SWAN SWONG

GREYSWAN

WHEN I ASKED GIANLUCA TO GIVE ME A PROLOGUE FOR TJIS INTERVIEW HE ANSWERED : "I leave this choice to online readers, I think everyone can give their advice, like it happens with music and lyrics: everyone has his own interpretation, and that's fine."

1.TELL US IN A FEW WORDS THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND'S HISTORY. WHICH IS TODAY'S LINE UP?

The band was born in 1996 when, still teenagers, we started to play covers; soon we decided to compose our own songs and in 2000 we recorded our first demo; then this promo in 2001. In the meantime we had many line-up changes for several problems. At the moment greyswan are Oscar - vocals -, Paolo and me (Gianluca) - guitars -, Marcello - bass - and Luca - drums -.. Only Oscar and me come from the original line-up, the others have changed during these years.

2.WHY HAVE YOU NAMED THE BAND THIS WAY? IT SOUNDS VERY MELANCHOLIC... AMONG WHICH OTHER NAMES WAS IT CHOSEN?

The monicker reminds the idea of the french poet Rimbaud who wanted to reach the "Unknown", the true hidden reality; besides the swan is an animal denoting a poet and a musician in litterature, a symbol of purity, beauty and incontamination.. It was the only name, we started and we'll go on with this one; the name hasn't been chosen for accident,but it's something linked with the music we play.

3.HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? WHICH ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?

Many reviews wrote we play gothic metal but in a "greyswan" way; someone said we play "emotional rock/metal"; I can try to describe our music, but I prefere people to listen to it and to feel it. By the way our songs are pretty long, quite slow, with catchy guitars riffs, strong rythm parts and clean passional voice...I'd say Anathema and Katatonia are the bands our music is mostly influenced by.

4.CAN YOU REMEMBER WHICH BAND AND WHICH SONG IN SPECIFIC YOU'VE LISTENED AND MADE YOU DECIDE TO INVOLVE WITH MUSIC?

Well, I dont remember...actually I think many bands, many songs, not just one. Anyway I can say that when Katatonia's "tonight's decision" came out, it left a strong sign in ourselves and in our way to listen to music, not just to play.

5.FILL US IN ON THE BAND RELEASES. TELL US ABOUT THE MUSIC, THE PRODUCTION, THE RECORDINGS...ARE YOU STILL SATISFIED WITH THEM?

We recorded the first demo in 2000; it was a live in studio recording, something terrible in my opinion. But it was what we could play at that time and we got some good reviews. The band worked hard to try to explain with music what they really wanted and in 2001 we entered a professional studio to record the 3 track promo. It was a great experience, a big sacrifice for us, especially talking about money, but we are satisfied; sound is very good, we just could do better in mixing, but I cant complain.

6.ARE YOU PLANNING TO RELEASE A NEW CD? HOW WILL IT BE MUSICALLY? ARE YOU THINKING OF EXPERIMENTING WITH OTHER METAL GENRES?

This is the situation at the moment: we have just started again our live activity, after line-up changes. We have many new songs, musically they play in a more personal way. We are trying to find out our own sound, always with "greyswan" feelings; we haven't planned anything, we just play and I think like in every band happens, even in greyswan developments and changes are the results of years gone: you play, you get experience, you improve, you become older, feelings change...it depends to the moment, to the situation. We dont care to the kind of music.We just play. And we hope to record our new songs, but we are looking for a label who gives us this chance.

7.HOW ARE YOU THINKING TO PROMOTE YOUR WORK? WHICH SONG OF YOURS DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IDEAL TO REPRESENT YOUR MUSIC?

We've done ourselves the promotion of our work. We are still doing it. Since it's a promo cd, we dont sell it, but we trade it and we record it to everyone who would like to listen to our music. We sent it to all italian metal magazines and to many webzines and fanzines. I sent the work to many countries of Europe too and reviews has been very positive; but we are still waiting for many of them. We are glad people understood the meaning of our music.

8.WHICH WERE THE REACTIONS OF THE PRESS AND THE FANS? WHICH IS THE BEST AND WHICH IS THE WORST REVIEW?

As I've already told you, reviews were very good, both in Italy and abroad; but it's often a question of who writes the review, I mean question of tastes and favourite kinds of music. Then I think someone playing instruments listen to music in a different way. It's why I never trust reviews and I dont care about them, cause I prefer to listen straight to music myself and make me my own opinion...but I know many people are too influenced about what magazines say. And that's a pity.

9.HAVE YOU SENT THE DEMO TO ANY LABELS? WHICH WERE THE REACTIONS?

Yes sure; some small label showed interested in us and we are proud about it, cause it means they really like our music. Unluckly for line- up troubles we had to delay every decision. Besides I have to say that many labels, especially in Italy have been very unprofessional. I am very disappointed... there's a big lack of honest people...a big lack of passion for music.

10.WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE METAL SCENE OF YOUR COUNTRY WHICH HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR THESE PAST FEW YEARS?

The metal scene in Italy is ruled by power metal. We can't hide it. All most famous bands play that kind of music, apart from Novembre and Lacuna Coil. I miss feelings in music; personally I dont like power metal cause it gives me nothing from an emotional point of view. But I can say those power bands have a great technical background...but it's not what I look for in music. Anyway, I suggest people to have a look to the underground scene, cause I found many bands with brillant ideas. It's a pity they are still in the underground, I wonder why....

11.IF SOMEDAY YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHICH WOULD YOUR BIGGEST QUESTION BE?

mmm... let me think... maybe "if you created the universe, who created yourself?"

12.WHICH IS MAN'S BIGGEST TEMPTATION?

oh... too easy... women and beer... and weed too...

13.MANY METAL MUSICIANS ACCUSE POP STARS FOR THEIR LIFE STYLE, YET WE SEE SUCH BEHAVIOURS IN THE METAL SCENE AS WELL (BANDS PAYING TO MAKE A COVER FOR SUCCESFUL MAGAZINES, HAVING A GOOD REVIEW, METAL
LABELS PROMOTING SPECIFIC BANDS AND GENRES EACH EPOCH,ETC).IS IT MAYBE AFTER ALL TRUE THAT THE METAL INDUSTRY DOESN'T DIFFER FROM THE POP? WHICH ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

Music is going down, labels produce and promote such crappy bands just for money. This is too bad cause there is no place for many good bands playing true music. I agree, metal nowadays doesnt differ from other kinds of music. About "musician lifestyle", I just dont understand why people have to act in a different way from what rthey really are...just be yourselves.

14.IF TIME TRAVEL WAS POSSIBLE, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY? WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST FROM OUR TIME?

I think I'd like to visit the future. I live day after day, I dont care about tomorrow, but I always wonder about it. Actually I'd love to travel not through historical periods, but to travel physically, around the world we live in. What will I miss most?Well, for sure my friends and music.

15.WHAT PROLOGUE AND TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW TO HAVE?

I leave this choice to online readers, I think everyone can give their advice, like it happens with music and lyrics: everyone has his own interpretation, and that's fine.

16.HAVE YOU READ ANY INTERESTING BOOKS LATELY? HAVE YOU WATCHED AN INTERESTING MOVIE?

I read a lot, different things, not only for my studies, but even for personal pleasure. Lately though I havent found anything interesting. About movies, I seldom watch them; my favourite director is Lars Von Trier.

17.THANK YOU!HAVE I FORGOT TO ASK YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?

I thank you from the place you gave us; an update greyswan site will be soon online, so that people will be able to know more about the band and their music. Greetings to readers.

NIKOS "William_Kidd" PARASTATIDIS

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