Can you give a brief introduction to the band?
IAMBIA were formed back in the beginning of 2000. Our style can be described as a mixture of modern E.B.M. and powerful electro, combining emotions such melancholy and aggression. The debut CD "PROMETHEUS" was released in January 2002 containing 11 tracks. The second album called “ANASYNTHESIS” was released in 2006 and the third one just before 3 weeks called “PROVOCATEUR”. IAMBIA have performed live several times with bands such as COVENANT, HOCICO, VNV NATION, ASLAN FACTION, GRENDEL, LAIBACH, PROJECT-X, etc. We are signed to the swedish label PROGRESS PRODUCTIONS and the line up is:
Herr Khaos: Keyboards, production, vocals
Loup3r: live keyboards
In 2006 you released Anasynthesis, how do you look back on that album now?
Anasynthesis was composed during 2001-2005. There were some problems with our previous record label Energy Rekords that postponed its release for almost 3 years. Then, after our signing to Progress Productions everything was ok to do that. Most of those songs were composed in a period that the band had no clear view of the direction to be taken so, there is not a solid music style or a strong concept.
Every musician has certain expectations when they release an album, did Anasynthesis fulfilled your expectations? What did it do for Iambia?
Anasynthesis for sure placed Iambia in the world map of EBM scene. It created a solid fan base and made us to do some good live shows. Also, we had the honor to become the Electronic Highlight of the Season in the major German magazine Sonic Seducer. Considering the difficulties we faced to fulfill this album I’m quite happy with that.
You are coming from Greece which has a great scene with good bands like Iambia, Siva Six and Preemptive Strike 01 to name a few, yet they are very rarely to be seen in this part of Europe, Do you think that the fact you are coming from Greece plays a role in this?
Greece has no particular history in electronic music apart from some really good trance or techno bands. EBM started growing up after 2000-2003 and in a few words there are really a few people with the knowledge to create this kind of stuff. Nowadays, with the expanded use of software synths and computers there are many bands appearing in the local scene. In my opinion the best way to make our scene a well known one is by doing live shows in Europe. But it is extremely difficult and costly for a European organizer to book Greek bands having in mind the high travel expenses.
Now the album Provocateur is released, it took 2 years, why did it take this long?
Actually it took more than 2 years. My main priority the past 2 years was to finish the building of the new studio which is a really painful procedure. Plus the fact that I work full time as a producer-mixer which is energy consuming thing. From the first place I was planning to use the new equipment for the creation of Provocateur and it took me almost a year until I was able to sit in front of the keyboard and start writing music for Iambia.
What is the biggest progression you made when you compare it to Anasynthesis?
I would say is the vocal part. In this album I tried to create strong vocal performance with lots of harmonies and different approaches. Then of course is the whole sound in general, it is fatter and with a better balance.
It seems there is a central theme in the lyrics, can you tell us more about it?
First song is just a premonition of violent events to happen, is somehow a prophetic vision… I think the song lyric that represents mostly the whole album is RENEGADE CULT MANIFESTO. It is about a war, a spiritual revolution… We cannot stand the lies spread by media, governments and the whole new world order. We are driven by anger and justice, we need the right of dreaming and hoping…
These days there are a lot of riots going on in Greece, do you regret now you have chosen the title Provocateur or does it make you fill abit weird?
Regret for what… Provocateur is a word that is used very often by local media regarding these riots, heheh…. My first impression is that these riots are not so spontaneous at all, when I speak about revolution I have something totally different in mind, no violence or destruction of stores and stuff like that. This provocateur burns from the inside this world order, he doubts and disputes about everything, politics, religion, human relationships. All of us must be a provocateur in order to survive into this world but having in mind that we must change this world.
Doesn’t this have to do with the fact that people have become consumers as well, same goes for downloading music, television etcetera. People just consume and the next they day they want to consume something else instead of really getting into things?
Well, all that is more than true. People seem not to understand the value of a mind work, such as a movie or a music album. They prefer to download every possible release which is stealing, By doing this they don’t have the time to get into things that each band is trying to tell, cause they downloaded so many albums that they will never listen to. From the other hand it is true that this period is very hard for everyone, living costs are extremely high and people prefer to give their money to other, more important things. What I’m trying to say is: people to pay some more attention to our scene cause things are worst than ever and soon it shall collapse or lower its quality.
Provocateur is also released a 2cd with some extra remixes. I was really surprised to read that David Elk (Hype) did a remix because Hype is more poppy. How did you get in contact with him?
We are label mates and David is an extremely cool guy. I think Robert (also singer of Elegant Machinery) is responsible for Hypes music but David Helg is involved in 2-3 other projects more techno or noise oriented.
You also remixed 299 hits yourself, why remixing one of your own tracks?
There was an urgent need to find one more song for the bonus disc and I had to do that in 1-2 days. It was a really short period of time to ask another band to do this remix, so, I did it quickly. It is nothing serious, just a different more technoid approach of 299 HITS.
The first comments are now coming in, how are they so far? What are your expectations for this album?
Yeah, we have gathered a few reviews until now. Most of them are extremely positive. Our main goal is to play live as much as we can, cause these songs were composed with the live performance in mind. Iambia’s music is based mostly on live performance and the whole concept getting stronger on stage.
You have played some shows with a third member but Iambia is now back to the two of you. Didn’t a third member work out well?
Yes, it is true that it didn’t work especially for live shows abroad. There is also the fact that a band member must give something to the band which didn’t happen at all.
Dim, you produced the album yourself. Is this harder to do than producing another band? Aren’t you afraid you get lost in small details when you produce the album yourself?
The main problem for me producing Iambia’s albums is that it becomes hard to know where to stop or how much should I push it. You know, especially on the mixing stage there is always something that you have missed and that is a never ending process for sure. For other bands there is always a limit, time or budget wise, but when it comes to your own band you feel always that you didn’t worked on it as much as possible.
How do you prevent for going too far in the mixing stage, does Loup3r play a role in that? Telling you when to stop, giving her opinion?
Yes, sure. When it comes to finishing a song we discuss it together, analyze every possible aspect and decide if the song plays the particular role we want it to play in the album.
Any last words for the readers?
Support the underground, don’t let the scene die!!!
www.myspace.com/iambiaorg