Interview with Eirkti label
Nattsol: Greetings! For a start, please, introduce yourselves and your label (+ what does the label name mean?).
Ioannis: Greetings to you too! I am Ioannis, one half of the Eirkti music label & an obsessed dark wave and post punk admirer. With regard to Eirkti’s story I should as well start by saying that we met with Markos somewhere in the course about fifteen years ago. We instantly realized that we shared the same passion for listening to those dark sounds and collecting vinyl from obscure groups of the kind. As years went by and after noticing that the flame lingered on and on, we decided that it was time we did something more creative than just discovering, collecting and listening. We knew that there were a lot of scarce works of music out there which either were out of reach or worse, weren’t ever released in our favorite format: vinyl. Moreover and most strongly, we wanted to somehow present the national scene’s new wave history abroad and as far as we were able to. Those were the basic reasons why we wanted to form the label. With regard to its name, Eirkti is an ancient Greek word standing for prison. We still remain imprisoned in our favorite music and we felt like denoting this through our label’s logo. Furthermore, this word is a Greek reference in itself. Thus, it is strongly related with our intention of presenting the Greek new wave sound wherever that is possible!
Markos: Hi, my name is Markos, Eirkti’s other half and a music addict too. As Ioannis previously admitted, the story begun a long time ago when we first met and instantly understood that we had the same musical tastes. The idea of the label popped up three years ago or something like that during a usual drinking-bout! Even though we were a bit “hammered” it was the first thing we talked about next morning…Subsequently, we really spent many hours of talking and dreaming about this while consuming drinks in order to decide whether we should make an effort and build it. But… we already knew that our journey had begun! Eirkti was born and despite the setbacks and the difficulties we faced and still do, I’m really grateful that we undertook this venture and MOSTLY I am grateful that one of my closest friends is a fellow-traveler in this journey. That really means the world to me!
Nattsol: How have you faced the music you release and listen to?
Markos: Listening to music has always been for me the only way to “escape from reality”. Been raised in a country where everything was prohibited I was desperately seeking for some kind of way-out. Music gave me the opportunity to find about myself, it gave me the chance to discover another world…a world full of emotions. In a few words, I always feel like I cannot breathe without it….That is why we are only releasing material from bands that had and have a great impact on us.
Ioannis: You either use your fetishes or you are being used by them. In our case, you either listen to music being emotionally and spiritually wakeful or you are just being consumed by your false translation of why you have chosen to expose yourself to the sound. This is a strictly personal act and it is up to each person out there to choose whether music of whichever kind is a part of a so-called way of life or just another commodity of some utility. As far as I’m concerned, not just the musical works we release but music itself is both a way of being and an important means to the higher end of self and life exploration. I couldn’t ever imagine myself without searching through books and listening to music.
Nattsol: I’m not sure if many people know much about the post-punk/wave scene in Greece. Can you tell a bit more? Was/is there a movement, which bands would you advice, does the country has some other labels of your kind, what place you think you take in the scene and so on. (I want you to answer about past situation and the present one).
Ioannis: Concerning the Greek post punk and new wave scene of the 80s, I feel that somehow circumstances in the past prevented it from taking its right place internationally in terms of famosity, recognition and esteem. Moreover, though the sounds differ among the various acts there was not a label apart from Creep records, a historical label of that era and ‘Wipe Out records that tried to somehow offer a clarifying image of the national scene’s impetus. Thus, you can say that there was a movement mostly centered around the Creep records family which in contrast to Wipe Out concentrated on strictly dark wave, post punk and minimal synth sounds. On the other hand, Wipe Out had a more extended catalogue of bands varying from new wave and indie to hardcore punk and that’s why it acted as a host of many groups rather than as a label focused on a specific style. However, as I have already mentioned there were many acts and a real plethora of sounds. Not all groups managed to make their way through the conditions. Furthermore, it would have been a real joy if there was a record label that could possibly gather all this new wave force of the era, group it and present it. I do no say that we might stand for such a label in the present but at least we hope that we can offer something towards that direction. At least, time seems to be right in terms of interest and need for such music.
Considering your question as to what groups we would advice, I ought to remind us that many of the groups didn’t succeed in releasing any works except from a few songs in compilations. For example, Forward Music Quintet managed to auto-produce two LPs in their own label and a third one in Wipe Out. In contrast, Not 2 Without 3, though having played numerous gigs in the 80s’ didn’t manage but to release two outstanding songs in a compilation. I would recommend both groups however, in the latter case there aren’t any official releases by the group so as for a collector to obtain. Anyway, apart from the Greek staff we have already re-released some other groups which have produced works that anyone should seek for would be Yell-O-Yell, Villa 21, Fear Condition, Film Noir, Aντί, Slow Motion, Reporters and the catalogue goes on.
Presently, well…there seems to be a void with a few exceptions here and there. For instance there are Tilbury on Cloves an act focusing on dream pop with strong new wave references or Human Puppets a group centering on an original minimal synth endeavor. As far as labels there aren’t many! I can think of Wipe Out which is still out there however, not releasing staff often or Dead Scarlet which releases works in cd format that lie within the broader goth / dark wave and electro scene. Nevertheless, I can’t say that presently a thing as essential as a movement exists in Greece.
Markos: Besides our punk scene which lasted till the 90’s, I don’t really know if there was an actual movement in Greece. Creep Records had indeed a respectable catalogue including some of the best Greek bands like Metro Decay, Yell-o-Yell, Villa 21 and others. But the Greek bands were not so well-known till recently and mostly due to the Internet-case. In my opinion they created a unique sound which ought to be spread and become known to all new wave fans out there. As for the present, things are a bit harder. There are less bands but that need to be discovered as well.
Our aim from the very beginning was first, to “spread” the national music scene of the 80’s by re-releasing old Greek staff and secondly foreign obscure bands whose sound we adore.
The future only can tell us if we succeeded or not, but I can guarantee that we will do our best…
Nattsol: Well, you release also French coldwave bands. Could you explain your interest to this part of music?
Markos: Everything started when I accidentally bought “Ici L’Ombre” from Charles De Goal….and that was it!!! I instantly fell in love with everything…..the ambience, the French language, the “unique” and “weird” French melancholy….and I realized –musically speaking- that I had finally discovered what I was looking for…This was and is the sound that “speaks” to me…
Ioannis: I have traditionally focused and still do on the English and US post punk and dark wave scenes. However, the French cold wave and especially some of its representatives was a real apocalypse. In contrast with the English scene, the French one seemed to be neglected outside the French borders thing which seemed unfair especially taking notice that it offered a totally different sound somewhat ‘theatrically wrapped’. I think that there is where our interest fits in. Apart from many bands, there were many great works that hadn’t ever been released in a format other than cassette. Communication with the groups seemed to be accessible and therefore, we begun releasing staff that we as collectors would love to see included in our record collections.
Nattsol: I guess, no one exactly will say what coldwave is. Some people consider post-punk bands like Marquis de Sade and Frakture as the coldwave originators, some call coldwave only electro based bands like KaS Product and some works of Clair Obscur, some mark all the French post-punk of the 80’s…. In your opinion, what the aspects of coldwave music are?
Ioannis: Yes, there seems to be a somewhat confusion in this case. But for once more we’ll have to consider the reason why terms are being used in the music industry. Are they just a product of music journalists in the first place or do they serve in distinguishing between the genres? While L’an III differ from Danse Macabre and Reseau D’ Hombres bear few similarities with Trop Tard they are all embodied in the French cold wave movement. It is convenient to use a term in a holistic manner so as to quickly denote the place you have taken either as a movement or simply as a fan of music and so on. I think that the ‘cold wave’ term easily serves in grouping all this force and exemplifying the French dark wave impetus and that is not necessarily bad. In fact, it might be really important from such a standpoint. On the other hand, there is a need to specify the differences in sound that obviously exist. If I were to say which elements synthesize cold wave, I would turn my attention to the cold-blooded sound produced by the guitar combined with the fearful and tense synth ambience that the French seemed to form in a genuine way. Considering this, I think that groups such as Gestalt, Clair Obscur or Enfance Eternelle are deep into it.
Markos: I’m not really interested in giving a definition of what Cold Wave is. In order to feel it, you must listen to “Le someil Du Singe” by Gestalt or “Photodrames” and “Ils etaient 9 Dans L’obscurite” by Trop Tard or the works produced by so many other great bands. To be honest, there are few words that can express the atmosphere that the French create, not only in music but with regard to all kinds of art. Concerning music, I strongly believe that they managed to “transform” the English sound of that era and made it more claustrophobic and artistic….and that is a deadly combination.
Nattsol: If you could go back to the 80’s, which bands’ shows would you like to visit?
Markos: Without any doubt, I would love to be in a live show of The Smiths and definitely attend the memorable concert at the Grava Lyceum in 1984 with Metro Decay, Villa 21, Art of Parties and other great Greek groups. Of course, not to forget my passion! I wish I could watch Clair Obscur performing live at the School of Fine Arts (École des Beaux-Arts) in Paris in 1983 or attending the festival of “Espoirs Ephémères” in 1989 with Clair Obscur, Die Bunker, Little Nemo and Bunkerstrasse.
That would be divine…
Ioannis: I really don’t know whether I can answer that. By thinking of how many bands I am in fond of, the catalogue would be really extended. I’ve managed to realize through all those years of listening to music which are my favorite acts nevertheless, attending a gig does not only have to do with whether you strongly admire a group but also it relates to how interesting it might have been attending the show. For instance in the former case, I would be astonished by attending the gig by Savage Republic at Al’s Bar in 1982 or the live show at the Athenian Grava School – Complex in 1984 indeed! In the latter case I would be very interested in visiting the ‘Fetish Night Out’ back in 1981 in London’s Lyceum when Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle and others declared somehow the end of the industrial era of the late seventies and early eighties.
However, I will repeat myself by saying that the catalogue is tremendously extended!
Nattsol: Let’s move to musical formats. So you’re yourselves the vinyl collectors. Why do you prefer vinyl to other formats? What do you think of people who think that there’s no need to get a record when it’s possible to download mp3s? Do you think your passion to vinyl releases creates a danger of keeping eirkti a label for collectors?
Ioannis: Perhaps, there exists such a danger but it does not scare us I think. People who want to buy vinyl will buy vinyl for its being more reliable as a format, for its being reminiscent of another era, for its being accompanied by a more expressive and animate artwork and all these do not only have to do with collecting. People who prefer downloading music rather than buying are obviously saving money by paying the price of lower sound quality. I hope they use it for nice purposes and most of all I hope that they listen to the music they download. Of course, I too hope this for persons who buy records or cds by bearing in mind that in contrast with download-ers they seem more involved due to their devoting their money in this case. I am in favor of people who experience music and who let this artistic means promote their wakefulness. This does not to have solely to do with whether one wants to download or buy instead. The most important is to experience the work of art since it is reborn in you as a Bauhaus Artist used to say. Overall, I am looking forward to seeing that the vinyl format will regain its position and it will be appreciated by more people that might even not be aware of what it is and stands for in the present. But most of all, I am looking forward to observing that people no matter how they obtain music, will appreciate it and make the full out of it!
Markos: Without any doubt, vinyl is the most reliable format that ever existed…period!!!
I can’t really judge those who only download tones of mp3’s and are not interested in searching and finding an album from a band they love. The only thing I can say is that the quality of the music they listen to is at least crappy.
Turning to the danger you mentioned: As Ioannis implied, this danger is out of the question for us. That’s the reason why we pressed the Metro Decay 7” in 800 copies that is, in a larger quantity and that’s also why we consider in pressing some of our forthcoming releases in even more copies. For good or bad, we are not a large label but we believe that there are more people who already appreciate or start appreciating vinyl.
Nattsol: Do you guys have some support? Friends in music?
Ioannis: Thank God, there are friends out there and that is encouraging! We have received nice words and support from quite a few people that are involved with music. We have gained good comments so far and that helps us to go on and try our best dependent upon circumstances.
Markos: Yes for sure! And what we really enjoyed and still do is the fact that we also managed to build a relationship with members of the groups whose work we have already released. They believed in us and we received a lot of support from them as well.
Nattsol: What do you think about the modern wave tendencies? Is eirkti a label for old bands only?
Ioannis: Modern wave tendencies…there is interesting staff out there though inevitably, the ‘post’ element is also obvious in terms of mimicry and lack of inspiration. Under all circumstances, it is really important to find a way and support new acts. We really want to do something about it and we have spent quite some talking accompanied by the usual beers. Presently, we have concluded that it is not the right time to move towards releasing new staff. Issues such as planned releases of the old works, establishment of the label’s position and in-depth experience in helping new acts being sufficiently promoted prevent us from making this choice. But we’ll be around….
Markos: Yes, Eirkti is not only interested in old bands. We are seeking for new and fresh blood. But in order to achieve that, it takes time. Indeed, we want to acquire all the necessary knowledge from what we do now and then to proceed to new-group releases.
Nattsol: Do you have some other roles in music apart from running a label?
Markos: For the moment being no, but it’s my intension to get more involved in music like for instance, organizing concerts in the future.
Ioannis: Personally I don’t.
Nattsol: Ok, what are the label’s plans for the future?
Ioannis: Nothing too odd! We are just preparing ourselves for our next release!
Markos: Yes, there is more obscure music to follow…
Nattsol: And the final words are yours.
Ioannis: Just keep on experiencing music!
Markos: Keep on listening to music!
Questions:
Pall ‘Nattsol’ Zarutskiy
‘Grave Jibes Fanzine’
