Rockezine.com interview with None on Oct 08, 2003

with Fajfer & Olas on Oct 08, 2003

None is a nu-metalband from Poland wich just released their 3rd album called `Blackstar` wich is extremely good produced and I was suprised this band came out of Poland. I asked them about the country and the cd.
		How is it, as a Nu-Metal band in Poland? From what I hear I guess there are mainly metalbands from Poland? Fajfer: We like playing our music, though it’s not easy. I wouldn’t like to start the interview by complaining, but there is no scene here. There are many bands, that’s true (few of them very good), but often everything stops at rehearsals and occasional concerts. As for us, our situation is quite good. We play, we recorded three LPs and we’re still able to struggle against all of this. There is simply nobody here able to push it all in medias and wake up the scene that’s rather dead. We’re in touch with our fans and we know the audience exists. However people need more than poor concerts and mediocre records.
		None is considered to be one of the best live bands from Poland, supported Machine Head and Soulfly. Do you guys have plans to Tour in Europe to showcase your live show in other countries? Olass: We’d like to do that, but it requires contacts and support from our label and we don’t have them. I know we’re able to show much, ‘cause we attach much importance to our concerts. They got to be full of energy and professionalism. We cannot slacken our pace. J
		What is the favourite cartoon of None? Olass: We love ‘Edd, Ed & Eddie’, `Cow and Chicken` and ‘Southpark’. I know our bassist Mihau likes ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’. Our drummer Demolka watches only porno movies, I think ... J
		Can you tell me something about the lyrics. Where are they about? As for the last record BLACK STAR, in general we address people who ceased to believe in what we do, that came to a dead stop and are only able to criticize and compare. We stand firm and we don’t give up and to the people who think in a different way we show our middle fingers. We’ve met people who had slapped us on the back (and believe me, we hate these fake gestures) pretending our friends and then it appeared they were false. We write about freedom that music gives us, about the way we like creating it, how much joy it gives us. All the time we fight with difficulties made by the ones who should support all kind of art and do the exact opposite thing. We also touch global problems such as the subjugation of a human being and limitation of his freedom. It’s hard to write about that when there are so many bad things happening all over the world and we don’t even know where the evil comes from.
		Is there any traditional food in Poland that I should try out? Fajfer: Sure. Prepare yourself for a fat food, washed down with vodka. Olass: Sometimes a great deal. J Although if you were in our country I could recommend you ‘zurek’ (an acid soup), ‘schabowy’ (meat coaked in bread-crumbs and egg) and of course ‘bigos’ (cabbage boiled with meat). Beside that you should try pickled cucumbers and lard.
		This is the third cd of None. What do you expect of the future? Do you guys see a bright future outside the borders of Poland? It’s hard to say something here. I’ve already told we lack support from our label or some serious management and that’s the most important thing. However we’ve got some plans. We’d like to issue our record abroad and play some concert outside of Poland.
		To which music do you guys Listen to and what is the best album that came out this year so far? Metokles: I listen to the classical music (Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard) up to extreme metal (Slipknot etc.). Olass: My favorite band, well... there are many of them: Testament, Skinlab, Machine Head, Biohazard, Forbidden, Vio_lence, OzzyJ, Slayer. And the best album of this year? I don’t know. There is a lot of good music. I’ve already heard some new songs from new Machine Head’s record. I think it’s going to be good. And I also wait for Skinlab. Fajfer: There’s a lot of good non-metal music. Personally, I like Portishead and David Bowie. I began to listen the music with Pink Floyd, Marillion and Dire Straits and that’s not metal, is it? J We’re not orthodox. There is a lot of tolerance in us and, most of all, we try to keep our minds open. That also has an influence on our music. However most of the records in my CD collection is heavy music. As for the best album that came out this year, that’s surely ‘We’ve come for you all’ by Anthrax
		Last Question. Why did you choose for ‘Blackstar’ as title? Olass: Black Star, that’s us. Five arms of one antistar. Greetings.
		(Friso Veltkamp)