Interview date: 07.10.2007
Črt Birsa is the guitarist of Aperion from Žalec. Aperion are a special band. Especially in Slovenia. They’re a septet (almost an octet) of musical perfectionists, known for blending metal riffs with elements of symphonic composing from classical music, and for weaving in Celtic-pastoral touches (interplays of cello, flute, viola and folk melodies, with even a bit of didgeridoo finding its place). In short, a hot band with a special vision of musical intellect. I chatted with Aperion almost two and a half years ago, which is when I lost my innocence, since it was my first interview with any band in my career (you can read it again HERE). Back then we talked mostly about the birth of Aperion and its first baby steps, so it was high time for Črt and me to pick the conversation back up and take it to the next level. And so it happened that I, fried from my daily grind in service of the state, went to cool my head right at Črt’s place, in his apartment in Ljubljana’s Šiška district, where a nicely chilled beer was already waiting for me…
RockLine: A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since our last official chat. How long have you been together as Aperion by now?
Črt: Yeah, quite a while. On the first of November it’ll be exactly 5 years since the band started.
RockLine: The first of November, a row of ones, the day of knocking on heaven’s door!
Črt: Yeah, that really is interesting. A lot of things for us have started right around the first of November, as if that date was fated for us. Member changes, for example. Even the last two members, the drummer and the violinist, joined the lineup around that time two years ago.
RockLine: We last did an interview almost two and a half years ago. Since then you’ve taken some pretty serious steps forward. You’ve started showing up in the media, you’re playing stages more and more intensely, you’ve shot a video… What reins did you pull to get all this going, and what else important happened for Aperion between mid-2005 and late 2007?
Črt: Yeah, that’s quite a time span. We told ourselves we had to approach things more decisively so we wouldn’t stay in the garage forever. It was high time for Aperion. We started putting energy into making a video and tactically building toward a breakthrough in the media. We absolutely had to put something out on the market. One of the turning points came when we were practically confirmed as the support act for Apocalyptica at Križanke, and then at the last minute they turned us down…
RockLine: Apocalyptica! What, did they figure you were too good to open for them, that you might overshadow them and sweep them off the stage?
Črt: No, the reason they gave was an excuse, basically that we were too similar to them….
RockLine: Meaning they simply got scared. You really must be too good.
Črt: Hmm, that’s what we were told, but I don’t know the real background.
RockLine: Unbelievable.
Črt: Basically, at first they accepted us as the support act, everything was arranged, and then two days after the official confirmation that we’d been picked, we hear they cut us off, that they were calling the deal off.
RockLine: Hello?!?! How is that even possible? Apocalyptica don’t have any vocals or singing, there’s no flute, no massive guitar riffing, all of that is Greek to them. Where the hell does the similarity between Aperion and Apocalyptica come from, maybe from the first two letters of the band names?
Črt: That’s what I’m saying, none of us in the band had the faintest clue. “What the heck!” Anyway, next came the idea of shooting a video. We teamed up with the agency Majestic 5 and came to a joint agreement. We contributed the script, they contributed the direction, and the video for the song “Ü” was born.
RockLine: Then you performed on stage as part of a joint project with a dance group from Celje, right? That must have been seriously impressive, so tell me a bit about how it went.
Črt: Aha! You mean the Ionosfera project. What, you haven’t seen that show yet?
RockLine: No, I haven’t.
Črt: Then you don’t know what you’re missing.
RockLine: I know you played in Ljubljana too, among other places, I remember that.
Črt: Yeah, that was at Cankarjev dom. We did it together with the dancers from Plesni forum Celje. The show was called Ionosfera. The dancers interpreted the choreography themselves, with a lot of help from their mentor Goga. Together we created a kind of spectacle that successfully illustrated and captured exactly what Aperion’s music is about. They danced our music. At the shows we played in the background, behind the dancers, but we weren’t a separate part of the production. We performed certain movements ourselves while playing the songs. Those movements helped us get closer to the audience, because we broke up the static stage presence, or rather the lower visibility of a band, caused by having dancers out there. You’re still kind of in the background, and sometimes it can feel to the listener like there’s no band at all. You’re used to the fact that when you watch dance, the music they dance to is often prerecorded. With this kind of collaboration we showed that we’re on stage with the dancers too. It was very colorful. Our singer Zala worked with the dancers the most, of course, since with her wireless mic she practically had access to every corner of the stage. The Ionosfera show was very successful. It’s still current right now, all the time. But every show like this takes a lot of rehearsal. So in the future we’ll try to turn this into a whole tour, say 10 gigs in a row. That’s much easier and pays off better, especially in terms of rehearsals. It’s wasteful to rehearse such a specific stage performance for just one gig that then repeats only half a year or a year later. Say you burn five rehearsals for a single show. You lose a lot of creative time. Anyway, it was great working on this project. Above all, we picked up a ton of new experience. Some of the movements got into our blood so much that we kept them in later Aperion performances, in our classic solo setup of course. Aperion’s shows grew even more in terms of quality. It was excellent, and the experience we gained was priceless.
RockLine: You recently refreshed the lineup. There were seven of you, right? Is that still the case?
Črt: Yeah, true. We’re seven now too, actually eight if I count the didgeridoo and Žiga, who’s basically part of the band. The previous drummer left us because he went off to study in Klagenfurt, he got accepted to the academy for jazz, so he ran out of time for the band. But his replacement Nejc is excellent too. He fit into the band perfectly, follows our ideas, and knows exactly what to give at every moment, both in the studio and at a gig. The other change happened on viola. The previous violist, Špela, also had to leave the band for a similar reason, studying at the academy. She simply ran out of time for Aperion.
RockLine: Holy cow, all seriously schooled heavy hitters…
Črt: Well, I’m not trained on my instrument. I did have a bit of schooling on drums and cello, but the rest of the crew are all trained. Except for me and the bassist, we’re not trained on the actual instruments we play in Aperion. The others all have music high school, the cellist is finishing the music academy, the violist is at the academy,…
RockLine: What about your original material? In the two-odd years since we last talked, has it grown or developed further in the arrangements?
Črt: Yeah, of course. Martin, our new violist, for example, is a real asset for Aperion. He actually hears everything, he’s got what I call an ear, a feel for detail. Where to add something, what to take away, how something has to sound as a whole,… The arrangements have really grown enormously. Certain lines in the songs have changed, everything feels much more polished. When we record the album, we’ll keep upgrading everything even further anyway.
RockLine: Okay, if I may wander off into the clouds a bit. Which direction are you developing in? Would you call it experimental, let’s say progressive exploration? How would you describe Aperion stylistically?
Črt: I don’t know.
RockLine: Okay, there’s a pretty strong whiff of Celtic-pastoral elements with you, if we start there, and the vocals are virginally seductive and radiate that necessary gothic, immaculate innocence?
Črt: Yeah, at first they labeled us as Celtic rock. Later we realized we actually only have one Celtic rock song. To be honest, we didn’t know what we were, and we didn’t care. We are what we are, whatever each person’s ears hear. I don’t know what to say, gothic, hard rock, metal… and you could probably find a few more. Lately I’ve noticed we’re getting more and more metal. We’re bringing in nu-riffs.
RockLine: Yeah, that “works” today, a bit of original, eruptive electric crunch, people stick to that. They always have, that’s the whole point of rock ‘n’ roll.
Črt: Over the last two years it’s not just about bringing in those riffs, we’ve changed the way we play quite radically. Of course it all grew upward, meaning for the better, that’s natural. The sound has changed. It’s become jerkier, punchier. So when a certain part needs to explode, to hit hard, it actually does. More than ever in our existence. On the other hand, we also have to push toward the commercial side, otherwise nobody will “sand us down.” But we try to stay moderate about it. So we don’t become some commercial pussies! We want to keep the essence and the beat of the band, to keep doing what we want to do, because first and foremost we’re musicians so we can make the music we want to make. That’s the foundation, and when that’s fulfilled, we feel good. And only when we feel good do we start thinking about integrating some of the remaining elements that could, at first glance, fatally seduce the critical mass, which is generally tuned in to chasing trends.
RockLine: Creating riffs on a “fashionable groove,” is that one of your tricks?
Črt: Yeah, that too, sure. We’re getting heavier and heavier. But there’s still a genuine touch of classical in our music that then beautifies the whole thing.
RockLine: So you create an interesting contrast. On one side an avalanche of riffing, on the other this fragile, naive innocence, the melancholy of classical symphonic arrangements. That strikes me as one of Aperion’s key aces!
Črt: Yeah, yeah. And the classical side builds on lighting the whole thing up. With symphonic lines it stretches the limits of rock, adds a spectrum of tones that creates a string of exciting moods, builds drama… That duality blends together wonderfully. The vocals and melodies too, the vocal harmonies, with everything, of course.
RockLine: If I may poke at you with the comparisons being born in my head as I listen to your comments, with the term “nu-riffs” you Aperion guys threw yourselves a bit toward Rammstein?
Črt: Well,… you could put it that way, although we’re not looking for that at all. Rammstein know exactly what they’re doing in production. When a riff hits with them, everything really shakes the way it should, you feel it. So when we bring in harder elements, we’re looking for the point where a motif built on a guitar riff hits with full force, grabs you in an instant and pulls you in. So Aperion’s production has to deliver decisiveness and bring out that power, so that at those spots we don’t accidentally sound watered-down, lukewarm or pussy. It has to knock you out, tickle you a little.
RockLine: The band’s gigs are in full swing right now, aren’t they?
Črt: This month we’ve got three more gigs to the end. Then there’s one more with Interceptor.
RockLine: Now I remember, there’s an extremely interesting concert event planned for 19.10.2007 in Kranj, and you’re playing there too! Tell us something about that.
Črt: That’s a gig for the 10th anniversary of the agency Majestic 5. It’s an agency from Kranj, and since Kranj is a rock town, they invited rock bands to play for the occasion. They made us the video for the song “Ü” and basically invited some of the bands they’ve made videos for at Majestic 5. It’ll be a rock-flavored evening. That’s why they picked Kranj, it’s more rock. So we’re playing, Aperion, then Lady’s First, God Scard, Supernova,… I think Lepi Dasa is also announced, to shake things up a bit, or liven it up so it doesn’t fall into monotony, if we limit ourselves to just the common denominator of the word rock. The differences between the bands already bring a nice measure of variety, which will mark this evening. It’ll be a real party, I recommend coming!
RockLine: And then the gig with Interceptor?
Črt: Before that we play on 20.10.2007 at the “Live Award” festival competition, at Gala Hala in Ljubljana. That’s also worth checking out, because the competition there is pretty fierce. We noticed three bands in the lineup that we already went head to head with at the “Newcomer” festival in Graz. Basically it’s also about us getting on stage, because we’ve been devoting a lot of time to other things lately and haven’t played that many shows. One more gig follows in Celje at the end of October, and then comes the concert together with Interceptor. That’s 30.11.2007. They invited us. It’s a festival at Štuk in Maribor, the last day of Interceptor’s tour. We’ve known them for a long time, with their singer Čule. They come from our neck of the woods, from Žalec too. I expect it’ll be great. Also judging by the announced lineup of bands.
RockLine: Which other bands are announced besides you and Interceptor on this tour?
Črt: So, Infidia, Sabaium, Interceptor, Aperion, and some band from Maribor that always throws a total party in front of the stage, but right now their name has slipped my mind (Curse of Instinct, ed. note.) Free transport is being organized from Žalec, two buses that will pick up folks. So people will only have to pay for the festival ticket.
RockLine: Tell me, Črt, how are the other young bands doing, how is the rock and metal scene developing in your neck of the woods, the Celje region, if I can call it that?
Črt: Yeah, it’s developing quite nicely. One interesting band, for example, is Killing Option, then there’s Last Day Here, Dweal, Meanless, the experimental band Uroš the Planinc Group, and Ion…
RockLine: It seems to me this is on the rise, in terms of the range of young, quality rock bands from different genres popping up in Slovenia right now. Meanwhile distribution and publishing here, especially in promoting quality music and pushing young talented bands, are stuck in place and not keeping up with development, so excellent bands rot in garages… how do you see this?
Črt: You know, Aperion would export ourselves to the West right away if we had the chance.
RockLine: Is there maybe a chance on the horizon of Aperion playing before a big band, so a larger mass of listeners could hear you all at once?
Črt: Not for now. But we’re trying. Abroad too. A girl who helps Aperion is trying to make contacts abroad, and we’re working at it here in Slovenia. We’re slowly pushing and pressing, and I hope somebody comes along soon and says “this is it,” so we can sign a solid long-term deal.
RockLine: When are you planning to release an album? I know there’s quite a bit of original material, right?Črt: We plan to release an album in about a year. We’re preparing the music, the arrangements, constantly upgrading the arrangements of existing songs. I hope the record will be out as soon as possible. When we start recording, RockLine will definitely be informed in good time, and early. That’s when the release date will be known too. Give or take a month,
RockLine: So everything is set, you just have to start pulling the strings.
Črt: Exactly. We’re just looking for the most favorable solution, the best offer. We’re constantly in talks, negotiations, and so on… When we find it and everything around it fully crystallizes, we head off to the studio.
RockLine: If I may provoke you further. Do you happen to remember the band Terra Mistyca, a defunct Slovenian band that built on a Celtic atmosphere? I think Tinkara Kovač played with them too. Can I be bold and say you guys are the absolute upgrade of that, for the new millennium?
Črt: Yeah, I remember them. I even went to one of their concerts. As for what we are compared to them, I don’t think it makes sense to start that debate. The circumstances are totally different. Different time, different scene. Today these folk elements are in high demand, not to say already very popular, and the real paradise for bands like that is Finland. Scandinavia, that is.
RockLine: So right now you’re building the bulk of your name and reputation on live shows.
Črt: Yeah, yeah. Concerts are essential for us in general. That’s where the listener first gets the real feel for what Aperion even is. Besides the music, we also build on costuming, and creating a high atmosphere is extremely important. I think a concert is a much more effective tool for that than a studio recording, although the studio gives you an endless combination of every possible impulse for creating sounds, composing, etc… in the end both have huge advantages over each other. You can’t have one without the other, like soup without salt, but for now the feeling of our presence on the scene through gigs is maybe so strong because the record isn’t out yet.
RockLine: My personal opinion is that you guys in Aperion are, right from the start, vivid and musically layered enough to open up room to maneuver in developing in different directions, trying different things, integrating different musical ingredients into your expression. I think combining these various elements is an exceptional growth asset and potential for you, for the future too. For productive collaboration on various projects, with various artists, etc…
Črt: Well, speaking of teaming up with others on projects, there’s a new collaboration on the horizon right now. We’re in talks with another band about doing an acoustic spin-off of our ideas. It’s not 100% agreed yet. Anyway, we’ll keep going in this direction, working as broadly as possible, with an open view in all directions and a receptiveness to different challenges, to cover as wide a spectrum as we can, especially the acoustic level combined with distorted slicing.
RockLine: Well Črt, we’re slowly nearing the end of this extremely pleasant chat. I have to admit that your beer service has nicely loosened my tongue, but still, tell me, is there anything you’d like to add, anything important we accidentally skipped during the interview? Any message, etc…?
Črt: I think we were pretty thorough, and if not, it’ll wait for next time. As for a message, I’d just say this: “Music is limitless”! I recently discovered an old band called The Shaggs. And hearing them reminded me how fitting the link between music and limitlessness is. It’s simply incredible how it comes together with The Shaggs. On one hand it sounds catastrophic, on the other hand it’s insanely detached and free-spirited in the very way it presents its motifs.
RockLine: Whoa! First time I’m hearing about The Shaggs, but you’ve totally got me hyped, and for some reason it reminded me of Frank Zappa, I don’t even know why?
Črt: No worries at all, I’ll spin The Shaggs for you after the interview. It’s true, though, that good old Frank Zappa reportedly put them on his personal list of favorite artists.
RockLine: Črt, thanks a lot for your time for this interview. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for Aperion!
Črt: Thanks to you too, it was a pleasure. Let’s go listen to The Shaggs.
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