Interview with SUBSTANCE

April 01, 2024

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Music came as a happy accident to all of us. None of us had a musical background in our families. We all just tried it at some point in our lives as an after school activity. And slowly this evolved as a means to express ourselves and breathe life to thoughts and feelings that words could not describe. Music is not our main source of income, but we cannot imagine our lives without it. It is really difficult to picture a reality where music is not present, so we guess we would be focused on our day jobs mostly.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

It depends on who you ask from the band. Everyone has different interests, but we love hanging out as friends, catching a movie or going out for a drink. But mostly, we enjoy gathering at home with friends and just have a good time. We get inspired a lot by our daily lives, the events that shape them and the people that are in it.

How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band and what brought you all together.

The story goes way back to 2010, when we first formed the band. Again, the way we were formed was just another happy accident, as if the stars aligned and we were brought together. It was just a hobby back then and we mainly played in school & university festivals. We formed a great bond of friendship between us but unfortunately we had to split due to some members going abroad for studies. We re-formed back in 2020 while in quarantine and we decided to make a more proper professional step and finally share our music with the world. So, we started recording the songs that we had written a few years back, along with a few new ones.

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

We are based in Athens, Greece. Our location per se does not influence our music. We put into notes and lyrics all the things that make us feel intensely.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

It was the day when we were originally formed back in 2010. After our first rehearsal, and after feeling the chemistry between us, we sat down afterwards and had a discussion about the name. We just wanted to convey through our music the things that matter to us the most, everything that leaves a mark on our lives, everything that has a meaning for us and is substantial. So, we decided to name the band “SUBSTANCE”

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Easily our first show after our reunion. On the 23rd of March 2023, we played at Death Disco here in Athens. It was a very emotional show for us as it marked the band’s new beginning. It's fair to say that

we all got emotional backstage before the start of the show, as we all missed it dearly playing music together and communicating our inner feelings to the world.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

There is no favorite venue for us. We just want to play our music and share it with the world. Everything else comes second. Of course we dream of playing in big festivals some day, but we are focused on the present.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

That’s a very hard question, as we all have different tastes! If I could say just one band besides us for every band member, then the lineup would be in no particular order: Nightwish, Evergrey, Parkway Drive, Alcest, The Butterfly Effect, Slipknot and us.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Enjoy it, feel it and live it! Music is feelings, so the best way to approach it is to just try and put into notes what is in your heart and soul. To our younger selves, the best advice would be to be less stubborn and not try to overcomplicate things.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Again,it depends on who you ask! But if we had to choose just one, that would be “Waldosia” after which we decided to name our debut album. It’s a song that encapsulates the feelings of loss and hopeless longing. Feelings that we all have endured at some point in our lives and shaped us to a degree to the persons we are today.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

The songs that we mostly love playing are “Bedlam”, “Twilight” and “Burning Inside”. “Burning Inside” is a favorite amongst the people that regularly come to our shows.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

The process is very natural. One comes with an idea, we jam with the main riff or melody and Giannis, our singer just fades into the song. We draw inspiration from whatever makes us feel intensely, even if it is something minute and insignificant to most. If something moves us and takes our breath away, then it is something worthy of a song.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Our musical and lyrical approach is not elaborate, with hidden messages and meanings hard to understand. The topics of our songs are everyday situations that everyone is experiencing or has experienced at some point in the past.

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

Of course! Our debut song “Bedlam” has just been released and we are excited about it, as it marks the new era of the band. It will be part of our debut album “Waldosia”, which will come out hopefully before the end of 2024.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

We are super excited for our upcoming show at Templet Athens on the 16th of March, where we will share the stage with Rock N Road and Underworld Dreams. After the show, we will focus on working on the album so that we can share it with the world.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

All our fans can find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube via the links below!

Substance - Bedlam (Official Visualizer)

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