Interview with Mathijs (Drums) of The Vices and Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (http://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: What type of artist are you?
M: I like to believe that we are the kind of artist who enjoys everything about being an artist including the long drives, paperwork and gas station food. Everything makes sense when we’re together making music and sharing it with our fans, friends and family.
PD: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
M: Some musical influences are The Strokes, Cage the Elephant and The Growlers but it goes further than those three. Simon (bass) gets his motivation from genres like Techno and artists like Bonobo and Dutch cult heroes Urban Dance Squad. Jona (guitar) is a DJ and plays all over Groningen. Floris likes anything and the same goes for me.
PD: What are your dreams and goals?
M: To play all over the world, meeting new people, play packed shows big or small and enjoy our time together on this weird planet.
PD: Who writes your songs, what are they about?
M: This is how it often goes:
Step 1:
Floris writes songs in his bedroom
Step 2:
Jona and Flo make short demo’s of the songs
Step 3:
They send it to Simon and me
Step 4:
We come together in the rehearsal room and make it a whole
And that’s how a Vices-song is written
PD: How do you promote your band and shows?
M: We have all the social media-platforms you can think of and mostly PR-ing our shows via Instagram, Facebook, newsletter and the venues we are playing. Luckily we have Jona who is a really skilled designer and does most of our content like editing videos, making and designing posters, merch and artwork.
PD:What do you think about downloading music online?
M: I personally think it’s a shame that it is still somehow possible. People don’t realise how much blood, sweat, tears and money goes in a record and find it unacceptable when they have to pay for it.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
M: I ask myself that question almost every day. I’m going through a singer-songwriter phase right now and have to choose Walt Grace’s Submarine Test, January 1967 written by John Mayer. The reason is the powerful meaning behind the story John tells about how life is short, taking risks and achieving the impossible.
PD: What are some of your pet peeves?
Simon: people getting is his personal space
Floris: people who respond or reply late
Jona: Jona is rocksolid and chill so I don’t know his
Me: Traffic jams and sound guys who complain about me having no hole in my kick drum.
PD: What is your proudest moment in music?
M: Headlining our own festival in a sold out Oosterpoort in Groningen.
PD: So what are you working on at the moment?
M: We’re working on some new tunes and focussing on the shows this month including Noorderslag, and staying safe of course.
PD: What music have you available online and where can we buy it from?
M: We currently have our two EP’s on all music platforms but also on Vinyl and on March 12th we will release our debut album called “Looking For Faces”!
The Vices links:
Band/Artist location – Groningen, Netherlands
Website – Facebook – You Tube – Soundcloud – Bandcamp – Merch –
Twitter – Instagram – Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer – Last Fm
Check our page for The Vices
