EMQ’s With EVOLUCIJA
EMQ’s With EVOLUCIJA
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Swiss-Serbian Symphonic Metal band, Evolucija. Huge thanks to them for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
We are Evolucija, a Swiss-Serbian Symphonic Metal band. Our journey began in 2007 when we formed the band in Switzerland. One of our initial major projects was producing the official soundtrack “Pale Rider” for the German film “Die Templerherren” (The Templars) by film producer and director Andreas Leffler in 2009. Our roots are diverse, with our lead singer, Ilana, originally from Switzerland and later relocating to Serbia in 2012. It was in that year when we decided to move the band to Serbia and actively pursue our musical endeavours.
In 2016, we achieved a significant milestone by releasing an album with lyrics in the Serbian language. This album received widespread acclaim, with both critics and fans showering it with praise. It was even voted as the second-best album of the year.
Our second album, titled “Hunt,” was released in 2018 through Pure Steel Records, propelling us into the international spotlight and drawing attention from music enthusiasts worldwide. By the end of 2018, we were honoured to receive the Innocent Award for “Best Album of the Year” from the esteemed German magazine Cute & Dangerous.
Fast forward to 2023, and we are incredibly proud to have been awarded the prestigious “Kraljevski Oskar Popularnosti” (Royal Oscar of Popularity) as the “Najbolji metal bend u Srbiji” (the best metal band in Serbia). This recognition means the world to us, and we are deeply grateful for the support of our fans.
We’ve embarked on successful tours in Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and the Balkans, sharing the stage with heavyweights of the global heavy metal scene, including Paradise Lost, Doro Pesch, Children of Bodom, Tyr, Pestilence, and many others.
This year, we anticipate the release of our new studio album, “The World is Full of Wrath,” produced at the renowned Swedish “Fascination Street Studios” under the patronage of Jens Bogren. We can’t wait to share this new chapter of our musical evolution with our dedicated fans and the world at large.
Regarding the band members, we all come from diverse backgrounds.
How did you come up with your band name?
The origin of the name “Evolucija” (Evolution) stems from the desire to advocate for progress and positive change. Initially, we started as “Revolucija” (Revolution), but we discovered another band with the same name, which prompted us to make a symbolic shift. Evolucija is a concept that resonates with all of us, especially in a world where progress sometimes seems to move backward. We strive to lead by example, evolving with each album and mission, and encouraging others to do the same.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We currently live in Serbia, in a small town called Cuprija. In our area, there are currently no metal bands, I think we are the only one! But in Serbia, there are many metal bands. There is a scene with a lot of bands that are absolutely great. Unfortunately, media coverage of up-and-coming bands is really poor because this is not where the profits are. This makes it next to impossible for those bands to reach a really large number of people.
What is your latest release?
Our latest single, ‘The Earth is Full of Rats,’ was released on October 6, 2023. The album features 10 songs that we carefully selected to express specific themes or emotions that inspired us. This is a special project for us because we worked on it for a long time, especially during the peak of humanity’s isolation and the misfortunes that befell us (COVID-19).
We hope that our audience will enjoy listening to this material and that they will find something they can relate to or that will inspire them in a positive way. Starting on October 6, 2023, we began promoting the new album, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone and receive the first reactions from our listeners.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I grew up in a diverse surroundings when it comes to music, so I was exposed to many different types and genres of music
Bands that influenced me the most are Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Kiss, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Nightwish.
What first got you into music?
Music has always attracted me and been a part of my life, even before I started actively pursuing a career in music. I grew up in a family of musicians, so from a very early age, I was surrounded by instruments and music. Music has the power to express emotions and convey messages in a way that is unique and profound.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I would like to collaborate with the band Primal Fear. I enjoy their music and their work, and I would especially love to collaborate with Mat Sinner.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
I dream of two festivals where I would love to perform: the Wacken Festival and Rock in Rio. I would love to be part of those spectacles. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
At a concert in Belarus, I received a piece of cardboard from a fan on which she had written something, but I was never able to decipher what it said.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
If you have the opportunity, come to our performances to experience the energy and emotions we convey through our music. Nothing inspires us more than direct contact with the audience.
Your opinion is important to us, so feel free to contact us and give us feedback. We are a band with positive energy, and we enjoy sharing and exchanging it with the crowd. We still attend concerts as fans, so having a good time and meeting new people is the greatest thing in this business, whether we’re on stage or in the crowd.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Definitely, it would be John Lennon. Lennon is one of the most important figures in the world’s music and culture of the 20th century. His music and influence on the world remain indelible; he is an icon of peace and love!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
To me, concerts are where we have the opportunity to share our music with the audience and deeply connect with our listeners. Additionally, receiving positive reactions and feedback from the audience who appreciates and loves our music is an immense source of pleasure and the energy that empowers us to create further.
I hate it when there are delays in the soundcheck, and everything has to be rushed, and in the end, nothing works as it should. Your guitar’s remote control doesn’t work, and you can’t hear what you’re playing properly…
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
My personal opinion certainly won’t change anything in the music industry, but when you asked me such a question, I’ll try to say something about it. If there are drawbacks, I would choose the issues of small bands, such as promotion and placing their music. It’s very difficult if you don’t belong to the circle of bands signed with major record labels. Everything mainly revolves around the same names and various internal projects, making it hard or nearly impossible to break through that barrier. There is tremendous pressure on artists to conform to trends, which can damage authenticity.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
My favourite album is “Powerslave” by Iron Maiden. It’s an album with some of the best artistic pieces of all time – ‘Aces High,’ ‘2 Minutes To Midnight,’ ‘Powerslave’ (featuring Dave Murray’s most beautiful solo), the mighty ‘Rime Of The Ancient Mariner’…
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
To me, vinyl is at the top, and I am thrilled that our new album will be pressed on vinyl. I will be as happy as a child who receives the most beautiful gift.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We have performed in various countries and cities, playing in small clubs in front of a small but passionate audience. The intimate atmosphere and direct connection with the audience allowed us to have a special experience.
One of the memorable performances was at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The energy we felt while performing our songs was incredible, and that moment reminded me why I love music.
We have also shared the stage with big names such as Paradise Lost, Doro, Children of Bodom, Tyr, and more. These were special moments for us. Every performance has its own story!
While every place has its charm for performing, if I had to pick, it would be Z7 in Basel and Izvestija Hall in Moscow. These are venues with a unique atmosphere and acoustics, making each performance a unique experience. I would love to play there again because the connection with the audience was incredible.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
If I hadn’t started a career in music, I would probably be involved in something that allows me to express my creativity. Maybe I would have pursued painting, which I still do when I have the time, as it’s another way for me to express my emotions. In any case, art is a part of me, and I would likely have turned to another form of artistic expression if I hadn’t become a musician.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My children, and I have that many of them 😊, the musician members of Evolucija, I feel the best with them.
What’s next for the band?
Currently, we are working on preparing for the release of our new album, and next, we should start with live performances!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.instagram.com/evolucija_official/
https://www.youtube.com/@evolucija.metalband
https://www.facebook.com/evolucijaofficial/
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
Hahahahahaha, the answer to your question is in your response to my question, what is a “kompletusa” in Serbia? It’s also an alternative to a sandwich and it’s also round! I can’t wait to read the answer in the interview post. In the next interview, we will publish the recipe.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you to you as well for giving us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to your followers and your portal’s readers, who we believe will become our listeners! To end with a piece of advice from my grandfather, “Don’t wait to be happy to be grateful; be grateful, and you will be happy.”
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
