interview with My Name Is Janet.
Have any of you played in other bands? Yes, quite a lot. I have my own permanent solo (studio) project AVIVA and jazz live band JET LEMON BAND, Alexander Hedlund is a constant drummer of DREAMLAND band, The Bjorn Englen's band's list is huge: YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TONY MACALPINE, QUIET RIOT, ROBIN MACAULEY and many more. By now he is permanent bass player of DIO DISCIPLES. Sammy has his own jazz band NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST
How is it that you started playing music? We were inspired by rock'n'roll and just wanted to do this.
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you?
Jim AvivA - vocal keyboards
Mike Nebukin - gutars
Bjorn Englen - bass
Alex Hedlund - drums
Sammy Lukas - occasional saxophone (guest musician)
Have you had other previous members?
Yes.
Eric Rauti (Dreamland, Snowy Shaw) - guitars, bass
Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) - occasional guitars, producing
They were involved in the first album RED ROOM BLUE
Did you make music even when you were young? Yes, when we were young we would make a lot of music in the bands playing diverse styles (from classic to pop)
Where are you from? We are an international band. Me and Mike are from Russia, Alex is from Sweden, Bjorn is from USA and Sammy is from Germany.
What year did the band form? 2009
What's your style of genre? It's hard to say exactly. It's a kind of stylistic salad (from funk to death metal) but mostly is prog/psychedelic rock, I would say.
What inspires you? We are inspired by hard and art rock of 70th, heavy metal of 80th, prog metal of 90th, classical music, but nothing from 2000. We consider the music of 21st century (especially rock and pop) is very very bad. Ok?
How often and where do you reherse? We are the studio band so far, that is why we practice individually before the recording process.
How have you developed since you started with the music? I think so good enough. I started with my piano lessons at the age of six. But I'm not sure about the other guys.
Do you have other interests of work outside the band? If you mean the collaborations with the other bands, so yes. I have my own side project "Jet lemon band" (German band). We play Led Zeppelin hits in jazz. Mike collaborates with Bjorn Englen and Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Megadeth), Alexx is a main drummer of Dreamland (Swedish power metal band), Bjorn plays in Dio Disciples and Sammy has his own jazz band North South East West.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? Yes we are still in searching for an agency.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Yes. Our third album is completed as a demo and we look for the new label.
What made you decide to make this music? I think a motivation. I had never ever other reasons to make music.
What are your songs about? Both albums are partially conceptual. The first and final songs include the main idea. It's a kind of philosophical message. The rest of the songs are some different pictures about nowadays.
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? I compose and write the lyrics but the guys help me a lot.
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? Initially I have the music stuff and then I come up with a lyric's idea. The music mood, general movements and riffs effect the lyric's expression.
Do you compose in a certain inviroment? Yes, I have my own apartment where I use my computer, keyboards and headphones. Nothing more. It's quite enough for making any kind of music.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? We have never sold out merchandise because the label didn't produce it according to contract. We have the CDs for sale only.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? I think we can not do anything with that. Unfortunately there is no solution still, that is why the majority of labels just suspended their activities.
How do you think the music industry have changed because of that? Changed a lot. The indie labels don't work anymore and so musicians have to promote themselves. Someone's good at it but someone's not. The music stuff is not a big deal anymore. The most important thing is some sort of activities in social media.
What do you think of my work? I think it is great!!!
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? I'm sure it will help a lot. Great thanks for your attention!
Do you have any role models or idols? Clear it better, please.
Why do you think that they exist? It's quite clear! Rock and pop scene is a pure entertainment. An audience, particularly young fan's audience, needs in heroes still. It should follow the strong and bright persons. It was and ever will be.
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? We keep on listening to the old band of 70th and 80th. The modern scene is not inspiring so much with a few exceptions. I'm also love to listen to contemporary classical music.
What have been your biggest obstacles? Our main obstacle is to form a live band. It's no easy because of our separating locations. All the more so guys are considerably busy in their own projects.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? I would advice do not give it up in spite of some difficulties and lot of barriers. Stick to your own creative vision and do not satisfy the needs of a crowd.
Do you have any new material? Yes, the third album has already done as a demo. So we are waiting for the possibility to record it.
What are your web sites?
We have FB only, please check it out:
How can people reach you?
via FB and email:
What are your plans for the future? By now is to record the third album and to form a live band.
Do you have something to add? Thanks for your interest in our band! Looking forward to the future interviews and collaborations.
