Interview with Drummer and Vocalist Ian Hendrik of Impact
By Mick Michaels
COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Ian! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for
taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Ian Hendrik: Hi there! I’m always up for interviews! Music is my life and I want to spend every minute making music or supporting music. :)
CV: Do
you feel Heavy
Metal music in general is
viewed differently by fans
in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
IH: I don’t think metal fans have a different view
about Heavy Metal around the world. It is one big family of metalheads around
the world; however, some followers of special genres like Glam Metal or Death
Metal might have a different opinion on what it is all about. But in its basis,
metal was born to stand against the odds of society in whatever way.
CV:
What do you feel makes Heavy
Metal music so alluring
to the fans?
What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
IH: I think it’s the pure adrenaline of
rock’n’roll. The unknown…the uncertainty of what’s gonna happen next. It’s not
just the music…it’s the feeling and the energy. For me as a musician who also
happens to be a producer and sound engineer, the sound plays a very big role to
me and I just love it to be on stage and feel the power of the mix and the
cheering crowd!!!
CV: Has
Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus,
making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style
over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?
IH: I think genres are as unimportant as if a pizza
should be round or square…it’s about what’s inside…some might classify Led
Zeppelin as Heavy Metal and others as Classic Rock. For Bands it’s easy to
classify themselves I think…it was for us…we play HEAVY ROCK! It might be confusing
in some cases, but in general I don’t think anyone gives a toss whether is new
favorite band classifies as Trash
Metal or Heavy Metal as long as they like their style.
CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business
considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared
world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given
the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
IH: The current state of the music business is shit with a brighter outlook. With all this technology available, everybody can make great music to a professional standard from home and collab with people around the world. COVID changed the world for artists…I mean for me…my whole life went upside down. I was supposed to live in the UK by now, but here I am, still in my Hometown haha.
Playing shows is finally possible again and everybody should be a able to life a free live and do the things they love. I just hope that people will realize that we have to live with COVID and just get along with it…we can’t live in fear for the next 15 years…everybody’s got the option to decide for themselves…but please don’t lockdown all the countries again….
CV:
What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to
songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
IH: I have a very special and long lasting
relationship with our lead guitarist Morris Ramon. I can’t recall not knowing
him…we’ve been through so much together, had good times and bad times…we don’t
really listen to the same music. He’s into more funky stuff while I’m the
classic 80s Metal guy, but when we come together for writing tunes it
works…most of the time hahah :D
CV: On
a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and
songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
IH: A big part of IMPACT is the sound, which
separates it from a lot of current releases. Songwriting wise…we don’t really
fit into the typical scheme, as our musical influences are quite different, as
I’ve mentioned before.
CV: Can
an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being
unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an
artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are
destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
IH: Yes and No. Everybody will always be influenced
by previous artists and bands…but that’s the beauty of musical evolution. And
come on…let’s be serious…everything has been played in Heavy Metal before…if you
want to do something new…fart into your guitar picks, but good luck with promoting
that. On the other hand, every musician will be unique in a way, ‘cause they
are the only version of themselves on this beautiful planet.
People always tell me my songs sound like Mötley Crüe or Whitesnake or some other great band…but you know what…yes they do and it’s the best compliment possible…and let’s be honest…there are worse bands to sound alike.
CV: Are
there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be
taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
IH: There are some…but it depends massively on what
your jobs in a band are. You have to be a tough businessman, be very determined
about the things you do and most important….don’t let anyone hold you back from
achieving your dreams. It’s not all about Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll…it’s about
a shit ton of work in the studio, a lot of management related work, a shier
mountain to be moved for every show…but I love every single minute of it all.
It’s all for rock’n’roll!
CV:
What do you feel makes someone a “rock
star”? Does being a
rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in
your opinion?
IH: A rockstar in the eyes of the general public is
a drug and alcohol addicted, long-haired guy in denim and leather, getting out
of his limousine with two sexy girls in the back. Sadly that’s not quite the
reality but you know what….The job of a rockstar is to live the life others
can’t live…it makes other guys want to become like you and the chicks…they like
rockstars :) However…don’t tell anyone...most so called ‘rockstars’ have a perfectly normal
life when not being in public.
CV:
What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming as the world looks to
surmount a new normal laced with a load of restrictions?
IH: We’re currently writing songs for a new album,
we don’t have a name yet and no release date…but it won’t be too long…I promise
:) On the live side…we’re playing regularly and hope to go on tour at some point
next year supporting a big rock/metal act. Let’s just hope they won’t shut us
down when autumn comes around….
CV:
Thank you again Ian for spending some
time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all
the best and continued success.
IH: The pleasure is mine and I thank you ever so
much for supporting us and giving a small and upcoming band like us a chance to
reach out to a new audience!
Check
out Impact at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialimpactband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialimpactband/
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