mptyzine Interviews

Interview: RedSka (combat ska punk-Italy)

I know RedSka from the first album and they catch me with their sound and message, they are working on something new and Fra have the amabillity to speak with us…enjoy!

MPTY ZINE: Hey Fra. What’s up?

REDSKA: Hello Mircea, everything is alright, we’re very busy at the moment, the summer of 2011 will be a very important one for us.

I heard some news about Redska. Are you preparing something new??

That’s correct, we’re in fact working at our third album. After a period of approximately one year, during which we dedicated our energies writing new songs and keeping track of the pre-production of the album, we’re now actually in studio (Atomic Studio) to record it. You’ll be able to listen to the first new songs from winter 2011, when we’ll release the first single. We’re positive it won’t disappoint you.  😉

How are things going with One Step records?

The relationship with our label is fairly peculiar, as it’s managed by a part of RedSka themselves, namely me in collaboration with Ale Il Duca (singer of RedSka and founder of One Step Records). This is quite useful in helping us to coordinate the promotional work and be sure the band initiatives are given the right importance. In general, this year One Step is busy with quite a few project, for example NH3 (ska-core) and Jolebalalla (reggae roots) that are having a good reception, we’re happy.

About RedSka how things going with concerts?

The gigs are being great and the audience is very receptive and supportive. Obviously the people that listens to us supports us both coming at the concerts and buying the merchandise. Outside of Italy (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, etc.) the scene is very very receptive and attentive towards bands as we are, but also in Italy we’re having  increasing support.

I know that you are listening a lot of great bands, what new bands do you recommend me?

It’s true, playing with RedSka and working at the label we get to hear very many different bands, live and recorded. I’d recommend you NH3, Jolebalalla, The Offenders, Irie Revoltes and Russkaja.

Please make me a top 10 of your favorite bands

This is really a very difficult question to be answered.. but let’s try. Without a particular order I’d say: Bob Marley, Ska-P, Manu chao, Irie Revoltes, The Clash, Los Fastidios, Banda Bassotti, Mad Caddies, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Skatalites, Specials, Byron Lee, Ramones. But I’m sure I’ve overlooked too many others.

How was Rabbia e Liberta tour?

The “Rabbia e Libertà” tour is coming to the final stages. It’s been 4 years of uninterrupted tour, and I have to say that in these years, we drove loads of kilometers, played in great places and met a lot of great people having fun at our concerts. The outcome of this tour has been really great.

I saw a lot of newer bands began to approach ska or punk .. more or less good .. what do you think of the new bands?

In any case it is very very important that there are always new bands that are committed to ska, punk and reggae, musical genres that have a message of freedom and fight against prejudices in their core. We think it is always good and we also like to advice anyone of the young and new bands we meet: Keep believing in what you do 101% and keep trying, because there are always many difficulties and setbacks, and you need to be very motivated, committed and coherent to play these genres and to play in certain settings!

How much weighs in redska politics? Is redska a political band, and why?

RedSka are no doubt a “political” band or, better, a band that makes of his social and political belief a priority. We are musicians first of all, and we have the possibility to communicate with the aid of our music certain messages to a broad range of people. We chose with determination to carry the message of the struggles against fascisms, racisms and sexisms, towards the creation of a better world, with more freedom and less prejudices.
Artists singing only of love, sun and happiness  are already enough, we leave them with the majors.

Fra, please tell me what do you know about Romania and the scene over here?

We’ve played in many countries in Europe, unfortunately not in Romania yet. Hence, we have no first-hand experience of Romanian musical scene, but given what we hear and see through the web, it seems to us there is quite an interesting scene developing.

Thanks for your time and if you have something to add, please do it.

We thank you Mircea, for the support and the consideration you show in our regards. I invite all of your followers to come on http://www.redska.com and http://www.onesteprecords.it (on Facebook  as well) to keep up to date with new productions, tours and the news at-large.
An ANTIFA hug from Italy.

Mirceone vs. Fra august 2011

mptyzine Promo, Promos

Copasetics promo EP

Copasetics are just perfect for this summer for hopping on the beach. 5 friends formed a band in 2009 in York (UK) they make a mix from traditional ska with some 2 tone elements and of course new school sound. Although the EP has a long name The Stark Comprehension Of Life In The Final State Of Decay, it’s a must for all the genere fans, too bad that only has 4 tracks. You can compare with bands like: Random Hand, Sonic Boom Six, New Riot, Mad Caddies or Mustard Plug. This EP is like a bomb of energy and skanking in the summer night with your friends. I reccomend: Phantom Signals and like a minus: EP it’s too short. Cheers!

Thanks to Suzy and  Copasetics, promoted in Romania by MPTY ZINE

mptyzine Interviews

Interview: NH3 (ska-core Italy)

I know these guys for 3 years and are absolutely awesome, a ska-core made in Italy. I know them since they called Ammoniaka, now they change the name in NH3 and come on the road again with a new single at One Step Records.

MPTY ZINE: Hey. What’s up?

NH3: Hi guys! We’re currently recording and producing our new album! We are very proud and excited for what we have done until now and what we are still doing! We have recorded our second album during the last spring and the sound obtained is the one expected! We are currently working on other projects, including one video and the promotion of our single. So everything’s ok!

NH3 is ammonia formula … why this name change?

The passage from Ammoniaka to NH3 is meant to underline the change,naturally happened, of our sound and lyrics. The new album deals with topics in a more direct and determined way, talking about important political/social issues. Also the music itself has changed a lot. The ska/punk has left to let the coming of a faster and effective ska/core, with some influences of reggae or punk/hc as well. We enjoyed to try different sounds. The change in the name has been done in accordance with our label One Step Records and it represents also the growth of the band from a young one to a grown and mature one under all aspects.

You released the first single, are you preparing something new?

Yes, our new single is out (the first under the new name NH3). We would like to remember you that on our website http://www.nh3.it and on the label one http://www.onesteprecords.it you can freely download it. For now we are focusing on the promotion of our new album (you can find the video promo on our Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/nh3skacore). Other things that are already scheduled are the release of our new album (end of the summer) and the realization of the video of our new single “Heroes without a face”.

Are you starting some gigs to promote you?

Yes, we are currently on the road from the beginning of the summer to promote the single, even if the proper tour that our agency Make a Dream is organizing will begin at the same time of the releasing of the new album.

How people have received new single? are you happy?

They are a lot of people have downloaded (for free!) the single and we are very proud of that. We are very happy about how things are going and all the compliments we are receiving from the people that have already heard the single. We are very satisfied.

What is the atmosphere at One Step Records?

At One Step Records we feel at home. We have a mutual friendly and respectful relationship with all of them. We have the opportunity to work with very kind and experienced people, that are always available to help all the bands of the rooster. From a lot of years now they have been working in the best way to promote new alternative bands, their interests and we have never doubted about their professionalism. We are very happy to release our second album again with One Step Records.

Tell me some bands that influenced NH3 sound

Very difficult question! I would say BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE, REEL BIG FISH, CLASH, IRIE REVOLTES, RANCID, BOUNCING SOULS, FLATLINERS, REDSKA, SUBLIME, RX BANDITS, RISE AGAINST and lots of more. We are listening to different type of music, we love music and what we finally play is a mix of everything we are listening to.

Give me an example of a band that you want to do one featuring

We strongly believe on the featuring. We really appreciate the more famous band that want to help emerging bands. We have already achieve a very big dream by having in our new single the voice of Olly, ex singer of the Shandon (now lead voice in THE FIRE band). If we started to play it has been because of bands like the Shandon, and we are still very happy to hear our songs performed with other people from other bands. Our relationship with them means a lot to us. One unrealistic dream of ours would be hearing one of our song performed by Joe Strummer. We don’t know if he can hear us now, we really miss him, and he together with the clash has changed the life of at least half of the members of our band.

Where do you see NH3 in about 10 years?

I can’t answer to this question. The only thing i can say is that we will continue to work for our passion, for what is our life.

Thanks for the interview and if you want to add something please do.

I would like to thank you and the MPTY ZINE! I thank all the guys that are following you and I say hi to all of them. Let’s continue to resist, to support the music scene and to fight for what we believe. Thank you very much again for the time we were given and for your interest in us.
I would like to remember that NH3 are making their new single ” EROI SENZA VOLTO ” freely downloading on their website http://www.nh3.it and on http://www.onesteprecords.it.
For further information about us, visit our facebook page:
http://facebook.com/ammoniaka and http://www.facebook.com/ammoniaka#!/NH3skacore, as well as our youtube channel www.youtube.com/nh3skacore and our Myspace profile www.myspace.com/nh3skacore.

Mirceone vs. NH3 – august 2011. Thanks to NH3 and to Fra from One Step Records.