interview with Gort
How is it that you started playing music and what year did the band form? A: We started playing together in 2004 when I entered the band while the band is active since 2002. We already knew each other outside the band, so it was natural to play together.
Have you had other previous members? A: Maybe too much! The only remaining members from the first line-up are me and Wolf (guitars).
Have any of you played in other bands? A: Yes, we have and we still play in them. Wolf has two studio projects, Vita Odiosa, and Mors Spei, Illness and Eurystheus runs Dispnea while I have Veiled Moon and play as session musician for Dispnea and Mors Spei.
Where are you from? A: We all came from Naples, Italy.
What inspires you? A: Old school black metal of course, we’re devoted to the sound of the Scandinavian band that brought this sound to the masses, but we don’t dislike new bands and their experimentations in the genre.
How have you developed since you started with the music? A: In the beginning the sound was much more raw and intense, in a certain way more influenced by bands like Darkthrone, Mayhem and so on. During our career we developed our style in something more complex that gave us more personality without forgetting our musical roots.
Are you looking for a booking agency, and what are your thoughts around that? A: Gort has always been a band that found its natural habitat in the underground scene, but we’re working on it.
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? A: It’s really difficult for an Italian band to find a good label to promote its works, especially if you’re from Southern Italy. At the moment we’re publishing via Lupus Niger Prod & Distro, the personal label of Wolf, our guitarist, but if the occasion comes, why not?
What are your songs about? Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? A: Death, extinction and hate to mankind… it’s black metal, what did you expect from us? Jokes apart, the main difference from the beginning is the way we approach these thematics, more mature and introspective. The main composer in Gort has always been Wolf, but in the last years is more a 50/50 between him and me. Illness and Eurystheus also writes good stuff and I can say that this is the most creative line-up Gort has ever had.
What language do you sing in? A: Mostly English, but sometimes we use excerpts in Italian and Latin.
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? A: Possibly vary, depends on the running time. Some songs are known, so we prefer to use them live.
What was your first gig like? A: A really strange feeling, just five songs for less than 30 minutes. We were three at the time, it was fun.
What was your latest gig? A: Last year in Rome supporting Impiety. Another funny experience good for spreading Gort’s name.
Have you had to cancel a gig? A: Unfortunately, yes. Just once, but it was a big misunderstanding between us and the organizers.
Where do you plan to gig the coming year? A: The more the merrier! I don’t know, I hope to play as much as we can.
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? A: We have most of our releases, patches and pins. We’re preparing t-shirts and other items I don’t even know at the moment!
Where can people buy your merchandise? A: From our label’s website: http://www.lupusnigerprodanddistro.com/
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? A: I think downloading is a positive thing for the underground, many bands finds fans in this way. The main problem is with the labels that forgot how to promote the bands in the right way creating new “stars” and trends. It’s not a matter of sold CDs, but the way you sell them.
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? A: Well, that’s something you have to say to us, don’t you think?
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? A: It doesn’t matter, if a band is good is regardless from its activity.
What have been your biggest obstacles? A: There have been so many that I lost the count. We just care about our music, the rest are useless things.
What advice would you give other bands or artists? A: Do what thou wilt, even if it’s a total piece of crap.
Do you have any new material? A: We’re working on our third album, six songs on seven are already done.
What are your web sites? A: Our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PestisVoxSumus/ Our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0k8PctaEuQ5k8cL4BD4GMw Soon we count on creating a professional website.
Do you have something to add? A: No, nothing.
