Welcome and thank you for being
our guest.
Thank
you for your time, I'm happy I can answer your questions.
To introduce you to our public,
who is Vedran Benčić?
I'm
drummer from Osijek, to be more specific, from Višnjevac, place settled near
Osijek. Only a small soul disposed to a sudden weight gain, premature losing of
my hair and bad jokes.
When did you discover your love
towards metal?
To be
honest, I don't know, but I was raised in music family. My father is musician
and I mostly listened to bands like Dire Straits, ZZ Top, Parni Valjak, Bijelo
Dugme and omnipresent Balašević, most of the stuff which my parents listened.
Also I have 5-years older sister which was always resistive, then I came to
punk and grunge after her, so I listened Nirvana, that was pathway until I
discovered Metallica, which shortly after became center of my world. Later I've
done some researches of other drummers, so in 1999. I discovered band Dream Theater, then later other progressive
bands which were available as swedish Pain Of Salvation etc. Of course, among
everything, there were black, death and all other possible genres of metal
thanks to Andrej Bartulović who opened door for me to the bands like Cradle Of
Filth, Man's Child, Dimmu Borgir and drummers as Nick Barker. I'd probably
never access to that because I was 14-15 years old, and then nothing was
developed as today.
Which were your first musical
steps, local band or?
According
to stories od my parents , I started to play drums when I was 4 years old. Then
I played for four more years songs like ''Ja se konja bojim'', ''Kad se
prijatelji rastaju'' and similar. I remember I played with one bat, and in the
other hand, I had hammer stick. Then there came Azra, Crvena Jabuka etc. I made
a little progress as drummer, so my first live appearence was as a fifth grade
pupil, I played on mini prom of the eighth grade pupils, so then few bands were
formed, as Full Contact, and mine first concert in Osijek was in Black and
White with band, then well-known to Osijek public, Tarzan u Dunsflaši, where
drummer Cvita had played, and I was afraid of that guy as of devil, he seemed
super energetic and mean. I was only a kid who was standing at the bar next to
my mother and drank Fanta. After that, by Siniša Šerga in '98 I accessed to the
band Uziel and until '03 we played together across whole Croatia, and I even
published demo called Too-Much-Crazy-Mind-Demo and one video for song
Bitterman. Soon after that, I became member
of a band called New Millenium, which later changed name into Savage Harmony.
With them, I published demo called Lost in Time. We played mostly in Slavonija
and Baranja, as I can remember. Then I formed, together with Savage Harmony's
keyboardist, band called Handful of Nothing, in which Zoran Mišić was a singer.
We separated our paths after one year, and band changed name into Insomnis.
Later I was called back into the band, and played as Zoran's drummer on a
concerts also for a year.
What is playing in your player
when you have spare time, which bands?
Currently
I'm listening to Katatonia - Dead End Kings, Siddhartu all the time, old Pain
Of Salvation… Recently I found out the
world of Devin Townsend, which has also its place in player, and it's unknown
to me how I didn't discovered that earlier. Also, there is Porcupine Tree and
king of the drums Gavin Harrison. At this point, I prefer easier music, because
of recording and mixing The Gardnerz songs, so I need little rest for my body
and soul.
It's interesting that you are a drummer in a Swedish
band, how did it happen for you to colaborate with a band from such country far
away?
Well, since I
had experience, bad experience, when it comes to Osijek, i had to resort to
something like that, my sister lives in Sweden so I went to visit her. When i
was there, I had an idea to see what's on „the market“. I found a band The
Gardnerz, applied for an ad with my bad english skills. I was invited for an
audition for which I was 3 hours late because everything is upside-down when it
comes to trains in Sweden, or maybe here, depends on how are you looking at
things. I went 170 km in different direction, which tells alot about my
orientation skills. But, I made it to my goal, realising that a goal itself is
a postulate for failure, and that a goal should be determined when you come to
your destination. My audition went well and now I'm a member of The Gardnerz.
Explain to people who are The
Gardnerz.
The Gardnerz is
a swedish doom/death metal band wich was formed in 2008. Band was founded by
Wilhelm Lindh (guitar), members of the band are Francisco Martin (bass) and
Niclas Ankarbranth (vocal). Band published their first album The System of
Nature in 2011. for Abyss Records. I wasn’t playing on that album, my
involvement in The Gardnerz starts on It All Fades EP which was released in
2012. also by Abyss Records and it contains 6 songs, one of which is a cover
for Transilvanian Hunger by Darkthrone.
The Gardnerz was
named after an Epicurus saying: “The necessities of life are a garden, good
friends and good food”. The Gardnerz
represent life, and everybody is supposed to take care of their garden, their
friends and not to stick their noses in other people’s business or gardens.I'm
just a drummer there, I just hang around with the rest of the band, I'm not
predisposed for phylosophical enterpretations of the world.
You play doom/death metal. How is that accepted in Europe, more specifically Scandinavian countries, because we know that it is not so popular here?
You play doom/death metal. How is that accepted in Europe, more specifically Scandinavian countries, because we know that it is not so popular here?
When
it comes to that I'm not sure how is it accepted there, all I know that they
are much more advanced when it comes to that. We, in fact, are behind the
entire world. You won't be crucified because of the music you listen to. People here still live in the 18th century,
they still consider religion relevant, so the type of music which is a
contradiction to religion itself can not be popular here. Then again, that type
of music does not have many followers or audience. It has a small but strong
audience, people who support, understand or think the same way. As long as
Ekrem Jevrić and Martina Romić have the attention of the media, people in celibacy give lectures
about sexual education, we are going to be a country in which a „cow drags the
tram“. It means we are behind in every aspect, music is one of those aspects.
How does your colaboration with the band even work,
do you travel there or...?
I was travelling
for a while, i spent 3 months in Croatia, 3 months in Sweden. It turned out to
be a big expence for me, so i decided to be in Croatia, until we get a gig or
something else for the band. Or until I get a visa so I can run and never look
back.
What's the metal music scene in Sweden and
neighboring countries? Most people who listen metal music see scandinavian
countries as a ''Metal heaven''. Is that true?
I do believe so, because many
people listen to bands like In Flames, Soilwork, Meshuggah, Scar Symmetry, Pain
of Salvation, Hammerfall. I think that they have biggest export of quality
music, and that only USA is stronger than them in music industry, but not by
quality but by quantity which doesn't mean they don't have great bands. I've
listed only Swedish bands so far, but then again, there are many other
scandinavian bands like Dimmu Borgir, Children of Bodom, Nightwish, etc...
When you compare the ''metal world'' in Europe and Sweden and local,
what can you tell from perspective of a man who's seen both?
Well, to be honest, I think that
it's easier to succeed there as a musician, which doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s
easier to be a musician, because you have some support there, starting from the
fact that it’s easier to afford a drum set of a one monthly minimal paycheck.
But here you must think about a loan and stuff. Probably most Swedish people
would dissagree with me, but I just see it that way.
I was in a Malmo festival, where
all around the town were strategically positioned stages. It had everything,
and itlasted for eight days. Bands from all metal genres played for free so I
had a chance to see Andi Almqvist-a, Clutch, Mike Patton and Mondo Cane, Opeth
and Kaizers Orchestra, which was one of the best concerts I've seen so far.
There were also many other underground bands.
As I said, it's easier to do
something if Tonči Huljić doesn't control the musical monopoly. We have more
and more powerfull metal scene, but there are no really good ways or sollutions
for the state we are living in now. We have a sea of quality bands (Thrown To
The Dogs, Defiant, Warhead) which are choked by the fact that they are here in
Croatia. These bands do gigs regullary, and definitely don't have what they
deserve. Nobody wants to give them a real chance. In all of this years of playing
with bands I've managed to get a full pack of beers and ten coupons for
hamburgers. So you see how they respect us as artists in Croatia.
When you come to a meeting for
some gig (I will not name the club) and they tell you that you should pay for
the ZAMP, security guards, posters, arrange everything with police and then get
almost nothing from it. It really has no sense at all, and this happened to me.
You want to have a gig for free so people can see and hear you, and then it
turns out that you have to cash out a lot of money and organise everything for
that club. People need to understand that playing an instrument is a many year
process. It is same for writing lyrics, making musical arrangements and many
more things. We invest a lot of our time and effort, and it isn’t right to play
for a ration of ćevaps, because people will come to the gig, listen the band
and fill up the cashiers with money. It's just not right.
Your band published an album, and EP, and this summer you will be
releasing a 7'' vinyl. Can you give us a short review on first two and maybe
some announcements for 7’’ vinyl?
The System Of Nature is our first
record, and cover for it was desinged by Daniel Develish Johnsson. There are
ten songs on the album and two covers from Vulcano and Winter. Lyrics are anti
religious and anti theistic and are connected in a way which we consume our
lives and buy the things that aren't so neccesary. Lyrics were written by
Wilhelm and Niclas, and Wilhelm was the author of all musical arrangements.
''It All Fades'' is an EP which
talks about how the planet we live in today will eventually purge the very
existence of us. And of course, on EP there are strong anti religious
attitudes. Cover for EP was designed by
Daniel Develish Johnson.
As for 7'' vinyl, it will be named
Exiting Reality, on it will be two songs named Exiting Reality 1 and Exiting
Reality 2. Lyrics were written by Niclas, and they talk about how our own
actions have influence in our surroundings. Second part is about how to be released
from all that. It's most important to see what will people say about this after
they listen to it, and how will they understand the lyrics.
Cover designer for it was All
Things Rotten (Maggot Meister) and I think that he did a fantastic job. He is
also the author for Erasing Bad Specimen T-shirts which will be available soon.
The number of your concerts and
gigs, is it big ? And are any of these scheduled, and what are your other plans
besides 7“ record?
At
themoment, no. It's hard to organize all that because I'm in Croatia and the
rest of the b Band is all around Sweden. Two days ago I've found out that we
were in arrangements for some concerts in South America in September, but we
don't know anything yet, we are still negotiating. I'm working at some of my
own things apart from „The Gardnerz“ and it is also in the negotiation phase so
I can't say anything is certain yet.
You have a few endorsements, can
you tell us something about it?
Yes, I
have an endorsement from „Serial Drummer“ company which produces drummer suits
and the company is very active in the drummer world (some of the artists are:
Mario Duplantier – Gojira, George Kollias – Nile and many others) , and I also
use „Artbeat“ drum sticks with my own signature and I would want to thank Janos
Toth for fulfilling a drummers dream world wide . I don't have some technic and
I often brake my sticks, but not these. When
I will be able to record an EP with one pair of drum sticks, that will
be a miracle. And recently I've made a deal with „Vruk“ drum pedals (Chris
Adler – Lamb Of God) and I also wanna thank mister Vruk and everyone for their
support.
Can you live of metal music
today? Is it still „hot“ or does the metal influence in the world starting to
drop, apart from here. And the only metal bands that can survive are old and
famous ones?
I have
no idea what are the chances for that. I'm sure that I will never be a
millionaire and I'm not obsessed with it, I'm just trying to secure my incomes
for a normal and a stable life by doing the thing I love the most, drumming.
Quiting is not an option, I'll do my best just like the others for a happier
life. It's not all in the money, greater satisfaction is to play and to be
active and creative. It is something that fullfills you and keeps you
satisfied. Playing music (drumming)
doesn't have to be competition, we're all good at something, and the money is
just a factor that unfortunately we all have to worry about, but it doesn't
bring the joy as playing (drumming).
In the end, we bring it once
more, what are „The Gardnerz“ announcing
for this year?
We
announce one fine single called „Exiting Reality“ which will be launched in the summer by „ Abyss Records“. We believe
that this is our best yet to come. Until the second album which will be better
and we'll be more satisfied.
Thank you for this interview, the
Mixeta team is wishing you good luck in your career, and a bunch of gigs and
hard rocking.
Thank
you for this interview and for your support. It's not over unit the fat drummer
plays!
The Gardnerz links
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