interview with Clepsydra
What´s the name of your band? Andy (bass): Clepsydra, the ancient Greek name of the time measuring instrument similar to the hour glass but filled with water.
Phil (keyboards): ...time is the heartbeat of our lives...
How was the band formed? Andy: its roots is a group of classmates that started experimental music in the 1980s and met again after the university years to form Clepsydra.
Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Andy: we're all from Ticino, the southern and Italian speaking part of Switzerland. Lele Hofmann (guit), Aluisio Maggini (voc), Pietro Duca (drums), Philip Hubert (keys) and Andy Thommen (bass) are the founding members. Lele left Clepsydra in 1996 and Marco Cerulli took his place on guitar. Andy left the band in 1998 and rejoined in 2013. Nicola Devita was playing bass from 1998 to 2002.
What was the ambitions of the band when you started?
Phil: ...no ambitions at all... we recorded Hologram because we found it nice to have some of our stuff on record... ...but it was well received so we moved forward..
Pietro (drums): Right. No ambition at all. We just wanted to have our own album with our own music that we like. It was a nice surprise that other people love this music too.
Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you?
Phil: that's a hard question... better listen to the music.
Marco (guitar): We could say that our music is a sophisticated melodic rock. So a lot of dreamy melodies, wide ambiences without the limits imposed by the main stream.
Where was your first gig? Andy: Our first gig was in 1991 in Ascona (Switzerland), after the release of our first album Hologram. It was a self organised concert with another band (Departure). It was in a small theater with red velvet seats. It was a full house.
Where was the latest gig? Pietro: in this very moment the last one was in Lisbon, Porugal. There are other 3 shows planned to finish the tour. I hope that there will be other in the future.
Who writes your songs?/Who writes the music who writes lyrics?
Marco: We all write our songs, sometimes starting from a Phil’s melodies, Alu follows and the rest comes spontaneously. When we wrote Alone I came with the main theme. Alu looked at me and said: “Well done Marco I like it… it’s the background music of the security procedures in the airplanes”. Despite his funny opinion I think “Alone” is one of our best song.
Pietro: Most of the lyrics were written by andy, lele and Alu. Usually the music starts off from an idea of Phil or Marco, and then we all add our tunning.
Who has the best since of humor in the band?
Phil: We still play together, so we all have great sense of humor!
Marco: I would say Phil, but also Pietro and Andy are equally mad and Alu: So sarcastic! ...Compared to them I'm sooo serious!
What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are?
Phil: It's good being in the band, but it's like a marriage... personally i would go on some heavier stuff... but after all i'm just the keyboarder...
Pietro: It is nice to reunite with old friends (or better longtime friends) and try to produce something that brings emotions to our fans. For me it is a very grateful hobby.
Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about?
Andy: Our style is influenced by the music we listen. I listen a lot of Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and Spock's Beard...
Pietro: Me too. I listen to several prog bands that have been milestones in the scene. However I also like more easy music, as long as it is well produced.
Phil: Oh, influences count...but i think our music it's just 20% of each one of us... our music is about life...
Do you write your own material or mainly covers? Andy: Own material. The only cover we ever played was "The Show Must Go On" (Queen) in memory of Freddy Mercury. We played it about 5 times in the 1990s.
Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they?
Andy: 1991: Pieces From The Hologram (EP) 1991: Hologram 1994: More Grains Of Sand 1997: Fears 2001: Alone 2014: 3654 Days (4 CD deluxe box with remasters, book, unreleased materials,...)
Pietro: Andy, you forgot the CD-Single “Fly Man” (1994) and some tracks that were released on compilations.
Do you have any clips on YouTube?
Andy: we have an official channel: http://www.youtube.com/clepsydraofficial , and there are many unofficial recording on the net...
Pietro: Nowadays everyone has clips on youtube.
How old are you?/What got you started in music?
Pietro: 49 !!! I started around 14 playing at home on songs recorded on my tape deck.
Andy: I am 48 years old. I started drums at the age of 12 and started bass guitar only at the age of 16.
Marco: At 7 years Guitar and at 10 clarinet (although I wanted to play saxophone!)
Phil: 50 next year, started at 11, played some church organ, then i met the others and i was ruined forever.
Aluisio (vocals): In 1990, when I started singing with Clepsydra.
How old were you guys when you first stood on stage?
Andy: My first experience on stage was a cover/dance music band (with Pietro on drums) at the age of 17.
Pietro: So I was 18…
Marco: 8! Playing and singing with no shame!
Phil: 15 playing some church organ (does that count?)
Aluisio: The first concert of Clepsydra in 1991!
What year was the band started? Andy: the founding members started in 1990 with the name of "Delta Prophecy". In 1991 we changed the name to "Clepsydra".
Best/worst gig you've played?
Pietro: There is no “worst” concert. Every concert has its positive aspects and fun facts.
Phil: every gig can be better but i love when we have the chance to meet our fans and speak with them after the gig... ...it's cool...
Marco: For me the best gig was at the RosFest in the USA. Our fans, the perfect organization, the sound and the stage lights were so delightful and an DVD will be produced out of that concert.
What places will you be playing in in the immediate future? Andy: The last 3 concerts of the "Reunion Tour" are: September 20 - Eleven Rock Festival - Solothurn - Switzerland September 27 - Centro La Torre - Losone - Switzerland November 1 - Prog en Beauce festival, Villemeux Sur Eure - France
Where have you played from then till now?
Andy: Several minor projects, cover bands and experimental bands before Clepsydra. I Played with Zenit (www.fragile.net) on 3 albums from 1998 to 2013. I played with an ethnic trio in Zurich named "Art of Cracking" in 2012.
Pietro: Cover band (with Andy).
What has been the best/most promising gig so far? Phil: ROSFest was incredible, very good feeling in Loreley, fantastic evenings in Poland and Zoetermeer, small but fantastic venues in das Rind and Murrayfield Pub, great saturday in Lisbon with some very special fans...
Have you had any bigger tours from start to now? Andy: In 1998 we had a full tour for the album Fears, as an InsideOut band. This year we're on the road with the Reunion Tour.
How big crowds do you usually play for? Andy: I think we had all scenarios. We played in small clubs with 80 people and in large open air festivals with 2-3.000 people. I would say that an average is about 300 people.
What are the plans for the rest of the year? Andy: We are working on a live DVD: "Clepsydra live @ RoSfest", and as per November we want to start writing new songs for a new album.
How do you get psyched up for a gig? Phil: I pray!
Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? Phil: ..it depends.. lot of good stuf in older band lot of good stuf in newer bands...
What are your sources of inspiration?
Phil: Life and how music can represent life.
Andy: Love, pain and life.
Marco: same, same, same
Aluisio: Every melody that comes to my mind is a source of inspiration.
What's the first step when making a new song?
Phil: a good set of chords with some nice melodies...
Pietro: …or try to create an ambiance that fits the lyrics, a melody or a rhythm that gives the emotions we want to give.
How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? Phil: If you are really touched by some song you'll buy it. So downloading spreads music...
What would be your dreams for the band? Phil: Playing with Marillion on the same festival.
Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to?
Phil: everything... from Fourplay to Daft punk, from The safety fire to Ayreon, from Kate Bush to Animals as leaders, from Dream Theater to Bach, and from Miles Davis to Born of Osiris it has to be good music for me that's all
Pietro: Depends on my mood. I often listen to the radio, but I listen to a lot of less conventional music, more related to our genre.
When you are on stage, what do you fear most then?
Andy: Flying tomatoes.
Marco: Yes, and technical problems…
Pietro: That the drums break down or falls off the stage during the show.
Phil: I can avoid flying tomatoes because my reactions are quite good, I mainly fear the mistakes while playing...
Have you been part of any other projects?
Marco: Sure. I played 12 years with American singer and songwriter Lynne Candy. There’s a video in the web…
Phil: Did something with others but my heart is with this band.
Aluisio: Yes, I did the vocals on Shakarys first album “Aalya”.
What do you work with outside of the band and the music?
Andy: I am an IT manager.
Marco: I’m a managing consultant.
Phil: Computer science engineer and math teacher currently.
Pietro: Electronics engineer.
What would you do if there was no music?
Andy: The same as if there was no oxygen.
Phil: I would invent it
Pietro: Uffff, Phil stole my answer…
How important are your fans?
Phil: Our fans.... ...the main reason we still play together... thank you to all the fans in NL for being our kickstarters!
Pietro: The most important part of our production. Without them there would be much less motivation to go on with our music.
What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you?
Andy: We once received a letter from a guy in a northern country, and he told us that when he made love for the first time, the sound track was our album "More Grains Of Sand"!!!
Marco: When one of our fan came with the wrong band’s album to be signed. Pietro smiling said to me “Marco don’t say a word please sign this album!”
Phil: A tattoo with our logo
Pietro: a tattoo my son did with the notes of our song “Vianna” and a tattoo my daughter did with a piece of lyrics from the song “Moonshine On Heights”.
How often do you rehearse?
Andy: Once a week.
Phil: Twice a week but don't tell Andy!
Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment?
Andy: “The Nineteenth Hole” and “Travel Of Dream”.
Phil: “The Nest”, “Missing Spark”.
Pietro: “The Prisoners Victory” and “End of Tuesday”.
Aluisio: “Alone” and “Moonshine on Heights”
What do you feel is the best live band you've seen?
Andy: Lazuli.
Phil: Dream Theater
Pietro: Pink Floyd
Aluisio: Marillion and Dream Theater
Do you have any webpages?
Andy: Home Page: www.clepsydra.ch Facebook: www.facebook.com/clepsydra.ch YouTube:www.youtube.com/clepsydraofficial
Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there?
Phil: Live your dreams!
Marco: Strive to grow your ability to express your inner voice throughout your music. It’s the best gift you can do yourself and to your audience.
Describe your show, visually and musicallyPhil: We do our best to play our songs in an emotional way. We have a lot of visual ideas but never really had the time to bring these ideas to life... maybe in the future...
How do you view the musicindurty of today? Phil: Don't know but i think in the last 20 years internet gave popularity to our genre....
What advice would you like to give other bands?
Phil: still...live your dreams!
Pietro: Always play what YOU like. If by any chance other people like it, than you’re done!
What are the biggest obstacles for a band?
Phil: staying together
Pietro: Find the time to meet and rehearse and to find a place where to rehearse.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence
Andy: Feelings spilling from our hearts.
Phil: Wide
What is your favorite crappy instrument? Phil: there is no crappy instrument! Even a roll of toilet paper can be an awesome instrument! (ok, you're right used it's a bit crappy)
What’s your Pre-show ritual?
Marco: From technical point of view I follow a precise pre-concert routine, to check all my stuff and this help me to be more confident. And I don’t like to wait so I walk, walk and walk.
Phil: Two Heineken.
Pietro: A cigarette.
Would you like to add anything else?Marco: Yes, I have been a consultant during the building of Arsta bridge in Stockholm so I have been there during the it’s magic winter and during summer; I will never forget my sailing through the Stockholm archipelago.