I liked the idea tof comparing the disaster of globalisation with the modern life of two particular lovers.
The individual will always be an individual. It´s his decision when to decide if it´s a tragedy or a comedy. When to give and when to take.....
I am no pessimist in general. I try to be no clown either. But I have to laugh when someone stumble across something, although I try hard to be not an asshole.
How would you describe Valina´s music?
Nondanceable rockmusic with the calm attitude of a finnish lemon-farmer couple.
This can be exciting, sometimes, for somebody.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a trio?
In general it´s better when you are just a three piece rockband when the catering is too less. - like everywhere in the united states.
It´s a disatvantage when you start a five week lasting tour in Italy and realize back home that all the promoters of the tour mixed up you
r catering rider with the one of poison idea or the London Symphony Orchestra.
At this point you decide to have a second guitar player in the band because you can´t make it alone anymore with your fat fingers ...............
How was the tour?
We were on the road for five weeks through 11 different countries. We had three days off.
But guess what: The whole tour was one big vacation.....
Every single show was great.
We just met nice people everywhere. Some of them, I have the feeling, already became true friends.
All the shows were well organised. So there was no real stress at any time.
People seemed to be interested in our music.
One culinary highlight after the other. (I am speaking in particular about italian food and coffee, french wine etc......)
And we had fun.
And we didn´t lose money.
No chance to be unhappy.
Thanks for your time, and good luck with the tour and the band!
I was a pleasure to answer your questions.
Take care,
anatol
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