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Interview - BeatnikPress.com Limelight |
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Wednesday, 26 September 2007 |
BeatnikPress.com Limelight
Featured Artist September 2007
Non-Divine
Location: Amsterdam
Members:
Ivor (Vox, Guitars)
Martin (Guitars, Backing Vox)
Paul (Bass)
Vincento (Drums, Synths, Programming)
Interview with Non-Divine
We met up with the guys from Non-Divine, at an undisclosed location, in the heart of Amsterdam. :)
Hey Guys, Thanks for taking the time to meet with us today.
Ivor: Hi Lee, thanks a lot for this interview. It’s great that you pay attention to Non-Divine.
Martin: Nice to meet you
Paul: come on, haven’t got all day!
Vincento: 'sup!
You guys are coming off a super busy few weeks. Opening for Queensryche and Nevermore, while your out promoting your debut release "Asylum 45". Tell us, did anybody stay to watch the other guys (Queensryche, Nevermore), after you guys got done playing?
Ivor: We’ve met and talked to most of the Queensr˙che and Nevermore band members. We also watched each others show as much as possible. The members of both bands are really friendly people. We became friends with them and the rest of their crew rather fast.
The experience doing 4 supports within 11 days with Queensr˙che and Nevermore was an amazing one. It’s great that Non-Divine has the possibility to do such things also like the earlier supports we did for W.A.S.P., Anthrax & Dio.
Your Debut Release is titled “Asylum 45”, tell us a bit about the title and Asylum 45 patient, Daniël.
Ivor: Asylum 45 is the name of the fictional psychiatric hospital where our debut concept-album is about. In each song a patient tells his or her story. All patients are different from each other and their attitude fits with the musical atmosphere of the song. The songs are never denigrating about people suffering from mental illness. It makes their situation understandable.
Daniël, the patient from the song “One Man, One Soul” stays in Asylum 45 because he couldn’t solve his mental problems from which he was suffering. He had a job as an ambulance worker. At first he thought it was just a matter of getting used to see children die in your own hands after they had a traffic accident or other examples like that. Daniël found out that it was too much for him and quit his job. Unfortunately that was too late for Daniël. His social life was such a mess that he needed the psychiatric care at Asylum 45.
Ivor, we heard you got an endorsment with the American guitarpick company InTuneGP. We also hear that the guitarpicks are designed by artist Michiel Stoop who presents the first glimpse of Non-Divine’s mascot named “Patient 45#S9-7”. What’s up with that?
Ivor: Yes, I managed to get an guitar pick endorsement with InTuneGP. I really like the way they work and I like using my own designed picks a lot!
A while ago I asked a friend who the person was that made posters of a pub we like to visit and play gigs. It was artist Michiel Stoop. I contacted him and fortunately he liked to work for Non-Divine. One of his major creations for Non-Divine is our mascot “Patient 45#S9-7”. The first glimpse of the mascot is on my guitar pick and we will soon proudly present our new merchandise with “Patient 45#S9-7” on it.
I personally think that “Patient 45#S9-7” is so goddamn cool! He is a patient from Asylum 45 that cuts and carves his face. That’s why he wears a mask and a straight waste-coat. He lives in Section 9, room 7. A special section in the asylum for the “heavy” patients.
In May, you guys released your Debut vid “One Man, One Soul”. What did you think about the experience of making your first video?
Ivor: Paul (bass) came up with film artist Dennis Lubbers. We discussed what we could do for each other so we made our first video for “One Man, One Soul”. The script was really great and I searched for a professional actor. The first day we did the “actor” part of the video and the second day we did the “band” part. We are very pleased with the results of the video and it was fun making it.
In June we heard Ruben (Non-Divine Drummer since 1999) had left the Band. I have to admit we were pretty bummed. Could you tell us a little about what happened and what we have to look forward to, with Vincento at the skins?
Ivor: The departure of Ruben Viets (drums) came as a shock to Non-Divine too but earlier. When Non-Divine was about to sign the contract with our label Rusty Cage Records, Ruben realised that Non-Divine would grow and would do more and more. He had doubts for a long time but this was the moment he knew for sure he lost his ambition. He told us that he would stay for about half a year before leaving.
Within that schedule Paul came up with Vincento that was already involved as a Pyro-tech. of Non-divine and also as a friend of course. Vincento had not much experience as a drummer but we already knew he was a high talented musician.
So we put Vincento behind the drums and he is really amazing! In a few months he almost reached Ruben’s level. Everybody can look forward to Vincento as a very talented drummer. He absolutely understands groove and he is solid like a machine. Non-Divine is very pleased to have him in the band. Non-Divine and Ruben understand that Vincento is the right guy replacing Ruben. Meanwhile Vincento successfully played lots of great shows and Ruben almost finished his new house that he bought.
Vincento: After Ruben announced he wanted to leave Non-Divine Paul contacted me to see if I was up for the job. Of course I jumped to the chance of playing with them, even though I hadn't really played in 7 years. I got to work intensely and here we are! What to expect? World domination!!
Ever since we’ve known you guys, your MySpace address has been myspace.com/groovymetalbeyondmadness but, your new MySpace address is myspace.com/NonDivine. Tell us how that change came about?
Ivor: When we entered MySpace the best URL for us (myspace.com/nondivine) was taken by an American guy. We took an other URL(myspace.com/groovymetalbeyondmadness)
but that address was way too long and the American guy almost had his MySpace account inactive.
I asked the guy if he would be so kind to give us his URL. Fortunately he was a very friendly guy and he deleted hisaccount for us. After some struggle we rebuilt our MySpace on the new address. It demands to change some settings from our close MySpace friends and we really apologise for that! Hopefully everybody understands that it’s much better to manage the Non-Divine account from http://www.myspace.com/nondivine.
With the advancements in technology we are starting to see independent artists reach out to their audiences in some really interesting ways. How would you say these advancements help you get your music out to the masses.
Ivor: To stick with MySpace… I think that’s a great way to reach out to audiences. With this media I think it became much easier to tell everybody about your band. If you use MySpace in a smart way your band can grow really big.
In any way, internet and e-mail changed the music industry in a positive sense.
Who were the Musical Artists that you listened to growing up?
Ivor: My roots (when I was a kid 11- 15 years old) can be found in Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, The Cult, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer, ZZ Top and bands like that. Later bands like Carcass, In Flames, Fear Factory, Black Label Society joined my interest.
Martin: Megadeth, Slayer, Fear Factory, Machine Head, In Flames.
Paul: Black Sabbath, Faith No More, Guns ‘N Roses.
Vincento: I listened to whatever was hot in the Top 40 untill the age of 13-ish. After that it developed to what I listen to know through Nirvana, Sepultura, Cradle of Filth, Slayer, and then a lot of different artists and genres more, from hip-hop to goth to gabberhouse.
What would your advice be for any young musician just starting out?
Ivor: Besides learning to play your instruments I think it’s wise to think about what you want as a musician. The music industry is beautiful but tough. There’s lots of work involved. Don’t sit and wait because nothing will happen. Try to get a solid line-up with people who think the same way and work till you have a good product. Then it’s time to let the world know who you are and fight for your right to rock!
Martin: Practice, and keep practicing ‘till you don’t suck anymore. Nobody wants to listen to a sucky band.
(As we did for the last few months, we’re going to let Zig ask the last question of the interview. Take it away, Zig.)
Um, hey guys! If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why?…. Excuse me, let me grab one more of these brownies. Man their good, where’d you say these came from?…. Oh Sorry. Anyone, living or dead, shoot.
Ivor: Derek St. Holmes! He was Ted Nugent’s lead singer and guitar player. He wrote my ultimate nr. 1 song ever: “Dog Eat Dog”. He’s my hero!
Martin: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Mannnn…These are sooooo GOOD! Did you have one of these? Oh sorry, sorry.
Paul: Pac-Man
Vincento: Whoever made these brownies, HOTdamn!
LOL listen, listen, Bulllllll Dog, Bull Dog, get it? Bullllll Dog. YOU GUYS F*@#IN ROCK!
Well that's it for this month Beatniks! Don’t forget to Pick-Up ASYLUM 45, It Rocks!
Join us again next month when our Featured Artist will be...Opps, almost let it slip again... It's going to be a good one, don't miss it!
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