Interviu cu NOBLESSE OBLIGE
LN: You've played in Bucharest in 2006. How did you find the Romanian audience back then? Are you expecting any changes in public reaction this time?
Sebastian: It was a great thing to come over and play Bucharest in 2006. I remember the audience as being so exciting and fantastic. We look forward to the return and I hope the audience will like the new songs we have written since then!
LN: Noblesse Oblige has preformed on various stages worldwide, entertaining mismatched fans from all social branches. Which concert would you consider most memorable and why?
Sebastian: Well, playing in Brazil was a really wonderful experience. We felt so lucky to be invited there and couldn’t believe it when the audiences were singing along to our lyrics because they knew them by heart! It showed us how quickly music travels these days.
LN: A lot of artists try to send a message through their lyrics. Whether it's social, environmental or political, in which way does NO try to speak to fans?
Sebastian: We don’t like messages as such when they can only be understood one way. We don’t like raising our finger or telling people what to think. We share our everyday thoughts in our music and lyrics or tell little stories, and hope that everybody can gain something out of it.
LN: How did you two meet and get into making music together?
Sebastian: We met at a masked ball in East London. I saw Val perform one of her theatre pieces as Femme Façade and immediately knew I wanted to work with her. It turned out that we had a common love in music, films, cointreau and humour. Soon after meeting, we started making music together in my little bedroom flat and recorded what would become our first album, Privilege Entails Responsibility.
LN: Speaking of the past, how do you see the band's history? Did the project go as you planned it to?
Sebastian: Well, there was never a master plan so everything still feels pretty fresh and new and exciting all the time. Moving to Berlin was an important step in being able to continue the band full time and I am very happy with In Exile, the last album we recorded. We had a lot more time to polish it in Berlin, comfortably in our own studio. The London days were very exciting too, we recorded Privilege Entails Responsibility very do-it-yourself, and you feel that different quality and energy on the record. The thing we are most happy about is playing the many Live concerts, as that is what we enjoy most.
LN: Climbing the ladder of fame and fortune, each band has encountered obstacles. What down parts have there been in NO's rise to succes?
Sebastian: Of course there have been downs too but I don’t think about them much. As long as I feel the energy and passion that is in us, everything is ok.
LN: Let's move on from the past and think about the brighter future ahead. What plans do you have in store for NO?
Sebastian: We are about to re-release our debut album. It was originally released in the UK only in 2006. In Europe and the rest of the world it was only available as an expensive import and was soon sold out. We now had the opportunity to re-release it and are very happy it is out there again. We’re also about to start working on our next album already. We’ve written many songs already and will start recording them soon. Once again we’re taking a different approach to make the album. We have no desire to reproduce Privilege Entails Responsibility or In Exile. We’ve done a lot of research on mysticism and occultism, the lyrical work of Aleister Crowley, and anthropological studies on spiritualism in the different cultures in our world. These themes will set the mood for the music and lyrics of our third album.
LN: Whether we're talking about wacky lyrics or wild shows, NO has broken the barriers of eccentricity. What about your fans? Have you ever met someone genuinely out of the ordinary or accutely devoted to the band?
Sebastian: We have met the odd freak, but I’ve been surprised at how polite and friendly most of our fans are. There was somebody who wanted their forehead signed, and stuff like that, but nothing too weird and out there. Let’s see what happens in Bucharest!
LN: I'm sure Santa Klaus has influenced every western born child and is of great refference to almost every band, even black metal ones; but what artists would you say have lead you to making your own music?
Sebastian: It’s hard to say and I guess it must have been the sum of all bands we listened to in our lives, especially during childhood, which made us want to make music ourselves. Throbbing Gristle’s attitude of making a band a piece of art in every aspect, an overall artistic concept, was very inspiring and was a big influence. I also used to love Rammstein’s sense of humour when I was younger. These things have definitely left a big mark.
LN: Leaving aside your prestige as famous singers, how does a day without artistical sparkle look like for you? Do you have any crazy hobbies or freaky fetishes you'd like to share with us?
Sebastian: Everyday has a lot of artistic sparkle to me and life is quite fascinating, wonderful and scary enough as it is to be constantly entertained. Being alive is a pretty freaky fetish in itself as it is and I hold on to it tightly with both hands.
LN: Have you heard of/listened to the opening band, Arc Gotic? What do you think of their music and how might it blend with yours?
Sebastian: I like post-punk, gothic music a lot and I look forward to seeing and meeting them!
LN: What sort a movies does a “spaghetti western and chansonette" playing band watch? Would you say they might be one of your sources of inspiration?
Sebastian: Oh yes, films are a big inspiration. Favourite directors include Lynch, Jodorowsky, Zulawski, Bunuel, Claire Denis and Michael Haneke. To me film is the most noble, the most effective form of entertaining art and I will always look up to film makers very much as they continue to change my life, constantly.
Va reamintim ca NO vor concerta pe data de 6 noiembrie in cel mai frecventat club de indie/alternative din Bucuresti – Club Control, str. Academiei 19. Accesul publicului se face incepand cu ora 21:00, iar dupa terminarea concertelor, artistii vor ramane la after-party, pentru poze si autografe cu fanii. Atmosfera va fi intretinuta de Cliza, ce se va ocupa de selectia muzicala.
Biletele in valoare de 40 lei se gasesc in clubul Control (Str. Academiei nr. 19) si in cadrul Lux Noctis Party, in fiecare sambata - The Corner Club (Str. Visarion 25). De altfel, se pot gasi bilete si pe www.bilete.ro, www.ticketpoint.ro, www.myticket.ro.
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