Constant Hunger comes from Switzerland, you know the country everyone in USA mix up with Sweden, they comes from the town Lugano and they play a really good sort of hardcore. This interview was done in april of 2025.

Tell me a little about every member, previous bands and band on the side of Constant Hunger, work, age and what do you work with besides of the music?

-A big hello to you Peter, thank you so much for having us on SKRUTT MAGAZINE! Hello to all the readers and fans as well, hope you’re all doing good!

It’s Ivan, the vocalist, speaking. Constant Hunger is a 4-piece band, current line-up consists of Vich (guitar), Nik (bass), Davide (drums) and me. Let me also mention former and founding members Ted (bass) and Cla (drums) who left the band for family reasons but are still good friends with us. We’ve all been knowing each other since longtime as part of the scene:

Vich, Davide and Nik still play together in the metalcore band RTC, Vich and I have been in the now defunct hardcore band Face the Game for many years, Nik used to play guitar in the punk-hardcore band Behind the Mirror and has just released a new tape for his solo hip hop project. Other active and defunct bands involving us are Harvest Season (metalcore), Wargrave (crust-punk), Deadly Dive (rock’n’roll), Walk Off! (nu metal-metalcore), Metro (Synth-dark wave), The Coming Fall (old school hardcore) and One More Try (punk-hardcore) just to name a few.

Davide is 40 years old, he’s an elementary school teacher.

Vich, 40, our half-Swiss half-Thai shredder, works in a retail store.

Nik, 31, is a tax preparer.

I’m 40 and I work for Swiss public television.

Your music is a style which came foreward many years ago, old favorites which you like today?

-Definitely bands such as Madball, Agnostic Front, Terror, Strife, Hatebreed, NYHC in general et similia, both old and newer bands.

The name Constant Hunger where did it came from? You weren´t afraid that not any other would be named so before? Your absolute favorite band name?

-After I left my previous band Face the Game I’ve been on a sort of “hiatus” for some time. “Constant Hunger” suddenly came up as a potential band name in case I ever started a new project. It sounded raw, simple and with a meaning: a hunger for self-improvement, for making some crushing music with inspiring, sometimes sarcastic, lyrics. I’ve been keeping the idea for a long time but never thought it would turn into something. But life is unpredictable, you know. After years without talking and seeing each other, I met Vich at a show and, after playing some FTG reunion shows, he told me about Ted’s intention to form a new band together with his childhood friend Cla and asked me if I wanted to take the vocal duties. After a few rehearsals, it was time to choose a band name and after telling the other guys about my idea Constant Hunger was officially born. Yes, I was afraid somebody else might have taken that name but after an accurate check I found out there weren’t other “Constant Hungers” around, so here we are. I have another favorite name but I’ll keep it a secret for now! Haha

Is it important to release physical things? Or can you feel that you have done a record if you only release it digitally? Was the new record release by any label?

-Our EP is self-released, without any label support nor crowdfunding nor anything else. I cannot describe you how happy we were after receiving the very first copies: none of us had direct experience with vinyl manufacturing, so the whole process took some time. All our songs have been recorded by Stefano Santi at the SPVN studios in Guanzate, Italy; Nik’s girlfriend Lucy did the artwork; everything else, e.g. finding a suitable vinyl manufacturer, sending all the files in the right size and format, printing the inner sheet and so on was up to us. It took countless hours and emails to understand how everything works and to do things properly but, in the end, there it was! Our first vinyl right in our hands! There is nothing more tangible than a vinyl, a cd or a tape for an artist as a final result of his efforts, especially if DIY. Same speech when someone buys your record: you have it in your hands, you can listen to it countless times and keep it in your collection. And, as you support the artist, the artist shares his music, his message and somehow himself with you at the same time: that’s what music scene should be about and that’s why physical copies still make a sense. At the same time, in this digital era, streaming platforms grew a lot and play an important role. You can reach fans and listeners everywhere in the world in no time, but unfortunately the web is a deep ocean you can get lost into as quick as you can share your music. We do not want to underrate the digital way (our ep is also available through the main streaming platforms, just to make it clear) but at the same time a physical version is far more authentic.

You have never been to Sweden and played or been here as tourists? With this band or any other band you have been in? If you not have when do you come?

-That’s a funny question! We started Constant Hunger in October 2018 and just a few months earlier Vich, Davide, me and another friend called Alessandro spent the Easter weekend in Stockholm! I swear! Had a lot of fun, saw many nice places (e.g. Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum and the Photography museum just to name a few) and have also been to a punk/hc show with Wolfbrigade and other bands playing. It’s been a great weekend, unfortunately without playing, just sightseeing, eating and drinking. But it was worth it. I think none of us toured Sweden: to anyone interested in booking Constant Hunger for a show we say “Come on! Drop us a line! We can’t wait to play Sweden and have fun with all of you! DIY conditions! What are you waiting for??? Time to make a strong Swedish-Swiss alliance as our countries’ names sound similar and many people often mistake one for another!”

Which countries have had the pleasure to be hearing the band live?

-All over Switzerland and some dates in Northern Italy, which is very close to where we live and always put good hc shows.

Your record cover is really nice, is it important to have a cover which shows which type of music you play?

-Glad you like it! When we previewed it online, we’ve got a lot of appreciations. As I told you before, Nik’s girlfriend Lucy did the artwork, and we loved it since the very first time we saw it. It’s a quite uncommon cover art for such a music style, and we love the contrast between the huge and creepy monster and the bright colors. Our music and lyrics are quite similar: crushing and, we hope, inspiring and positive. I don’t know if anybody would expect us to sound like as we do just after seeing our cover. Why not making a surprise sometimes?

Who does the lyrics? Please tell me a little about the following songs?
If words are silver
Scars of passion
Likewise

-All lyrics have been written by me.

“If words are silver” is one the very first songs we wrote, still playing it live today, much appreciated by the crowd, I guess, because of the powerful choruses and the 2-step vibe. Lyrics are just about that good old proverb: sometimes shutting up is better. Too much talking behind everyone’s back, too much disinformation and misunderstanding. Do we really need to ruin personal relationships because of some unwanted opinions? Old but gold.

“Scars of passion”: a close friend of mine told me that during a conversation about injuries in sports and I thought it was inspiring as hell. When you put all yourself, all your passion, energy and dedication in something you really love, sometimes you might get hurt, but you can just grow and improve.

“Likewise” has been the closing song of our live sets for quite some time, it’s about the good old karma: it can hit you at any time, unexpectedly, especially after talking shit behind people’s backs. So, you better watch your step and stop being an asshole.

Is there any subject you never will sing about? And never any thought of singing in another language than English?

-Constant Hunger is about personal improvement and growth and against every kind of hate, racism and discrimination. Though never been a “political” band, we’ve never stayed indifferent in front of the nightmare this society has become and which is getting worse day by day. There is plenty of topics our lyrics might be about. Regarding the language: that’s a good question. We come from an Italian-speaking canton, how would it be to hear a heavy hardcore song, sung in Italian language? There is plenty of examples in hardcore, bands singing in languages such as Italian, French, Swedish, Spanish, whatever... I speak Croatian too; I think my mother tongue is worth a try. If my bandmates agree, of course!

How is it to live in Switzerland nowadays, racists, politics etc?

-Not good, in my opinion. Switzerland is far from being that modern, open-minded and efficient country as many people abroad think it is.

Is it better to live Switzerland if you compare for say about 25 years ago??

-Definitely not.

Do you have any favorite football team(I support Arsenal and a Swedish team called GAIS myself)? Or any is it American football or hockey which is the thing or any sport favorites at all?

-Sure we do. As far as I know Vich supports Liverpool FC, I’m an AC Milan fan. Though not being avid football fans Davide and Nik support Milan and Juventus, respectively. Special mention goes to FC Lugano, our local football team playing in the Swiss Super League. Ice hockey is very important in Switzerland, Canton Ticino has 2 teams in the top division, Ambrì and Lugano. I think Davide and Nik support Ambrì, Vich and myself do not watch hockey.

Beer is expensive in Sweden. I have a very big interest in beer and brew myself? Your favourite beerstyle ? You don´t have an own Constant Hunger-beer? If you do that or will do that what is it going to be called? Or maybe you are straightedge?

-Personally, I love many beerstyles….IPA, weissbier, pilsener, stout, when I come across some local breweries I love tasting a bit of everything. Hah, we’ve never thought about our own beer, let me say that bands having their own beer has become quite a trend in the last few years, I don’t know if we will do that. But you can never know. In case we do, since you’re a beer lover and brewer, we’ll send you some cans and you will tell us what you think about it. Oooooor YOU can brew a CONSTANT HUNGER beer, the next big thing in homemade beers and hardcore!

Is there any good bands from Switzerland worth to mention? And how is the hardcore/metal/punk scene living on in Switzerland right now? Is there some of the old and good a swiss bands which still is around?

-Huh, Switzerland is a small country but with a vibrant hc scene. Current bands I can name you are, for example, Unified Move, Insanity 61, Lifecrusher, Deconvolution, Hard Code, Code of Conduct, Expellow, Shadow’s Far. You won’t believe but the list is much longer though we’re a small country. If you would like to hear more punk rock/melodic hc stuff you have to check out Must be Wrong, Malewicz, Hunted Like Thieves, Mamba Bites just to name a few. And, last but not least, let me introduce you to some bands – ranging from hc, metalcore to punk rock, grunge, stoner and death metal – from our home area Canton Ticino: RTC, Walk Off!, Divergenza, Fumo, Frank Atene, Redraw, Dreamshade, Aerophagic Corpses, Ometra, Kotron, Eternal Delyria, Silence is Chaos, Insomnia Isterica, Consumed by Vultures, Noise in Myself, Despising Age, Ethernaut, Kohma, Eclipse of Decay, Soulline, Unbrained and the freshly formed punk rock heroes Wronkids.

What is your strength when you play live? What is the most difference between playing nowadays and if you compare when you started to play?

-We’re genuine and always give all ourselves when on stage. Everything we do during a live gig comes out in a totally natural way, without any previous prep. The only thing we work on during our rehearsals are our songs. All the rest comes out by heart and emotions. People surely enjoy our shows much more in comparison to when we started playing live, I think we put a lot more energy than before and that made quite a difference.

Which type of people comes to your concerts? Which type of people do you miss?

-All people, no matter what subculture they come from, are welcome to our shows. The only must-have is respect for the others and a strong refusal against any kind of hate and discrimination. Our shows must be funny, intense, crushing but, at the same time, safe, with people supporting unity and respect on each other. We’d love to see more old school metalheads with their thrash attitude, leather jackets and Kreator t-shirts!

Do you buy much records, or is it only Spotify and those type of things to listen to music? Any good record store in your town?

-I would say both. As for myself, I love buying records, but I always keep an ear on digital platforms. They can help you discovering a lot of new artists, and, in this digital era, you can listen to a lot of new music with just your phone or an mp3 player. Old schoolers might not agree with me, but times do change.

Are you selling any merch on your gigs, do people buy it? What sells best?

-We sell t-shirts, caps and, of course, our ep, available both in LP and tape formats. Don’t know what sells best, a lot of people purchased our t-shirts so far, maybe they sold best so far.

Which is your own favoritesong among your own songs? And which song is the people choice?

-As for myself, “Inspire” and “Still hungry” are my favorite songs, as well as “Rock and Roll”, “Radical Shit” and “Smile” among those unrecorded.

Have you done anything more than Still hungry, if you have how can I get it?

-Not yet, but you might expect some news sometime soon. Keep an eye on our social accounts….

Do you care about reviews? Which is the most peculiar you ever had, with this band or any other band you have been to?

-You won’t believe but…our EP got reviewed just twice so far. You Peter did one of those reviews, and we’re very thankful for your kind and motivating words. I think every review, no matter if positive or negative, should be an inspiration for further improvement.

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosen? Or have already shared stage with all these bands?

-Never thought about that, we just want to play shows no matter if supporting a huge band or sharing the stage with an underground act. Every kind of experience should make you richer. Although, we opened a Madball show in 2019: as a huge Madball fan I must admit that it was quite an honor and an experience, will always remember it as one of the most exciting shows I’ve ever played.

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nicer person outside the music?

-Definitely.

Politics and music, does it belong together?? Which is your most political song or do you not want to put politics into your music?

-They can work together as long if they bring a strong message against any kind of social injustice and sensibilize in favor of any kind of human and social improvement. There should be no room for music associated with any kind of politics which promote hate, racism and discrimination. There are no “political” songs in our repertoire, but you can never know as I told you few answers above… 

Any good Swedish bands you like?

-A lot. Raised Fist’s “Ignoring the guidelines” is in my personal top 3 of hardcore albums. I love many other Swedish bands, e.g. Refused, Within Reach, Path of no Return, Final Exit as well as many other groups such as The Great Deceiver, Adhesive, No fun at All, At The Gates, Hardcore Superstar, Backyard Babies, Millencolin, Disfear, Entombed, Candlemass, The Hellacopters, Crashdïet, Meshuggah, Cult of Luna, The Hives. And Europe, maybe the first Swedish band I’ve ever listened to. I think that my bandmates would give you another extensive list of amazing Swedish bands.

Is it boring with interviews? Is it much interviews? What do you prefer Telephoneinterviews, face to face or as this one via e-mail?

-It’s the second interview we ever gave as Constant Hunger, actually. I’ve been enjoying it because your questions were much less standardized and much more focused on our band in comparison to the other interview we’ve had. Would love to be interviewed face to face or by phone one day, though I’m not a great talker.

Futureplans for the band?

-Playing live shows as much as we can and constantly reinforcing our friendship by having a lot of good times together. Would love to record and release more stuff in the future, and we’re currently working on something. Keep checking our social accounts!

Futureplans for yourself?

-Being happy with my family.

Wisdomword?

-Everything you do, do it with passion and with all yourself, be kind and respectful to others but at the same respect yourself and be self-confident. Never let somebody crush you. And always choose hardcore, metal, punk and Constant Hunger!

Something more to add?

-It took me ages to finish this interview: thank you so much Peter for your patience and for giving us the chance to be on Skrutt magazine! Keep up the amazing work. A big big big THANK YOU to everybody who supports this page and who took some time to give a listen to our songs, to see us playing live and to support us no matter how. And to everyone who supports underground culture. Take care!