Interview

Please give a brief description of yourself as an artist

Djizoes: is made up of 4 members:  Ales - bass, Yv - guitars, Dje - vocals and guitar; and myself, Vinch – drums & demolition engineer!! 

PA ~ For how long have you been an artist and how did you come about it?

It came naturally, I’ve been tapping on just about anything since I was a kid, but I only seriously got into music quite late. I got my first drum kit when I was 15, before that I played on friends kits.  

PA ~ Musically, how would you describe your genre?

Fucking rock man!! Actuall, we are not much into categorizing ourselves or others, we find this labeling to constraining and often misplaced. People often say we play something between progressive, metal and hard rock but in the end, it’s just good old rock!!

PA ~ What brought you to this artistic work?

The need to do music more intensively. Little by little music started taking a more important part in my life, firstly as a fan, then as a musician. I started playing with my friends in a cover band, then dropped it. I continued working on my drum skills on my own in my basement till the day I met Ales at a friend’s funeral. We talked for a while and he told me he had just started up a band with Yv and wanted to kick up the rock scene with this project but he didn’t have a drummer. I auditioned the same day and there we went! 

PA ~ What are your influences?

Well it goes from classical music to death metal; passing by many other styles and it’s pretty similar for the other members in that we listen to quite a broad spectrum of bands. Each member has his own preferences but this is what gives Djizoes: it’s original and unique sound, differentiating us from the rest of the metal scene. We keep the outcome rocking though!

PA ~ I see you have 2 CDs, “The Concrete Fog” and “The Erkonos Project”, what should listeners expect when listening to them?

« The Concrete Fog » contains some of our earlier tracks, and is a mix between a full on collision with a bulldozer and gliding over nature…These tracks are energetic, melodic, catchy and mystic. “The Erkonos Project” is a 3 track demo which is a little taste of what the new album (which we will begin recording next week) will be like. Tracks picking up from where the EP left off, catchy yet powerful, Djizoes:!! 

PA ~ How were these CD's perceived by the public?

Great! We are not yet distributed so most people discover our tracks live, then run to buy the cd at the end of the concert! 

PA ~ Do you have a favorite track?

Yeah!! “I'm waving my dick in the wind” by Ween!.. Oh Sorry! One of our tracks ? No, not really. There are some songs that I prefer playing or listening to at certain times, but they vary.

PA ~ Are you going to tour to promote these CDs ?

It’s already the case, we toured Japan last winter and we have just returned from a 2 months US Tour. We did over 60 gigs between the two, it was brilliant!! 

PA ~ On which projects are you working at the moment?

We are finishing the new songs before starting the studio sessions early September for our first full album.. a couple gigs left and right in Switzerland before returning to Japan in December to promote the new album…there’s a lot to do!! 

PA ~ What should people coming to your shows expect?

A rapid train coming right at them !!Good heavy metal… if you like Djizoes: on CD, you’re going to ADORE Djizoes: live!!

 PA ~ Do you play away from home?

As much as we can! Till now we have played Japan, USA, France and Italy.

PA ~ During your career, are there any stories you would like to share?

Well, nothing particular, we haven’t made it that big yet..we’re just starting up ! We’ve done 2 international tours and lived through some really cool and some less cool times..

PA ~ What do you think of the underground/indie scene?

I don’t listen to much of it, back in the day it actually meant something like the bands and artiste who were part of the movement. Today it’s just a fashionable style…another category in the music shelf…I don’t think it has much to do with the original underground scene. 

PA ~ How is your local scene ?

The Geneva scene is very closed up on itself, not much goes in or out. It’s mostly extreme metal or noise core. There’s a lot of rivalry between artists which is a pity. We get along with a few bands and we try to detach ourselves as much as possible from the scene. Our music does the job quite well. We do our stuff on our side and try not to get mixed up in their stories, it’s fine this way.

PA ~ What has been the spotlight of your career so far?

Our international tours, without hesitation!

PA ~ What are your goals?

Make plenty of discs and tours, discover the world and share our music with people. Become professionals and making a living from our music!

PA ~ What are your interests outside of music?

Music, music and music ! Well, cooking and pastry as well. For the others it’s music, music and more music as well. And Ales would have to add video games to that..it’s his drug!!  

PA ~ What is the best advice you were given in respect to music, and what keeps you motivated to go on?

Perseverance ! It’s a very hard way of life, competition is fierce so you have to play, play, and play!... It’s like for everything, you have to hang on. Talent is the base condition, after that you have to invest yourself and work really hard. What could be better than living off your passion?

PA ~ Where can we find information on Djizoes: ?

On our website, www.djizoes.com or on Myspace. Our website is much more complete though, there are pictures, concert dates, mp3s, merchandising, etc… 

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