Interview with Siim Guitarist of Ocean Districts
By Mick Michaels
The Cosmick View: Hello, Siim, and welcome to The Cosmick View/MBM Ten Pounder!
Thanks for taking some time to chat with us!
CV:
Describe your definition of Ocean District’s
sound and style and how does that definition uniquely describe the music?
Siim: We are a five-piece instrumental band that
positions itself somewhere between post-rock and post-metal, while lending
ideas from all the different genres and trying not to restrict ourselves into a
narrow frame. We usually rely more on how we feel playing or writing music,
rather than trying to fit into a certain genre. Since its five of us, each with
our own opinions, approaches, tastes, moods etc. it all meshes into something
that sounds like us and us only.
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?
Siim: I think we and our fans are part of one entity
and there couldn’t be one without the other. If you as an artist don’t put
walls around yourself and give yourself 100% to the audience during the
performance then the connection will develop. Or it is just not your audience
or you’re not the right artist for the audience. This isn’t something that can
be forced or manufactured.
CV:
Is fan interaction an important part of Ocean
District’s inner culture?
Siim: It is really important to us to be available to
our fans and we always try to find time after the show to have a chat or sign a
record or just hang out. We always try to show our fans that we’re thankful for
each and every one of them.
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?
Siim: We haven’t encountered this kind of problem
ourselves because we are not part of a big scene with tons of fans. I think the
problem usually lies with individuals, not a group of fans. So, a few bad
apples shouldn’t make you distance yourself from the whole fanbase.
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?
Siim: I think music in general is universal and means
the same for people in different regions, cultures etc. Not that everybody likes
the same music everywhere, but I think what people get from music is the same
everywhere. But for example in Estonia the music industry is really small, so
maybe we don’t associate music and business so easily.
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?
Siim: Growing up in developing Estonia it was always exciting
to see foreign bands, because they seemed exotic, sounded better than local
bands and brought “fancier” gear with them. But It was never about the prestige
of a band and still isn’t. It is just interesting to see how bands from other
countries approach their music and how they perform it. Also it’s always nice
to meet new people. I think average foreign band isn’t better than good local
band because of their foreign flavor.
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?
Siim: I think it has, but I think it also provides
everyone an opportunity. Money is not as big of a factor anymore (when
releasing your art), because you can basically do anything in your bedroom. And
sure, it produces a lot of “grey mass” but while “average” artist and art will
have a short lifespan and fade out quite fast then quality will always prevail
and true artist push themselves through the mass.
CV: How would you describe the difference between an artist who follows trends
and one who sets them?
Siim: Trendsetters will have a long and interesting career…artists
who will to whatever is trendy will fade out really quick. But I think every
trendsetter is a follower in some quantities. I guess those who set the trends
do not think about doing something that will be setting the trends.
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?
Siim: There are too many genres, I agree. But this
genre-fluidity helps bands to be more creative and free to experiment. This
helps music to be more varied and interesting. For me, genre names are
important for music award shows and genre gatekeepers. Bands usually don’t care
about the genre, at least we don’t.
CV:
What can fans expect to see coming next from you?
Siim: We are playing two festivals in July in Estonia
and Lithuania and are working on shows in the Baltics for upcoming fall. We’ll
try and promote our new album “Phantom Islands” as much as we can this year and
next year. Then we will probably take a short break and start the cycle all
over again.
CV:
Thanks again Siim for taking some
time and talking. It is greatly appreciated.
Siim: Thank you!
Check out Ocean Districts at:
https://oceandistricts.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/oceandistricts
https://www.youtube.com/oceandistricts
https://www.instagram.com/oceandistricts/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1kjB8ORwgdlSzLRez0amDC?si=qkgWoT0NSh-tjqwXxoPYAA
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