OVERFLOW

from the sunny Croatia

Goran from Croatia and the group Overflow have been very kind to answer a lot of questions from me about their music. Ge said that he have answered these questions in september 2006 but something went wrong but now it´s january 2007 and pelase read the interview in full attack.

History?

-First of all, hello to everybody who’s going to read this interview. As for our history I can say that it is pretty long and very rich. We started our band in 1990., we made five full lenght albums, many singles, videos and compilations that we were on. If you are really interested in our history you can check it out on our web site www.overflow-tv.com/eng/biography.aspx

Please tell me a little about every member , age, family, work, interestes and something and about every one?

-Ok, let’s start… Our bass player Zoki is the youngest among us. He is 22 years old and he is student. Nikica is our guitar player; he’s got one son, so he is the only real man in the band. Dado is the drummer, one of the best that I have ever heard and works with web programming and design. My name is Goran and I am 33. I’m the oldest one, I am singer and I study history and pedagogy.

Is the "live" at parties some sort of greatest hits or how is it...you have different members on different songs?

-You have noticed correctly, but it is not best of or greatest hits. Some songs are new, but some of the songs were released before on our first and second album. Since production in early 90’s was quite different- problematic, especially in Croatia during war, we have decided that some of these songs deserve to be recorded with better production. Also these albums are not available on market.

How is it to Live in Croatia?

-Croatia is a beautiful country and you should all come and see it. It has absolutely perfect coast, intact nature, high mountains, great lakes and rivers. But most important Croatian women and girls are most beautiful in the world… You don’t believe me?  Come and check it out for yourself.

Politics and music, does it goes hand in hand?

-That is the negative part of the story about Croatia. Sometimes is not easy to live here because our country is runn by incompetent corrupted politician. There is a lot of corruption and envy. Here politics are involved into everything, even in culture, education and music... We are independent and we stay far away of everything that even smells like that.

When you do a song, which is most important, is it to have good melodies, good lyrics or to have a refrain that people remembers?

-Most important thing is that guys in the band like the song. In fact that is the only really important thing. We play music to enjoy ourselves first and then we can entertain other people. When we make songs we don’t think about melodies, lyrics or refrains. We think about joy that that particular song is giving to us when we play it, and if we like it we can only hope that our fans we like it to.

The best music artist/group?

-There are four people in the band so I can not say for everybody. Also, we all listen to different kind of music and I think that is really good. The worst thing for your music is when you listen only one kind of music and you want to play only one kind of music. That way of thinking is killing your creativity and out of that situation is very difficult to come up with something new, original or good for that matter. But if you really insist in this question I can say that I don’t have best artist or group, but at the moment I really enjoy Descendents and their beautiful album “Everything Sux”.

Have you been abroad and played anything?If you have where is best?

-Yes, we played a lot of gigs all around Europe…. For example Germany, France, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia and so on… Where is the best? That is very difficult question. Some towns are better then the others, but sometimes when you play in a same town more then one time it can be very different every time. In general we had a lot of fun playing in all European countries.

Which type of people comes to your concerts?

-Very tall and blond people with horn on their helmets…. I’m kidding… What “types” of people are there? I hope that people that come to our shows like music, like having fun and know how to enjoy themselves.

Have it been changing through the years?

-If you asking about us I can say yes, things change, people change and that is normal. Most important is that those changes go for the best and not for the worst.

Is it more fun to play now than it was in the beginning of your career?

-It is different. We had a lot of fun then and we have a lot of fun now. We are more experienced so we can enjoy some of the things more fully, but then again when you come in your 30ties hangovers last more than one day and that can be really bad. If you know what I mean.

How is your record company?

-We are looking for new one.

Please tell me a funny thing which have happened during your career?

-To me the funniest is that we are still playing for all those years… But one thing happened in south Italy that we like to talk about these days. We had day off and we went to the beach where we were robbed by members of mafia. They stole all our money, so we were 2 000 km from home with no money. It wasn’t funny then, but now we laugh about it.

Which songs will people always wants to hear and which of your songs is most fun to play?

-Well, there are a few songs that people really like. “Dorothy”, “Pussy Eater”…and so on… And for songs that are most fun to play…..well, well… for me at the moment “The Lamb Song” … I think that is beautiful song.

Do you do any covers?

-When we started playing we were 13-14 years old, so sometimes we used to play some covers from Husker Du, Velvet Underground, Firehose… And it was really fun to play some Ramones songs, but with changing our  instruments…That was reallllly fun.

What do you know about Sweden?

-Not as much as I would like to. I know that you have a great hokey team, not so good football team ( they lost from Croatia…). You have good music and you have lovely girls. When I see your people that come to Croatia they always have a smile on their face, so I guess you are nice people and I hope we’re going to come to play gigs in your country as soon as possible.

Have you heard any swedish bands worth to mention?

-Maybe it will come to you as a surprise but I really respect your Death Metal scene. There were and are some really good bands. In punk-rock field you have the best scene in Europe: The Hives, The Hellacopters, Refused, Millencolin, Mando Diao, Randy, Asta Kask.…

How is it to play this sort of music in Croatia right now?

-For us not bad! We have played more then 20 gigs in last 4 months in Croatia and Slovenia ( good average for these small countries ). Punk rock was sleeping in Croatia last few years but now is alive and kicking.

What do you think when I say pink, is it only a owrd or is it a lifestyle?( spelled wrong there on the word punk)

-When you say “pink” it is definitely lifestyle hehehehe… kidding again… Punk can be a way of life, but we are not much interested into ideology. We are much more about the music. It is good, energetic, wild, happy, sad, alive…Punk can be whatever you want. We respect everybody’s choice.

Which is your relationship with punk?

-I think I have already answered. We like musical side of punk rock, we explore it and enjoy it, but we are not taking punk ideology as our lifestyle.

Is there any chance for us to see you in Sweden soon?

-Absolutely! We would really like to do a few gigs in your country. It is a bit far, but we are young and toughJ

What drives you to play music ?

-Love towards music. We love making and playing songs. It is a great feeling, better then drugs. And when you see that people enjoy when you are playing, that you are making them happy that is impossible to describe.

Is it many interviews? Is it boring?

-Yes, there are a lot of interviews, and I can not answer very soon sometimes. I hope you didn’t wait too long… It is not boring, it is part of this what we do. Absolutely normal and no problem.

Which is the question you never get but you want to have, please ask it and answer it?

-Are you in love?

Yes I am!!!

Please rank your five favourite records, five favourite concerts and five most important things in life?

-Well, let me try:

1. NomeansNo: Wrong

2. Fugazi: 13 songs

3. Sonic Youth: Sister

4. Violent Femmes: Add it up

5. Ivica Šerfezi: Zlatni Casi (famous Croatian singer)

Concerts:

1. NoMeansNo

2. Fugazi

3. DOA

4. Johnny Cash: Live at Folsom (of course I wasn’t there, but I really love the recording)

5. Elio Pisak (another local hero)

Most important things in life:

1. love

2. love

3. love

4. good health

5. peace

First, last and most expensive record ever bought?

-This is interesting coincidence, but is really true: most expensive Bruce Springsteen LIVE75-85 (it has 5 lps so it was quite expensive), and last also Bruce Springsteen: We shall overcome (it is really great and you should check it out even if you don’t like him)

Most embarrasing record in your collection?

-Abba… hehehe… just kidding, I really think they are great… I don’t know… As you can see I really listen to all kinds of music, so I honestly don’t have embarrassing record…. Well… maybe Duran Duran….

Future plans with the band?

-To play a lot, to make music, to see some more countries, to have fun…

For yourself as a human being?

-To be happy, and smart enough when I see bullshit coming toward me to step aside… Also to have at least seven children and to take care of them… (this is not a joke).

Wisdomword?

-Don’t listen to “wisdoms” of “smarter” people… Experience the world for yourself!!

Something more to add?

-I really enjoyed the interview and I hope that next one we can do face to face in Sweden. Hope to see you soon and my best wishes to everybody.

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