Syberia

Syberia from Barcelona, Catalonia, is a post-rockband with both melodic and heavy parts which stands out in their music. We sent over some questions to see what the band is up to. 

Could you tell us a bit about why you started the band and what ambitions you had in the beginning?
We had always played in other bands and a few of us who wanted to make instrumental music got together. At that time there weren't as many bands as now and we were fans of Caspian, Mogwai, Isis and similar groups. We wanted to make something of our own and play as many places as possible.

 

Speaking more about the start of the band, why did you pick the name "Syberia"?
We were looking for a name that was one word and had a good sound. One of us loves geography and proposed it. We liked it and it stayed that way.

 

When you think of the past and now the present, what has changed the most during all these years?
Since the start a lot of things have changed. Without going in any further details there is only one original component left in the band. Those of us who are now are more a united band. We share the same goals and when it comes to composing we understand each other much better. Although we have diverse musical preferences, we are capable of each contributing our grain of sand to make records in which we all see ourselves identified.

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You had a European tour this summer. What memories and recollections do you have from the tour?
We have been lucky enough to be able to do two European tours during this same year. We are delighted to meet lovely people who make us want to do the same every year. We have very good memories of promoters who have treated us just as well as if we were their children and bands with whom we have continued to maintain contact. It is true that being on tour is something really tiring. But these details are what keep us wanting to do it.

 

In May of 2022 you released your latest album "Statement on Death". Could you tell us about the recording process for this album?
It all started when in March 2020 all "Seeds Of Change" concerts were canceled due to the pandemic. We were left without a European tour, without festivals and without concerts around the country. It was then when Oca (guitar player) began to think of new songs. He was sending them to Jordi (the other guitar player) and both were shaping them. At the beginning of summer we were able to meet at the rehearsal room, although without a drummer, to play them all together. When we start songwriting, we never do it following a specific plan. We always compose according to what we heard at that time. Normally we record riff ideas individually and take them to the rehearsal room. Once there we assemble the pieces of the puzzle to find the desired song. It is at the end, when all the songs are finished, when we think about the theme and the message that we want to convey on the album.

 

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You are from Barcelona. How is the music scene for alternative bands in your hometown?
In Barcelona, and in Catalonia in general, the scene is very complicated. Here only bands that sing in Catalan receive grants and aid, while the alternative circuit is in the hands of few promoters and a more DIY philosophy. This is why we prefer to play outside our borders. Depending on which European countries have much more respect for the underground culture. However, there are also many places in the rest of Spain that we love to play. For us it is a luxury to see that our music reaches this far.

 

If you would pick one song that symbolize Syberia, which song would you choose and why so?
It's incredibly difficult to choose just one song. Our albums are made up of many parts, and as we said before, we try not to repeat ourselves over the years of writing. From the last album we might choose Ain't.Care.About.Bullets. since it is the theme that has a bit of everything.

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What do you prefer, to record in the studio or to play live?
We are not a professional band. All of us have our daily jobs outside of the music. For us, entering a studio is a magical moment. You are beginning to give birth to something that you have been brewing for a long time. When you're in the studio, you just want to finish to hear the final result, but at the same time, you never want to finish because this is what makes you enjoy the most. But once you're done, playing as many places as possible is what makes a band alive.

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Which 5 albums by other bands is your favourites?
This question is really impossible to answer without doing an exercise of meditation and months of reflection. We each have our tastes, and if you take our list of the TOP 10 songs on
Spotify you will see it clearly. (https://open.spotify.com/user/3fvfm8rjh7kkw7q18s6gbeuix)

 

Last question for this time. If we look to the future, what plans do you have for the band in 2022 and 2023? If we look to the future we see hard work, like to this day. It is not up to us whether
we play in such a place or in this kind of place. We are a humble band and we do all the hard work by ourselves. The only thing that is in our hands is our music. For this, we can only guarantee that we are going to work as hard as possible to release albums that are, at least, on a par with the previous ones.

Thank you very much for the interview! 

 

Fore more info, please check out:

https://syberia.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/syberiaband/