Interview with Juangui
We heard through the grapevine that Systema, a very special band from the deep south of Spain (Seville), are about to break through in Spain with their very particular style of music. We wanted to be the first non-Spanish zine to hear about their life, music, stories… and so this interview got sent to them by email…
Q>> How long
do you guys know each other and how did Systema see the light of day?
A>> Jesús (keyboard) and I (guitar) know each other since 1996
when we were still in high school. We were about 15-16 years old at that time.
We actually knew each other from the concerts we organized in high school. Later
on we met Alberto (bass). He saw both of us (Jesús and I) at a gig of
our former band and he loved it. He could even hum one of the songs we played.
The three of us play together since 1998 and our first band split in 1999. One
year later we met Jorge (singer) and we started a new project with him: SYSTEMA.
It was only in 2001 that Pepe appeared after we had tested many drummers. It
was at that precise moment that the band saw the light of day and that we started
recording our first demos.
Q>> Where
does the band name "Systema" come from?
A>> "Systema" was the title of one of the songs of the former
band Alberto, Jesús and I played in. The song was about a somehow existential
way of thinking that considers the human being a prisoner of the society he
created himself. It's about some kind of a philosophical ideal.
Q>> At what
age did you think you had the potential to become a musician?
A>> Well, I think that, when someone discovers music from the point of
view of an interpreter or a creator, he instantly realizes that music is the
most important thing in his life and it drives you towards it blindfolded. When
someone starts to play any instrument, you can clearly notice the difference
between someone who plays for a hobby or to bring some atmosphere at parties
and someone who's got a real message, someone who's got something to say. I
think that when I started playing guitar at 14, I was convinced that I wanted
to dedicate myself to the maximum and the same goes for others guys in the band.
Q>> What's
it like to be a musician in Spain?
A>> Pfff… I think they really just don't give enough credit yet to
musicians down here in order to recognize them as professionals or as working
people. They just don't take his work seriously. Besides, if we talk about "alternative"
music, the market is really not lucrative over here. There isn't a very well
developed culture from that point of view. They don't organize many concerts.
There are not much places where you can play and if there are, the conditions
are pretty much below standard.
Q>> Would
it have been different if you were born in Madrid or Barcelona?
A>> For sure. The south of Spain is above all a region that is the least
inclined to develop a Rock band. There's way more progress in Madrid or Barcelona,
although I think this is still light years away from most of the European capitals.
Q>> Or in
a foreign country?
A>> Of course. We're planning on leaving our country as soon as possible.
That's a fact.
Q>> Is there
a scene in the south of Spain? (Are there many bands, concerts, ...) because
I've been living there for 5 months and it seemed pretty dead to me...
A>> There's almost no scene because they don't promote it. There are no
rehearsal rooms or any kind of help from the government. They don't stimulate
de culture of clubs and concerts at all. However, there are great bands because
there's a very creative potential down here after all. Bands such as Neorama
prove it.
Q>> Have
you played a lot in Spain? Do you think you're ready for other
countries or Europe in general?
A>> We've already been in many parts of Spain, but we still need to keep
spreading our seed. We are totally ready to play anywhere because we believe
in our project for 100%. And we are sure that it won't fail in any place. We
even think that our music could reach more people abroad.
Q>> What's
your major ambition? What do you want to achieve as a band?
A>> First of all, try to grow up as musicians from a creative point of
view, make great songs and have overwhelming gigs… and reach as many people
as possible in order to realize every artist's dream: to share your feelings
with the world.
Q>> Who's
the master brain behind Systema? Who writes the songs?
A>> Hahahaha. Thanks for calling me a genius! Don't exaggerate... Most
of the musical ideas seem to start in the hands of Jesús and myself.
After that we work it out together in the rehearsal room so that everybody can
contribute to it. If you refer to the lyrics, until now, I've written most of
them, but everybody can write lyrics in general. Almost everybody writes.
Q>> Will
you keep on playing the same style of music for the forthcoming album?
A>> I don't think we'll change our style, but we seem to be evolving constantly
and that's something that will emerge through the next album. We are a Rock
band and I think we'll always be, although we all enjoy other music styles.
Right now, our sound is getting more personal and mature although we feed on
Rock, Electro and Jazz, like for our first album.
Q>> How would
you define yourself, musicwise? What genre?
A>> Space Rock!!!
Q>> As far
as I've been able to tell, Spanish people don't know much about different types
of music. They consider it all Rock or Pop (They can't tell the difference between
Metal and Grunge for example). Do you also see it that way?
A>> Well, I guess maybe the average "standard" Spanish citizen
who's not a Rock fan will probably never have heard the word "Grunge",
but many people know about music and can distinguish different styles of music
of course.
Q>> What
are your own musical influences?
A>> I could quote many bands and artists as we all are authentic music
lovers and we listen to lots of music. We are very open and we love to discover
new and old things. Everybody's got his own influences when he's playing. But
if you want me to name some bands to define our sound: Faith No More, Pearl
Jam, Incubus, Tool, Radiohead, The Mars Volta… although we all have different
personal influences: Carlos Santana, Björk, John Coltrane, Jeff Buckley,
Frank Zappa, Beethoven, Pink Floyd, Nine Inch Nails... just to quote a few of
them. The pillars for us can be found in the Alternative Rock of the '90 and
the Symphonic Rock of the '70, Electronic Jazz and Trip Hop. Our concept consists
in putting everything in a creative blender in order to obtain our own sound.
Q>> Your
lyrics are in Spanish. That came as a natural thing, you hailing from Spain.
But did you ever think about singing in English?
A>> I think the fact that we write in Spanish, except for it being easier
for us, gives us an original touch, although we're open to try some songs in
English.
Q>> Do you
think singing in English is a key to success?
A>> I don't think so.
Q>> You sing
a lot about scientific phenomena and space, how come?
A>> Hahaha. We don't really talk about science and space in particular.
It's more of an aesthetic concept we've adopted using certain words or metaphors
which come from this jargon that happens to be scientific and spatial! The songs
talk about feelings and experiences or simply ideas we'd like to express. Except
for "Planeta Perdida", which does have a more epical theme (a human
being from the future talks about his trip through space after he was obliged
to leave earth), no other song actually is about space. They are just stylistic
ways that define our lyrical style in a certain way.
Q>> I've
heard you made the top 16 of best selling albums in Spanish stores. That's a
big thing. How do you think that came along?
A>> The truth is that the only things that could have done this are our
own songs, our music. We don't sell anything else, only our art. We didn't do
any promotion and nobody inverted almost everything to sell our music. All of
this is thanks to people who've been telling other people. Our music reached
them thanks to a concert or a CD they got in their hands because some other
friend recommended it or transferred him through internet.
Q>> How did
you react when you saw your new album reviewed on a Belgian website?
A>> We went crazy! To be honest, it came as a big surprise. Besides, I
think the review is one of the most coherent ones ever written about our album.
We would like to thank our big friend Kike for making this possible and of course
you too, Yves. Truly, you can't even imagine how happy we are to be able to
share our songs with the Belgian people!
Q>> Are there
any good Spanish bands that we should keep an eye on?
A>> Neorama, who play Rock with influences of bands like Manic Street
Preachers, Radiohead or Pearl Jam. They make fabulous songs. There's also Maggot
Brain, who play Stoner Rock. They are…authentic!
Q>> Is there
anything else you would like to add? To tell our readers? Something you would
like us to know? Something you'd like to share with us?
A>> I only wish to thank the two of you for giving us this opportunity
to get known in your country and congratulations with your work as we think
your webzine is very complete and very well made. And of course a big hug to
Kike… we miss you a lot!!! We hope we can play there in Belgium as soon
as possible, so we can enjoy the Belgian crowd. Regards to everybody!
Thanks to Kike and Dario for supporting me with the band info and for their additional help for the questions.
YVES