Interview with the Alternative Rock Band SlowKiss



By Mick Michaels




 

The Cosmick View: Hello, and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten

Pounder! Thanks for taking some time to chat with us!

SlowKiss: Thanks for having us! It's our pleasure.

CV: Describe your definition of the band’s sound and style and how does

that definition uniquely describe the music?

SlowKiss: SlowKiss is an alternative rock band led by a woman. We believe that one of the most difficult things about music is to describe it with words; music is vibrated, felt, heard. What each one perceives has a lot to do with your experiences and your tastes. We could say that SlowKiss is a band with a lot of strength and nonconformity, songs with different moods that go from deep, sorrow, fear, to strength and struggle to survive in the world in which we live that is full of hopelessness. Our vocalist, through her voice, makes you travel through different moods along with the always leading and furious guitars and the power of the drums and bass that at times make you fly and then make you put your feet firmly on the ground. SlowKiss is a headbanging and shoegazing band at the same time.

CV: Today, everyone talks about artist and audience connection. Is such a

level of connection actually achievable for an artist and if so, how have you

made the connection to your fans?

SlowKiss: The truth is that this connection that everyone is talking about, we believe that in these days it refers to a digital connection that has to do with the overexposure of artists on the internet, the requirement to be posting at all times on social networks, the little privacy that this implies and zero mystery. We believe that this new system has slightly distorted what real connection means, what it feels like to listen to a record, to read the lyrics, to be at a concert and feel your body and your energy connect with the musicians. We believe that the true connection comes from within and not from the superficial or media or at least, that is the connection that means more to us to have with our audience. Our main connection is on stage and what a feeling!

CV: Is fan interaction an important part of the band’s inner culture?

SlowKiss: Of course, we make music for them. When someone arrives and tells you that one of your songs makes a lot of sense to them, that perhaps they feel identified, that they experienced something similar to what we are talking about, or that the band has accompanied them in great important moments of their lives and has helped them to be inspired, to become aware of something or to get ahead, it is priceless, that is what we make music for.

CV: Can a band truly interact with its fans and still maintain a level of

personal privacy without crossing the line and giving up their “personal

space” in your opinion?

SlowKiss: Without interaction with people we could not exist. When someone approaches you to talk to you, give you an opinion or just chat for a while, it is food to continue believing in what you do. As I commented in one of the previous questions, the error is overexposure because we all have the right to have a private life and expose ourselves to the limit that each one deems appropriate. The limits are set by each one. It's nice to maintain relationships with your closest audience, to hear from them and sometimes even nice bonds of friendship are created.

CV: Is music, and its value, viewed differently around the world in your

opinion?  If so, what do you see as the biggest difference in such multiple

views among various cultures?

SlowKiss: Music is like people, diverse, different, there is something for all tastes and styles of person. Each country has its customs, its thoughts and its idiosyncrasy. Regarding mainstream music, it also changes with the times and social movements. If you ask us, we believe that unfortunately today we live in a materialistic and superficial world and that is also reflected in popular music. That's why our music will always be for people who think outside the box, outside the false comfort of today's world. We are there to accompany the excluded, those who feel left out of everything, those who want to protest and cannot be satisfied with what the mass media feed us today.

CV: Do you feel that a band that has an international appeal, will tend to

connect more so to American audiences? Would they be more enticed or

intrigued to see the band over indigenous acts because of the foreign flavor?

SlowKiss: We believe that an international band should have certain interesting characteristics for all kinds of people around the world. We do not believe that nationality is the key for attracting the public, the key to that is the connection, originality and style of the band, that is why since the beginning of music export many artists have chosen the most popular foreign languages to be able to connect with their fans around the world. In the end, it doesn't matter where the artist is from, what matters is how he connects with his audience. Not because you are local will you connect more with people, we don't see any sense in that and as an example we can see it in artists from small countries like Rammstein, Bjork or the current Maneskin who have been able to break that international barrier due to their dedication and quality, music and art, no matter where they come from.

CV: Has modern-day digital technology made everyone an artist on some

level in your opinion? Have the actual lines of what really is an artist been

Blurred?

SlowKiss: Yes and no, because who is one to say what is and what is not art. As we spoke before, time makes music mutate and what we see today is a reflection of a materialistic, superficial, misogynic, disposable society with little desire to go deeper and less to show its feelings. That is why today there are many artists who are governed by those canons that are established today. The artist is no longer valued so much for his musical, instrumental, vocal or compositional quality, now people value style, way of dressing, speech, no matter how superficial it may be, is more attractive. New technologies have also allowed anyone to create music and that makes the general public feel hope that they can do it too, and that is why there is also the phenomenon of artists who, more than musicians, are normal people making music, and we cannot say that this is wrong, that is what we are experiencing today and we have to know how to adapt, the good thing is that we can still choose the style of music we want to make and there will always be people that prefer old fashion, haha. We believe that people are very disappointed in the world and have a hard time connecting with themselves, so they prefer to follow fashion and not ask themselves big questions, which in the end they feel they cannot change a thing; In any case, it is not people's fault, it's the media and the political and social system in which we live today where they prefer to create equal individuals than diverse people who give them problems in the horrible system they have created.

CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows

trends and one who sets them?

SlowKiss: An artist who seeks fame will always copy another, compete, hold onto trends and try not to risk anything, on the other hand, an artist who is moved by music and his public, is free, will always genuinely try to experiment and find different ways of connecting and impacting their public and making visible things that within today's comfort do not have space and that in the end will make the difference, between originality and more of the same.

CV: Has music overall been splintered into too many sub-genres in an effort to appease fan tastes in your opinion? And has such fan appeasements, in actuality, weakened music’s impact as a whole by dividing audiences?

SlowKiss: When this sub-genre thing started in the 90s, so many subtitles for rock, punk or metal always seemed strange to us. At first it took getting used to but later we even took a liking to it in the sense that you could be much more specific when talking about a style, but the truth is that in the end, as the question says, so many sub-genres end up separating and creating barriers between music that, in our opinion, should be much freer and be able to get along with each other, without competition, titles or so many differences. I can also speak from the feminine side, which is almost considered a style too, if you play rock and you are a woman, they immediately classify you as feminine rock, and that is also a very sexist way of looking at it. That's why we feel closer to the definition of Alternative Rock, which in our opinion gives us more freedom and lets us experiment with all kinds of rock sub-genres without having to give explanations.

CV: What can fans expect to see coming next from you?

SlowKiss: Right now we are going to make the big bet of moving to Europe. Last October we were on tour there and we were delighted. Music is so much more difficult here in South America, especially for rock…the same cannot be said for reggaeton. But we believe that we can have more opportunities and a better future there. As a result of the tour we signed a contract with Deadfall, a management agency from the UK and we also have Inhumano Records from Switzerland with whom we will start a new stage giving everything for the band. Our new LP called K.O is also coming and the first video clip N.O.C.G.A with which we do not want anyone to remain indifferent, the new album means a lot to us since we did it in a pandemic and we went through a lot to do it and it's full of those feelings. So get ready to see us at Festivals and shows in Europe this summer. See you soon!

CV: Thanks again for taking some time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.

SlowKiss: Thank you! Great interview. Cheers for everyone.

 

Check out Showkiss at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slowkissband

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slowkissband

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Slowkissband

Bandcamp: https://slowkiss.bandcamp.com

Official: https://slowkissband.com

 

 

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word.  Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.




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