After releasing the single "Dormant" with Nick Oliveri (Queens Of the Stone Age, Kyuss), Bram Stalker are finally coming back with a new dark and gritty single called "My Turn". The duo rock, reminiscing the formation of bands like Royal Blood and Death from Above 1979, being one singer bass player and drummer, announced the single during their performance at the Cinzella Festival before the legendary band IDLES. The theme around "My Turn" deals with dark and suicidal thoughts, inspired by the passing of a friend dear to the band. The stoner rock style reminisces bands like early Queens of The Stone age and other Desert Rock bands including Fu Manchu.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey Bram Stalker, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Andrea: Hi Kamil. I think it all started when I was 5 or 6 years old, listening to Italian singers-songwriters like Fabrizio De André and Lucio Battisti.
Jacopo: I started playing drums in 2007. There wasn’t much happening in my little village and I needed a hobby that would make me feel connected to the outer world. When I saw Travis Barker playing for the first time I was totally mesmerized and I said to myself: “I wanna learn that”. Nowadays I still CAN’T play like Travis but at least I’m still bringing on my biggest passion - drums.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Andrea: Of course..music! I have a recording studio and I live from music, I don't need anything more than this? SLAM STUDIO REC | Studio di Registraziome
Jacopo: I like taking pictures - you can see some on IG: @jacopodemarco_ - and hiking. I also like going to the gym: it represents a means to relieve stress to me and focus on myself so it became an important part of my life.
Your latest song is 'My Turn'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Andrea: The song was born in a very dark period. Like all our songs, it was recorded live, in my studio, quietly, looking for the right balance in the performance.
Jacopo: Andrea wrote all of the parts and even gave me the first hint to write the drum parts -that’s how we usually work indeed. I left the main groove almost untouched and just added some fills and little things to make it peculiar. All the other drum parts in general have been written to sound frenetic and pressing yet powerful at the same time. There’s a lot of bass drum in there… playing this song live mid-set when you start to feel tired is not the easiest thing I gotta say.
Can you reveal the recipe for a musical hit?
Andrea: Ahah, I wish there was one!
Jacopo: You go first!
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
Andrea: I try to listen to new music all the time, many different genres, very far away from what I like to play. I record each cue on my phone, listen to it again at different times, and only when my gut tells me it is time I proceed with the writing.
Jacopo: I think practice is the key. Also listening to old and new artists is fundamental to find inspiration. Personally I like drum parts that are simple and go straight to the point and I find important to break down the drum parts of other musicians, retain the stuff you find cool or interesting, mix all together and create your own stuff.
What inspires you as an artist? Could it be the sea, the weather or something else?
Andrea: Fear, boredom, suffering and being sick are the hands that pull my strings.. When I am fine, I don't have the need to write music.
Jacopo: I love the mountain and I find that this somehow has a certain influence on what I play and listen to.
How do you spend your free time? What makes you feel relaxed?
Andrea: It is very difficult for me to have free time at the moment, having a little adorable devil in the house! Whenever I can, I go to concerts, exhibitions, I read books and go out with friends.
Jacopo: Doing one of the hobbies I said before. Anyway sometimes total comfort and relax is necessary and the perfect equation to me is: home, with my girlfriend, plus a good tv series (add a blanket and a tea on winter time, super cozy).
Do you have a mentor or coach?
Andrea: More than one! I respect and I am inspired by the work of a lot of producers and musicians.
Jacopo: Musically speaking yes I studied with one mentor that I really owe a lot to. In life in general, my father and my mother.
Do you think it's easy to become established in the music world, or is it difficult?
Andrea: I think it is very, very difficult. More than success, one should talk about being able to make a living from music. There is a lot of good music around, many outstanding musicians, but, unfortunately and fortunately, everyone can record and distribute tracks, and this creates endless chaos. To find one good band you are forced to listen to 30 that suck. In my opinion, the old school of record labels was much better. But I'm a shabby old man.
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
Andrea: Staying alive (ah, ha, ha, ha). I'm not joking.
Jacopo: I’m not sure but I hope still playing, playing a lot.