Interview BLOWN

Interview with Marc (Drums) of H/C Hardcore Band from Switzerland BLOWN

1. Can you tell us about your childhood ? Do you remember when you first came into contact with loud music and what were your first concerts ?

Well, my childhood was nice, I was immersed in the music young, as my father is a trumpet player. The first time I discover rock metal music was a vinyl of my father, it was Deep Purple with the album Machine Head. It was the 90’s, so the bands I was hearing were, Nirvana, Guns n’ Roses, Metallica, Sepultura, Machine Head and Pantera. My first loud music experience was around 15 years old; it was a memorable show of The OFFSPRING during their first tour promoting the album SMASH. It took place in Zürich, and it was crazy!

2. Can you describe the local scene where you grew up, what bands and venues were important to you, and can you share some of your greatest memories about these bands/places ?

Early 90’s there was not a lot of local bands, we were listening mainly to international music, but late 90’s there was the band called Prejudice in Geneva, they had the particularity to have two singers, male and female; that was awesome! One day, we decided to go to a show in Lausanne with the bass player of BLOWN, it was in the famous club called “La Dolce Vita” and there we discovered for the first time the band from Geneva called Nostromo; it was so brutal, we had a blast!

3. Did anyone play in any bands before Blown ? If so, can you tell us something about them? Were there any releases? Can you share some good memories about those bands ?

We were all playing in different bands at the beginning of BLOWN, I even played drums for a reggae band ☺. Schahin the singer was playing in a local band called Batty Birds and in 2000 we played a show in our hometown Nyon with this band. Schahin was already screaming for Blown but it was funny to do this.

4. How did you come up with the band name Blown, how do you describe your musical style ? And can you tell us briefly the history of your band’s creation ?

The first singer Steve came up with that name, the meaning is a violent air movement. The music sounds like Metal, but the spirit is really HxC DIY, most of the time we did a lot of things by ourselves. Max the bass player and I were the former members. Then Fred aka Bobo joined us at the guitar, afterwards Schahin took the mic and finally Aaron came to also play guitar. We’re the same line up since 2000! When you watch “My Only Weapon is My Can” our first video, it sounds like Metal / Rap / HxC…… ☺ And then we switched to brutal Metal HxC

5. Why did you want to play this genre ? Who or what inspires you to write songs. What bands have inspired you the most ?

I don’t know, I think when I listened the first heavy metal bands it was a revelation,and when I see what’s going on in our crazy world, I’m happy and proud of this musical style, I particularly appreciate the values of the people who listen to this music, we don’t care who you are, where you’re from, the way you’re dressed, just come and have fun! I think we are inspired by all the music we’re listening.

6. Can you tell me something about your new EP “Martyrs of Deception” What is the story behind your Title of the EP ?

Schahin the singer came up with Martyrs of Deception. We live in a world where lies and deceptions are common. Since always, humanity has been led by people driven by greed and lust of power (most of them at least). We’re all being cheated in some way other. In that sense, we all are martyrs of deception.

7. Which places to play were important to you and why ?

We played several shows in 20 years, I personally like to play in the German part of Switzerland, because the metal scene is more prominent.

8. What was your weirdest show you’ve ever played and why ? feel free to mention more than one, and don’t hold back on the details ?

We were on the Macbeth fast forward tour, and we were on the way to Zizers Graubünden, which you can compare to the Mordor. It was in December, and it was really freezing, I had to stop the van to pee in a bottle to defrost the windshield washers. Finally, we arrived at the venue, we started to freak out because there was nobody, no tracks in the snow. We entered the venue and bands were sound checking, and we were relieved. The venue capacity was about 1500 people, when we played, there was maybe 7 people watching the show. 😛

2nd story, we played a festival in Olten (German part of Switzerland) during Christmas time a few years ago and you could only play once at this festival, they never take the same band twice. Unfortunately, the bass player Max was ill. Normally we cancel the show but as we knew we had only one shot, we decided to play the show and it was crazy the venue was packed I don’t remember exactly the numbers, between 600 to 900 people. On of our best show, sorry Max ☺

9. What is Blown Show like? What can somebody expect when they go to one of your concerts ?

We try to communicate our energy to the people and Schahin the singer is good for that. We want the crowd goes crazy and have a good time during the show.

10. Are there other types of music you would like to play with a band ?

Well, I have played in various bands, and I like every type of music. During the containment I rediscovered classical music, I arranged a few classical pieces with the drums, for the moment I only play it for fun. I’ll see if it’ll take me anywhere.

11. Which Festivals would you still like to play, and Which festivals do you have the best memories ?

It’ll be great to play big festivals such as Greenfield, Wacken or Hellfest in France, we played in Paléo Festival in Nyon long time ago, that was great to see all your friends and family come to the show.

12. How can fans and future fans locate, listen to and buy your music & merchandise. Is there anything else you would like your fans to know ?

You can find the last album on all streaming platforms; we’ll release a new video clip soon, follow on Instagram or Facebook.

13. What were your best moments in 2023 as a band, and what are your plans for the future ?

The release party of the album Martyrs of Deception, we played with our friends from Voice of Ruin who were also releasing a new album. That was a good time to see all the old friends and the new generation.