www.myspace.com/holopain
www.geocities.com/kostasogas
HMTV Canada Tina: Hi Holopain how is the weather in Athens Greece this time of year?
Holopain: It's been cloudy this week, with short rains and temperatures about 65 F,cold for this time of the year,we usually get this weather at December or January.
HMTV Canada Tina: 1. Are you getting ready for the Xmas holidays? We have all the Xmas merchandise out in our stores here in Canada. How do the people celebrate the Xmas Season in Greece?
Holopain: Pretty much as in any other "developed" country of the world, we hit the stores like crazy, buy tons of useless stuff, stretching our credit cards to the limit and after Christmass, we complain that the cost of living is too high!We seem to forget that Jesus was born in a barn...
HMTV Canada Tina: 2. Just curious what is the music scene like over in Greece, that is what types of music generes are popular on radio and in the media?
Holopain: There is a local genre similar to country music that dominates the charts and the media-Las Vegas country music to be more precise, with all the glitter and the faux, which bears no resemblance to the music which from it originated!This genre ("laika") and imported R n'B/Hip-Hop/Gangsta rap, are being force fed to the defenseless public, by the three-four companies that monopolise the market, chocking every attempt to original music expression,whether that maybe-post rock, alternative, heavy metal, or electronica!
HMTV Canada Tina: 3. I'm very interested in your music very mysterious and well mastered indeed! Where did your band name Holopain originate from?
Holopain: It is a made-up name that derives from the words "Holon" which means "the sum of...,all of the... " and "Pain". It reflects my aggressive attitude towards life,a life that I embrace and intend to live it fully, despite the pain that I was dealt in past and I'm still dealing with. After all,only the dead feel no pain,or joy!
HMTV Canada Tina: 4. From your biography you been around for more than 18 years, singing, playing bass guitar, beating drums when did you get started in your music career?
Holopain: It was around 1989 when I joined my first metal band as a vocalist (how original!) and a year after I formed my own band. The first couple of years we were a joke,but after that period,we did a pretty good job!
HMTV Canada Tina: 5. Before Holopain was created what bands have you been a member of in the past?
Holopain: In my constant search for development and experience, I joined quite a sum of bands. However,the most significant ones were "Skies", a post-punk band in which I was the bass player and "Keno"-the very first industrial metal band of Greece, for which I did the vocals,the bass and the electronics. Both of those bands stroke a record deal with an indie label and both of them are inactive now, for a variety of reasons...
HMTV Canada Tina: 6. When did you start up your Solo project Holopain are there any other band members assiciated with your current project?
Holopain: I started at 2000,fed up with the situation of my former bands and the way the underground scene was strangled by the media-not without responsibility of the bands involved!As it happens so often, the major underground bands,did (and stil do!) their best to keep the minor ones down, they fear they might lose their dubious status to someone younger, with fresh ideas and passion!
So,I said "enough with this sh*t, I'll do it my way!" and this is how I do things up to now-on my own, in total control...
HMTV Canada Tina: 7. I know you would like for us to be the judge of your music but what can you tell us about your unique style of music in your own words?
Holopain: It might sound weird, but it's rock music in essence!
Despite the way it is delivered, the arrangements, the melodies, the feeling are all based in good, old fashioned rock music! Three-four minute tracks, with the minimal sound layers and easily distinguishable parts who aim at your guts, made rather to make you feel, than merely listen!
HMTV Canada Tina: 8. How has your music evolved since you first began playing 18 years ago?
Holopain: It is a difficult question-the core of my music hasn't changed, I still try to make one laugh, or cry, or dance to my music. The means of expression however have changed and the more experience I gain, the more effectively I handle those means...
HMTV Canada Tina: 9. What instruments do you use to produce your music?
Holopain: Samples and software synth. I need much better equipment to incorporate natural instruments, but once I get my hands on that equipment...Oh,boy! It will be a funfare!
HMTV Canada Tina: 10. What kind of recording environment do you have?
Holopain: A noisy one! It's at home and it is not even a home studio, just my pc, with a pair of cheap earphones...
HMTV Canada Tina: 11. Are you a member of any music organizations currently?
Holopain: No, I simply don't have the time to contribute in anything an organization needs and I'm not the guy that will join an organization just to benefit and offer nothing in return. However,I share freely my experience in live performances and recording techiques,if I'm asked.
HMTV Canada Tina: 12. Do you have a record label?
Holopain:I'm currently cooperating with Deadknife records,a Canadian DIY free netlabel. I make the music, Justin "Deadskin" delivers it freely to the people and we are both happy!
HMTV Canada Tina: 13. I'm curious about your ideologies such as views in life or feelings when it comes to your music?
Holopain: Art and ideologies are two things that they never should be mixed, the result is always bad art or bad ideology!
By that I don't mean that certain aspects of one's ideologies don't reflect to ones art, but this should happen natural, as both are parts of one's spiritual development.When art succumbs in ideology, it becomes a weapon used to control people, not a tool to freedom as it should be!
HMTV Canada Tina: 14. How are the fans reacting to Holopains music?
Holopain: Surprisingly enough, I have fans from all the world, from totally different genres! All they like different aspects of my music-rock fans because it is easily conceivable to them, as they are short and not too abstract, trance fans because, although the sounds are familiar to them, the style is not, electronica fans because I achieve maximal impact with minimal sounds...I actually had more acceptance than I thought I'd ever have!
HMTV Canada Tina: 15. Do you have any friends or bands you worked with that are doing something in the music scene that you think people should be aware of?
Holopain: Since I joined Myspace, I came in contact with various people that do memorable work. Holywood music does a good job for their bands, ADPR is doing a great job also, Deadknife records delivers proffessionally mastered music for free, my friends Random Walk give excellent live shows, as well as Hannibal, my friend [distopia] is ready to assist any industrial musician with his expertise in noise, Stever is a great artist and awesome person...
There's a lot of people doing great work, just for sheer love for the music!
HMTV Canada Tina: 16. What has been your biggest challenge in your music career?
Holopain: To find the strength to move on and admitt that paid or not, career or not, music is a hell of a high and I'll stay on that high untill I die, no matter what!
HMTV Canada Tina: 17. Where have you performed in Athens Greece?
Holopain: As Holopain, nowhere yet. As member of other bands in various small venues, most of them are now extinct-in some cases, that was a blessing!
HMTV Canada Tina: 18. What are your faviourite and least favourite music venues?
Holopain: "An" club-one of the oldest venues in the city, has a relatively good sound for the size of it and as it is small, you get the feeling that you play before a crowd, even if the crowd is actually 50 people!
As for my least favourite, I don't want to make any statements, I may have to play there someday:)
HMTV Canada Tina: 19. Do you have any upcomming shows?
Holopain: No,I don't think that people would actually pay to see a guy screaming his lungs out on a microphone, singing karaoke!However, I have a few ideas in mind,but it is too soon to talk about them. I'll just say that I'll do my best to make things interesting to those attending the shows.
HMTV Canada Tina: 20. Do you think that the internet is a great marketing tool for promoting Holopain?
Holopain: Absolutely yes..and no! It depends on the target group. If you're a music lover,then the internet is the only place to find really interesting music,not only underground, but music that could beat any of the major mainstream names, to their own game,in any aspect.
However, those who are bombarded by the media and are brainwashed to the mainstream music-those are hopeless. They'll use the internet only to find more stuff about their icons...So,is this a mexican stand-off?Only time will tell!
HMTV Canada Tina: 21. What advice do you have for young musicians that wish to form their own bands in Athens Greece?
Holopain: The basics are the same for every band in Athens, Endmonton,Cairo, or Tokyo. Stay focused, work hard, keep your mouth shut and your ears open,listen everyone and trust noone. When anyone contacts you for any deal, ask yourselves "Who benefits from it?". Give it all you got and take no bullsh*t, it's YOUR music,damn it!
HMTV Canada Tina: 22. Before we close off our interview is their anyone that you would like to acknowledge or any last words?
Holopain: I wanted to thank you and Hollywood Music for the really intelligent questions and for giving me the chance to excibit my thoughts, my hopes and my music.
Also I wanted to thank Room302, for his moral support that lasts for over 15 years now!
Stacy and NUTT are two new found friends that I'd like to thank also.
Last,but not least, anyone who actually made it this far and reads these lines, YOU RULE!
Thank You Holopain for the opportunity to interview your Solo Project and for the downloads of your great music your sounds are awesome!
